Patents by Inventor David N. Douglas

David N. Douglas 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: 11275029
    Abstract: A laser-ablation-based analytical system can include a sample chamber input, a make-up gas input, a vacuum pump, and an output flow. The sample chamber input can be configured to deliver a sample chamber gas flow comprised of combination of a laser-ablated sample and a sample-carrier gas from a sample chamber. The make-up gas input can be configured to provide an amount of make-up gas to supplement the combination of the laser-ablated sample and the sample-carrier gas. The vacuum pump can be fluidly connected to the sample chamber input and the make-up gas input, the vacuum pump configured to create a negative pressure in a sample transport gas downstream of the vacuum pump, the sample transport gas including the make-up gas, the laser-ablated sample, and the sample-carrier gas. The output flow can be configured to deliver the sample transport gas from the vacuum pump to a detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC LASERS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Hutchinson, David N. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20200182796
    Abstract: A laser-ablation-based analytical system can include a sample chamber input, a make-up gas input, a vacuum pump, and an output flow. The sample chamber input can be configured to deliver a sample chamber gas flow comprised of combination of a laser-ablated sample and a sample-carrier gas from a sample chamber. The make-up gas input can be configured to provide an amount of make-up gas to supplement the combination of the laser-ablated sample and the sample-carrier gas. The vacuum pump can be fluidly connected to the sample chamber input and the make-up gas input, the vacuum pump configured to create a negative pressure in a sample transport gas downstream of the vacuum pump, the sample transport gas including the make-up gas, the laser-ablated sample, and the sample-carrier gas. The output flow can be configured to deliver the sample transport gas from the vacuum pump to a detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Robert W. Hutchinson, David N. Douglas
  • Patent number: 10285255
    Abstract: A laser ablation system includes a sample chamber 102 configured to accommodate a target 104 within an interior 106 thereof, a sample generator 108 configured to remove a portion of the target 104 (which may be subsequently captured as a sample) and an analysis system 110 configured to analyze a composition of the sample. A sample capture cell in the chamber proximate to the target has a capture cavity configured to receive target material, a first inlet configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas from a first location adjacent to an exterior of the capture cell into a region of the capture cavity; and an outlet configured to receive carrier gas from another region of the capture cavity. The sample chamber 102 includes an injection nozzle 120 configured to introduce, into the interior 106, a fluid such as a carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC LASERS, LLC
    Inventors: Barry L. Sharp, David N. Douglas, Amy J. Managh
  • Publication number: 20140224775
    Abstract: A laser ablation system includes a sample chamber 102 configured to accommodate a target 104 within an interior 106 thereof, a sample generator 108 configured to remove a portion of the target 104 (which may be subsequently captured as a sample) and an analysis system 110 configured to analyze a composition of the sample. A sample capture cell in the chamber proximate to the target has a capture cavity configured to receive target material, a first inlet configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas from a first location adjacent to an exterior of the capture cell into a region of the capture cavity; and an outlet configured to receive carrier gas from another region of the capture cavity. The sample chamber 102 includes an injection nozzle 120 configured to introduce, into the interior 106, a fluid such as a carrier gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Sharp, David N. Douglas, Amy J. Managh
  • Publication number: 20140227776
    Abstract: A laser ablation system includes a sample chamber 102 configured to accommodate a target 104 within an interior 106 thereof, a sample generator 108 configured to remove a portion of the target 104 (which may be subsequently captured as a sample) and an analysis system 110 configured to analyze a composition of the sample. A sample capture cell in the chamber proximate to the target has a capture cavity configured to receive target material, a first inlet configured to transmit a flow of a carrier gas from a first location adjacent to an exterior of the capture cell into a region of the capture cavity; and an outlet configured to receive carrier gas from another region of the capture cavity. The sample chamber 102 includes an injection nozzle 120 configured to introduce, into the interior 106, a fluid such as a carrier gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: BARRY L. SHARP, DAVID N. DOUGLAS, AMY J. MANAGH