Gene A Benton

US Patent:

20040149015, Aug 5, 2004

Filed:

Feb 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/073207

Inventors:

Timothy Hansen - Spring Grove PA, US
Gene Benton - White Hall MD, US
Matthew Armstrong - Joppa MD, US

International Classification:

G01M003/04

US Classification:

073/040000

Abstract:

A system and method for determining when a defective or non-defective pipette tip has been acquired by a robotic device performing a sample transfer, prior to the insertion of the defective pipette tip into the fluid sample, thereby preventing waste of the sample or unacceptable handling of the sample. Furthermore, the system and method can effectively eject pipette tips, and in some circumstances, determine whether the ejection of the pipette tip was successful.

US Patent:

55196446, May 21, 1996

Filed:

Aug 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/512578

Inventors:

Gene A. Benton - White Hall MD

Assignee:

Becton Dickinson and Company - Franklin Lakes NJ

International Classification:

G01K 1500

US Classification:

36457101

Abstract:

A multiple-loop temperature controller using RTD sensors is continuously calibrated by performing a zero or full scale calibration during each operating cycle. An arrangement of four multiplexers is used to successively connect each RTD sensor to a pair of current sources and an A/D converter, thereby allowing the current sources and A/D converter to be shared among all of the RTD sensors. Measurement errors are minimized by using the same multiplexers for temperature measurement and calibration, with calibration being performed by connecting the multiplexers to a ground reference or precision resistor. Interrupt-driven temperature loop processing is used to reduce A/D conversion delays, thereby allowing high-precision A/D converters with long settling times to be used. The multiple-loop temperature controller is advantageously utilized in an automated blood culturing system requiring precise control of sample temperatures.