Patents by Inventor Thomas Charles Robbins

Thomas Charles Robbins 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: 11959132
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Publication number: 20230005571
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating an array-specific range of Tm values to be used for calling a sample in a given array positive or negative for a target nucleic acid sequence. A sample well in an array is provided with a control sample containing a control nucleic acid sequence. The control sample is amplified by thermal cycling the sample well. A Tm value for the control sample is identified and compared to an expected Tm value for the control nucleic acid sequence to calculate a relationship between the identified control Tm value and the expected control Tm value. By applying this relationship to an expected Tm value for a target nucleic acid sequence, an array-specific range of Tm values for the target nucleic acid sequence is generated and can be used for calling an experimental sample in the same array positive or negative for the target nucleic acid sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Robbins, Theodore Allan Wilson, Charles Benjamin Cox, Jay Jones, Benjamin William Galvin, Amber Cooper Kiser
  • Patent number: 11398296
    Abstract: Methods, sample vessels, and instruments are provided for melting curve analysis. A sample is amplified by thermal cycling the sample well between at least an annealing temperature and a denaturation temperature through n cycles, where each cycle includes an in-cycle denaturation step. Fluorescent data is collected during the in-cycle denaturation step of n cycles where n is at least two. Then a composite melting curve is generated using the fluorescent data collected during the denaturation step of each of the n cycles, and the sample is called using the composite melting curve, where the call is a positive or a negative call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BIOFIRE DIAGNOSTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin William Galvin, Thomas Charles Robbins, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Patent number: 11207655
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Jones, Kirk Max Ririe, Thomas Charles Robbins, Elizabeth Doman Copene, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Publication number: 20210277450
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Patent number: 11041193
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Publication number: 20210147924
    Abstract: Methods, sample vessels, and instruments are provided for melting curve analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin William Galvin, Thomas Charles Robbins, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Publication number: 20200164334
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: David E. Jones, Kirk Max Ririe, Thomas Charles Robbins, Elizabeth Doman Copene, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Patent number: 10471408
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Jones, Kirk Max Ririe, Thomas Charles Robbins, Elizabeth Doman Copene, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Publication number: 20180320220
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Patent number: 10053726
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Publication number: 20170209844
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: David E. Jones, Kirk Max Ririe, Thomas Charles Robbins, Elizabeth Doman Copene, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Publication number: 20160217252
    Abstract: An experimental melting curve is modeled as a sum of a true melting curve and background fluorescence. A deviation function may be generated based upon the experimental melting curve data and a model of a background signal. The deviation function may be generated by segmenting a range of the experimental curve into a plurality of windows. Within each window, a fit between the model of the background signal and the experimental melting curve data may be calculated. The deviation function may be formed from the resulting fit parameters. The deviation function may include background signal compensation and, as such, may be used in various melting curve analysis operations, such as data visualization, clustering, genotyping, scanning, negative sample removal, and the like. The deviation function may be used to seed an automated background correction process. A background-corrected melting curve may be further processed to remove an aggregation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Robbins, Robert Andrew Palais, Carl Thomas Wittwer
  • Patent number: 9273346
    Abstract: An experimental melting curve is modeled as a sum of a true melting curve and background fluorescence. A deviation function may be generated based upon the experimental melting curve data and a model of a background signal. The deviation function may be generated by segmenting a range of the experimental curve into a plurality of windows. Within each window, a fit between the model of the background signal and the experimental melting curve data may be calculated. The deviation function may be formed from the resulting fit parameters. The deviation function may include background signal compensation and, as such, may be used in various melting curve analysis operations, such as data visualization, clustering, genotyping, scanning, negative sample removal, and the like. The deviation function may be used to seed an automated background correction process. A background-corrected melting curve may be further processed to remove an aggregation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: BIOFIRE DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Robbins, Robert Andrew Palais, Carl Thomas Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20150283531
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: David E. Jones, Kirk Max Ririe, Thomas Charles Robbins, Elizabeth Doman Copene, Charles Benjamin Cox
  • Publication number: 20150232916
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Randy P. Rasmussen, Robert John Crisp, Andrew Clinton Hemmert, Elizabeth Barker Campbell, Thomas Charles Robbins, David J. Eyre
  • Publication number: 20110238323
    Abstract: An experimental melting curve is modeled as a sum of a true melting curve and background fluorescence. A deviation function may be generated based upon the experimental melting curve data and a model of a background signal. The deviation function may be generated by segmenting a range of the experimental curve into a plurality of windows. Within each window, a fit between the model of the background signal and the experimental melting curve data may be calculated. The deviation function may be formed from the resulting fit parameters. The deviation function may include background signal compensation and, as such, may be used in various melting curve analysis operations, such as data visualization, clustering, genotyping, scanning, negative sample removal, and the like. The deviation function may be used to seed an automated background correction process. A background-corrected melting curve may be further processed to remove an aggregation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: Idaho Technology, Inc., The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Robbins, Robert Andrew Palais, Carl Thomas Wittwer