Patents by Inventor Bernard Bryce

Bernard Bryce has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • LIQUID DROPLET DISPENSER
    Publication number: 20160288117
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip (2, 190, 210) with an orifice (4) having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly (13-15, 50, 80) comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws (51, 52, 61) adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip (180) followed by movement of the actuator assembly (153) to engage the tip (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: University of Limerick
    Inventors: Gabriel LEEN, Bernard BRYCE
  • Liquid droplet dispenser
    Patent number: 9387492
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip with an orifice having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip followed by movement of the actuator assembly to engage the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
    Inventors: Gabriel Leen, Bernard Bryce
  • LIQUID DROPLET DISPENSER
    Publication number: 20130153677
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip with an orifice having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip followed by movement of the actuator assembly to engage the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: University of Limerick
    Inventors: Gabriel Leen, Bernard Bryce