Patents by Inventor Stephen Barnes

Stephen Barnes 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: 12590665
    Abstract: An integrity monitoring system for a lined pipeline is provided for monitoring the integrity of a polymer liner in a host pipe. Methods and apparatus are described by which a lined pipeline is provided with such an integrity monitoring system. Sensor cable is able to bridge a joint between sections of lined pipe, for example by routing the sensor cable across the joint via a channel in an electrofusion fitting or by connecting successive lengths of sensor cable via pass-throughs in an electrofusion fitting. Advantageously, the sensor cable is disposed within a continuous annulus between linings and host pipes, and the continuous annulus is maintained across pipe joints using electrofusion fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: PIONEER LINING TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20260016496
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for automatic sampling of immune cells from a biological fluid sample deposited in a well of a microwell plate. The microwell plate is placed on a shaker having a magnetic adapter including at least one magnet. The magnet causes red blood cells (RBCs) bound to magnetic beads to be attracted to and migrate to a wall of the well. The shaker is then operated to shake the microwell plate such that the immune cells are substantially isolated from the RBCs in a region of the well. A sample probe is then lowered into the region of the well to withdraw a portion of the sample containing the immune cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Zhaoping Liu, Stephen Barnes, Dominique Perez, Christopher Suski
  • Publication number: 20260004001
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments describe systems and methods for approving a transfer. User information may be accessed for a plurality of users in a group. Account information for a plurality of disparate electronic accounts associated with the group may be accessed. The disparate electronic accounts may be integrated and managed through a central entitlements engine. Permissions information associated with the user information and the account information may be accessed. A transfer request for an account in the plurality of disparate electronic accounts may be received from a first user device associated with a first user of the plurality of users. The transfer request may be sent to a second user device associated with a second user of the plurality of users. An electronic indication of an approval of the transfer request may be received. The permissions information may be modifiable by input from the second user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Applicant: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen BARNES, Joseph QUINAN, Harish Babu KONDA, Michael S. MASTERSON
  • Patent number: 12449433
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for automatic sampling of immune cells from a biological fluid sample, e.g., whole blood, deposited in a well of a microwell plate. The microwell plate is placed on a shaker having a magnetic adapter including at least one magnet. The magnet causes red blood cells (RBCs) bound to magnetic beads to be attracted to and migrate to a wall of the well. The shaker is then operated to shake the microwell plate such that the immune cells are substantially isolated from the RBCs in a region of the well. A sample probe is then lowered into the region of the well to withdraw a portion of the sample containing the immune cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2025
    Assignee: Sartorius BioAnalytical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaoping Liu, Stephen Barnes, Dominique Perez, Christopher Suski
  • Publication number: 20240426405
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making lined pipelines utilize lined pipes and fittings attached to the ends of the lined pipes. Castellations are formed on the inner surfaces of the fittings. First and second ends of a fit-up sleeve are inserted into the fittings on the ends of first and second lined pipes and the first and second ends of the fit-up sleeve force portions of the liners within the pipes into engagement with the castellations on the inner surfaces of the fittings. The fittings are then attached to each other to join the first and second lined pipes together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen BARNES
  • Publication number: 20240418305
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making lined pipelines in which pipes are joined together. Within the joint there is a fit-up sleeve which forces liners against respective pipes and provides corresponding seals. Other seals can be provided by inserting sealing rings which force different portions of the liners against different portions of the pipes. The fit-up sleeve and sealing rings force the liners against castellations which prevent movement of the liners. The fit-up sleeve may cooperate with insertion rims on the pipes to provide very accurate spacing, or touching edges which can be desirable if automatic welding is employed. The seals provided by the fit-up sleeve also eliminate backdraughts and assist welding operations. Furthermore, the fit-up sleeve permits pigging through the pipe joint and therefore along the length of the resulting lined pipeline. It is foreseen that the need for CRA components and CRA welding can be largely if not wholly dispensed with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen BARNES
  • Patent number: 12110991
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making lined pipelines in which pipes are joined together by attaching fittings at their ends and joining the fittings together. Within the joint there is a fit-up sleeve which forces liners against respective fittings and provides corresponding seals. Other seals can be provided by inserting sealing rings which force different portions of the liners against different portions of the fittings. The fit-up sleeve and sealing rings may force the liners against castellations which prevent movement of the liners. The fit-up sleeve may cooperate with insertion rims on the fittings to provide very accurate spacing, or touching edges which can be desirable if automatic welding is employed. The seals provided by the fit-up sleeve also eliminate backdraughts and assist welding operations. Furthermore, the fit-up sleeve permits pigging through the pipe joint and therefore along the length of the resulting lined pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: FLOWLINING LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20240117916
