DAVID JOHN MARTIN, M.D.
Urology at Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa, CA

2007005, Mar 8, 2007

Nov 7, 2006

11/594407

James Johnson - Sebastopol CA, US
Neil Picha - Petaluma CA, US
David Martin - Santa Rosa CA, US
Joel McComb - Portola Valley CA, US

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. - Rohnert Park CA

B01L 3/02

422100000

A removable secondary liquid dispensing module for use with an existing, automated liquid handling system that defines a work area having a plurality of discrete work stations. Each of the work stations of the automated liquid handling system includes a lab ware site and alignment structure enabling the removable securing standardized microtiter-plates at respective lab ware site. A plate positioning mechanism is configured to move and position the microtiter plates to and from the lab ware sites of the respective work stations thereof and into engagement with the respective carrier alignment structure thereof. Further, a primary liquid dispensing device is configured for selective contact-type dispensing of discrete quantities of fluid, in the range of about one (1) microliter to about ten (10) milliliters, into the test sites of the microtiter plates secured in the respective alignment structure of the respective work station. The removable secondary liquid dispensing module includes a base member dimensioned to fit substantially within a footprint of a work station, and mounting hardware adapted to removably secure the base member in the work station. A support platform is affixed to the base member, and is configured to support a microtiter-plate. An alignment mechanism is configured to removably receive and secure the a microtiter-plate therein by the plate positioning mechanism of the automated liquid handling system. The support platform and alignment mechanism cooperate to form and provide a lab ware site suitable for secured receipt of a microtiter-plate. The secondary liquid dispensing module further includes a secondary liquid dispensing device which is self-contained and operationally independent from the primary liquid dispensing device. The secondary dispensing device is further adapted for selective non-contact-type dispensing of discrete quantities of fluid, in the range of about one (1) nanoliter to about ten (10) microliters, into the test sites of the microtiter-plate.

7169616, Jan 30, 2007

Jan 27, 2003

10/353824

James E. Johnson - Sebastopol CA, US
Neil R. Picha - Petaluma CA, US
Craig M. Storms - Cotati CA, US
David A. Martin - Santa Rosa CA, US

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

G01N 1/10, B01L 3/02, F16T 1/42

436180, 422100, 422103, 137171

An apparatus and method for delivering repetitive, precision, low volume liquid dispensing from a dispensing orifice of a non-contact liquid dispensing apparatus. An elongated communication passageway of the dispensing apparatus is defined by interior walls having one end in fluid communication with a system fluid reservoir and an opposite end terminating at the dispensing orifice. A system fluid is placed in the communication passageway extending substantially continuously from the system fluid reservoir to the dispensing orifice. A relatively small volume of gaseous fluid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice, and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the gaseous fluid extends substantially continuously across the transverse cross-sectional dimension of the communication passageway. Subsequently, a dispensing liquid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice and into the communication passageway in a manner such that the relatively small volume of aspirated gaseous fluid forms a minute, unitary air gap fully enclosed between the interior walls of the communication passageway and a liquid interface between the system fluid and the dispensing liquid contained in the communication passageway. This minute air gap substantially prevents dispersion and dilution therebetween at the liquid interface.

6983636, Jan 10, 2006

Jan 27, 2003

10/353804

James E. Johnson - Sebastopol CA, US
Neil R. Picha - Petaluma CA, US
Craig M. Storms - Cotati CA, US
David A. Martin - Santa Rosa CA, US

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

G01F 25/00

73 136, 73 174, 250576

A universal calibration apparatus and method to estimate the dispense output from a low volume, non-contact, liquid dispensing systems that may be applied for every hardware configuration (e. g. , tube length, orifice diameter, tip design, etc), reagent solution property and environmental condition. This same calibration technique is applied to calibrate or tune these non-contact liquid dispensing systems to dispense desired volumes (in the range of about 0. 050 μL to 50 μL), irrespective of the hardware configuration or the solution properties. That is, the calibration technique is not dependent on any variables, but the result (the actual dispense volume) is dependant on the variable mentioned. By actuating selected pulse widths, and measuring the resulting volume, a Calibration Profile can be generated correlating the liquid volume dispensed from the orifice to the respective pulse width of the dispensing valve thereof through calibration points. In particular, one is selected to deliver a first volume of liquid that is less than a lower base pulse width correlating to the lowest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid, while a second pulse width is selected to deliver a second volume of liquid dispensed that is greater than an upper ceiling pulse width correlating to the highest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid.

2007015, Jul 5, 2007

Jan 26, 2007

11/627830

James Johnson - Sebastopol CA, US
Neil Picha - Petaluma CA, US
Craig Storms - Cotati CA, US
David Martin - Santa Rosa CA, US

INNOVADYNE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - SANTA ROSA CA

G01N 1/10

436180000

An apparatus and method for delivering repetitive, precision, low volume liquid dispensing from a dispensing orifice of a non-contact liquid dispensing apparatus. An elongated communication passageway of the dispensing apparatus is defined by interior walls having one end in fluid communication with a system fluid reservoir and an opposite end terminating at the dispensing orifice. A system fluid is placed in the communication passageway extending substantially continuously from the system fluid reservoir to the dispensing orifice. The system fluid reservoir is pressurized at a substantially constant back pressure, with a pressurizing gas, preferably helium, that suppresses in-gassing, and that is substantially insoluble to the system liquid. A dispensing liquid is aspirated through the dispensing orifice and into the communication passageway substantially to an interface region with the system fluid contained in the communication passageway. To effect dispensing, a rapid pressure pulse with a predetermined pulse width is applied to the system fluid, enabling substantially accurate, relatively small volume, non-contact liquid dispensing of the dispensing liquid from the dispensing orifice.

7135146, Nov 14, 2006

Sep 6, 2002

10/237916

James E. Johnson - Sebastopol CA, US
Neil R. Picha - Petaluma CA, US
David A. Martin - Santa Rosa CA, US
Joel McComb - Portola Valley CA, US

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

B10L 3/02, G01N 1/02

422100, 422103, 422 63, 422 65, 422 67, 422 681, 7386325, 73864, 7386401, 7386411

A removable secondary liquid dispensing module for use with an existing, automated liquid handling system that defines a work area having a plurality of discrete work stations. Each of the work stations of the automated liquid handling system includes a lab ware site and alignment structure enabling the removable securing standardized microtiter-plates at respective lab ware site. A plate positioning mechanism is configured to move and position the microtiter plates to and from the lab ware sites of the respective work stations thereof and into engagement with the respective carrier alignment structure thereof. Further, a primary liquid dispensing device is configured for selective contact-type dispensing of discrete quantities of fluid, in the range of about one (1) microliter to about ten (10) milliliters, into the test sites of the microtiter plates secured in the respective alignment structure of the respective work station. The removable secondary liquid dispensing module includes a base member dimensioned to fit substantially within a footprint of a work station, and mounting hardware adapted to removably secure the base member in the work station. A support platform is affixed to the base member, and is configured to support a microtiter-plate.