Patents by Inventor Joe Huppenthal

Joe Huppenthal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Laboratory sampling machine and methods for maintaining chain of custody for samples
    Patent number: 8870059
    Abstract: A machine and methods for maintaining chain of custody during a sampling procedure is provided, the machine including a sample handling robot having an operation head and a verification head. The verification head can be one of a barcode reader, OCR scanner, of RFID tag reader. The verification head of the machine is adapted to read a sample container prior to sampling an aliquot of liquid, and transferring the aliquot to a testing vial. Each sample container and corresponding testing vial is read prior to performing an operation, such that a chain of custody is properly recorded. The machine can further comprise a lid-opening and closing device adapted for articulating the lid of one or more standard vial types. Additionally, the machine may comprise a manual vial staging area for non-standard vial types. The machine may be further adapted to prepare diluted testing samples or combined reagent samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Joe Huppenthal, Drew Miller
  • Laboratory sampling machine and methods for maintaining chain of custody for samples
    Patent number: 8235281
    Abstract: A machine and methods for maintaining chain of custody during a sampling procedure is provided, the machine including a sample handling robot having an operation head and a verification head. The verification head can be one of a barcode reader, OCR scanner, of RFID tag reader. The verification head of the machine is adapted to read a sample container prior to sampling an aliquot of liquid, and transferring the aliquot to a testing vial. Each sample container and corresponding testing vial is read prior to performing an operation, such that a chain of custody is properly recorded. The machine can further comprise a secondary robot for improved operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Merit Automation, LLC
    Inventors: Drew Miller, Joe Huppenthal
  • LABORATORY SAMPLING MACHINE AND METHODS FOR MAINTAINING CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR SAMPLES
    Publication number: 20100116876
    Abstract: A machine and methods for maintaining chain of custody during a sampling procedure is provided, the machine including a sample handling robot having an operation head and a verification head. The verification head can be one of a barcode reader, OCR scanner, of RFID tag reader. The verification head of the machine is adapted to read a sample container prior to sampling an aliquot of liquid, and transferring the aliquot to a testing vial. Each sample container and corresponding testing vial is read prior to performing an operation, such that a chain of custody is properly recorded. The machine can further comprise a secondary robot for improved operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MERIT AUTOMATION, LLC
    Inventors: Drew Miller, Joe Huppenthal