Patents by Inventor August A. Specht

August A. Specht 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: 10497549
    Abstract: A method comprises: (1) making an extract of a biological sample; (2) repeatedly: (a) choosing a respective one of a plurality of pre-determined protein or polypeptide analyte compounds; (b) introducing a portion of the extract into an electrospray ionization source, thereby generating positive ions comprising a plurality of ion species; (c) isolating a plurality of subsets of the ion species comprising respective mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio ranges, each range including an m/z ratio corresponding to a respective protonation state of the chosen compound; (d) reacting the isolated plurality of subsets of first-generation ion species with proton transfer reaction reagent anions for a pre-determined time duration; (e) generating a mass spectrum of the product ion species; and (g) identifying either the presence or absence of the compound based on the mass spectrum; and (3) identifying the presence or absence of the microorganism within the sample based on analytes present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO FINNIGAN LLC
    Inventors: James L. Stephenson, Jr., John E. P. Syka, August A. Specht
  • Publication number: 20180102243
    Abstract: A method comprises: (1) making an extract of a biological sample; (2) repeatedly: (a) choosing a respective one of a plurality of pre-determined protein or polypeptide analyte compounds; (b) introducing a portion of the extract into an electrospray ionization source, thereby generating positive ions comprising a plurality of ion species; (c) isolating a plurality of subsets of the ion species comprising respective mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio ranges, each range including an m/z ratio corresponding to a respective protonation state of the chosen compound; (d) reacting the isolated plurality of subsets of first-generation ion species with proton transfer reaction reagent anions for a pre-determined time duration; (e) generating a mass spectrum of the product ion species; and (g) identifying either the presence or absence of the compound based on the mass spectrum; and (3) identifying the presence or absence of the microorganism within the sample based on analytes present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: James L. STEPHENSON, JR., John E. P. SYKA, August A. SPECHT
  • Patent number: 9837255
    Abstract: Applications of ion-ion reaction chemistry are disclosed in which proton transfer reactions (PTR) are used to (1) simplify complex mixture analysis of samples introduced into a mass spectrometer, and (2) improve resolution and sensitivity for the analysis of large proteins in excess of 50 kDa by removing charge and reducing the collisional cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: James L. Stephenson, Jr., John E. P. Syka, August A. Specht
  • Publication number: 20170162372
    Abstract: Applications of ion-ion reaction chemistry are disclosed in which proton transfer reactions (PTR) are used to (1) simplify complex mixture analysis of samples introduced into a mass spectrometer, and (2) improve resolution and sensitivity for the analysis of large proteins in excess of 50 kDa by removing charge and reducing the collisional cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: James L. STEPHENSON, Jr., John E. P. SYKA, August A. SPECHT
  • Patent number: 8461524
    Abstract: A mass spectrometry system arrangement includes a curved ion guide, where the curve of the ion guide is positioned such that a portion of the ion optics are visible from at the ion guide entrance, e.g. line of sight or z-axis. There are four electrodes parallel with each other and the central curved axis. Each electrode is equally radially spaced from the curved central axis. For each cross section of the ion guide, the central curved axis being positioned at the origin, the curved electrodes being radially positioned at 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°. Depending upon the system, a blocking device is positioned external to the ion guide but within the “line of sight” or positioned tangential to the rising section of the bent ion guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Jean Jacques Dunyach, August A. Specht, R. Paul Atherton
  • Publication number: 20120248304
    Abstract: A mass spectrometry system arrangement includes a curved ion guide, where the curve of the ion guide is positioned such that a portion of the ion optics are visible from at the ion guide entrance, e.g. line of sight or z-axis. There are four electrodes parallel with each other and the central curved axis. Each electrode is equally radially spaced from the curved central axis. For each cross section of the ion guide, the central curved axis being positioned at the origin, the curved electrodes being radially positioned at 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°. Depending upon the system, a blocking device is positioned external to the ion guide but within the “line of sight” or positioned tangential to the rising section of the bent ion guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Jean Jacques Dunyach, August A. Specht, R. Paul Atherton