Patents by Inventor Edward T. Zellers

Edward T. Zellers 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).

  • Publication number: 20230417711
    Abstract: A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (?PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (?PHI). The ?PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a ?PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The ?PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The ?PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of ?PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Edward T. ZELLERS, Changhua ZHAN, Robert W. HOWER, Joseph A. POTKAY
  • Patent number: 11782033
    Abstract: A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (?PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (?PHI). The ?PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a ?PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The ?PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The ?PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of ?PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Edward T. Zellers, Changhua Zhan, Robert W. Hower, Joseph A. Potkay
  • Publication number: 20200232954
    Abstract: A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (?PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (?PHI). The ?PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a ?PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The ?PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The ?PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of ?PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Edward T. ZELLERS, Changhua ZHAN, Robert W. HOWER, Joseph A. POTKAY
  • Patent number: 9316623
    Abstract: A passive and reusable preconcentrator/injector device for measuring gas-phase analytes and methods of use. The device includes an upper plate defining an array of micro-scale diffusion channels and a lower plate secured to the upper plate. The lower plate defines a cavity for a reusable collection material in fluid communication with the micro-scale diffusion channels. An integral heating unit is provided adjacent the lower plate and configured for heating the cavity. A loading port may be included for introducing the reusable collection material into the cavity. An inlet port and an outlet port are provided, both in fluid communication with the cavity. The device may include a fluidic manifold system comprising a plurality of conduits disposed between the adsorbent cavity and the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
    Inventors: Jung Hwan Seo, Sun Kyu Kim, Edward T. Zellers, Katsuo Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 8607615
    Abstract: A two-dimensional gas chromatography system having first and second separation columns, a thermal modulator disposed between the first and second columns and having a plurality of stage channels, and a micro heater monolithically integrated in the thermal modulator. The thermal modulator is operable to trap and focus gas/vapor species within the plurality of stage channels upon cooling and release the gas/vapor species to the second column upon heating by the micro heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Sung Jin Kim, Katsuo Kurabayashi, Kensall D. Wise, Edward T. Zellers, Bruce P. Block
  • Publication number: 20110088452
    Abstract: A two-dimensional gas chromatography system having first and second separation columns, a thermal modulator disposed between the first and second columns and having a plurality of stage channels, and a micro heater monolithically integrated in the thermal modulator. The thermal modulator is operable to trap and focus gas/vapor species within the plurality of stage channels upon cooling and release the gas/vapor species to the second column upon heating by the micro heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Sung Jin Kim, Katsuo Kurabayashi, Kensall D. Wise, Edward T. Zellers, Bruce P. Block
  • Patent number: 7615189
    Abstract: A device for accumulation of vapor analytes incorporating nanotubes grown by CVD is described. The devices are used in sensors and as a preconcentrator for a gas chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Dean M. Aslam, Edward T. Zellers, Yang Lu
  • Patent number: 6914220
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical heating apparatus and fluid preconcentrator device utilizing same wherein heating elements of the apparatus are sized and spaced to substantially uniformly heat a heating chamber within a heater of the apparatus. Tall, thermally-isolated heating elements are fabricated in Si using high aspect ratio etching technology. These tall heating elements have large surface area to provide large adsorbent capacity needed for high efficiency preconcentrators in a micro gas chromatography system (?GC). The tall heating elements are surrounded by air gaps to provide good thermal isolation, which is important for a low power preconcentrator in the ?GC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Tian, Stella W. Pang, Edward T. Zellers
  • Publication number: 20040056016
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical heating apparatus and fluid preconcentrator device utilizing same wherein heating elements of the apparatus are sized and spaced to substantially uniformly heat a heating chamber within a heater of the apparatus. Tall, thermally-isolated heating elements are fabricated in Si using high aspect ratio etching technology. These tall heating elements have large surface area to provide large adsorbent capacity needed for high efficiency preconcentrators in a micro gas chromatography system (&mgr;GC). The tall heating elements are surrounded by air gaps to provide good thermal isolation, which is important for a low power preconcentrator in the &mgr;GC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Tian, Stella W. Pang, Edward T. Zellers