ERIC ALAN WALTZER
Pilots at Bracebridge Rd, Riverside, CA

2003017, Sep 11, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310678

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

G01N033/48, B01L011/00

422/068100, 422/103000, 436/180000

Method and assemblies are provided for selectively distributing and dispensing fluids using a rotary valve for purposes such as performing immunoassay testing. A rotary valve includes a stator and rotor disposed within the stator. The rotor is clockable between a dispense configuration, a first auxiliary dispense configuration, and a second auxiliary dispense configuration. When the rotor is clocked in the dispense configuration, it includes a plurality of dispense channels connected between a plurality of entry dispense ports and a plurality of exit dispense ports disposed in the stator. When the rotor is clocked in the first auxiliary dispense configuration, the rotor includes a first plurality of auxiliary dispense channels connected between a plurality of auxiliary entry dispense ports disposed on the stator and the plurality of exit dispense ports. When the rotor is clocked in the second auxiliary dispense configuration, the rotor includes a second plurality of auxiliary dispense channels connected between the plurality of entry dispense ports and the plurality of exit dispense ports. In this manner, a fluid can be flowed through the rotary valve when the rotor is clocked in the dispense configuration, and another fluid can be flowed through the rotary valve when the rotor is clocked in either the first auxiliary or the second auxiliary dispense configuration. The dispense configuration can be clocked substantially 90° from the first auxiliary dispense configuration and substantially 0° from the second auxiliary dispense configuration, i.e., the dispense configuration and second auxiliary dispense configuration are the same, so that a first and second fluid can be flowed through the rotary valve without requiring rotation of the rotor. The plurality of exit dispense ports can be clocked substantially 180° from the plurality of entry dispense ports and substantially 90° from the plurality of auxiliary entry dispense ports.

2003017, Sep 18, 2003

Apr 29, 2003

10/310672

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

G01N033/53, G01N033/567, C12M001/34

435/007200, 435/287200

Methods and assemblies are provided for flowing a single sample through a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers. A flow immunoassay assembly for testing a single sample, includes a sample feed port, a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers for performing a plurality of different assays on the sample, a plurality of sample flow channels in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, and one or more sample drive assemblies configured to pump the sample through the plurality of sample flow channels into the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers. In this manner, several immunoassay tests can be simultaneously performed on the sample. The immunoassay assembly can further include a plurality of buffer flow channels in fluid communication with the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, and one or more buffer drive assemblies configured to pump the buffer through the plurality of buffer flow channels into the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a plurality of sample distribution chambers configured to receive the sample from the sample feed port, and a plurality of buffer chambers containing the buffer. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a plurality of sample dispense plungers disposed within the plurality of sample distribution chambers, and a plurality of buffer dispense plungers disposed within the plurality of buffer chambers, in which case, the sample drive assemblies can have a plurality of sample dispense plunger drivers that are configured to move the plurality of sample dispense plungers within the plurality of sample distribution chambers to pump the sample, and the one or more buffer drive assemblies can have a plurality of buffer dispense plunger drivers that are configured to move the plurality of buffer dispense plungers within the plurality of buffer chambers to pump the buffer.

2003016, Aug 28, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310680

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

G01N033/543

436/518000

Methods and assemblies are provided for transmitting and detecting energy within a read cell. An orthogonal read assembly includes an immunoassay reaction chamber, a read cell having a lumen in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, a transmitter configured to transmit energy through the lumen, and a detector configured to sense energy emitted transversely from the lumen. The transmitter can include an optical transmitter, such as a laser, and the detector can include an optical detector, e.g., a silicon diode. The optical transmitter can transmit optical energy at an oblique entry angle to the lumen, e.g., 45°, and the optical energy can be sensed by the optical detector at an angle substantially perpendicular to the lumen. The read cell can be composed of a transparent plastic and can be parallel-pipe shaped. The lumen can be cylindrically shaped and may include an optical transmission port, in which case, the optical transmitter can be configured to transmit the optical energy through the lumen via the optical transmission port.

2003016, Sep 4, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310647

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

C12M001/34

435/287100

Methods for accurately mixing two solutions, e.g., buffer and sample solutions, are provided. A method of mixing first and second fluids using first, second, and third chambers includes selecting a fluid mixture r, providing the first chamber with a first cross-sectional area A, providing the third chamber with a second cross-sectional area A, disposing the first fluid in the first chamber, disposing the second fluid in the second chamber, moving a first plunger within the first chamber at a speed Stowards a first port to dispense the first solution from the first chamber into the third chamber, and moving a second plunger substantially simultaneously with the first plunger within the third chamber at a speed Saway from the second port to dispense the second solution from the second chamber into the third chamber, wherein AS=AS(1+1/r). The sample and buffer can be mixed, in which case, the first, second, and third chambers can be buffer, sample collection, and mixing chambers, and the first and second ports can be buffer and sample ports. The sample and buffer can be equally mixed, in which case, r=1. To effect equal mixing of the sample and buffer, S≅Sand 2A≅A, or alternatively, A≅Aand 2S≅S

2003016, Sep 4, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310660

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

C12M001/34

435/287200

Assemblies and methods are provided for performing an assay on a sample for drugs and alcohol. A drug and alcohol assay assembly includes a sample feed port, and immunoassay reaction chamber containing a drug reagent, and a first sample flow channel in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the immunoassay reaction chamber. The assembly further includes an alcohol reaction chamber configured for containing an alcohol reagent, and a second sample flow channel in fluid communication between the sample feed port and the alcohol reaction chamber. The assembly can further include a first buffer flow channel in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, a second buffer flow channel in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a reagent chamber disposed within the buffer flow channel. The reagent chamber can contain dry alcohol reagent. In this case, the alcohol reagent can include a reagent solution, where the reagent chamber is configured to produce the reagent solution for dispensing in the alcohol reaction chamber when buffer flows through the buffer flow channel. The drug reagent can be specific to one of the NIDA drugs-of-abuse.

