Patents by Inventor Peter Massaro
Peter Massaro 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).
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Publication number: 20140000391Abstract: A vessel including an identification region may be placed in a holder. Through interaction of a positioning feature on the vessel and an orientation feature on the holder, the vessel can be placed into an alignment orientation, e.g., such that the identification region may be reliably read by a reader. The identification region may provides information related to the sample, such as vessel identity, sample volume, processes to be performed on the sample, and so on.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 8544348Abstract: A method and tube for separating a sample. The tube is configured to separate agglomerated or clumped material or other sample components having over a particular size from other smaller size portions of the sample. For example, blood clots may be separated from serum of a blood sample. The tube includes a chamber with a closed bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a sample inlet branch coupled to the chamber. A slit is positioned between the chamber and the sample inlet branch so that after a sample is placed into the sample inlet branch, a portion of the sample having a size smaller than the slit (e.g., liquid material) passes through the slit and into the chamber, and material in the sample having a size larger than the slit remains in the sample inlet branch.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 8480953Abstract: A vessel including an identification region may be placed in a holder. Through interaction of a positioning feature on the vessel and an orientation feature on the holder, the vessel can be placed into an alignment orientation, e.g., such that the identification region may be reliably read by a reader. The identification region may provides information related to the sample, such as vessel identity, sample volume, processes to be performed on the sample, and so on.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 8342041Abstract: A method and tube for separating a sample. The tube is configured to separate agglomerated or clumped material or other sample components having over a particular size from other smaller size portions of the sample. For example, blood clots may be separated from serum of a blood sample. The tube includes a chamber with a closed bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a sample inlet branch coupled to the chamber. A slit is positioned between the chamber and the sample inlet branch so that after a sample is placed into the sample inlet branch, a portion of the sample having a size smaller than the slit (e.g., liquid material) passes through the slit and into the chamber, and material in the sample having a size larger than the slit remains in the sample inlet branch.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 8152930Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing residual material from sample wells of a multiwell plate. Wells located on a multiwell plate are placed in fluid communication with wash wells of a wash reservoir where cleaning fluid is provided to remove residual material from the sample wells of the multiwell plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7876935Abstract: A sample processing apparatus has an associated machine vision system. The vision system may acquire an image of at least one fluidic chamber, which can be analyzed by the machine vision system and/or stored. The image and/or analysis of the image may provide a record of the actions of the sample processing apparatus, which permits a user to verify proper operation of the sample processing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20110011189Abstract: A method and tube for separating a sample. The tube is configured to separate agglomerated or clumped material or other sample components having over a particular size from other smaller size portions of the sample. For example, blood clots may be separated from serum of a blood sample. The tube includes a chamber with a closed bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a sample inlet branch coupled to the chamber. A slit is positioned between the chamber and the sample inlet branch so that after a sample is placed into the sample inlet branch, a portion of the sample having a size smaller than the slit (e.g., liquid material) passes through the slit and into the chamber, and material in the sample having a size larger than the slit remains in the sample inlet branch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20100294050Abstract: A vessel including an identification region may be placed in a holder. Through interaction of a positioning feature on the vessel and an orientation feature on the holder, the vessel can be placed into an alignment orientation, e.g., such that the identification region may be reliably read by a reader. The identification region may provides information related to the sample, such as vessel identity, sample volume, processes to be performed on the sample, and so on.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20100294319Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing residual material from sample wells of a multiwell plate. Wells located on a multiwell plate are placed in fluid communication with wash wells of a wash reservoir where cleaning fluid is provided to remove residual material from the sample wells of the multiwell plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7700369Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving material in a multi-well plate includes applying positive and negative pressure to one or more wells in the plate, e.g., to enhance a flow rate of material from the well through a filter element. Wells requiring application of positive pressure may be identified, e.g., by image analysis performed by a machine vision system. Those wells determined to require enhanced throughput may have negative and positive pressure applied to the well, while other wells have only negative pressure applied.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventors: Peter Massaro, Michael Catalano