    Abstract: An integrity monitoring system for a lined pipeline is provided for monitoring the integrity of a polymer liner in a host pipe. Methods and apparatus are described by which a lined pipeline is provided with such an integrity monitoring system. Sensor cable is able to bridge a joint between sections of lined pipe, for example by routing the sensor cable across the joint via a channel in an electrofusion fitting or by connecting successive lengths of sensor cable via pass-throughs in an electrofusion fitting. Advantageously, the sensor cable is disposed within a continuous annulus between linings and host pipes, and the continuous annulus is maintained across pipe joints using electrofusion fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20240019066
    Abstract: A method creates a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting has at least one heating element, which is suitably disposed on or in an outer surface of the electrofusion fitting and is electrically isolated from an inner surface of the fitting. The method includes locating an end of the electrofusion fitting within an end of the section of lined pipe, locating an induction coil within a bore of the electrofusion fitting in the vicinity of the at least one heating element, and supplying electrical power to the induction coil to energise the at least one heating element by electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Patent number: 11796091
    Abstract: An improved pipe liner and associated methods, including a method of manufacturing the improved pipe liner and a method of lining a host pipe with such a pipe liner. The invention solves the problem of gas permeation through a polymer liner in hydrocarbon service which can result in corrosion of the host pipe and can also cause liner collapse. Corrosion occurs due to contact between corrosive species and the host pipe itself. Gases (307) can also accumulate in an annulus between or within the liner (305) and the host pipe (303) and expand during operational de-pressurisation of the pipeline, causing collapse of the liner. The improved pipe liner comprises a barrier layer (311), which prevents permeation through the liner, surrounding an inner polymer pipe (305A) and optionally covered by an outer polymer pipe (305B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Flowlining Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Patent number: 11739876
    Abstract: A method of creating a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting comprises at least one heating element, which is suitably disposed on or in an outer surface of the electrofusion fitting and is electrically isolated from an inner surface of the fitting. The method comprises locating an end of the electrofusion fitting within an end of the section of lined pipe, locating an induction coil within a bore of the electrofusion fitting in the vicinity of the at least one heating element, and supplying electrical power to the induction coil to energise the at least one heating element by electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Pioneer Lining Technology Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20230213136
    Abstract: An integrity monitoring system for a lined pipeline is provided for monitoring the integrity of a polymer liner in a host pipe. Methods and apparatus are described by which a lined pipeline is provided with such an integrity monitoring system sensor cable is able to bridge a joint between sections of lined pipe, for example by routing the sensor cable across the joint via a channel in an electrofusion fitting or by connecting successive lengths of sensor cable via pass-throughs in an electrofusion fitting. Advantageously, the sensor cable is disposed within a continuous annulus between linings and host pipes, and the continuous annulus is maintained across pipe joints using electrofusion fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20220341514
    Abstract: An improved pipe liner and associated methods, including a method of manufacturing the improved pipe liner and a method of lining a host pipe with such a pipe liner. The invention solves the problem of gas permeation through a polymer liner in hydrocarbon service which can result in corrosion of the host pipe and can also cause liner collapse. Corrosion occurs due to contact between corrosive species and the host pipe itself. Gases (307) can also accumulate in an annulus between or within the liner (305) and the host pipe (303) and expand during operational de-pressurisation of the pipeline, causing collapse of the liner. The improved pipe liner comprises a barrier layer (311), which prevents permeation through the liner, surrounding an inner polymer pipe (305A) and optionally covered by an outer polymer pipe (305B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen BARNES
  • Publication number: 20220341515
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making lined pipelines in which pipes are joined together by attaching fittings at their ends and joining the fittings together. Within the joint there is a fit-up sleeve which forces liners against respective fittings and provides corresponding seals. Other seals can be provided by inserting sealing rings which force different portions of the liners against different portions of the fittings. The fit-up sleeve and sealing rings may force the liners against castellations which prevent movement of the liners. The fit-up sleeve may cooperate with insertion rims on the fittings to provide very accurate spacing, or touching edges which can be desirable if automatic welding is employed. The seals provided by the fit-up sleeve also eliminate backdraughts and assist welding operations. Furthermore, the fit-up sleeve permits pigging through the pipe joint and therefore along the length of the resulting lined pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen BARNES
