Dang H Ngo9708 Shamrock Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92708

6776961, Aug 17, 2004

Jul 23, 2001

09/911600

Christopher W. Lindsey - Aliso Viejo CA
George K. Shibata - Upland CA
Songtai Tu - Yorba Linda CA
Steven D. Mack - Mira Loma CA
Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01N 3502

422 63, 422 65, 422 64, 422100, 436 43, 436 47, 436 48

A workstation for integrating two or more automated analyzers. The workstation includes a sample rack handler assembly, having a single common sample rack input area for loading sample racks for the two or more automated analyzers, and a sample rack bypass area for passing sample racks to be processed by one of the two or more automated analyzers. The workstation also includes a sample aliquoting assembly, having a sample pipetter station for aliquoting samples into aliquot vessels for processing by another one of the two or more automated analyzers. The workstation further includes an internal shuttle for shuttling the sample racks between the sample rack input area, the sample rack bypass area, and the sample pipetter station, and an external shuttle for shuttling the sample racks between the sample rack input area, the sample rack bypass area, and the one of the two or more automated analyzers. In addition, the workstation includes a pick-and-place mechanism for transporting the aliquot vessels between the sample pipetter station and the other one of the two or more automated analyzers. A single common control console is provided for the workstation and the two or more automated analyzers.

6790413, Sep 14, 2004

May 3, 2001

09/848450

Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA
Brian D. Wilson - Chaska MN
Robert J. Mattila - Jordan MN

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

B32B 502

422 65, 422 63, 422 66, 422 67, 422100

A sample presentation unit (SPU) for an automated analyzer is provided. The SPU has a sample rack onload section having an elongated rail, and an onload moving mechanism movable along the rail for moving the sample racks placed on the rail towards a sample rack presentation section. The sample rack presentation section of the SPU has a transfer area connected to the proximal end of the rail of the sample rack onload section for receiving the sample racks from the sample rack onload section, a sample presentation area adjacent to the automated analyzer for presenting sample racks for aspiration, and a presentation moving mechanism movable between the transfer area and the presentation area for moving sample racks from the transfer area to the presentation area for a sample aspiration and subsequently moving the sample racks from the presentation area back to the transfer area after sample aspiration. The SPU also has a sample rack offload section having an offload area connected to the transfer area of the sample rack presentation section for receiving the sample racks from the sample rack presentation section after sample aspiration, and an offload moving mechanism for moving the sample racks received from the sample rack presentation section to a sample rack offload tray. The SPU further has a plurality of strategically located sensors for detection of motion errors or motor jams.

8118042, Feb 21, 2012

Feb 27, 2009

12/395590

Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA, US
Kinh N. Vo - Brea CA, US
Paul R. Meyer - Shakopee MN, US
Jon P. Lindquist - Coon Rapids MN, US
Alan N. Johnson - Chaska MN, US

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Brea CA

B08B 3/04

134 952, 1341001, 1341022, 134166 C, 134169 C

The present invention concerns an improved apparatus for cleaning the interior of a liquid handling probe to reduce the amount time and the volume of wash fluid required to clean the probe and minimize carryover of material between different samples. In addition to the probe, the apparatus includes one or more wash fluid reservoirs, a compressed gas supply, one or more pumps, two or more valve-controlled probe lines and a controller for opening and closing the valves and actuating the pump(s) at desired time intervals. The invention further concerns a method of cleaning a liquid handling probe using the claimed apparatus and comprising sequential steps of pumping wash fluid and compressed gas through the probe.

4858155, Aug 15, 1989

Dec 24, 1985

6/813028

Dobson Okawa - Anaheim CA
Wing S. Pang - West Covina CA
Dang Ngo - Cypress CA
George Shibata - Chino CA

Beckman Instruments, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01K 1500
G01K 702

364557

Apparatus for controlling reaction temperatures in a chemical analyzer comprises a thermoelectric element operating in response to a temperature sensor, and control means capable of predicting a setpoint deviation for a future time period, and, when an overshoot is predicted, reducing a control signal for the element by an amount proportional to a current setpoint deviation. The apparatus includes at least one reaction cell and a buffer unit for thermally stabilizing a fluid that is fed, on demand, into the reaction cell, the cell and the buffer unit having separate thermoelectric elements and sensors. A microcomputer control system generates independent control signals for the elements.

