Patents by Inventor Harry F. Prest

Harry F. Prest 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: 10580632
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, one or more different conditioning gases are added to condition or modify one or more surfaces or regions of the ion source. The conditioning gas(es) may be added directly into the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, Charles W. Russ, IV
  • Publication number: 20190189413
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, one or more different conditioning gases are added to condition or modify one or more surfaces or regions of the ion source. The conditioning gas(es) may be added directly into the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, Charles W. Russ
  • Publication number: 20180277348
    Abstract: Mass spectrometry is performed utilizing an electron ionization (EI) source. The EI source ionizes a sample at different electron energies, including below and above 70 eV. The EI source may be utilized for soft ionization as well as hard ionization. The value of the electron energy may be selected so as to favor the formation of molecular ions or other ions of high analytical value. The ion source may be an axial ion source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, Mingda Wang, Jeffrey T. Kernan
  • Publication number: 20170089915
    Abstract: Methods of analyte derivatization and soft ionization are provided. The methods include contacting a sample including an analyte with a derivatization agent to produce a modified analyte including a pseudo-molecular analyte group and a leaving group connected via a fragmentable bond; and selectively breaking the fragmentable bond under soft ionization conditions to produce a predominant first fragmentation product including the pseudo-molecular analyte group and a second fragmentation product including the leaving group. The method may further include analyzing the first and second fragmentation products in a mass spectrometer to identify an ion corresponding to the pseudo-molecular analyte group. Also provided are methods for detecting analytes using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). These methods find use in a variety of applications in which mass spectroscopic analysis of samples is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Mingda Wang, Harry F. Prest
  • Patent number: 9117617
    Abstract: An ion source is configured for electron ionization and produces coaxial electron and ion beams. The ion source includes an ionization chamber along an axis, a magnet assembly configured for generating an axial magnetic field in the ionization chamber, an electron source, and a lens assembly configured for directing the ion beam out from the ionization chamber along the axis, reflecting the electron beam back toward the electron source, and transmitting higher energy ions out from the ion source while reflecting lower energy ions toward a lens element for neutralization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles William Russ, IV, Harry F. Prest, Jeffrey T. Kernan
  • Publication number: 20140375209
    Abstract: An ion source is configured for electron ionization and produces coaxial electron and ion beams. The ion source includes an ionization chamber along an axis, a magnet assembly configured for generating an axial magnetic field in the ionization chamber, an electron source, and a lens assembly configured for directing the ion beam out from the ionization chamber along the axis, reflecting the electron beam back toward the electron source, and transmitting higher energy ions out from the ion source while reflecting lower energy ions toward a lens element for neutralization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Charles William Russ, Harry F. Prest, Jeffrey T. Kernan
  • Publication number: 20140374583
    Abstract: Mass spectrometry is performed utilizing an electron ionization (EI) source. The EI source ionizes a sample at different electron energies, including below and above 70 eV. The EI source may be utilized for soft ionization as well as hard ionization. The value of the electron energy may be selected so as to favor the formation of molecular ions or other ions of high analytical value. The ion source may be an axial ion source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, Mingda Wang, Jeffrey T. Kernan
  • Publication number: 20140260540
    Abstract: A gas chromatograph (GC) inlet device includes a multi-capillary liner capable of separating components of a sample matrix prior to injecting the sample into an analytical GC column. The device is switchable between different modes, such as a normal injection modes, splitless modes, split modes, a backflush modes, and cut modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. O'Neil, Harry F. Prest, Robert V. Mustacich
  • Patent number: 8513593
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, a conditioning gas such as, for example, hydrogen is added to condition or clean one or more components or regions of the mass spectrometer such as the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added upstream of the mass spectrometer such as, for example, into a sample inlet or a chromatographic column, or may be added directly into the mass spectrometer. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample, or on-line during sample analysis. When added on-line, the conditioning gas may be mixed with a carrier gas such as, for example, helium. In another embodiment, the conditioning gas also serves as the carrier gas through the column; another gas such as, for example, helium may be added to the carrier gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Quimby, Michael J. Szelewski, Michael K. Freed, Harry F. Prest
  • Publication number: 20130062515
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, a conditioning gas such as, for example, hydrogen is added to condition or clean one or more components or regions of the mass spectrometer such as the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added upstream of the mass spectrometer such as, for example, into a sample inlet or a chromatographic column, or may be added directly into the mass spectrometer. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample, or on-line during sample analysis. When added on-line, the conditioning gas may be mixed with a carrier gas such as, for example, helium. In another embodiment, the conditioning gas also serves as the carrier gas through the column; another gas such as, for example, helium may be added to the carrier gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Quimby, Harry F. Prest, Michael J. Szelewski, Michael K. Freed
  • Patent number: 8378293
