Patents by Inventor John Bridwell

John Bridwell 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).

  • Patent number: 7421831
    Abstract: The system for removing or replacing caps for vials in a fixed array includes a removable cartridge with a plurality of sets of gripper plates corresponding to the number of columns in the array. Each plate has a plurality of gripper arms corresponding to the number of rows in the array. The gripper arms have hooked ends which are oriented in opposite directions in each set of plates. Relative positioning of the gripper arms is varied by one or more rotating cams, which cause the gripper arms on one plate of each set to move relative to the gripper arms of the other plate(s) of the set, varying the combined width and/or relative angle of the gripper arms to manipulate a cap inserted into the end of each vial. The plurality of plate sets and gripper arms allow all vials in the array to be capped or de-capped simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nexus Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Neeper, John Bridwell
  • Publication number: 20070095024
    Abstract: The system for removing or replacing caps for vials in a fixed array includes a removable cartridge with a plurality of sets of gripper plates corresponding to the number of columns in the array. Each plate has a plurality of gripper arms corresponding to the number of rows in the array. The gripper arms have hooked ends which are oriented in opposite directions in each set of plates. Relative positioning of the gripper arms is varied by one or more rotating cams, which cause the gripper arms on one plate of each set to move relative to the gripper arms of the other plate(s) of the set, varying the combined width and/or relative angle of the gripper arms to manipulate a cap inserted into the end of each vial. The plurality of plate sets and gripper arms allow all vials in the array to be capped or de-capped simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Neeper, John Bridwell
  • Patent number: 6808935
    Abstract: An automated sample-on-solid-support processing system includes a treatment solution supply subsystem which feeds solvent to a dispenser to dispense a measured amount of treatment solution to each well of a multi-well plate. The dispenser measures the solution within a fill container having a plurality of reservoir wells corresponding to the number of wells in the multi-well plate. The fill container is contained within a reservoir chamber that is filled with an excess of solution. Each reservoir well is surrounded by a plurality of bores which drains excess solution from the top of the fill container so that a precise amount of solution is left in the reservoir wells when solution is drained out of the reservoir chamber. Gas pressure is introduced into the reservoir chamber to force the solution out of the reservoir well through a bundle of tubes, with one tube per well, and into the wells of the multi-well plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Discovery Partners International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Levin, Rob Neeper, John Bridwell
  • Patent number: 6503457
    Abstract: A sample/collection container includes a plurality of wells, each for separating a sample from its solid support when solvent is dispensed into the wells and the centrifuge is activated at a low speed. Operation of the centrifuge at high speed concentrates the cleaved sample in collection wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Discovery Partners International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rob Neeper, John Lillig, John Bridwell, Allan Childers
  • Patent number: 6432365
    Abstract: An automated sample-on-solid-support processing system includes a treatment solution supply subsystem which feeds solvent to a dispenser to dispense a measured amount of treatment solution to each well of a multi-well plate. The dispenser measures the solution within a fill container having a plurality of reservoir wells corresponding to the number of wells in the multi-well plate. The fill container is contained within a reservoir chamber that is filled with an excess of solution. Each reservoir well is surrounded by a plurality of bores which drains excess solution from the top of the fill container so that a precise amount of solution is left in the reservoir wells when solution is drained out of the reservoir chamber. Gas pressure is introduced into the reservoir chamber to force the solution out of the reservoir well through a bundle of tubes, with one tube per well, and into the wells of the multi-well plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Discovery Partners International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Levin, Rob Neeper, John Bridwell
  • Publication number: 20020090737
    Abstract: An automated sample-on-solid-support processing system includes a treatment solution supply subsystem which feeds solvent to a dispenser to dispense a measured amount of treatment solution to each well of a multi-well plate. The dispenser measures the solution within a fill container having a plurality of reservoir wells corresponding to the number of wells in the multi-well plate. The fill container is contained within a reservoir chamber that is filled with an excess of solution. Each reservoir well is surrounded by a plurality of bores which drains excess solution from the top of the fill container so that a precise amount of solution is left in the reservoir wells when solution is drained out of the reservoir chamber. Gas pressure is introduced into the reservoir chamber to force the solution out of the reservoir well through a bundle of tubes, with one tube per well, and into the wells of the multi-well plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Levin, Rob Neeper, John Bridwell
  • Publication number: 20020037588
    Abstract: A sample/collection container includes a plurality of wells, each for separating a sample from its solid support when solvent is dispensed into the wells and the centrifuge is activated at a low speed. Operation of the centrifuge at high speed concentrates the cleaved sample in collection wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Rob Neeper, John Lillig, John Bridwell, Allan Childers
  • Patent number: 6017318
    Abstract: A feedback controlled drug delivery system includes the automated sampling and analysis of a patient sample and dosing the patient based on the analysis. Automated sampling may be performed by direct analysis of the patient sample, such as for the measurement of a blood sample coagulation state or a glucose level. The drug delivery system includes a sample set that has a bidirectional patient tube that allows for delivery of the patient sample to an analyzer, and at another time, the infusion of a therapeutic drug. A controller receives a measurement from the analyzer, and based on that measurement, adjusts the delivery of the therapeutic fluid. The sample set has a quick--clear Leur fitting that allows for more effectively clearing a first fluid from a Leur fitting when starting a second fluid. The system also has a reagent cassette holder that protects, using a foam gasket, a reagent on a sample slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Gensia Automedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Gauthier, Steve M. Harrington, John Bridwell, Ronald Irwin, Richard A. Sorich