Patents by Inventor John R. Kernan

John R. Kernan 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: 6375819
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a gel delivery module containing a gel syringe/a stepper motor or a high pressure chamber with a pump to quickly and uniformly deliver gel through the capillary tubes. The system further includes a multi-wavelength beam generator to generate a laser beam which produces a beam with a wide range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: Qingbo Li, Changsheng Liu, Thomas E. Kane, John R. Kernan, Bernard Sonnenschein, Michael V. Sharer
  • Patent number: 6365024
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a gel delivery module containing a gel syringe/a stepper motor or a high pressure chamber with a pump to quickly and uniformly deliver gel through the capillary tubes. The system further includes a multi-wavelength beam generator to generate a laser beam which produces a beam with a wide range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: Qingbo Li, Thomas E. Kane, Changsheng Liu, Bernard Sonnenschein, Michael V. Sharer, John R. Kernan
  • Patent number: 6063251
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. Electrical crosstalk between neighboring capillaries is attenuated using a protective tubing formed from an electrically insulative material. This crosstalk attenuation is provided in the form of sheathing, either around individual capillaries, or around bundles of spaced apart capillaries. Crosstalk attenuation may be enhanced by passing a nonconductive gas or liquid through lumens formed in the protective tubing, in which lumens the capillary tubes are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kane, John R. Kernan, Changsheng Liu, Qingbo Li
  • Patent number: 6027627
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a gel delivery module containing a gel syringe/a stepper motor or a high pressure chamber with a pump to quickly and uniformly deliver gel through the capillary tubes. The system further includes a multi-wavelength beam generator to generate a laser beam which produces a beam with a wide range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: Qingbo Li, Thomas E. Kane, Changsheng Liu, Bernard Sonnenschein, Michael V. Sharer, John R. Kernan
  • Patent number: 5916428
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The capillary cartridge has two embodiments. In one embodiment, the second ends of the capillary tubes are also arranged is such an array. In a second embodiment, the second ends communicate with an interior cavity of pressure cell from which solutions, gels and the like may be introduced. The pressure cell allows for applying high pressure to clean out the capillary tubes. An apparatus for performing automated capillary gel electrophoresis using such a cartridge is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kane, Qingbo China Li, John R. Kernan
  • Patent number: 5885430
    Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The capillary cartridge has two embodiments. In one embodiment, the second ends of the capillary tubes are also arranged is such an array. In a second embodiment, the second ends communicate with an interior cavity of pressure cell from which solutions, gels and the like may be introduced. The pressure cell allows for applying high pressure to clean out the capillary tubes. An apparatus for performing automated capillary gel electrophoresis using such a cartridge is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Spectrumedix Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Kernan, Thomas E. Kane