Patents by Inventor Bob Boughtflower

Bob Boughtflower 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: 11103806
    Abstract: In a preparative separation-purification system for passing a solution containing a target component through a trap column 21 to capture the target component in the column 21, and for subsequently passing an eluting solvent through the column 21 to elute the captured component and collect it in a container, an outlet aperture 27 of the column 21 has a tapered shape whose sectional area is largest on a plane facing an inner space of the column 21 and decreases in the flowing direction of the liquid. A filter 26 for preventing deposition of the target component is also provided at the boundary between the inner space of the column 21 and a passage for discharging liquid from the inner space. By this configuration, clogging of the passage at the outlet end of the column 21 due to deposition of the target component is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corp.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 10434436
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-blowing vaporizing and drying device, which includes: a sample tube in the form of a double tube including an inner tube for a solution and an outer tube for a gas, the inner tube protruding from one end of the outer tube by length L; and a collection container including a container body and a lid provided with a protrusion sleeve tube, the protrusion sleeve tube including a coupling portion at an end to be located outside the container body and a sleeve portion of a length equal to or longer than L having an open end to be located inside the container body, the coupling portion being designed to be coupled to the aforementioned one end of the outer tube in an air-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Co.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 10124270
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-blowing vaporizing and drying device for blowing gas at a solution containing a target component, and thus nebulizing the solution to promote vaporization of the solvent while dropping the solution into the collection container, in which contamination does not occur even if different solutes are successively powderized. In the gas-blowing vaporizing and drying device according to the present invention, a cap 20 to be fitted to the upper opening of a collection container body 19 includes: a solution-introducing tube 20A for introducing a solution supplied from a passage 14, into a collection container 21; a gas-introducing tube 20B for introducing a gas supplied from a passage 22, into the collection container 21; and an exhaust port 20C. Further, the exhaust port 20C includes a filter 20D for preventing the powderized solute from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 9884267
    Abstract: An eluate-collecting mechanism is constructed, including: a collection passage and having an inlet to be inserted into and removed from the upper end of a trap column and an outlet to be inserted into and removed from a collection container; a support member for supporting the collection passage in such a manner that the inlet is fixed while the outlet is vertically movable; a contact part provided at the outlet to come in contact with the collection container when the outlet is inserted into this container; and an elastic member for pressing the outlet downward so that a tip of the outlet is lower than the tip of the inlet, the elastic member being compressed when the support member and the collection container are brought closer to each other while keeping the contact part in contact with the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Stasica Przemyslaw, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 9821250
    Abstract: In a preparative separation-purification system for passing a solution containing a target component through a trap column to capture the target component in the column, and for subsequently passing an eluting solvent through the column to elute the captured component and collect it in a container, a dilution passage is merged with a collection passage for sending an eluate from the outlet end of the trap column to the collection container, and a diluting liquid is intermittently introduced through the dilution passage into the collection passage. The diluting liquid lowers the concentration of the target component in the eluate and impedes the deposition of the target component. Thus, clogging of the passage due to the deposition of the target component eluted from the trap column is effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 9314794
    Abstract: A liquid leakage between a needle and a needle port is prevented. To this end, a guide section, a passage section, and a tapered section are provided in an in-port path of a needle port. The guide section has an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of a body of a needle. The passage section has an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the body of the needle and larger than the tip diameter of a tapered portion of the needle. The tapered section connects the guide section and the passage section. The taper angle ?2 of the tapered section is set to be larger than the taper angle ?1 of the tapered portion of the needle, and the width w of the tapered section is set to be smaller than half the difference between the outside diameter of the body and the tip diameter of the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 9259669
