Eric Alan Waltzer

20030153844, 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.

20030155012, 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.

20030157480, 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.

20030157564, Aug 21, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310652

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
C12M001/34

435/007100, 435/287200

Assemblies and methods are provided for flowing sample through a flow immunoassay assembly using one or more plungers. The flow immunoassay assembly includes an immunoassay reaction chamber, a sample distribution chamber in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, and a sample dispense plunger being movable within the sample distribution chamber to dispense the sample from the sample distribution chamber into the immunoassay reaction chamber. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, and a buffer dispense plunger movable within the buffer chamber to dispense buffer from the buffer chamber into the immunoassay reaction chambers. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a read cell in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber for providing a means to measure a reaction within the reaction chamber (which may be a displacement type immunoassay reaction chamber) and a waste chamber in fluid communication with the read cell for storage of hazardous biological fluid. Upper and lower seals can be provided on the buffer chamber for storage of the buffer prior to use, in which case, the buffer dispense plunger can be provided with a stylus that is configured to puncture the upper seal when the buffer dispense plunger is moved toward the upper seal. To automate the immunoassay flow assembly, it can further include a drive assembly mechanically coupled to the sample dispense plunger, and if applicable, the buffer dispense plunger.

20030158499, Aug 21, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310645

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 and methods are provided for mixing a sample and a buffer. A sample/buffer mixing assembly includes a sample collection chamber, a buffer chamber containing a buffer, a mixing chamber, and one or more plungers. The sample collection chamber is in fluid communication with a sample collection interface device. The mixing chamber includes a sample port adjacent the sample collection chamber, and a buffer port adjacent the buffer chamber. The plungers are in fluid communication with the sample collection chamber and the buffer chamber, and can be moved to dispense the buffer from the buffer chamber into the mixing chamber via the sample port, and the sample from the sample collection chamber into the mixing chamber via the buffer port. In this manner, the dispensed sample and buffer form a buffered sample solution within the mixing chamber. The plungers can include a buffer dispense plunger that is movable within the buffer chamber towards the buffer port to dispense the buffer from the buffer chamber into the mixing chamber under positive pressure via the buffer port. The plungers can also include a sample dispense plunger that is movable within the mixing chamber away from the sample port to dispense the sample from the sample collection chamber into the mixing chamber via the sample port. The sample/buffer mixing assembly can be automated by mechanically coupling drive assemblies to the sample and buffer dispense plungers. To ensure that the sample and buffer are mixed, a ferrous element can be provided within the mixing chamber, and a mixing motor can be magnetically coupled to the ferrous element to agitate the buffered sample solution. The sample/buffer mixing assembly can also be used to mix saliva and buffer, in which case, the sample collection chamber is a saliva collection chamber.

20030162204, Aug 28, 2003

Dec 4, 2002

10/310635

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

C12Q001/68

435/006000

Assemblies and methods are provided for detecting alcohol using a reconstituted reagent solution. An alcohol reaction assembly includes an alcohol reaction chamber, a reagent chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the reagent chamber. The alcohol reaction assembly further includes a buffer dispense plunger disposed within the buffer chamber for dispensing buffer from the buffer chamber, through the reagent chamber, and into the alcohol reaction chamber, where it hydrates dry reagent therein to produce a reagent solution. The alcohol reaction assembly further includes a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within the calibrator chamber to dispense a predetermined quantity of alcohol into the alcohol reaction chamber. The alcohol reaction assembly also includes a sample chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample. The alcohol reaction assembly includes buffer and calibrator drive assemblies can be mechanically coupled to the buffer and calibrator dispense plungers to automate them. The components of the alcohol reaction assembly can also be arranged in a cassette and test console. For example, the chambers and plungers can be contained with the cassette, whereas the drive assemblies can be contained within the test console. In this case, the buffer drive assembly can include a cassette loading drive assembly that is configured to load the cassette into the test console, and a buffer driver that is fixed within the test console and is configured to move the buffer dispense plunger within the buffer chamber as the cassette is being loaded into the test console.

20030162308, 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.

20030166259, 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