Patents by Inventor Wayne A. Showalter
Wayne A. Showalter 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).
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Patent number: 10261000Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen processing systems and methods for dispensing liquids onto slides. The system can concurrently or sequentially perform lock cycles. Each lock cycle can include lock steps for addressing respective slides to dispense liquid. The lock steps of different lock cycles can be synchronized to prevent any collision between dispensers.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Wayne A. Showalter, Nathan Smith, Paul Howley
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Publication number: 20170010194Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen processing systems and methods for dispensing liquids onto slides. The system can concurrently or sequentially perform lock cycles. Each lock cycle can include lock steps for addressing respective slides to dispense liquid. The lock steps of different lock cycles can be synchronized to prevent any collision between dispensers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Wayne A. Showalter, Nathan Smith, Paul Howley
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Patent number: 7470541Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Ventana Medical System, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Philip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 7118918Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 6943029Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 6827901Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Publication number: 20020114733Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: August 22, 2002Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Publication number: 20020072122Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2002Publication date: June 13, 2002Applicant: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 6352861Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles E. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Publication number: 20020001849Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William R. Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 5654199Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support (24) supporting a plurality of slide supports (26) thereon, and drive means (48) engaging the carousel slide support (24) for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports (26) in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support (10) having a plurality of reagent container supports (11) thereon, and drive means (14) engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support (11) in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means (18) positioned for engaging a reagent container (12) positioned on a container support (11) in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container (12) to a slide supported on a slide support (26) in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 5654200Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive device engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive device engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator device positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William Ross Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 5650327Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support (24) supporting a plurality of slide supports (26) thereon, and drive means (48) engaging the carousel slide support (24) for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports (26) in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support (10) having a plurality of reagent container supports (11) thereon, and drive means (14) engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support (11) in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means (18) positioned for engaging a reagent container (12) positioned on a container support (11) in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container (12) to a slide supported on a slide support (26) in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter
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Patent number: 5595707Abstract: An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Copeland, Thomas M. Grogan, Charles Hassen, William R. Humphreys, Charles D. Lemme, Phillip C. Miller, William L. Richards, Wayne A. Showalter