Gregory Dean Gardner

US Patent:

6562298, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Apr 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/298711

Inventors:

David C. Arnquist - The Colony TX
Grady Barnes, III - Grayslake IL
Richard D. Button - Richardson TX
Chadwick M. Dunn - McHenry IL
Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX
Charles M. Galitz - Kenosha WI
Gregory E. Gardner - Euless TX
Cass J. Grandone - Southlake TX
Robert C. Gray - Gurnee IL
James T. Holen - Mundelein IL
Jimmy D. McCoy - Keller TX
James E. Mitchell - Windham NH
Adrian John Murray - Arlington Heights IL
David W. Murray - Allen TX
Jack F. Ramsey - Grayslake IL
Neal T. Sleszynski - Kenosha WI
Julius J. Toth - Mundelein IL

Assignee:

Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

G01N 3504

US Classification:

422 63, 422 64, 422 67, 422 681, 422 8205, 436 47, 436 48, 436 49, 436 50, 1983474, 198348, 198357

Abstract:

The embodiments disclosed relate to determination of an item of interest in a sample. One embodiment relates to a structure which comprises a process path. The process path comprises a process lane including a process step performance lane where a process step is performed, and a process step avoidance lane where the process step is avoided. A first prime mover is operatively connected with the process path for moving a container holding the sample along the process path. A first pipetting system is operatively associated with the process path for introducing the sample to the container. A second pipetting system is operatively associated with the process path for introducing a reagent to the container. A device is operatively connected with the process path and is selectively engagable with the container for mixing the sample and the reagent in the container. A second prime mover is operatively connected with the process path for selectively positioning the container in a selected one of the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane.

US Patent:

7688207, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Jul 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/495430

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US
Richard W. Mahoney - Grapevine TX, US
Oscar F. Schwartz - Arlington TX, US

Assignee:

Abbott Laboratories Inc. - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 340 101, 3405391, 3405681

Abstract:

A system for automation of laboratory analyzers that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers to identify containers and vessels, and the contents thereof, that are employed in the system. Radio frequency identification tags, conforming to the guidelines of ISO 14443 or ISO 15693 or ISO 18000, are positioned on the items of interest, such as, for example, reagent containers, sample containers, and microplates. These tags can be read by and written to by either a moving antenna of a RFID reader or a stationary antenna of a RFID reader. Reading of RFID tags and writing to RFID tags are controlled by software.

US Patent:

8211313, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Dec 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/643376

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

B03C 1/02
G01N 35/00

US Classification:

210695, 210222, 422527, 436526

Abstract:

A system for separating a solid magnetic substrate from liquid contents of a reaction vessel, the system comprising at least one micro-well plate having a plurality of rows and a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows. In one embodiment, the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets are controlled so as to cause the magnets in the at least two rows of magnets to move in unison. In another embodiment, one row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in said one row to move at a first velocity in the vertical direction and another row of the at least two rows of the plurality of magnets is controlled so as to cause the magnets in that other row to move at a second velocity in the vertical direction.

US Patent:

8222048, Jul 17, 2012

Filed:

Oct 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/257495

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US
Richard W. Mahoney - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

G01N 35/10

US Classification:

436526, 436 43, 436 47, 436180, 422 63, 422 65, 422501, 210695, 4352871

Abstract:

A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i. e. , the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.

US Patent:

20090117004, May 7, 2009

Filed:

Oct 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/257428

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US
Richard W. Mahoney - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

ABBOTT LABORATORIES - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

B01J 19/00

US Classification:

422 63

Abstract:

A component of a laboratory automation system that integrates (a) separating a solid magnetic substrate from the liquid contents of a reaction vessel, (b) management of the thermal characteristics of the component of the laboratory automation system, (c) automated loading of multi-well plates and tip combs into the component of the laboratory automation system, (d) automated unloading of multi-well plates and tip combs from the component of the laboratory automation system, and (e) reading of radio frequency identification tags attached to multi-well plates.

US Patent:

20110150704, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/643250

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

ABBOTT LABORATORIES - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
G01N 33/48

US Classification:

422 69, 422 681, 422416

Abstract:

A device and method for extending the useful life of a liquid in a container used in an automated clinical analyzer. The liquid comprises a material subject to deterioration, the subject material capable of deteriorating as the result of reaction with a contaminant in a gas present in the atmospheric air surrounding the container. Atmospheric air surrounding the container that displaces the liquid consumed from a container is routed through a gas scrubber insert in order to remove or at least reduce the quantity of at least one contaminant present in that air. The gas scrubber insert is positioned between the liquid in the container and the atmospheric air surrounding the container. The gas scrubber insert contains a reagent that is capable of reacting with a contaminant in the atmospheric air surrounding the container, whereby a required characteristic(s) of the liquid does (do) not change excessively prior to the date that the liquid is consumed. For example, if the contaminant is carbon dioxide, and the required characteristic of the liquid is the level of pH of the liquid, the reagent in the gas scrubber insert prevents the level of pH of the liquid from changing excessively prior to the date that the liquid is consumed.

US Patent:

20110287555, Nov 24, 2011

Filed:

May 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/783619

Inventors:

Douglas M. Campbell - Highland Village TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Park IL

International Classification:

G01N 1/00
B01J 19/12

US Classification:

436174, 42218601

Abstract:

An assembly that utilizes reusable sheaths for covering magnetic rods for collecting particles in an inverse magnetic particle process. The magnetic rod is removed from the reusable sheath to release particles at the same or a different location. The reusable sheaths can be assembled in a cylindrical plate, which can be rotated to position a clean sheath for each step of the inverse magnetic particle process. When not being used for particle separation, the sheaths can be washed of potentially contaminating solution in wash receptacles.

US Patent:

20120282684, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

Jul 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/550240

Inventors:

Patrick P. Fritchie - Southlake TX, US
Gregory E. Gardner - Grapevine TX, US
Richard W. Mahoney - Grapevine TX, US

International Classification:

C12M 1/34
G01N 31/00
C12M 1/00
G01N 21/76

US Classification:

4352872, 422 52, 422 681, 4352871, 4352891, 422 67

Abstract:

A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.