Patents by Inventor Andrew D. Toms

Andrew D. Toms 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: 11397142
    Abstract: A sample agitation system for an automated sampling device is described. In an example implementation, the sample agitation system includes a sample probe configured to contact a sample positioned within a sample vessel. Further, the sample agitation system includes an actuator coupled to the sample probe that is configured to stir the sample positioned within the sample vessel in one or more rotational directions. The directions may include, but are not limited to, clockwise motion, anti-clockwise motion, or the like. In some implementations, a sample probe support arm can be coupled to the sample probe and/or the actuator. The actuator can move the sample probe support arm in a translational, a rotational, and/or a vertical direction to rotate the sample probe and stir the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew D. Toms
  • Patent number: 10948462
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for automated column sparging of preconcentration columns for analytic testing. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a selection valve fluidically coupled with a gas source and with an eluent source, the selection valve including a mixing portion to mix gas from the gas source and eluent from the eluent source to provide a bubbled eluent stream; and a preconcentration column in fluid communication with the selection valve, the preconcentration column configured to receive the bubbled eluent stream from the selection valve and direct the bubbled eluent stream into an interior of the preconcentration column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Toms, Michael P. Field, Nathan Saetveit
  • Patent number: 10514329
    Abstract: A sample agitation system for an automated sampling device is described. In an example implementation, the sample agitation system includes a sample probe configured to contact a sample positioned within a sample vessel. Further, the sample agitation system includes an actuator coupled to the sample probe that is configured to stir the sample positioned within the sample vessel in one or more rotational directions. The directions may include, but are not limited to, clockwise motion, anti-clockwise motion, or the like. In some implementations, a sample probe support arm can be coupled to the sample probe and/or the actuator. The actuator can move the sample probe support arm in a translational, a rotational, and/or a vertical direction to rotate the sample probe and stir the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew D. Toms