James E Swon

6496618, Dec 17, 2002

Feb 14, 2002

10/078332

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

G02B 626

385 25, 436518, 356307, 356318, 356427, 364500, 385 31, 4352887

An optical channel selection device comprises a barrel, an internal optical fiber disposed within the barrel, a first bearing coaxially disposed around the barrel, and a first bearing sleeve coaxially disposed around the first bearing. The barrel is rotatable about a central axis, and comprises a first end surface and a second opposing end surface. The internal optical fiber includes a first fiber end and a second fiber end. The first fiber end is exposed on the first end surface at a radially offset distance from the central axis. The second fiber end is exposed on the second end surface collinearly with the central axis. The first bearing sleeve has a plurality of first bearing sleeve apertures circumferentially spaced from each other. Each first bearing sleeve aperture is disposed in the first bearing sleeve at the radially offset distance, and is selectively optically aligned with the second fiber end through incremental rotation of the barrel.

6562301, May 13, 2003

Oct 27, 2000

09/697963

Stephen D. Dean - Cary NC
C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

B01L 302

422102, 422 99, 422100, 422 63, 220640, 220655

A vessel centering system comprises a vessel, an annular, spacer member, a fastening element, and an elastometric component. The vessel includes an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface. The spacer member is fitted in the vessel groove and extends outwardly with respect to the vessel. The first and second lateral end surfaces define a spacing therebetween. The spacer member includes a tangential bore and an annular groove. The tangential bore extends along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the spacer member. The fastening element, which could be a screw, is disposed in the tangential bore in engagement with the ring member and extends across the ring spacing. The elastometric component, which could be a gasket or O-ring, is disposed in the annular groove. A plurality of biased bearings can be provided instead of the elastometric component.

6611334, Aug 26, 2003

Feb 14, 2002

10/077675

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

G01N 2100

356436, 356440, 356246, 385 25, 385 31

A sample analysis system comprises a plurality of media containers, a plurality of sample test sites, a plurality of media sampling lines, a plurality of optical source lines, a plurality of optical return lines, and an optical input selection device. Each media sampling line is adapted for transferring a quantity of media from a corresponding one of the media containers to a corresponding one of the sample test sites. Each optical source line has an optical source line input end and an optical source line output end. Each optical source line output end communicates with a corresponding one of the sample test sites. Each optical return line has an optical return line input end and an optical return line output end. Each optical return line input end communicates with a corresponding one of the sample test sites. The optical input selection device is rotatable about a first axis, and comprises a first internal optical fiber having a first input end and a first output end.

6661512, Dec 9, 2003

Feb 13, 2002

10/076316

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

G01J 342

356319, 356436

A sample measurement and analysis system comprises a fiber-optic channel selecting apparatus, a plurality of optical source lines, a plurality of optical return lines, a plurality of sample test sites, and an optical receiving device. The selecting apparatus comprises an optical input selection device, an optical output selection device, and a controller element. The optical input selection device defines a first optical path running between a first input end and a first output end. The first output end is rotatable to a plurality of first index positions defined along a first circular path. The optical output selection device defines a second optical path running between a second input end and a second output end. The second input end is rotatable to a plurality of second index positions defined along a second circular path. The controller element communicates with the optical input selection device and the optical output selection device for selectively aligning the first optical path with the first index positions and the second optical path with the second index positions.

6673319, Jan 6, 2004

Mar 2, 2001

09/798142

Stephen D. Dean - Cary NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC
C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

B01L 302

422102, 422 99, 422100, 422 63, 220640, 220655

A vessel centering system comprises a vessel, an annular spacer member, a fastening element, and a first magnetic element. The vessel includes an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface. The spacer member is fitted in the vessel groove and extends outwardly with respect to the vessel. The first and second lateral end surfaces define a spacing therebetween. The spacer member includes a tangential bore extending along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the spacer member. The fastening element, which could be a screw, is disposed in the tangential bore in engagement with the ring member and extends across the ring spacing. The first magnetic element is supported by or enclosed within the spacer member. A vessel plate with a vessel mounting aperture is structured to accommodate the mounting or installation of the vessel. A second magnetic element is supported by the vessel plate.

6727480, Apr 27, 2004

Jul 23, 2001

09/911103

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC
Michael F. Haw - Raleigh NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

H05B 336

219549, 219429, 219528, 73866

A dissolution testing system comprises a vessel plate on which a plurality of vessels are mounted. Each vessel includes a lateral wall having an outer surface around which a plurality of flexible heater elements are attached. Each heater element includes a transparent surface area, a heat conductive element extending along the transparent surface area, a temperature sensing element extending along the transparent surface area, and an electrical contact element connected to the heat conductive element and the temperature sensing element. The heater element can have more than one heating zone, with at least one of the heating zones being selectively energizable. The transparent heater element allows unobstructed view into the interior of its vessel, and reduces the time required to achieve a stabilized set point temperature in the vessel. A heater control system communicates with each heat conductive element and each temperature sensing element through a corresponding one of the electrical contact elements. The heater control system permits each vessel to be controlled independently of the other vessels.

6764651, Jul 20, 2004

Nov 7, 2001

10/014270

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC
Henry Z. Hofer - Raleigh NC

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

G01N 2101

422 8206, 422 8205, 422 8207, 422 8208, 422 8209

A dissolution system provides remote flow cells integrated into a manifold device. The manifold device communicates with liquid input and output lines associated with each flow cell, as well as fiber-optic input and output lines associated with each flow cell. Liquid samples are respectively drawn from dissolution vessels, optically-related measurements are taken, and the samples are thereafter returned their respective vessels. The manifold device can be adapted to receive probe-type instruments that incorporate the fiber-optics, wherein each probe-type instrument is associated with each flow cell. Alternatively, each corresponding pair of fiber-optic input and output lines are disposed in opposing, optically-aligned relation and probe-type instruments are not used. The gap between the ends of the opposing fiber-optic lines provides a light path across the corresponding flow cell. Calibration procedures using blank and/or standard media are performed using the same flow cells, with provisions made for bypassing the vessels in which the samples to be analyzed are held.

6950568, Sep 27, 2005

Feb 14, 2002

10/077723

C. J. Anthony Fernando - Durham NC, US
James E. Swon - Chapel Hill NC, US

Varian, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

G02B006/26

385 16, 385 25, 385 26, 356246

An apparatus for selectively coupling fiber optic lines comprises an optical input selection device, an optical output selection device, and a rotatable coupling mechanism interconnecting the optical input selection device and the optical output selection device. The optical input selection device is rotatable about a first central axis, and comprises a first input end and a first output end. The first input end is disposed collinearly with the first central axis, and the first output end is disposed at a radially offset distance from the first central axis. The optical output selection device is rotatable about a second central axis, and comprises a second input end and a second output end. The second input end is disposed at a radially offset distance from the second central axis, and the second output end is disposed collinearly with the second central axis. Rotation of the coupling mechanism causes rotation of the first output end and the second input end.