2003015, Aug 14, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310658

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

A61B005/00

600/573000

Assemblies are provided for collecting a sample from a mouth using an integrated sample collection tip. A sample collection assembly includes a sample collection body configured for being placed within the mouth, wherein the sample collection body includes a bore and one or more pores. The sample collection assembly further includes a conduit that disposed within the bore of the sample collection body and that is in fluid communication with the one or more pores. The conduit is bonded within the bore. The sample collection assembly can further include a hand piece that has a tip on which the sample collection body is mounted, and through which the conduit can extend. For example, the rear surface of the sample collection body can be bonded to the front surface of the sample collection tip. The pores can include a plurality of micropores. The sample collection body can be hydrophobic, and a hydrophilic surfactant can be disposed on the outer surface of the sample collection body.

2003017, Sep 11, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310659

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

C12M001/34, B31F001/00

435/287200, 156/196000

Methods for manufacturing self sealing chambers by interference fitting barriers within the chambers are provided. A method of substantially sealing a chamber includes providing a die plate through which a channel extends and a compression plate through which a tapered channel extends. The tapered channel includes a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening. The second opening is equal to or smaller than the chamber opening. The method further includes providing a chamber adapter that has a female portion and a passage extending therethrough, mating the chamber adapter female portion with a compression plate male portion, and associating the chamber with the chamber adapter passage, e.g., by disposing the chamber within the chamber adapter passage. The method further includes disposing a compressible material on the die plate and forming the barrier by pushing a pin through the compressible material into the die plate passage, and pushing the barrier into the first tapered channel opening, through the tapered channel and into the chamber adapter passage via the second tapered channel opening. Lastly, the method further includes pushing the barrier through the chamber adapter passage into the chamber opening.

2003017, Sep 11, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310650

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

A61B005/00

600/584000

A system, method, and assembly are provided for identifying one or more analytes within bodily fluids, such as saliva. The system includes an analyte tester, an oral aspirator, a conduit that is in fluid communication between the oral aspirator and the tester, and a pump in fluid communication with the conduit. In this manner, the aspirated oral fluid can be pumped directly from the aspirator into the analyte tester for identification of one or more oral fluid analytes. The analyte tester can be a flow immunoassay tester that identifies the five NIDA drugs-of-abuse, and can be configured to identify up to ten different drugs or other analytes. The analyte tester can also be portable, so that it can be conveniently used areas remote from laboratories. The tester may include a chemistry cassette and a test console configured for receiving the chemistry cassette. In this case, the conduit may be in fluid communication with the chemistry cassette. A user interface may also be provided for entering test information (e.g., a specific test selection or test panel customization) and for conveying test results (e.g., using a display or printer).

2003015, Aug 21, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310679

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

C12Q001/70

435/005000

Methods and assemblies are provided for scanning a flow immunoassay assembly. A flow immunoassay scanning assembly includes a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, a plurality of read cells in fluid communication with the plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, a detector having a sensing beam, and a scanning drive assembly configured to translate the detector to intersect the plurality of read cells with the sensing beam. The detector includes an optical detector, and each of the immunoassay reaction chambers contains fluorescent labeled antigen that is displaced when an analog to the fluorescent labeled antigen flows through the immunoassay reaction chamber. Thus, the fluorescent labeled antigen can be detected by the optical detector when flowed through the corresponding read cell. The detector can also be configured, such that the sensing beam intersects the plurality of read cells at an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the read cells. The scanning drive assembly can be configured to translate the detector to repeatedly intersect the plurality of read cells with the sensing beam.

2003015, Aug 21, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310642

Dave Smith - Highland CA, US
Mike Smith - Redlands CA, US
Roger Tatum - Riverside CA, US
Eric Waltzer - Riverside CA, US
Greg Liang - Rancho Cucamonga CA, US
Thomas Foley - Mission Viejo CA, US

F16L058/04

137/375000

Rotary valves with rotors and compliant linings are provided. A rotary valve includes a rigid hollow stator and a rotor disposed within the stator. The rotor includes a rigid core and a compliant lining injection molded onto the rigid core, wherein the compliant lining is sealingly engaged with an inner bearing surface of the stator and includes one or more surface channels that can be placed into fluid communication with one or more ports disposed on the stator. The rigid core is composed of polycarbonate and the compliant lining is composed of polyurethane. The surface channels can be, e.g., arcuate or longitudinal surface channels. The rigid core can include one or more through channels, in which case, the one or more surface channels can intersect the one or more through channels to form a continuous channel.