Patents by Inventor Martin E. Toomajian

Martin E. Toomajian 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: 20230372898
    Abstract: A device for regenerating materials using a plasma field. The device includes a flow unit configured to flow a gas or a liquid and a plasma unit coupled to the flow unit and including a plurality of electrodes and a sorbent bed having a sorbent material. The plasma unit is configured to receive the flow of the gas or liquid from the flow unit so that the gas or liquid flows through the sorbent material and a predetermined chemical species in the gas or liquid is adsorbed or absorbed by the sorbent material. The device also includes a power source providing a power signal to one or more of the electrodes. The electrodes are configured so that the power signal generates a plasma field in the sorbent material that causes the adsorbed or absorbed chemical species to desorb from the sorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Martin E. Toomajian
  • Patent number: 11545343
    Abstract: A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Qi Hua Fan, Martin E. Toomajian
  • Publication number: 20210322606
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing pathogen loading is disclosed. A plasma processing chamber is sealed at one end and a pressure sealable door at the other end, with electrodes within the chamber. A first electrode is coupled to a RF power source and a second electrode is coupled to ground. An inlet port introduces a process gas into the chamber. A vacuum pump draws the process gas into the chamber and exhausts through the pump. An object is positioned within an inside wall of the chamber. A surface of the object is disinfected when a plasma field is generated when RF energy from the electrodes is applied to the introduced process gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Martin E. Toomajian, Kevin D. Hawley
  • Publication number: 20210322915
    Abstract: A system for reducing airborne pathogens and contaminants in a breathing zone of a person is disclosed. A manifold assembly includes a tube fitted with an air intake nozzle. The air intake nozzle is positioned at the breathing zone of the person such that an air gap is created between the person and the nozzle. Exhaled air is routed from the person to the manifold assembly via the tube. A purification unit deactivates and/or filters airborne pathogens and contaminants of the exhaled air supplied from the manifold assembly. A suction assembly draws the exhaled air from the breathing zone of the person, through the manifold assembly and the purification unit, to a one-way exhaust valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Martin E. Toomajian, Timothy E. Moore
  • Publication number: 20210291138
    Abstract: A vertically oriented plasma reactor is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor includes a vertically elongated vacuum chamber, a wall internally projecting within a middle section of the housing, magnets, electrodes and a radio frequency source. A further aspect employs a workpiece-entry port and an opposite workpiece material-exit port, with one located adjacent a top end and the other adjacent a bottom end of a vertically elongated reactor housing or vacuum chamber. Yet another aspect employs a moving or falling-bed plasma reactor for use in activating biochar material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Qi Hua FAN, Martin E. TOOMAJIAN, Thomas SCHUELKE
  • Publication number: 20200335311
    Abstract: A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: QI HUA FAN, Martin E. TOOMAJIAN
  • Patent number: 6011193
    Abstract: A treatment method for containers of hazardous materials, including chemical and conventional weapons, is described. The method is applicable to munitions containing explosives and chemical warfare agents, and to training or test rounds. The containers are subjected to a highly corrosive fluid which dissolves all or part of the container and renders the containers useless as munitions. The highly corrosive fluid may render the hazardous material non-hazardous. The result of the treatment is a liquor which can undergo further treatment for recovery or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Craig A. Myler, Martin E. Toomajian, Monte R. Elmore, Evan O. Jones, Alan H. Zacher