Patents by Inventor Eric Houser

Eric Houser 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: 8409510
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Andrew McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Stanley Vincent Stepnowski, Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7776269
    Abstract: A sensing device having: a bottom electrode, a dielectric on the bottom electrode, a grid of nanoelectrodes on the dielectric, and a top electrode in electrical contact with the grid. A method of chemical or biological sensing comprising: providing a grid of nanoelectrodes; exposing the grid to fluid suspected of containing a chemical or biological analyte; and measuring a change in the capacitance and conductance of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric S. Snow, F. Keith Perkins, Eric Houser, Stan V. Stepnowski, R. Andrew McGill
  • Publication number: 20100120167
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Andrew McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Stanley Vincent Stepnowski
  • Publication number: 20070125150
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for sensing a change in mass of a reflective microbeam in a sensor, the sensor having a reflective layer disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from the reflective microbeam. The microbeam receives amplitude modulated laser energy at a first wavelength and is photothermally excited into resonance at the frequency of amplitude modulation, the reflective microbridge and the reflective layer receive optical energy at a second wavelength and reflect the optical energy toward a receiver. A change in reflectivity of the microbeam at different frequencies is determined. A change in reflectivity indicates a change in resonant frequency of the microbeam. Mass of the microbeam changes when a chemoselective material on the microbeam sorbs a target chemical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Todd Stievater, William Rabinovich, Eric Houser, Stanley Stepnowski, R. McGill
  • Publication number: 20070043195
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatography, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Robert McGill, Eric Houser
  • Publication number: 20070003440
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatoghraphy, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Robert McGill, Eric Houser
  • Publication number: 20060249402
    Abstract: A sensing device having: a bottom electrode, a dielectric on the bottom electrode, a grid of nanoelectrodes on the dielectric, and a top electrode in electrical contact with the grid. A method of chemical or biological sensing comprising: providing a grid of nanoelectrodes; exposing the grid to fluid suspected of containing a chemical or biological analyte; and measuring a change in the capacitance and conductance of the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Eric Snow, F. Keith Perkins, Eric Houser, Stan Stepnowski, R. McGill
  • Publication number: 20050226778
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a first micro scale plate having a sorbent surface and a through hole. The through hole provides for the passage of an analyte fluid flow through the plate, and it has a volume and geometry to provide contact between the fluid and the sorbent surface in an amount effective to absorb a sufficient amount of analyte for subsequent detection of the analyte. The sorbent surface can be provided by a sorbent coating such as an active sensing film, e.g. a conducting or optically active material, examples of which include conducting polymers, polymer/carbon composites, carbon nanotubes, and dye-containing materials. The analyte collection device preferably includes a heating source, e.g. a heating element formed from a resistive trace, or a plurality of resistive traces, on or within the first microscale plate, for effecting a thermal release of collected analyte from the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Eric Houser, Robert McGill, David Nagel
  • Publication number: 20050095722
    Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Robert McGill, Michael Martin, Mark Crain, Kevin Walsh, Eric Houser, Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6617040
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for selective molecular recognition, the device comprising a sensing portion, wherein said sensing portion includes a substrate having coated thereon a layer comprising a dendrimeric compound having: (1) a core portion; (2) at least one unsaturated arms extending radially from the core portion; and (3) at least one halogen substituted alcohol substituted at the terminus, the interior, or both of each; The device is used to detect the molecules of a hydrogen bond accepting vapor such as organophosphorus or nitroaromatic species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric Houser, Robert McGill
  • Publication number: 20030135005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for selective molecular recognition, the device comprising a sensing portion, wherein said sensing portion includes a substrate having coated thereon a layer comprising a dendrimeric compound having:
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Eric Houser, Robert McGill