Patents by Inventor Steven T. Nielsen

Steven T. Nielsen 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: 7684964
    Abstract: Embodiments of model and system state synchronization are presented herein. An exemplary model of a distributed system includes a plurality of instances where an instance includes an instantiation of a type that includes property values and relationships in the model of the distributed system and includes an associated version history to link each version of an instance to a change request for the distributed system. Other exemplary methods, systems, devices, etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Outhred, Eric K Han, Kevin D. J. Grealish, Mathilde C. Brown, Reid B Gustin, Rob Mensching, Steven T Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7565275
    Abstract: Embodiments of model and system state synchronization are presented herein. An exemplary model of a distributed system includes a plurality of instances where an instance includes an instantiation of a type that includes property values and relationships in the model of the distributed system and includes an associated version history to link each version of an instance to a change request for the distributed a system. Other exemplary methods, systems, devices, etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Outhred, Eric K Han, Kevin D. J. Grealish, Mathilde C. Brown, Reid B Gustin, Rob Mensching, Steven T Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6967004
    Abstract: A pipette tip and mounting shaft combination in an air displacement pipette, the combination comprising a pipette tip mounting shaft having a radially stepped exterior comprising adjacent substantially cylindrical portions of different diameter and an annular sealing zone including an annular edge seal at an outermost edge of a radially extending shaft transition, a pipette tip including an annular sealing region having an inner sealing surface on a sidewall of the tip which in the sealing region is sufficiently thin as to expand slightly and form an interference fit and air tight seal between the sealing surface and the sealing zone when the sealing zone penetrates the sealing region, and axial penetration limiting means for limiting penetration of the shaft into the tip to limit axial contact between the sealing region and the sealing zone to a narrow annular band comprising the annular edge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Rainin, James S. Petrek, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6737023
    Abstract: An air displacement pipette having axially spaced annular sealing and substantially cylindrical lateral support zones on the outer surface of the pipette's mounting shaft for mating with axially spaced annular sealing and substantially cylindrical lateral support regions on the inner surface of a pipette tip, whereby the pipette tip is easily and firmly mountable on and easily ejectable from the pipette tip mounting shaft by the application of minimal axial mounting and ejection forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly, James S. Petrek, Kenneth Rainin, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20030082078
    Abstract: A pipette tip and mounting shaft combination in an air displacement pipette, the combination comprising a pipette tip mounting shaft having a radially stepped exterior comprising adjacent substantially cylindrical portions of different diameter and an annular sealing zone including an annular edge seal at an outermost edge of a radially extending shaft transition, a pipette tip including an annular sealing region having an inner sealing surface on a sidewall of the tip which in the sealing region is sufficiently thin as to expand slightly and form an interference fit and air tight seal between the sealing surface and the sealing zone when the sealing zone penetrates the sealing region, and axial penetration limiting means for limiting penetration of the shaft into the tip to limit axial contact between the sealing region and the sealing zone to a narrow annular band comprising the annular edge seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Rainin Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Rainin, James S. Petrek, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6168761
    Abstract: An air displacement pipette having axially spaced annular sealing and substantially cylindrical lateral support zones and regions on the pipette's mounting shaft and tip, respectively, in combination with structure for insuring uniform depth of mounting shaft penetration into the pipette tip to maintain uniform tip interference with the mounting shaft as successive tips are mounted on and ejected from the mounting shaft whereby the pipette tip is easily and firmly mountable on and easily ejectable from the pipette tip mounting shaft by the application of axial mounting and ejection forces of about two pounds and one pound, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly, James S. Petrek, Kenneth Rainin, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4990129
    Abstract: An adapter preferably of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is provided for use with a conical centrifuge tube in an ultracentrifuge swinging bucket rotor hole and is designed to allow the easy removal of the adapter and tube after centrifugation. At the top of the adapter is an integral annular rim with an outside diameter equal to that of a cylindrical upper portion of the centrifuge tube and with a minimal clearance to the diameter of the rotor hole. Immediately below the annular rim and adapter diameter reduces to a lesser diameter and continues until intersection with a hemispherical bottom region. The internal configuration of the adapter has a tapered conical section ending in a reduced diameter hemisphere, the internal taper and hemisphere of the adapter exactly matching the exterior of supported conical portion and hemispherical termination end of the sample tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4690670
    Abstract: A screw plug self-taps itself into an open filler stem of a thin plastic cylindrical centrifuge tube to press an underside of the plug against the annular top surface of the stem after the solutions to be centrifuged have been placed in the tube to seal the tube. A support crown may support the stem during the screw plug insertion into the stem and supports an upper portion of the tube adjacent the stem when the tube is inserted in a centrifuge rotor. Auxiliary seals may also be provided to ensure sealing of the tube stem. An annular fractionating plug is screwable into the tapped aperture in the stem after centrifuging, to remove the centrifuged tube contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4537320
