Patents by Inventor Gary J. Van Berkel

Gary J. Van Berkel 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: 20240094037
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems that can detect, monitor, adjust, and optimize fluid dynamic conditions within a sampling system comprising a transport capillary (e.g., an open port interface). The methods and systems detect an acoustic signal within the sampling system and, based on characteristics of the detected acoustic signal, adjust flow rate conditions of the liquid and/or airflow in the sampling system. Also provided are automated control and feedback systems (e.g., automated feedback adjustments made to an inlet pump flow rate, nebulizer gas flow rate, or both) that adjust, tune, and maintain flow conditions within a transport line based on a detected acoustic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventor: Gary J. VAN BERKEL
  • Publication number: 20240087865
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for segmented flow analysis. More particularly, the disclosure relates to introducing a liquid sample and a segmenting liquid into a transport capillary for segmented flow analysis, wherein the liquid sample and/or the segmenting liquid are dispensed into the transport capillary as discrete droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 11892383
    Abstract: A system and method for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the sample material to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 11885778
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20240021425
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for introducing a sample into an open port interface of an analytical device. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a sampling system that includes a dispenser, a hollow tip that releasably couples to the dispenser, and a gantry for receiving the tip. The gantry can be mounted to the open port interface of an analytical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20230349870
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 11585792
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20230040409
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid. The probe can produce a vortex of liquid in the liquid exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20220373521
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 11391651
    Abstract: A system and method for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20220148866
    Abstract: A method for the repeated analysis of a sample bearing location. The sample bearing location may include, for instance, a sampled point in a tissue slice that is spatially and temporally correlated to the original slice. The slice may be in whole, or in part, a complete item or a portion of a complete item such as, for example, a human organ. The method improves the analysis process, such as mass spectrometry analysis, by providing a much more complete characterization of the target. The method also allows for the splitting of the sample and chemical/physical alteration of the aliquots for enhanced chemical analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Covey, Chang Liu, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 11313841
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20210341439
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 10895559
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20200340891
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid. The probe can produce a vortex of liquid in the liquid exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20200256835
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 10704995
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Patent number: 10578593
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20190339173
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid. The probe can produce a vortex of liquid in the liquid exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel
  • Publication number: 20180356317
    Abstract: A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid. The probe can produce a vortex of liquid in the liquid exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Vilmos Kertesz, Gary J. Van Berkel