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Patent number: 7438859Abstract: A sample material, such as a liquid including genomic or proteomic materials, may be deposited on a work surface based on illumination of a sample transfer device by an illumination beam. Illumination of the sample transfer device may cause a portion of the sample transfer device to move and thereby cause separation of a portion of the sample material from the sample transfer device and deposition on a work surface. Illumination may cause an energy transfer from the beam to the sample material to thereby cause deposition of the sample material.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7438857Abstract: A robotically manipulable sample handling tool, such as a colony picking head or robotic pipetting tool, includes needles arranged on the tool. Actuators are associated with each needle to control flow for the needle. A plurality of plungers are each associated with a needle, and movement of the plungers can actuate a corresponding needle. Each of the plungers has a passageway that may be opened or closed, e.g., to move the corresponding needle and/or draw fluid into/expel fluid from the needle when the plunger is moved in the tool body. The actuators are arranged so that plunger passageways may be individually controlled by a controller.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7374525Abstract: A robotic system including a rotatable turntable that has an arm pivotally mounted on the turntable for rotation about an axis displaced from the turntable's rotational axis. The arm's axis of rotation may be positioned nearer the turntable's axis of rotation than a bearing that supports the turntable on a base. The arm may have a portion that extends in a direction transverse to the arm's axis of rotation located below the turntable. The turntable may be supported on the base by a single bearing having portions located in a common plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20080060719Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing a liquid handling process involves the use of a robotic device that manipulates a plurality of separate tools. A first tool may be removably engaged with the robotic device, which manipulates and control the first tool to perform at least one liquid handling task or operation with respect to at least one liquid sample. The first tool may then be positioned at a first location on a support, and disengaged from the robotic device. Thereafter, the first tool may perform at least one liquid handling task or operation while on the support and separated from the robotic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7278328Abstract: A sample handling apparatus identifies sample holders and their location in a sample holder carrier. This information may be used to determine the identity of sample holders based only on location in the carrier during subsequent processing of material contained in the sample holders. Sample holder identity may be automatically read, and placement of holders in a carrier may be automatically determined and correlated with the holder identity. Such information may be stored, e.g., in a memory in the carrier so that sample holders can be easily identified later.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20070177778Abstract: A sample processing apparatus has an associated machine vision system. The vision system may acquire an image of at least one fluidic chamber, which can be analyzed by the machine vision system and/or stored. The image and/or analysis of the image may provide a record of the actions of the sample processing apparatus, which permits a user to verify proper operation of the sample processing apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2006Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7249529Abstract: A sample handling tool, such as a colony picking head or robotic pipetting tool, includes sample handling needles, e.g., capillaries, arranged on the tool. Actuators are associated with each capillary to control flow for the capillary, e.g., to move the capillary and/or draw fluid into/expel fluid from the capillary. The actuators are arranged so that capillaries may be individually controlled by a controller that is capable of outputting a number of control signals that is less than the total number of capillaries. The actuators may be valves that receive two signals from a controller, a first signal that opens or closes the valve, and a second signal that allows fluid to flow in the valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Publication number: 20070173393Abstract: A robotic system including a rotatable turntable that has an arm pivotally mounted on the turntable for rotation about an axis displaced from the turntable's rotational axis. The arm's axis of rotation may be positioned nearer the turntable's axis of rotation than a bearing that supports the turntable on a base. The arm may have a portion that extends in a direction transverse to the arm's axis of rotation located below the turntable. The turntable may be supported on the base by a single bearing having portions located in a common plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro
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Patent number: 7246551Abstract: A sample handling tool includes a body having at least one plunger associated with a channel and arranged for axial movement within the channel. A seal is provided in the channel and sealingly engaged with a contact surface. The contact surface may include a surface feature, such that when contact surface moves, the seal and surface feature come into at least partial contact with one another. The seal may include an elastomeric member, such as an O-ring or X-ring, and the contact surface may be formed from any suitable material, including ceramic. The surface feature may take on a variety of forms including any suitable texture, surface porosity or include one or more grooves, holes, recesses, indentations, bumps, protrusions, etc., or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventors: Peter Massaro, Michael Paschetto
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Patent number: 7125727Abstract: A material handling tool includes a piezoelectric motor that causes actuation of a needle. Actuation of the needle may include aspiration and/or dispensing of a fluid sample and/or movement of the needle to pick or place a material sample.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Protedyne CorporationInventor: Peter Massaro