  • Patent number: 11454346
    Abstract: An integrity monitoring system for a lined pipeline is provided for monitoring the integrity of a polymer liner in a host pipe. Methods and apparatus are described by which a lined pipeline is provided with such an integrity monitoring system. Sensor cable is able to bridge a joint between sections at lined pipe, for example by routing the sensor cable across the joint via a channel in an electrofusion fitting or by connecting successive lengths of sensor cable via pass-throughs in an electrofusion fitting. Advantageously, the sensor cable is disposed within a continuous annulus between linings and host pipes, and the continuous annulus is maintained across pipe joints using electrofusion fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Pioneer Lining Technology Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20220065879
    Abstract: A method for automatic sampling of immune cells from a biological fluid sample, e.g., whole blood, deposited in a well of a microwell plate. The sample contains red blood cells (RBCs) and magnetic beads which are designed to bind to the RBCs. The microwell plate is placed on a shaker having a magnetic adapter including at least one magnet. The magnet causes the RBCs bound to the magnetic beads to be attracted to and migrate to a wall of the well (e.g., the bottom or side wall) and be held against the wall. The shaker is then operated to shake the microwell plate in a manner and for a time period so as to suspend substantially evenly or homogeneously the immune cells in the biological fluid sample within a region of the well but still retain the holding of the RBCs to the wall of the well such that the immune cells are substantially isolated from the RBCs in the region of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Zhaoping LIU, Stephen BARNES, Dominique PEREZ, Christopher SUSKI
  • Patent number: 11169073
    Abstract: The disclosure provides example rinse station apparatus, cartridges, and methods for flow cytometry. The rinse station apparatus includes: (a) a cartridge docking station having a base with a recessed receptacle for a cartridge, a vertical support coupled to the base's first end and a top support coupled to the vertical support and cantilevered over the base, the top support has an opening that aligns with the cartridge's opening, (b) a locking arm coupled to the base's second end, the locking arm's free end has a ridge to cooperate with a detent coupled to the cartridge's rear wall to retain the cartridge in place, (c) a spring coupled to the vertical support's front face to apply force to the cartridge's front wall to bias the cartridge toward the locking arm, and (d) a load cell coupled to the base of the cartridge docking station, the load cell measure's the cartridge's weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Essen Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Barnes, Zachary Kane, Richard Bennett, Jason Barrett
  • Patent number: 11137336
    Abstract: A flow cytometer module configured to be integrated with a liquid handling system is provided herein. The flow cytometer module includes (a) a flow cell, (b) a first fluidic pathway, (c) an inlet configured to receive a sample introduction device of the liquid handling system including one or more samples, (d) a second fluidic pathway in fluid communication with the first fluidic pathway, (e) a laser interrogation device configured to examine the one or more samples at a laser interrogation point in the second fluidic pathway, and (f) a controller in communication with the liquid handling system and configured to cause the flow cytometer module to perform functions comprising: (i) recording data from the laser interrogation device corresponding to a plurality of events as the one or more samples pass the laser interrogation point, and (ii) transmitting the data corresponding to the plurality of events to the liquid handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Essen Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Patent number: 11047513
    Abstract: In order to reduce or remove the potential risk of heat damage in the absence of cooling jackets when joining lined pipe sections, each lined pipe section is provided with an insulatory sleeve which is disposed between the host pipe and the respective liner. The sleeves provide discrete thermal protection to the ends of the liners and, where applicable, electrofusion welds between an electrofusion fitting and the liners. The sleeves are first located in the ends of the host pipes which are then lined by drawing the liners through the host pipes via a reduction die to reduce their external diameter. The liners are then reverted towards their original dimensions resulting in a tight fitting against the internal surface of the host pipes and of the insulatory sleeves thereby compressing the insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Pioneer Lining Technology Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Barnes
  • Publication number: 20200371012
    Abstract: The disclosure provides example rinse station apparatus, cartridges, and methods for flow cytometry. The rinse station apparatus includes: (a) a cartridge docking station having a base with a recessed receptacle for a cartridge, a vertical support coupled to the base's first end and a top support coupled to the vertical support and cantilevered over the base, the top support has an opening that aligns with the cartridge's opening, (b) a locking arm coupled to the base's second end, the locking arm's free end has a ridge to cooperate with a detent coupled to the cartridge's rear wall to retain the cartridge in place, (c) a spring coupled to the vertical support's front face to apply force to the cartridge's front wall to bias the cartridge toward the locking arm, and (d) a load cell coupled to the base of the cartridge docking station, the load cell measure's the cartridge's weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Barnes, Zachary Kane, Richard Bennett, Jason Barrett