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, a conditioning gas such as, for example, hydrogen is added to condition or clean one or more components or regions of the mass spectrometer such as the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added upstream of the mass spectrometer such as, for example, into a sample inlet or a chromatographic column, or may be added directly into the mass spectrometer. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample, or on-line during sample analysis. When added on-line, the conditioning gas may be mixed with a carrier gas such as, for example, helium. In another embodiment, the conditioning gas also serves as the carrier gas through the column; another gas such as, for example, helium may be added to the carrier gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Quimby, Harry F. Prest, Michael J. Szelewski, Michael K. Freed
  • Patent number: 7816644
    Abstract: The invention provides a system apparatus and methods for fragmenting various molecules. In particular, the invention may be employed for fragmenting biomolecules like peptides to determine sequence information. The invention provides a mass spectrometry system for photo-activated collision induced dissociation. The mass spectrometry system or device includes an ion source for producing ions, a photon source adjacent to the ion source for photo-activating ions produced by the ion source, an electrical element adjacent to the photon source for creating an electric field for accelerating ions produced by the ion source and photo-activated by the photon source; wherein ions are produced by the ion source, photo-activated by the photon source and accelerated into a surface to cause dissociation of the activated ions; and a detector downstream from the ion source for detecting the collision induced and dissociated ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Harry F. Prest, Robert Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7737395
    Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, apparatuses and methods for ionizing samples that are in gaseous phase or can be vaporized/sublimated. The samples include samples to be analyzed and mass calibrants that serve as standards. In addition, the present invention also provides calibrant formulations that release mass calibrants in a slow, controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Goodley, Harry F. Prest, Christine A. Miller, Patrick D. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20090206293
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the flow of fluid though a channel. A first substrate defines features comprising a first channel. At least a portion of the first channel is bounded a deformable material having a first contour in which the first channel has a first cross-sectional area and a second contour in which the first channel has a second cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy Beerling, Harry F. Prest
  • Patent number: 7569815
    Abstract: The invention provides a GC mass spectrometry system, including a column for introducing a sample into the GC mass spectrometry system, a heating source for providing heat to the sample to be separated by the column, an ion source downstream from the heating source for ionizing the sample separated by the column, the ion source having a sensor for determining the temperature of the ion source, an interface coupled to the ion source sensor and the heating source wherein the interface provides a feedback loop between the ion source sensor and the heating source and the temperature of the ion source or the heating source can be tracked and altered during data acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry F Prest
  • Patent number: 7482580
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for dynamically controlling a time period of ion detection by an ion detector of a mass spectrometer. A current resulting from conversion of an output of the detector is surveyed during the ion detection by the detector. The time period for the ion detection is terminated upon calculation of a statistically valid accumulation statistic, calculation indicating that satisfactory statistics cannot be achieved over the time period, relative to a predetermined statistical threshold, or elapsing of the entire time period having been preset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, James D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20080142701
    Abstract: The invention provides a GC mass spectrometry system, including a column for introducing a sample into the GC mass spectrometry system, a heating source for providing heat to the sample to be separated by the column, an ion source downstream from the heating source for ionizing the sample separated by the column, the ion source having a sensor for determining the temperature of the ion source, an interface coupled to the ion source sensor and the heating source wherein the interface provides a feedback loop between the ion source sensor and the heating source and the temperature of the ion source or the heating source can be tracked and altered during data acquisition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Harry F. Prest
  • Publication number: 20080083874
    Abstract: A system includes a vacuum manifold for a mass spectrometer. The vacuum manifold defines an orifice. A vacuum valve is joined to the manifold at the orifice. A load-lock adapter is joined to the vacuum valve. A transfer line may be introduced to the mass spectrometer and withdrawn therefrom via the vacuum valve and load-lock adapter without substantially disturbing the operating environment of the mass spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Harry F. Prest, James D. Foote, Jeffrey T. Kernan
  • Publication number: 20080067336
    Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, apparatuses and methods for ionizing samples that are in gaseous phase or can be vaporized/sublimated. The samples include samples to be analyzed and mass calibrants that serve as standards. In addition, the present invention also provides calibrant formulations that release mass calibrants in a slow, controlled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Paul C. Goodley, Harry F. Prest, Christine A. Miller, Patrick D. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20080067356
    Abstract: An apparatus for ionizing an analyte sample with a mass calibrant is provided. The apparatus includes an ionization chamber defining an ionization region, a first passageway coupled to the ionization region for delivering the analyte sample to the ionization region, a second passageway leading to a mass analyzer having an orifice arranged adjacent to the ionization region to receive ions from the ionization region, a third passageway coupled to the ionization chamber at a first end and having a second end with an orifice arranged to receive gaseous neutral mass calibrant molecules, and an ionization device arranged within the ionization chamber. The ionization device generates primary ions from the analyte sample, and the primary ions ionize a portion of the gaseous neutral mass calibrant molecules received into the ionization region via the third passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Paul C. Goodley, Harry F. Prest, Christine A. Miller