    Abstract: Collection containers (17) are heated by head conduction from a container rack (18) with a heater (19) as the heat source. When an eluting solvent is supplied into a trap column (7) by a pump (5), an eluate containing a target compound exiting from the column (7) flows through a preparative separation passage (13) and drips from a solution nozzle (13a), and this solution is separated into fine droplets by a gas stream blowing from a gas ejection nozzle (15a). When a droplet touches an inner wall of the container (17), the volatile solvent immediately vaporizes, leaving the target compound precipitated in solid forms on the inner wall. Thus, the process of vaporizing and drying the eluate to collect the target compound is completed within a short period of time. This process can be performed online and hence is suitable for laborsaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Patent number: 9144832
    Abstract: A needle washing mechanism allowing the selection of an appropriate needle cleaning liquid without having to take volatility into consideration is presented. The needle washing mechanism has: needles standing on a base side by side and each of which has a path inside thereof through which a liquid passes; washing ports having washing holes including openings; and a needle cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a needle cleaning liquid to each of the washing holes, and includes cap sections, which are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the needles, for closing the openings of the washing holes when the needles are inserted into the washing holes. The washing ports are biased toward the openings by means of biasing means. In addition, disposal passages for discharging the needle cleaning liquid from the washing holes are provided in the washing ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 8974666
    Abstract: A solution containing a target compound is passed through a trap column (14) to capture the target compound in the column (14). Thereafter, wash water is introduced in the trap column (14). Then, the setting of a six-port valve (7) is changed and an on/off valve (6) is opened to introduce nitrogen gas through a supply-side passage (8) in the trap column (14). In this stage, the nitrogen gas is warmed by means of a heat-exchange block (10), and the trap column (14) is warmed via a column rack (15). Any water remaining in the trap column (14) is initially thrust upwards by the nitrogen gas, to be extruded from an exit edge (14b) and discharged through a discharge-side passage (20). Furthermore, any water adhering to adsorbent or the inner wall surface of the trap column (14) is quickly vaporized and carried away by the nitrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Patent number: 8968563
    Abstract: A fractionating and refining device includes a solution sending flow path for supplying a solution, including a fractionated target component, a gas supply flow path, a collecting vessel, a warming mechanism for warming the collecting vessel, and a probe formed by integrating tip end portions of the solution sending flow path and the gas supply flow path with each other. A lid of the vessel includes a solution inlet to which the tip end portion of the solution sending flow path is connected, gas inlets to which the tip end portion of the gas supply flow path is connected, and gas discharge ports connecting an inside and an outside of a vessel main body of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Iwata, Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 8968561
    Abstract: A mixed liquid passage (31) is connected to a trapping passage (22) at a point upstream of a trap column (23). A mixture of a diluting liquid and an additive agent, which are respectively drawn and sent by pumps (35) and (36), is supplied into the mixed liquid passage (31). When an eluate containing a target compound is passed through the trap column (23), the eluate is diluted with the diluting liquid and hence its elution capability decreases, so that the target compound can be easily captured in the trap column (23). Meanwhile, the solubility of the mobile phase in the eluate decreases, causing not only the target component but also foreign compounds to more easily precipitate. However, their precipitation is prevented by the effect of the additive agent. Thus, clogging of the trap column (23) or pipes is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Patent number: 8932460
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a preparative separation/purification system for vaporizing an eluate in a short period of time, while enhancing the efficiency of collecting the target substance by accelerating the initiation of collecting the eluate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Publication number: 20140224430
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-blowing vaporizing and drying device for blowing gas at a solution containing a target component, and thus nebulizing the solution to promote vaporization of the solvent while dropping the solution into the collection container, in which contamination does not occur even if different solutes are successively powderized. In the gas-blowing vaporizing and drying device according to the present invention, a cap 20 to be fitted to the upper opening of a collection container body 19 includes: a solution-introducing tube 20A for introducing a solution supplied from a passage 14, into a collection container 21; a gas-introducing tube 20B for introducing a gas supplied from a passage 22, into the collection container 21; and an exhaust port 20C. Further, the exhaust port 20C includes a filter 20D for preventing the powderized solute from passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Przemyslaw Stasica, Bob Boughtflower
