Patents by Inventor John R. Wells

John R. Wells 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: 5325609
    Abstract: A liquid handling apparatus is employed for washing a coated microtiter plate well. The apparatus includes a probe with a bent outlet which is employed for directing the wash current against the sidewall of the well and for creating swirling current of wash liquid upon such sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Source Scientific Systems Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5282982
    Abstract: A blood washing device is employed for recovering shed blood or other sources of blood and preparing packed red cells therefrom. The device employs a gravity sedimentation procedure but achieves a shortened washing period by using an aggregating reagent for aggregating or agglomerating the red cells so as to increase their sedimentation velocity during the gravity sedimentation. The wash period is further shortened by employing a vessel with a flat shallow configuration for shortening the sedimentation path length of the aggregated red cells. A non-turbulant removal of the resultant broad shallow layer of sedimented red cells is achieved by carefully tilting the vessel after the sedimentation step so as to induce the sedimented red cells to slide or shift into a funnel configuration within the vessel. After the red cells have shifted into a funnel configuration, they are allowed to stand in that configuration so as undergo further concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5264042
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing pellets of magnetic particles magnetically bound to the bottom of a test tube employs a liquid handling probe having an aspiration channel with a forked inlet for positioning the probe onto the periapical region of the test tube for optimizing both the aspiration and expression of liquids. While contacting the periapical region of the test tube, the forked inlet may aspirate liquid adjacent to the pellet without contacting the magnetic particles. Furthermore, the contact between the forked inlet and the periapical region of the test tube, serves to position the outlet of the liquid channel directly over the pellet for dislodging and resuspending the magnetically bound pellet with a forceful stream of wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Jack R. Uren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5195657
    Abstract: Leakage from the manifold of a manifold type multi-channel dispenser, aspirator, or washer may be diminished by employing siphon shaped pipettes and backsipping liquid from the long leg of such siphon shaped pipettes after each use of the device. The siphon shaped pipettes may be attached to the top-most part of the manifold so as to facilitate the purging of bubbles therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Source Scientific Systems
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5185269
    Abstract: The immunobead aspirator reduces the amount of carry over liquid which remains within a test tube or other immunoassay vessel after an aspiration procedure. When the immunobead aspirator lifts up the immunobead during the aspiration procedure, the immunobead contacts an array of protuberances within an inverted bowl from which a vacuum is drawn. The array of protuberances define a hollow which exceeds the size of the immunobead. Accordingly, at any given time, the immunobead makes limited contact with only a portion of the protuberances. This reduces the amount of liquid which is trapped within points of contact between the lifted immunobead and the aspiration device and reduces the amount of carry over liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Source Scientific Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5178602
    Abstract: A centrifuge having an automatic dispensing rotor is employed for pelleting material and automatically decanting supernatant liquid by means of gravity drainage. The automatic decanting rotor employs a magnetically activated lock mechanism for locking swinging buckets in an elevated position while the rotor is at speed. When the rotor is brought to rest, the swinging buckets do not pivot to their rest position but are sustained in their elevated position by means of the magnetically activated lock. Liquids are automatically decanted from the swinging buckets when the rotor is brought to rest while the swinging buckets are sustained within their elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5160333
    Abstract: A method for mixing blood with anticoagulant in conjunction with an autologous blood transfusion system employs a mixing tube for directing the blood to the bottom of a blood bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Solco Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5135238
    Abstract: A lubricated packing assembly for a reciprocating pump. The packing assembly includes a packing ring for sealingly engaging the pump plunger. A seal carrier is disposed adjacent to the packing ring. A vent zone is defined between the packing ring and a vent passage extending longitudinally through the seal carrier. The vent zone includes grooves on inner and outer surfaces of the seal carrier and a hole interconnecting the grooves. This hole is in communication with the vent passage. A lubrication passage is also provided in the seal carrier, and a seal is positioned on opposite sides of the lubrication passage. Lubricant is provided to the plunger between the seals. The lubrication passage and the vent passage are isolated from one another so that communication therebetween is prevented. In this way, leakage past the packing ring is vented without contaminating the lubricant so that pressure from the pumped fluid cannot stop lubricant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Steven A. Box
  • Patent number: 5113886
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing pellets of magnetic particles magnetically bound to the bottom of a test tube employs a liquid handling probe having an aspiration channel with a forked inlet for positioning the probe onto the periapical region of the test tube for optimizing both the aspiration and expression of liquids. While contacting the periapical region of the test tube, the forked inlet may aspirate liquid adjacent to the pellet without contacting the magnetic particles. Furthermore, the contact between the forked inlet and the periapical region of the test tube, serves to position the outlet of the liquid channel directly over the pellet for dislodging and resuspending the magnetically bound pellet with a forceful stream of wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Source Scientific Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Jack R. Uren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5105842
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing pellets of magnetic particles magnetically bound to the bottom of a test tube employs a liquid handling probe having an aspiration channel with a forked inlet for positioning th eprobe onto the periapical region of the test for optimizing both the aspiration and expression of liquids. While contacting the periapical region of the test tube, the forked inlet may aspirate liquid adjacent to the pellet without contacting the magnetic particles. Furthermore, the contact between the forked inlet and the periapical region of the test tube, serves to position the outlet of the liquid channel directly over the pellet for dislodging and resuspending the magnetically bound pellet with a forceful stream of wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Source Scientific Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5096093
