Patents by Inventor Ronald Chang
Ronald Chang 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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Patent number: 9446409Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: CEPHEIDInventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steven Montgomery
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Publication number: 20160178489Abstract: Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: SYFR, INC.Inventors: Shazi S. Iqbal, Steven M Montgomery, Ronald Chang, Gregory E. Mote, Douglas B. Dority, Jeffrey S. Ross
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Publication number: 20160158753Abstract: A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least one external port. The fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled with at least one external port of the body. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the at least one external port selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: DOUGLAS B. DORITY, Ronald Chang
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Patent number: 9322052Abstract: A cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction includes a body having at least one flow path formed therein. The cartridge also includes a reaction vessel extending from the body for holding a reaction mixture for chemical reaction and optical detection. The vessel comprises a rigid frame defining the side walls of a reaction chamber. The frame includes at least one channel connecting the flow path to the chamber. The vessel also includes flexible films or sheets attached to opposite sides of the rigid frame to form opposing major walls of the chamber. In addition, at least two of the side walls are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each to permit real-time optical detection of analyte in the reaction chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: CepheidInventors: Kurt E. Petersen, William McMillan, Farzad Pourahmadi, Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority
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Patent number: 9316590Abstract: The present invention provides a reaction vessel and apparatus for performing heat-exchanging reactions. The vessel has a chamber for holding a sample, the chamber being defined by a plurality of walls, at least two of the walls being light transmissive to provide optical windows to the chamber. The apparatus comprises at least one heating surface for contacting at least one of the plurality of walls, at least one heat source for heating the surface, and optics positioned to optically interrogate the chamber while the heating surface is in contact with at least one of the plurality of walls.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: CepheidInventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas Dority
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Patent number: 9212980Abstract: A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least one external port. The fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled with at least one external port of the body. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the at least one external port selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: CepheidInventors: Douglas Dority, Ronald Chang
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Publication number: 20150352545Abstract: An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the transducer and the flexible wall. The apparatus may also include beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Michael T. Taylor, Phillip Belgrader, Farzad Pourahmadi, William A. McMillan, Ronald Chang, Stanley H. Sakai, Jesus Ching
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Patent number: 9156032Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample. The cartridge provides for the efficient separation of cells or viruses in the sample from the remaining sample fluid, lysis of the cells or viruses to release the analyte (e.g., nucleic acid) therefrom, and optionally chemical reaction and/or detection of the analyte. The cartridge is useful in a variety of diagnostic, life science research, environmental, or forensic applications for determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes in a sample.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: CepheidInventors: Kurt E. Peterson, Michael T. Taylor, Farzad Pourahmadi, William A. McMillan, Ronald Chang, Stanley H. Sakai, Jesus Ching, Douglas P. Dority, Philip Belgrader, M. Allen Northrup
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Patent number: 9073053Abstract: An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the transducer and the flexible wall. The apparatus may also include beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: CepheidInventors: Michael T. Taylor, Phillip Belgrader, Farzad Pourahmadi, William A. McMillan, Ronald Chang, Stanley H. Sakai, Jesus Ching
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Publication number: 20150176057Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for carrying out multiple amplification reactions in a single reaction chamber by successive cycles of loading reaction mixture, amplifying, and removing spent reaction mixture in a fluidly closed reaction system. In particular, the present invention allows amplification of a plurality of target polynucleotides from a single sample by carrying out under closed-loop control successive amplifications of different target polynucleotides from different portions of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Joseph H. Smith, David H. Persing, Alan Wortman, Ronald Chang, David Swenson
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Patent number: 9042068Abstract: The present invention provides a protection circuit. The protection circuit includes an output stage circuit and a feedback unit that generates a first current. Under a first condition that the first current is one of currents larger than and equal to a rated current and the first condition remains for a first period, the feedback unit controls the output stage circuit to restrict the first current. Under a second condition that the first current is one of currents larger than and equal to a restriction current and the second condition remains for a second period, the feedback unit controls the output stage circuit to terminate the first current.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: HANERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Xiao-Ming Duan, Ronald Chang
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Patent number: 8975039Abstract: Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: SYFR, Inc.Inventors: Shazi Iqbal, Steven M. Montgomery, Ronald Chang, Gregory Mote, Douglas B Dority, Jeffrey S. Ross
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Patent number: 8900828Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for carrying out multiple amplification reactions in a single reaction chamber by successive cycles of loading reaction mixture, amplifying, and removing spent reaction mixture in a fluidly closed reaction system. In particular, the present invention allows amplification of a plurality of target polynucleotides from a single sample by carrying out under closed-loop control successive amplifications of different target polynucleotides from different portions of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: CepheidInventors: Joseph H. Smith, David H. Persing, Alan Wortman, Ronald Chang, David Swenson
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Publication number: 20140335627Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: CepheidInventors: RONALD CHANG, Douglas B. Dority, Steven Montgomery
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Publication number: 20140295479Abstract: A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least one external port. The fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled with at least one external port of the body. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the at least one external port selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: CepheidInventors: Douglas DORITY, Ronald CHANG
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Patent number: 8815521Abstract: An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the transducer and the flexible wall. The apparatus may also include beads in the chamber for rupturing the cells or viruses.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: CepheidInventors: Michael T. Taylor, Farzad Pourahmadi, William A. McMillan, Ronald Chang
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Patent number: 8810225Abstract: Methods of a switching mode DC/DC converter are provided in the present invention. The proposed method includes a step of causing a switching frequency of the converter to be operated at a rated value multiplied by a second predetermined value when an output voltage of the converter is not larger than a first predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Hanergy Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chung-Kuang Huang, Xiao-Ming Duan, Ronald Chang
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Publication number: 20140206074Abstract: A cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction includes a body having at least one flow path formed therein. The cartridge also includes a reaction vessel extending from the body for holding a reaction mixture for chemical reaction and optical detection. The vessel comprises a rigid frame defining the side walls of a reaction chamber. The frame includes at least one channel connecting the flow path to the chamber. The vessel also includes flexible films or sheets attached to opposite sides of the rigid frame to form opposing major walls of the chamber. In addition, at least two of the side walls are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each to permit real-time optical detection of analyte in the reaction chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Inventors: Kurt E. Peterson, William McMillan, Farzad Pourahmadi, Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority
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Patent number: 8765453Abstract: Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: SYFR, Inc.Inventors: Shazi S Iqbal, Steven M Montgomery, Ronald Chang, Gregory E Mote, Douglas B Dority, Jeffrey S Ross
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Patent number: 8747782Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: CepheidInventors: Ronald Chang, Douglas B. Dority, Steven Montgomery