Patents by Inventor Thomas N. Corso

Thomas N. Corso 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).

  • Patent number: 6852560
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a nozzle of microchip-based electrospray device is disclosed. The method includes using a primary mask to accurately define the nozzle feature including the annulus and the through hole of the electrospray device. A secondary masking step is conducted to pattern the through channel (typical the photoresist would serve as the secondary mask), followed by the defining and etching of the primary mask containing the full nozzle feature. The secondary mask serves to selectively mask given areas of the primary mask for subsequent etching. The through hole feature of the secondary mask aligns over the already patterned primary mask through channel, except that the secondary mask contains a slightly larger through channel diameter. This serves to mask off the annulus, but allowing the silicon through channel to be exposed for etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6822231
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignees: Advion BioSciences, Inc., Kionix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6814870
    Abstract: A microchip-based electrospray ionization device and column with affinity adsorbents is disclosed. The invention includes a microchip array and a capillary tube or alone or attached in combination. At least a portion of the device or column has immobilized affinity adsorbents. Methods for using the device are provided as well for affinity capture of biomolecules to meet the needs for the modem life sciences such as proteomics and drug discover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng Zhang, Xian Huang, Thomas N. Corso, Gary A. Schultz, Simon J. Prosser
  • Publication number: 20040219705
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a nozzle of microchip-based electrospray device is disclosed. The method includes using a primary mask to accurately define the nozzle feature including the annulus and the through hole of the electrospray device. A secondary masking step is conducted to pattern the through channel (typical the photoresist would serve as the secondary mask), followed by the defining and etching of the primary mask containing the full nozzle feature. The secondary mask serves to selectively mask given areas of the primary mask for subsequent etching. The through hole feature of the secondary mask aligns over the already patterned primary mask through channel, except that the secondary mask contains a slightly larger through channel diameter. This serves to mask off the annulus, but allowing the silicon through channel to be exposed for etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6811689
    Abstract: A microchip-based electrospray ionization device and column with affinity adsorbents is disclosed. The invention includes a microchip array and a capillary tube or alone or attached in combination. At least a portion of the device or column has immobilized affinity adsorbents. Methods for using the device are provided as well for affinity capture of biomolecules to meet the needs for the modern life sciences such as proteomics and drug discover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng Zhang, Xian Huang, Thomas N. Corso, Gary A. Schultz, Simon J. Prosser
  • Patent number: 6800202
    Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrosprayliquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignees: Kionix, Inc., Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
  • Publication number: 20040182818
    Abstract: An electrospray nozzle system is disclosed. The electrospray portion of the device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray. The nozzle system may be utilized alone or as part of a liquid chromatography system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
  • Patent number: 6790354
    Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrospray-liquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: Advion BioSciences, Inc., Kionix, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
  • Patent number: 6787766
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6780313
    Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrospray-liquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: Advion BioSciences, Inc., Kionix, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
  • Publication number: 20040155182
    Abstract: An electrospray device is disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
  • Patent number: 6768107
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignees: Advion BioSciences, Inc., Kionix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6750076
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a nozzle of microchip-based electrospray device is disclosed. The method includes using a primary mask to accurately define the nozzle feature including the annulus and the through hole of the electrospray device. A secondary masking step is conducted to pattern the through channel (typical the photoresist would serve as the secondary mask), followed by the defining and etching of the primary mask containing the full nozzle feature. The secondary mask serves to selectively mask given areas of the primary mask for subsequent etching. The through hole feature of the secondary mask aligns over the already patterned primary mask through channel, except that the secondary mask contains a slightly larger through channel diameter. This serves to mask off the annulus, but allowing the silicon through channel to be exposed for etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Advion Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Corso
  • Patent number: 6723985
    Abstract: A microchip-based electrospray device, system, and method of fabrication thereof are disclosed. The electrospray device includes a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electric field generating source for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray. A method and system are disclosed to generate multiple electrospray plumes from a single fluid stream that provides an ion intensity as measured by a mass spectrometer that is approximately proportional to the number of electrospray plumes formed for analytes contained within the fluid. A plurality of electrospray nozzle devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles for the purpose of generating multiple electrospray plumes from multiple nozzles for the same fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Simon J. Prosser
  • Publication number: 20040072337
    Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrospray-liquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Publication number: 20040041093
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Publication number: 20040016878
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Publication number: 20030201390
    Abstract: A microfabricated silicon chip with a separation material, such as in situ prepared porous polymer monoliths in its microchannels is disclosed. The polymer monoliths are liquid-permeable and serve as microcolumns for liquid chromatography, which are prepared by in situ radical polymerization of a mixture containing vinyl monomers and solvents (porogen) in the microchannels. A method and system are disclosed to generate one or more electrospray plumes from one or more nozzles that provide an ion intensity as measured by a mass spectrometer that is approximately proportional to the number of electrospray plumes formed for analyses contained within the fluid. A plurality of electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized separate electrospray devices for the purpose of generating multiple electrospray plumes from multiple nozzles for the same fluid for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas N. Corso, Gary A. Schultz, Simon J. Prosser, Xian Huang
  • Patent number: 6633031
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Advion BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso
  • Publication number: 20030189167
    Abstract: A droplet/electrospray device and a liquid chromatography-electrospray system are disclosed. The droplet/electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate droplets or an electrospray. A plurality of these electrospray devices can be used in the form of an array of miniaturized nozzles. The liquid chromatography-electrospray device comprises a separation substrate defining an introduction channel between an entrance orifice and a reservoir and a separation channel between the reservoir and an exit orifice, the separation channel being populated with separation posts perpendicular to the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso