Patents by Inventor Menglian Zhou

Menglian Zhou 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: 10768150
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for conducting comprehensive chromatography analysis. Broadly, the method comprises separating a sample in a first chromatographic column to generate a primary stream, which is directed toward a non-modulator switching system comprising at least one micro-switch and at least one valve. The non-modulator switching system is continuously operated to: (a) selectively direct a portion of the primary stream to one of a plurality of thermal injectors and accumulating the portion of the primary stream for a predetermined amount of time; (b) inject the portion of the primary stream into one of a plurality of secondary chromatographic columns; (c) detect one or more analytes in a secondary stream exiting the secondary chromatographic column; and repeat (a)-(c) to selectively direct other portions of the primary stream to other thermal injectors and secondary chromatographic columns until all of the analytes in the sample are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Jiwon Lee, Menglian Zhou, Hongbo Zhu, Katsuo Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 10705061
    Abstract: A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 ?L. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Hongbo Zhu, Robert Nidetz, Katsuo Kurabayashi, Menglian Zhou, Jiwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20180164261
    Abstract: A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 ?L. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong FAN, Hongbo ZHU, Robert NIDETZ, Katsuo KURABAYASHI, Menglian ZHOU, Jiwon LEE
  • Publication number: 20180095060
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for conducting comprehensive chromatography analysis. Broadly, the method comprises separating a sample in a first chromatographic column to generate a primary stream, which is directed toward a non-modulator switching system comprising at least one micro-switch and at least one valve. The non-modulator switching system is continuously operated to: (a) selectively direct a portion of the primary stream to one of a plurality of thermal injectors and accumulating the portion of the primary stream for a predetermined amount of time; (b) inject the portion of the primary stream into one of a plurality of secondary chromatographic columns; (c) detect one or more analytes in a secondary stream exiting the secondary chromatographic column; and repeat (a)-(c) to selectively direct other portions of the primary stream to other thermal injectors and secondary chromatographic columns until all of the analytes in the sample are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Jiwon Lee, Menglian Zhou, Hongbo Zhu, Katsuo Kurabayashi