Patents by Inventor CIARAN J. O'CONNOR
CIARAN J. O'CONNOR 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: 11837454Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Ciaran J. O'Connor, Leif C. Summerfield
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Patent number: 11756777Abstract: Humidification systems and methods to introduce water vapor to a laser-ablated sample prior to introduction to an ICP torch are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a water vapor generator configured to control production of a water vapor stream and to transfer the water vapor stream to at least one of a sample chamber of a laser ablation device or a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the laser ablation device, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a laser-ablated sample from the laser ablation device and direct the laser-ablated sample to an inductively coupled plasma torch.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Elemental Scientific Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Field, Jude Sakowski, Jordan Krahn, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11686653Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Shane Hilliard, Erik B. Larsen, Robert W. Hutchinson, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20220344141Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Ciaran J. O'Connor, Lief C. Summerfield
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Patent number: 11367604Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Ciaran J. O'Connor, Leif C. Summerfield
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Publication number: 20220172939Abstract: Humidification systems and methods to introduce water vapor to a laser-ablated sample prior to introduction to an ICP torch are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a water vapor generator configured to control production of a water vapor stream and to transfer the water vapor stream to at least one of a sample chamber of a laser ablation device or a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the laser ablation device, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a laser-ablated sample from the laser ablation device and direct the laser-ablated sample to an inductively coupled plasma torch.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Michael P. Field, Jude Sakowski, Jordan Krahn, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11195708Abstract: Humidification systems and methods to introduce water vapor to a laser-ablated sample prior to introduction to an ICP torch are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a water vapor generator configured to control production of a water vapor stream and to transfer the water vapor stream to at least one of a sample chamber of a laser ablation device or a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the laser ablation device, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a laser-ablated sample from the laser ablation device and direct the laser-ablated sample to an inductively coupled plasma torch.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Field, Jude Sakowski, Jordan Krahn, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11183378Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC LASERS, LLCInventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Leif C. Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 11092519Abstract: A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLCInventors: Shane Hilliard, Jay N. Wilkins, Erik B. Larsen, Robert W. Hutchinson, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20210217602Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Ciaran J. O'Connor, Leif C. Summerfield
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Publication number: 20210057201Abstract: Humidification systems and methods to introduce water vapor to a laser-ablated sample prior to introduction to an ICP torch are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a water vapor generator configured to control production of a water vapor stream and to transfer the water vapor stream to at least one of a sample chamber of a laser ablation device or a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the laser ablation device, wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a laser-ablated sample from the laser ablation device and direct the laser-ablated sample to an inductively coupled plasma torch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Michael P. Field, Jude Sakowski, Jordan Krahn, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20190371590Abstract: In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Jay N. Wilkins, Leif C. Summerfield, Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J. O'Connor
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Patent number: 9524856Abstract: A sample chamber is configured to accommodate a target such that a portion of the target is removable as a sample. A carrier gas injection system is configured to introduce a carrier gas into the sample region from a first position and a second position within the sample chamber such that at least a portion of the sample is entrainable by the carrier gas within the sample region. A portion of the sample region is located between the first position and the second position. A sample transport conduit is configured to transport at least a portion of the sample entrained by the carrier gas to a location outside the sample chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.Inventors: Shane Hilliard, Ciaran J O'Connor, Jay Wilkins, Erik Larsen, Leif Summerfield
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Publication number: 20140223991Abstract: A sample chamber is configured to accommodate a target such that a portion of the target is removable as a sample. A carrier gas injection system is configured to introduce a carrier gas into the sample region from a first position and a second position within the sample chamber such that at least a portion of the sample is entrainable by the carrier gas within the sample region. A portion of the sample region is located between the first position and the second position. A sample transport conduit is configured to transport at least a portion of the sample entrained by the carrier gas to a location outside the sample chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: SHANE HILLIARD, CIARAN J. O'CONNOR, JAY WILKINS, ERIK LARSEN, LEIF SUMMERFIELD