    Abstract: The invention is a hand held hydraulic dispenser and a manual method for hydraulically dispensing sample liquids. The hydraulic dispenser acts as a hydraulic press to dispense sample liquids from a magazine which holds the sample liquid. The hydraulic dispenser includes a hydraulic pump and a magazine coupler which are hydraulically connected by a hydraulic hose. A handle portion is incorporated into the magazine coupler to enable the user to support and manipulate the magazine coupler while pipetting liquids. The user first attaches the magazine to the magazine coupler. The user then activates the hydraulic pump in order to generate quantitative positive displacements of hydraulic liquid. These positive displacements of hydraulic liquid are transmitted to the magazine coupler, which, in turn, responds by expanding and collapsing the magazine attached thereto. As a result, sample liquid is aspirated and expressed from the device. The expression of sample fluid from the device is quantitative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5085345
    Abstract: The invention is a hydraulic dispenser and a method for hydraulically dispensing sample liquids. The hydraulic dispenser acts as a hydraulic press to dispense sample liquids from an insertable magazine. The hydraulic dispenser includes a hydraulic pump hydraulically connected to a magazine coupler. The magazine acts as a store for the sample fluid and is inserted into the hydraulic dispenser and connected to the magazine coupler. If the magazine is disposable, it may be unloaded from the hydraulic dispenser and discarded after usage. The hydraulic pump can generate quantitative positive displacements of hydraulic liquid which are transmitted to the magazine coupler. The magazine coupler responds to the hydraulic displacements from the hydraulic pump by collapsing and expanding the magazine inserted therein and thereby expressing and aspirating sample liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5073096
    Abstract: A front-discharge fluid end for a reciprocating pump. The fluid end is distinguished by an outlet valve which is positioned substantially coaxially with the pump plunger and generally facing a longitudinally outer end thereof. The outlet valve is held in place by a valve retainer which includes an outlet port and is connectable to an outlet line. For retrofitting prior pump cylinders, a plug assembly is disclosed for plugging the original outlet valve pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Randall K. King, John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 5047004
    Abstract: A centrifuge having an automatic dispensing rotor is employed for pelleting material and automatically decanting supernatant liquid by means of gravity drainage. The automatic decanting rotor employs a magnetically activated lock mechanism for locking swinging buckets in an elevated position while the rotor is at speed. When the rotor is brought to rest, the swinging buckets do not pivot to their rest position but are sustained in their elevated position by means of the magnetically activated lock. Liquids are automatically decanted from the swinging buckets when the rotor is brought to rest while the swinging buckets are sustained within their elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: John R. Wells
  • Patent number: 4967606
    Abstract: An improved method for pipetting multiple aliquots of liquid employs a preliminary back sip prior the first expression of an aliquot of the liquid; an adjustable back sip between each expression of aliquots of liquid; and a blow out volume of air, aspirated into the pipette prior to the initial aspiration of liquid, for blowing out residual liquid after the expression of the last aliquot of liquid. The improved method for pipetting liquid may be performed on an improve apparatus which includes a microprocessor having within its memory a schedule or correlation for the optimal back sip to execute after the expression of any given aliquot. The microprocessor may also include means for driving the apparatus so as to perform the preliminary back sip and the aspiration of the blow out volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Caveo Scientific Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Robert Caveney
  • Patent number: 4950220
    Abstract: A throughput centrifuge for the industrial production of proteins from human blood plasma, with a cylindrical centrifuge drum provided with several concentric chambers that communicate at the bottom and with the blood plasma or similar material being supplied to the central zone and a liquid phase continuously extracted from the outer zone. The drum accordingly accommodates plastic containers constituting concentric annular or annular-segmental chambers that communicate through at least one channel at the bottom, wherein the container or containers toward the axis that the drum rotates around have an inlet connection and the container or containers in the outer zone of the drum have an outlet channel at the top, and wherein the outer surfaces of the containers, of the communicating channel or channels, of the outlet channel or channels, and of the inlet connection or connections rest against the inner surfaces of the drum and against structures that can be inserted into and removed from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Gunthard Pautsch, Detlef Grabbe, Werner Kohlstette
  • Patent number: 4817049
    Abstract: A data logging device has a data memory unit (11) and a transducer interface unit (1). The data memory unit has an internal power source (12), an integrated circuit memory component (23) for storing data under the control of a microprocessor (18) in the memory unit, light emitting diodes (14, 21) for indicating the amount of data stored in the memory component and the power source state. A connector component (19) connects the memory component to receive data from the transducer interface unit. The transducer interface unit (1) has a plurality of ports (2) for connection of remote transducers and an analog to digital converter (5) for translating signals received from the ports into data signals which can be transferred to the memory component in the data memory unit through a connector component (9) connected to the connector component (19) of the data memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Datapaq, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Bates, John R. Wells, Ronald A. Shapiro, Richard L. Tenney
  • Patent number: 4765899
    Abstract: Continuous, noncentrifugal, unit gravity, sedimentation apparatus for separating blood into an erythrocyte-enriched plasma fraction and a leukocyte/platelet-enriched plasma fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John R. Wells, John W. Grant
  • Patent number: 4673501
    Abstract: A disposable vacuum assisted filter funnel for filtering fluids into bottles. The bottle top filter forms a vacuum dependent seal with the mouth of the bottle. When fluid is introduced into the bottle top filter, the evacuated bottle draws the fluid through the filter into the bottle. The bottle top filter lacks a vacuum plenum between the vacuum source and the bottle. The bottle top filter may be manufactured from one molded piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Miles Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wells, Carmelo G. Quirante
  • Patent number: D333870
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: John R. Wells