Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Au

Thomas C. Au 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).

  • Cooling in a thermal cycler using heat pipes
    Patent number: 9468927
    Abstract: A device for amplifying a nucleic acid sample may include a sample holder configured to receive a nucleic acid sample, a heating system configured to raise the temperature of the sample, a cooling system configured to lower the temperature of the sample, and a controller configured to operably control the heating system and the cooling system to cycle the device through a desired time-temperature profile. The cooling system may include at least one heat pipe and a heat sink and the at least one heat pipe may include a first portion disposed proximate to the sample holder and a second portion disposed proximate to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Dromaretsky, Thomas C. Au
  • Cooling in a Thermal Cycler Using Heat Pipes
    Publication number: 20110256616
    Abstract: A device for amplifying a nucleic acid sample may include a sample holder configured to receive a nucleic acid sample, a heating system configured to raise the temperature of the sample, a cooling system configured to lower the temperature of the sample, and a controller configured to operably control the heating system and the cooling system to cycle the device through a desired time-temperature profile. The cooling system may include at least one heat pipe and a heat sink and the at least one heat pipe may include a first portion disposed proximate to the sample holder and a second portion disposed proximate to the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Dromaretsky, Thomas C. Au
  • Cooling In A Thermal Cycler Using Heat Pipes
    Publication number: 20080124722
    Abstract: A device for amplifying a nucleic acid sample may include a sample holder configured to receive a nucleic acid sample, a heating system configured to raise the temperature of the sample, a cooling system configured to lower the temperature of the sample, and a controller configured to operably control the heating system and the cooling system to cycle the device through a desired time-temperature profile. The cooling system may include at least one heat pipe and a heat sink and the at least one heat pipe may include a first portion disposed proximate to the sample holder and a second portion disposed proximate to the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Dromaretsky, Thomas C. Au