Patents by Inventor Cliff Ketcham

Cliff Ketcham 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: 11416123
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices that allow for efficient management of many different sampling locations within a facility. A method for operating a biological sampler, a particle counter, and like air sampling, analysis, and/or monitoring equipment or instrumentation is described, such as by sampling an environment at a sampling position with the biological sampler and storing sample data and other useful information in memory in association with unique identifier(s) including sampling location(s) for the samples. Also provided are associated devices for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniele Pandolfi, Matt Michaelis, Paul B. Hartigan, Cliff Ketcham
  • Publication number: 20190250785
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices that allow for efficient management of many different sampling locations within a facility. A method for operating a biological sampler, a particle counter, and like air sampling, analysis, and/or monitoring equipment or instrumentation is described, such as by sampling an environment at a sampling position with the biological sampler and storing sample data and other useful information in memory in association with unique identifier(s) including sampling location(s) for the samples. Also provided are associated devices for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Daniele PANDOLFI, Matt MICHAELIS, Paul B. HARTIGAN, Cliff KETCHAM
  • Patent number: 10197487
    Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein relate generally to the prevention of migration of condensate in a condensation particle counter between components designed to handle condensate (e.g. saturator, condenser, condensate reservoir) and components which may be damaged by the condensate (e.g. detection and flow control devices).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Knollenberg, Stephen Pavone, Cliff Ketcham, Rebecca Thompson
  • Patent number: 9885640
    Abstract: Provided are impactors for detecting biologics having an adjustable separation distance between an impact surface and the intake aperture, including the exit of the intake aperture. The impactor has a sampling head having at least one intake aperture and an exit, an impactor base comprising an impact surface, wherein the impact surface opposibly faces the sampling head exit and is separated from the exit by a separation distance. The separation distance is continuously adjustable between a minimum separation distance and a maximum separation distance and can accommodate impact surfaces having different heights by positioning the impact surface, irrespective of height of the impact surface, at an optimal separation distance from the sample intake aperture, such as by a rotation-type mechanism with a change in distance indication provided to a user by a separation distance step indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Cliff Ketcham, Paul B. Hartigan, Chandrasekar Lakshmanan
  • Publication number: 20170350801
    Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein relate generally to the prevention of migration of condensate in a condensation particle counter between components designed to handle condensate (e.g. saturator, condenser, condensate reservoir) and components which may be damaged by the condensate (e.g. detection and flow control devices).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Brian KNOLLENBERG, Stephen PAVONE, Cliff KETCHAM, Rebecca THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 9810558
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for accurate sensing of particle concentrations in fluids by employing a particle impactor system that allows for collection, growth and analysis of biological particles. The disclosed systems and methods make use of a pressure based flow sensor which permits the particle impactor system systems to accurately and reliably provide measurements of biological particle concentrations in the ambient environment. By incorporation of pressure sensors and pressure measurements into the flow measurement techniques, embodiments provide for the ability to use a particle impactor system to accurately measure environmental biological particle concentrations at a variety of atmospheric pressure conditions, such as at high altitude or with minimal perturbation from atmospheric weather conditions, without requiring recalibration or other adjustment of the sensors and control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PARTICLE MEASURING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Bates, Cliff Ketcham, Paul B. Hartigan, Ronald W. Adkins
  • Patent number: 9631222
    Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for sampling, detecting and/or characterizing particles. Devices and methods of the invention, including particle samplers, impactors and counters, include a filter component for removing particles in the exhaust flow of the device, for example, to eliminate or minimize the potential for the device itself to provide source of particles in an environment undergoing particle monitoring. This aspect of the present devices and methods is particularly useful for monitoring particles in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of particles, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Particle Measuring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cliff Ketcham, Paul B. Hartigan, Ronald W. Adkins
  • Publication number: 20160002700
    Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for sampling, detecting and/or characterizing particles. Devices and methods of the invention, including particle samplers, impactors and counters, include a filter component for removing particles in the exhaust flow of the device, for example, to eliminate or minimize the potential for the device itself to provide source of particles in an environment undergoing particle monitoring. This aspect of the present devices and methods is particularly useful for monitoring particles in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of particles, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Particle Measuring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cliff KETCHAM, Paul B. HARTIGAN, Ronald W. ADKINS
  • Publication number: 20150355000
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for accurate sensing of particle concentrations in fluids by employing a particle impactor system that allows for collection, growth and analysis of biological particles. The disclosed systems and methods make use of a pressure based flow sensor which permits the particle impactor system systems to accurately and reliably provide measurements of biological particle concentrations in the ambient environment. By incorporation of pressure sensors and pressure measurements into the flow measurement techniques, embodiments provide for the ability to use a particle impactor system to accurately measure environmental biological particle concentrations at a variety of atmospheric pressure conditions, such as at high altitude or with minimal perturbation from atmospheric weather conditions, without requiring recalibration or other adjustment of the sensors and control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Particle Measuring Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas BATES, Cliff KETCHAM, Paul B. HARTIGAN, Ronald W. ADKINS
  • Publication number: 20150259723
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices that allow for efficient management of many different sampling locations within a facility. A method for operating a biological sampler is described, such as by sampling an environment at a sampling position with the biological sampler and associating the sampling position with a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier comprises an area and a location. Also provided are associated devices for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Paul B. HARTIGAN, Cliff KETCHAM
  • Publication number: 20150260617
    Abstract: Provided are impactors for detecting biologics having an adjustable separation distance between an impact surface and the intake aperture, including the exit of the intake aperture. The impactor has a sampling head having at least one intake aperture and an exit, an impactor base comprising an impact surface, wherein the impact surface opposibly faces the sampling head exit and is separated from the exit by a separation distance. The separation distance is continuously adjustable between a minimum separation distance and a maximum separation distance and can accommodate impact surfaces having different heights by positioning the impact surface, irrespective of height of the impact surface, at an optimal separation distance from the sample intake aperture, such as by a rotation-type mechanism with a change in distance indication provided to a user by a separation distance step indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Cliff KETCHAM, Paul B. HARTIGAN, Chandrasekar LAKSHMANAN
  • Patent number: 6210369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic injector having a drive assembly with an actuator extending from the rearward end portion of the housing and a removal resistant cover for preventing unintended operation of the actuator. The present invention also relates to a sealing arrangement wherein the needle is sealed within a sterilized needle chamber by at least three sealing members which cooperate to form the chamber. Also, the present invention relates to an injector in which the cartridge is mounted to a tubular cartridge mounting portion of the needle carrier with an annular sealing member disposed therebetween. The cartridge mounting portion has at least one generally axially extending groove which allows air to escape from the cartridge mounting portion as the cartridge is being moved forwardly to a medicament supplying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Wilmot, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, Jon Page, Cliff Ketcham, Jeffrey P. Castleberry, Jason Morton, Dave Edsall, Robert R. Boyd, Robert L. Hill
  • Patent number: D372086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Valleylab Inc.
    Inventors: Kamala J. Grasso, Cliff Ketcham, Kevin Leiner, Lawrence K. Pacer, Teresa Sanchez