5902548, May 11, 1999

Aug 13, 1998

9/133928

Richard P. Watts - Diamond Bar CA
David L. Goodale - Yorba Linda CA
Michael L. Bell - Fullerton CA
Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA
Songai Tu - Yorba Linda CA
Michael Tran - Aliso Viejo CA

Beckman Instruments, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01N35/00

422 63

An automatic chemistry analyzer is provided having a high throughput and a high reliability. The analyzer uses nephelometric and turbimetric analyzers to analyze a wide variety of parameters within liquid samples typically generated in, for example, a large medical testing laboratory. The machine employs a unique probe and stirring rod assembly mounted at a slight angle with one another using rack and pinion assemblies so that the lower end of the probe and the lower end of the stirring rod are in very close proximity to one another. This feature allows the machine to be used in unusually small reaction cuvettes. The analysis machine also includes an onboard control sample so that the machine can be programmed to periodically calibrate its analyzing equipment during the course of normal operation. The machine also includes a sample station carousel having retainer clips for retaining a sample container rack which is constructed to retain a bar-coded card containing information regarding reagents used in the machine. A bar code reader located proximate to the sample carousel reads the bar-coded reagent information into the controller.

6027691, Feb 22, 2000

Aug 13, 1998

9/133927

Richard P. Watts - Diamond Bar CA
David L. Goodale - Yorba Linda CA
Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA
Songai Tu - Yorba Linda CA
Michael Tran - Aliso Viejo CA
Michael L. Bell - Fullerton CA

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01N 3502

422 64

An automatic chemistry analyzer is provided having a high throughput and a high reliability. The analyzer uses nephelometric and turbimetric analyzers to analyze a wide variety of parameters within liquid samples typically generated in, for example, a large medical testing laboratory. The machine employs a unique probe and stirring rod assembly mounted at a slight angle with one another using rack and pinion assemblies so that the lower end of the probe and the lower end of the stirring rod are in very close proximity to one another. This feature allows the machine to be used in unusually small reaction cuvettes. The analysis machine also includes an onboard control sample so that the machine can be programmed to periodically calibrate its analyzing equipment during the course of normal operation. The machine also includes a sample station carousel having retainer clips for retaining a sample container rack which is constructed to retain a bar-coded card containing information regarding reagents used in the machine. A bar code reader located proximate to the sample carousel reads the bar-coded reagent information into the controller.

5807523, Sep 15, 1998

Jul 3, 1996

8/674781

Richard P. Watts - Diamond Bar CA
David L. Goodale - Yorba Linda CA
Dang M. Ngo - Fountain Valley CA
Songai Tu - Yorba Linda CA
Michael Tran - Aliso Viejo CA
Michael L. Bell - Fullerton CA

Beckman Instruments, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01N 3510

422 64

An automatic chemistry analyzer is provided having a high throughput and a high reliability. The analyzer uses nephelometric and turbimetric analyzers to analyze a wide variety of parameters within liquid samples typically generated in, for example, a large medical testing laboratory. The machine employs a unique probe and stirring rod assembly mounted at a slight angle with one another using rack and pinion assemblies so that the lower end of the probe and the lower end of the stirring rod are in very close proximity to one another. This feature allows the machine to be used in unusually small reaction cuvettes. The analysis machine also includes an onboard control sample so that the machine can be programmed to periodically calibrate its analyzing equipment during the course of normal operation. The machine also includes a sample station carousel having retainer clips for retaining a sample container rack which is constructed to retain a bar-coded card containing information regarding reagents used in the machine. A bar code reader located proximate to the sample carousel reads the bar-coded reagent information into the controller.

2021021, Jul 15, 2021

Jan 29, 2021

17/162492

- SCHAFFHAUSEN, CH
Dang Minh Ngo - Fountain Valley CA, US

A61B 1/12
A61L 2/18
A61L 2/16
A61L 2/24
B08B 3/08
B08B 3/10
B08B 3/14
B08B 9/023
B08B 9/032

An apparatus and method for reprocessing a medical device includes a decontamination basin, a first flush conduit, a second flush conduit, and a manifold. The first and second flush conduits have respective first and second coupling ports configured to fluidly connect to the medical device positioned within the decontamination basin. The manifold is fluidly connected to the first and second flush conduits and configured to distribute the fluid received therein accordingly. The apparatus also includes a first valve, a second valve, and a primary pump configured to discharge the fluid into the manifold at a predetermined supply flow rate. The first and second valve are positioned respectively in the first and second flush conduits for balancing the respective flow rates discharged therefrom at a first predetermined conduit flow rate and a second predetermined conduit flow rate.