Abstract: A method and means of providing stromal repair and improved refractive correction by creating corneal stromal collagen tissue with fibril diameter and spacing that duplicates the optical transmission and diffusion characteristics of natural corneal collagen. The repair method includes implanting the collagen scaffold during laser corneal ablation or other interlamellar surgery to improve visual acuity or to preclude the possibility of ectasia.

Abstract: A method of combining ES (ElectroSpray Ionization) and MALDI (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) to create enhanced MALDI mass spectrometry to be referred to as ESMALDI (ElectroSpray Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization). ESMALDI technology offers substantial advantages over conventional technology. essentially by combining the high ionization efficiency and multiple charging of ions in ESI with the smaller sample requirements and operational simplicity of MALDI. Biologists should thus be able to achieve higher sensitivity, better protein identification, enhanced quantification potential and enhanced structural information. An additional degree of freedom for ESMALDI MS is flexibility in the choice of solvents that can be used in the ESI component of the process. Substantial differences in ESI behavior can occur with the same analyte or mixture of analytes in different solvents.

Abstract: Propellant liquid is supplied to a Colloidal Thruster for Micro Satellite vehicles in Space by capillarity induced flow through a wick element comprising a permeable porous aggregate of fibers or particles of material that is wetted by the propellant liquid. An intense electric field at the tip of the wick element dispersed the arriving liquid into a fine spray of charged droplets. Electrodes having appropriate design, location and potentials accelerate the charge droplets to high velocity, thereby providing reactive thrust to the vehicle. In this method of propellant liquid introduction the flow rate and exhaust velocity, and therefore the thrust level, are determined by the applied potential difference, thereby eliminating the need for pumps or pressurized gas and flow controllers to provide the desired flowrate for the propellant liquid.

Abstract: A method of collecting or “gettering” polar trace species from ambient air devoid of the need for forced convention or pumping of the air sample is described. The disclosed invention utilizes a specialized electrospray source, fed by a wick, which attracts and transfers surface charge from spray droplets to ambient polar molecules and particulates which migrate into the path of the electrospray jet source and the target. Collected species may be detected directly on collection surface using suitable detection methodologies or can be stored for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: An improved method of controlling stability and deposition of electrospray jets which eliminates a charge accumulation the electrospray jet, source or target is described. Utilizing an alternating rather than a direct or constant electric potential for electrospray production, accumulated charge is neutralized. Applications include improved surface deposition, controlled electrospinning, and simplified spacecraft electric propulsion, to name a few.

Abstract: A method and means of providing stromal repair and improved refractive correction by creating corneal stromal collagen tissue with fibril diameter and spacing that duplicates the optical transmission and diffusion characteristics of natural corneal collagen.

Abstract: Sample liquid is supplied to the ion source of an Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometer (ESIMS) by capillarity induced flow through a wick element comprising a permeable porous aggregate of fibers or particles of material that is wetted by the sample liquid. This method of liquid introduction eliminates the need for pumps of pressurized gas to drive the flow. It also makes possible the convenient extraction of a representative sample from a stream of liquid flowing at any rate, no matter how large.

Abstract: A light transparent moisture barrier useful for preventing moisture from destroying the effectiveness of a moisture sensitive cell condition tester on an electrochemical cell comprises a plurality of very thin; alternating layers of an inorganic material and an organic material on a flexible, polymeric substrate. The layers are not laminated, but are formed on the substrate by a deposition or coating process and the thickness of any layer is less than 5 microns.

Abstract: A light transparent moisture barrier useful for preventing moisture from destroying the effectiveness of a moisture sensitive cell condition tester on an electrochemical cell comprises a plurality of very thin, alternating layers of an inorganic material and an organic material on a flexible, polymeric substrate. The layers are not laminated, but are formed on the substrate by a deposition or coating process and the thickness of any layer is less than 5 microns. The organic material is a hydrophobic polymer and the inorganic material is a metal oxide, nitride, a glass or silicon.

Abstract: A production of mass spectra which contain a multiplicity of peaks. The component ions of these peaks, which are multiply charged, are formed by dispersing a solution containing an analyte into a bath gas as highly charged droplets. The analyte is generally a compound of high molecular weight and is of biochemical interest. The methods calculate the molecular weight of the analyte from the measured mass values of the highly charged ions.

