Patents by Inventor Paul R. Atherton
Paul R. Atherton 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).
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Patent number: 8242440Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: generating ions from the sample within an ionization chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure; entraining the ions in a background gas; transferring the background gas and entrained ions to an evacuated chamber of a mass spectrometer system using a single-piece capillary having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein a portion of the capillary adjacent to the outlet end comprises an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of an adjoining portion of the capillary; and analyzing the ions using a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer system.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Maurizio A. Splendore, Eloy R. Wouters, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach
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Patent number: 7915580Abstract: A device for improved transportation and focusing of ions in a low vacuum or atmospheric-pressure region of a mass spectrometer is constructed from one or more electro-dynamic or electrostatic focusing lenses that is/are coupled to the first electrode of a stacked ring ion guide (SRIG) to which oscillatory (e.g., radio-frequency) voltages are applied. Such configurations as disclosed herein, minimizes deleterious field effects and/or repositioning problems of desired ion transfer instruments that utilize such stacked ring ion guides by generally configuring the outlet end of the ion transfer device to a desired position within the electro-dynamic or electro-static focusing lens(es).Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Maurizio A. Splendore, Eloy R. Wouters, Michael W. Senko, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Christopher Mullen
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Publication number: 20100276584Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: generating ions from the sample within an ionization chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure; entraining the ions in a background gas; transferring the background gas and entrained ions to an evacuated chamber of a mass spectrometer system using an ion transfer tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein a portion of the ion transfer tube adjacent to the outlet end comprises an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of an adjoining portion of the ion transfer tube; and analyzing the ions using a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Maurizio A. SPLENDORE, Eloy R. Wouters, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach
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Patent number: 7781728Abstract: A device for transporting and focusing ions in a low vacuum or atmospheric-pressure region of a mass spectrometer is constructed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart electrodes to which oscillatory (e.g., radio-frequency) voltages are applied. In order to create a tapered field that focuses ions to a narrow beam near the device exit, the inter-electrode spacing or the oscillatory voltage amplitude is increased in the direction of ion travel.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Michael W. Senko, Viatcheslav V. Kovtoun, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Eloy R. Wouters, Maurizio Splendore, William Siebert
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Publication number: 20100090104Abstract: A device for improved transportation and focusing of ions in a low vacuum or atmospheric-pressure region of a mass spectrometer is constructed from one or more electro-dynamic or electrostatic focusing lenses that is/are coupled to the first electrode of a stacked ring ion guide (SRIG) to which oscillatory (e.g., radio-frequency) voltages are applied. Such configurations as disclosed herein, minimizes deleterious field effects and/or repositioning problems of desired ion transfer instruments that utilize such stacked ring ion guides by generally configuring the outlet end of the ion transfer device to a desired position within the electro-dynamic or electro-static focusing lens(es).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Maurizio A. Splendore, Eloy R. Wouters, Michael W. Senko, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Christopher Mullen
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Publication number: 20090045062Abstract: A device for transporting and focusing ions in a low vacuum or atmospheric-pressure region of a mass spectrometer is constructed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart electrodes to which oscillatory (e.g., radio-frequency) voltages are applied. In order to create a tapered field that focuses ions to a narrow beam near the device exit, the inter-electrode spacing or the oscillatory voltage amplitude is increased in the direction of ion travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: Michael W. Senko, Viatcheslav V. Kovtoun, Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Eloy R. Wouters, Maurizio Splendore, William Siebert
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Patent number: 7470899Abstract: An ion source includes an ion transfer tube having two segments for transporting a sample fluid containing ions between a first chamber and a second chamber maintained at a reduced pressure relative to the first chamber. A first segment may include a plurality of channels and heat conductive walls forming the plurality of channels. The plurality of channels and walls forming the channels promote efficient convective heat transfer to the sample fluid, thereby enabling operation at relatively high sample fluid flow rates, resulting in an increase in the number of ions that may be delivered to a mass analyzer. A second segment forms a single common channel that receives a plurality of sample streams and enables them to combine into a single ion stream that may be introduced as a single gas stream expansion into the second chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Paul R Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Maurizio Splendore, Eloy R. Wouters
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Patent number: 7391019Abstract: An on-axis ion source has an ionization chamber and an adjacent low-pressure region. The on-axis ion source also includes a capillary tube having an axial bore for supporting fluid communication between the ionization chamber and the adjacent low-pressure region, the axial bore of the capillary tube being substantially concentrically aligned with the orifice of a skimmer located downstream in the ion path from the capillary tube. A blocking element is provided in an aligned facing arrangement with the axial bore of the capillary tube and on an opposite side of the orifice relative to the capillary tube. The blocking element receives droplets or particles flowing through the axial bore of the capillary tube and passing through the orifice of the skimmer. The combination of an on-axis arrangement and the use of a blocking element results in improved signal-to-noise level due to enhanced ion transmission and reduction of noise arising from passage of undesolvated droplets and particles to the mass analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLCInventors: Jean-Jacques Dunyach, Nigel P. Gore, Paul R. Atherton
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Publication number: 20080142698Abstract: An ion source includes an ion transfer tube having two segments for transporting a sample fluid containing ions between a first chamber and a second chamber maintained at a reduced pressure relative to the first chamber. A first segment may include a plurality of channels and heat conductive walls forming the plurality of channels. The plurality of channels and walls forming the channels promote efficient convective heat transfer to the sample fluid, thereby enabling operation at relatively high sample fluid flow rates, resulting in an increase in the number of ions that may be delivered to a mass analyzer. A second segment forms a single common channel that receives a plurality of sample streams and enables them to combine into a single ion stream that may be introduced as a single gas stream expansion into the second chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Paul R. Atherton, Jean Jacques Dunyach, Maurizio Splendore, Eloy R. Wouters
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Publication number: 20080073555Abstract: An on-axis ion source has an ionization chamber and an adjacent low-pressure region. The on-axis ion source also includes a capillary tube having an axial bore for supporting fluid communication between the ionization chamber and the adjacent low-pressure region, the axial bore of the capillary tube being substantially concentrically aligned with the orifice of a skimmer located downstream in the ion path from the capillary tube. A blocking element is provided in an aligned facing arrangement with the axial bore of the capillary tube and on an opposite side of the orifice relative to the capillary tube. The blocking element receives droplets or particles flowing through the axial bore of the capillary tube and passing through the orifice of the skimmer. The combination of an on-axis arrangement and the use of a blocking element results in improved signal-to-noise level due to enhanced ion transmission and reduction of noise arising from passage of undesolvated droplets and particles to the mass analyzer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2006Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventors: Jean-Jacques Dunyach, Nigel P. Gore, Paul R. Atherton