  • Patent number: 8607620
    Abstract: After a target compound is captured by an adsorbent within a trap column (7) held by a column rack (8) in a substantially vertical position and the column is filled with water to wash its inside, dichloromethane is slowly introduced from an inlet end (7a) on the lower side by a pump (5). The water within the trap column (7) is pushed upward by dichloromethane and exits from an outlet end (7b), to be disposed of via a two-way selector valve (12) and a disposal passage (14). Dichloromethane elutes the captured target compound. Therefore, when the eluate, which initially consists of water, changes via an emulsion to dichloromethane, the eluate contains an adequately high concentration of target compound. At this point, the two-way valve (12) is switched to a preparative separation passage (13). As a result, a solution that is adequately free from water and yet contains the target compound can be collected into a collection container (17), and the target compound in solid forms can be quickly obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Publication number: 20100300627
    Abstract: Collection containers (17) are heated by head conduction from a container rack (18) with a heater (19) as the heat source. When an eluting solvent is supplied into a trap column (7) by a pump (5), an eluate containing a target compound exiting from the column (7) flows through a preparative separation passage (13) and drips from a solution nozzle (13a), and this solution is separated into fine droplets by a gas stream blowing from a gas ejection nozzle (15a). When a droplet touches an inner wall of the container (17), the volatile solvent immediately vaporizes, leaving the target compound precipitated in solid forms on the inner wall. Thus, the process of vaporizing and drying the eluate to collect the target compound is completed within a short period of time. This process can be performed online and hence is suitable for laborsaving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Publication number: 20100281958
    Abstract: After a target compound is captured by an adsorbent within a trap column (7) held by a column rack (8) in a substantially vertical position and the column is filled with water to wash its inside, dichloromethane is slowly introduced from an inlet end (7a) on the lower side by a pump (5). The water within the trap column (7) is pushed upward by dichloromethane and exits from an outlet end (7b), to be disposed of via a two-way selector valve (12) and a disposal passage (14). Dichloromethane elutes the captured target compound. Therefore, when the eluate, which initially consists of water, changes via an emulsion to dichloromethane, the eluate contains an adequately high concentration of target compound. At this point, the two-way valve (12) is switched to a preparative separation passage (13). As a result, a solution that is adequately free from water and yet contains the target compound can be collected into a collection container (17), and the target compound in solid forms can be quickly obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Publication number: 20100276350
    Abstract: A mixed liquid passage (31) is connected to a trapping passage (22) at a point upstream of a trap column (23). A mixture of a diluting liquid and an additive agent, which are respectively drawn and sent by pumps (35) and (36), is supplied into the mixed liquid passage (31). When an eluate containing a target compound is passed through the trap column (23), the eluate is diluted with the diluting liquid and hence its elution capability decreases, so that the target compound can be easily captured in the trap column (23). Meanwhile, the solubility of the mobile phase in the eluate decreases, causing not only the target component but also foreign compounds to more easily precipitate. However, their precipitation is prevented by the effect of the additive agent. Thus, clogging of the trap column (23) or pipes is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica
  • Publication number: 20100258485
    Abstract: A solution containing a target compound is passed through a trap column (14) to capture the target compound in the column (14). Thereafter, wash water is introduced in the trap column (14). Then, the setting of a six-port valve (7) is changed and an on/off valve (6) is opened to introduce nitrogen gas through a supply-side passage (8) in the trap column (14). In this stage, the nitrogen gas is warmed by means of a heat-exchange block (10), and the trap column (14) is warmed via a column rack (15). Any water remaining in the trap column (14) is initially thrust upwards by the nitrogen gas, to be extruded from an exit edge (14b) and discharged through a discharge-side passage (20). Furthermore, any water adhering to adsorbent or the inner wall surface of the trap column (14) is quickly vaporized and carried away by the nitrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Kono, Masayuki Nishimura, Bob Boughtflower, Przemyslaw Stasica