Abstract: An electrospray mass spectrometric method for analyzing an aqueous solution containing inorganic ion species first enhances the signals for small inorganic ions in electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of aqueous solutions by substantially diluting a sample of the aqueous solution with an organic solvent. The method also removes solvent molecules and other ligands from the small inorganic ions formed in electrospray ionization before mass analysis is complete, by appropriate application of electric fields to accelerate the ions so they will have energetic collisions with neutral gas molecules.

Abstract: The subject invention teaches the use of mechanical vibration to enhance the electrostatic dispersion of sample solutions into the small, highly charged droplets that can produce ions of solute species for mass spectrometric analysis. Such vibration turns out to be surprisingly effective at ultrasonic frequencies for solutions with flow rates, conductivities and surface tensions too high for stable dispersion by electrostatic forces alone as in conventional electrospray ionization. Several embodiments of the invention are described for purposes of illustration. Other possible embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Abstract: This invention describes the production of mass spectra which contain a multiplicty of peaks. The component ions of these peaks, which are multiply charged, are formed by dispersing a solution containing an analyte into a bath gas as highly charged droplets. The analyte is generally a compound of high molecular weight and is of biochemical interest. The invention also describes methods for calculating the molecular weight of the analyte from the measured mass values of the highly charged ions.

Abstract: A method of changing the energy of charged particles contained in a gas comprises allowing the gas to flow into a region of reduced pressure through a tube like member so that viscous forces exerted on the charged particles by the flowing gas molecules determine the kinetic energy of the charged particles. A potential gradient is maintained along the length of the tube so that the potential energy of the charged particles is changed as they pass through the tube. At the end of the tube a free jet expansion occurs so that the kinetic energy of the charged particles is no longer determined by the flowing gas, so that they can be accelerated to any desired kinetic energy by means of another potential gradient.The invention can be used to interface any high pressure ion source to a magnetic sector mass spectrometer, or to permit the operation of an electrospray ion source with an earthed inlet capillary with either a quadrupole or a magnetic sector mass spectrometer.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source for a mass spectrometer capable of generating ions from samples dissolved in a solution comprises a capillary tube through which the said solution is pumped into a first chamber maintained substantially at atmospheric pressure and in which an inert gas is flowing in a direction counter to the flow of the solution, and a small orifice in the end wall of the chamber opposite to and aligned with the capillary. A high potential difference is applied between the capillary and the end wall so that the solution is electrosprayed into the chamber and ions characteristic of the sample are formed. These ions are desolvated to a controllable extent by the inert gas, which may also be heated to improve the efficiency of the process and increase the maximum permissible flow rate of solution. The ions so formed pass through the small orifice into a second chamber maintained at a reduced pressure, and into a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A photo-optical imaging system suitable for use in an electronradiography system which produces an electrostatic charge image at an electrode. An electrode having a photoconductor layer and a transparent electrical conducting layer, with the charge image at the photoconductor layer. A light beam and various arrangements for scanning the beam over the photoconductor layer through the transparent layer for selectively transferring charge to the electrically conducting layer through the photoconductor layer as portions of the photoconductor layer are illuminated by the beam, and a data storage unit for receiving and storing data corresponding to the magnitude of charge at the photoconductor layer.

Abstract: An electronradiography imaging chamber providing a real time visual image. An electronradiography imaging chamber with electrophoretic particles in the electrode gap, with the particles being selectively moved to a transparent electrode as a result of the electrostatic charge image formed by absorbtion of incoming X-ray radiation in the gap. A dark field illumination viewing configuration with the deposited particles providing light scattering giving a visual image with low radiation dosage. An imaging chamber which can be cyclically operated at a relatively high repetition rate, typically 10 to 20 images per second, thereby providing real time viewing of the object.

Abstract: An electronradiography imaging chamber providing a visual image at the chamber suitable for direct viewing and/or copying. An imaging chamber with a first electrode on the x-ray source side, an x-ray absorber in a gap between the first electrode and an anisotropic plate, and a liquid crystal material in a second gap between the plate and a second transparent electrode, with incoming x-radiation providing a charge image on the plate at the absorber gap, with the plate transferring the charge image to the liquid crystal side and modulating the liquid crystal material to produce a visual image of the charge image, which visual image is viewable through the second electrode.