Patents by Inventor Ward Kevin Frye

Ward Kevin Frye 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: 6942837
    Abstract: A system for filling a substrate having at least one chamber with a liquid sample is provided. The system in one embodiment includes a substrate defining a network of passageways including at least one chamber for the liquid sample, and an adapter. The adapter includes a fill reservoir for the liquid sample, a vacuum port for attachment to a vacuum source, and at least two channels. One channel allows a vacuum to be imparted to the network, and the other channel allows the liquid sample to be introduced into the network. The system also includes a mechanism that sequentially closes and opens at least one of the channels so that a vacuum can first be introduced to the substrate and thereafter the liquid sample introduced to the substrate for permitting the vacuum to urge the liquid sample to flow from the fill reservoir into the substrate. An apparatus for positioning a substrate with a plurality of sample detection chambers in a detection unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ward Kevin Frye, Jacob Koppel Freudenthal, Terri Christina Labelle, Eugene Young
  • Publication number: 20010029794
    Abstract: A system for filling a substrate having at least one chamber with a liquid sample is provided. The system in one embodiment includes a substrate defining a network of passageways including at least one chamber for the liquid sample, and an adapter. The adapter includes a fill reservoir for the liquid sample, a vacuum port for attachment to a vacuum source, and at least two channels. One channel allows a vacuum to be imparted to the network, and the other channel allows the liquid sample to be introduced into the network. The system also includes a mechanism that sequentially closes and opens at least one of the channels so that a vacuum can first be introduced to the substrate and thereafter the liquid sample introduced to the substrate for permitting the vacuum to urge the liquid sample to flow from the fill reservoir into the substrate. An apparatus for positioning a substrate with a plurality of sample detection chambers in a detection unit is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ward Kevin Frye, Jacob Koppel Freudenthal, Terri Christina Labelle, Eugene Young
  • Patent number: 6272939
    Abstract: A system for filling a substrate having at least one chamber with a liquid sample is provided. The system in one embodiment includes a substrate defining a network of passageways including at least one chamber for the liquid sample, and an adapter. The adapter includes a fill reservoir for the liquid sample, a vacuum port for attachment to a vacuum source, and at least two channels. One channel allows a vacuum to be imparted to the network, and the other channel allows the liquid sample to be introduced into the network. The system also includes a mechanism that sequentially closes and opens at least one of the channels so that a vacuum can first be introduced to the substrate and thereafter the liquid sample introduced to the substrate for permitting the vacuum to urge the liquid sample to flow from the fill reservoir into the substrate. An apparatus for positioning a substrate with a plurality of sample detection chambers in a detection unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ward Kevin Frye, Jacob Koppel Freudenthal, Terri Christina LaBelle, Eugene Young