    Abstract: A centrifuge tube for use in an ultracentrifuge has a closed bottom end shaped to mate with the bottom of a rotor cavity, a body portion and an upper end that terminates in a filler stem. The filler stem may be externally threaded. A removable support crown screws on the threaded filler stem or otherwise fits over the filler stem to center and support the stem within the rotor cavity of the ultracentrifuge. A swage plug fits within the support crown to seal off the inner volume of the centrifuge tube during centrifugation. The tube is filled and access is obtained to the liquid sample by removing the swage plug; sealing is accomplished by reversing the process. In one embodiment a universal crown, of a diameter smaller than the expected diameter of the rotor, is used in conjunction with a support bushing of suitable annular thickness to firmly support the filler stem in the rotor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4511349
    Abstract: A thin-wall centrifuge tube having multiple chambers for use in fluid sample investigation with an ultracentrifuge. More particularly, the multiple chamber ultracentrifuge tube can be used, for example, in lipoprotein separation. The ultracentrifuge tube may have two or more separate chambers which, subsequent to centrifugation, can be sealed from each other to retain the separated constituents of the sample under investigation. The chambers in the tube are joined by a constricted area which permits fluid communication between the chambers. The tube is designed to be used in conjunction with a support spacer adjacent the constriction in the tube so that the tube is properly supported during high speed centrifugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Nielsen, Carleton C. Lee
  • Patent number: 4427406
    Abstract: A one piece integrally formed sectional shaped liner for use in combination with similarly shaped sectional liners in a generally cylindrical chamber of a centrifuge rotor. The utilization of a plurality of similarly shaped plastic liners within a single rotor chamber allows for the placement of different fluid samples in a single rotor during one centrifuge run. The liners are designed in such a manner that they do not require a separate capping means and are preferably made through a blow molding process. The liners are designed to provide adjacent support to each other during the centrifugation run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4360150
    Abstract: A centrifuge rotor and sample containers for reorienting gradients and separating the components of a sample. The rotor contains a plurality of cylindrical recesses equally spaced about its rotational axis. The recesses are open at the top and have a concave hemispherical bottom. A cylindrical plug member is positioned in each of the recesses, and the lowermost end of the cylindrical plug member is formed in the shape of a concave hemisphere. A sample container in the shape of a hollow sphere is positioned between the hemisphere of the cylindrical plug member and the hemisphere of the recess bottom, and means are provided to retain the cylindrical plug member in the recess. The symmetry of the hemispherically shaped sample container is advantageous for minimizing any disturbance to a gradient during reorientation. In another embodiment, a centrifuge rotor is provided which is adapted for fixed angle centrifugation with hemispherical sample containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Ishimaru, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4358420
    Abstract: A method for making a thin wall centrifuge tube using an injection blow molded process to achieve not only uniform thickness of the tube, but also uniform or homogeneous material properties throughout the tube structure. The unique application of this process includes the making of a preform mold which retains its molten stage on a transferrable core pin that is received at a second stage, where the final configuration mold is placed around the core pin. The blow molding stage operates in conjunction with the molten preform to create the high strength centrifuge tube with uniform material properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Nielsen, Robert S. Carey
  • Patent number: 4304356
    Abstract: A fluid-containing means for each bore of a centrifuge rotor is disclosed which combines a self-capped tube and a floating cap resting on the top of the tube and arranged to resist deformation of the tube by the centrifugal forces developed therein. The floating cap has an annular skirt which engages the top of the tube and which is sufficiently thick in cross-section to prevent deformation of the floating cap. The floating cap is formed from a relatively light plastic, having a density less than that of the centrifuged fluid, thereby preventing bottoming of the floating cap in the bore in the event of rupture of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Chulay, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4301963
    Abstract: A substantially enclosed centrifuge tube having a small fill or access port at one end. In its preferred form there is integrally formed adjacent the fill port a neck or stem which is fused to hermetically seal the centrifuge tube to provide a permanent and complete seal of the centrifuge tube. A plug is securely mounted within the centrifuge rotor above the centrifuge tube when placed in the rotor to provide solid support adjacent the complete exterior surface of the tube. The interior of the plug is shaped to conform and mate with the upper end of the centrifuge tube. The use of a removable capping means placed on the centrifuge tube is eliminated. Access to the tube subsequent to the centrifugation run requires puncturing or cutting of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4177921
    Abstract: An improved multicompartment rotor liner which essentially eliminates the possibility of contamination of centrifugated clarified serum upon retrieval of the serum from the liner. The liner has an annular chamber surrounding a central chamber in which the chyle material is collected during centrifugation from a chylous serum. The present liner invention incorporates a unique flat cover to prevent the accumulation of chyle in the central chamber above the seal junction between the annular chamber and the central chamber. This unique configuration also allows for greater ease of pipette insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: D437940
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Rainin, Christopher Kelly, James S. Petrek, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: D438981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Rainin, Christopher Kelly, James S. Petrek, Steven T. Nielsen
  • Patent number: D448853
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Rainin, Christopher Kelly, James S. Petrek, Steven T. Nielsen