Patents by Inventor Michael A. Ramsey

Michael A. Ramsey 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: 10242857
    Abstract: A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus includes, along a longitudinal direction, a first end cap electrode, a central electrode having an aperture, and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles. Electric fields can be applied in a y-direction of the lateral plane across one or more planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to translocate and/or manipulate ion trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Andrew Hampton, Kevin Schultze
  • Publication number: 20190066993
    Abstract: A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus includes, along a longitudinal direction, a first end cap electrode, a central electrode having an aperture, and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles. Electric fields can be applied in a y-direction of the lateral plane across one or more planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to translocate and/or manipulate ion trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Andrew Hampton, Kevin Schultze
  • Publication number: 20190066995
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices that generate differential axial transport in a fluidic device having at least one fluidic sample separation flow channel and at least one ESI emitter in communication with the at least one sample separation flow channel. In response to the generated differential axial transport, the at least one target analyte contained in a sample reservoir in communication with the sample separation channel is selectively transported to the at least one ESI emitter while inhibiting transport of contaminant materials contained in the sample reservoir toward the at least one ESI emitter thereby preferentially directing analyte molecules out of the at least one ESI emitter. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: John Scott Mellors, John Michael Ramsey, Nicholas George Batz
  • Publication number: 20190054470
    Abstract: A fluidic device includes a plurality of reaction wells, typically in a dense array, with at least one bead retention segment in fluid communication with and spatially separated from at least one signal detection segment. A respective bead retention segment can be configured to hold a single bead, which can have a reagent attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, William Hampton Henley
  • Publication number: 20190033255
    Abstract: Devices and methods generate an ordered restriction map of genomic DNA extracted from whole cells. The devices have a fluidic microchannel that merges into a reaction nanochannel that merges into a detection nanochannel at an interface where the nanochannel diameter decreases in size by between 50% to 99%. Intact molecules of DNA are transported to the reaction nanochannel and then fragmented in the reaction nanochannel using restriction endonuclease enzymes. The reaction nanochannel is sized and configured so that the fragments stay in an original order until they are injected into the detection nanochannel. Signal at one or more locations along the detection nanochannel is detected to map fragments in the order they occur along a long DNA molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard
  • Patent number: 10181396
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices that provide fluid devices with at least one SPE bed adjacent (upstream of) a separation channel which may be in communication with an inlet of a Mass Spectrometer. The fluid device can be configured to operate using independently applied pressures to a BGE reservoir and a sample reservoir for pressure-driven injection that can inject a discrete sample plug into a separation channel that does not require voltage applied to the sample reservoir and can allow for in-channel focusing methods to be used. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer but optical or other electronic detectors may also be used with the fluidic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Scott Mellors, William A. Black, John Michael Ramsey
  • Patent number: 10136898
    Abstract: A narrow profile surgical ligation clip has two legs with clamping surfaces joined by a hinge near the proximal ends, allowing the clip to reversibly open and close. A locking mechanism is proximal to the hinge to bias or lock the clip closed, including first and second jaw structures spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the clip thereby defining a locking space therebetween. In one embodiment, a wedge or buttress body moves by application of an external force applied to a proximal end of the clip towards the hinge to move into the locking space such that one or more outer surfaces or projections of portions of the body fit into or abut against complementary surfaces or other parts of the locking mechanism or clip assembly to bias or lock the clip in a closed position and provide additional closing force to the inner clamping surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Philip Schmidt, Dan Monahan, Brad Labarbera, Paul Whiting, Steven Morris, Salvatore Castro, Michael Ramsey, Lynn Willett
  • Patent number: 10141178
    Abstract: A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus including, along a longitudinal direction: a first end cap electrode; a central electrode having an aperture; and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: J. Michael Ramsey, Kevin Schultze
  • Patent number: 10140238
    Abstract: An Open Compute Project (OCP) mezzanine riser with repurposed connectivity to allow for increased PCIe card count on a motherboard server. The OCP mezzanine riser includes at least one OCP connector, where the OCP connectors are mounted on the bottom of the mezzanine riser card and mate with at least one of three OCP connection points that are mounted on a server motherboard. Further, the OCP mezzanine riser includes one or more PCIe lanes mounted on the top of the mezzanine riser card, where a PCIe card may be connected to the one or more PCIe lanes of the mezzanine riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Warren Mundt, Scott Michael Ramsey
  • Patent number: 10130373
    Abstract: An applier for ligation clip is provided. The applier includes: an outer tube having mounting bosses; a pair of jaws pivotally connected to the mounting bosses, the jaws having actuating projections; a feed tube located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the feed tube having actuating slots in which the actuating projections are located; a clip lock arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube; and a clip advance arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the clip advance arm having flexible pinchers at one end of the clip advance arm. A method of applying a ligation clip is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Salvatore Castro, Curtis Thornton, Lynn Willett, Michael Ramsey, Philip Schmidt, Dan Monahan, Adam Lehman, Paul Whiting, Leland Ray Adams, Alan Bachman, Steven Morris, Bradley J. Labarbera
  • Patent number: 10134576
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices that generate differential axial transport in a fluidic device having at least one fluidic sample separation flow channel and at least one ESI emitter in communication with the at least one sample separation flow channel. In response to the generated differential axial transport, the at least one target analyte contained in a sample reservoir in communication with the sample separation channel is selectively transported to the at least one ESI emitter while inhibiting transport of contaminant materials contained in the sample reservoir toward the at least one ESI emitter thereby preferentially directing analyte molecules out of the at least one ESI emitter. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Scott Mellors, John Michael Ramsey, Nicholas George Batz
  • Patent number: 10106848
    Abstract: Devices and methods generate an ordered restriction map of genomic DNA extracted from whole cells. The devices have a fluidic microchannel that merges into a reaction nanochannel that merges into a detection nanochannel at an interface where the nanochannel diameter decreases in size by between 50% to 99%. Intact molecules of DNA are transported to the reaction nanochannel and then fragmented in the reaction nanochannel using restriction endonuclease enzymes. The reaction nanochannel is sized and configured so that the fragments stay in an original order until they are injected into the detection nanochannel. Signal at one or more locations along the detection nanochannel is detected to map fragments in the order they occur along a long DNA molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard
  • Publication number: 20180252697
    Abstract: Methods of forming a chip with fluidic channels include forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanofunnel with a wide end and a narrow end into a planar substrate, the nanofunnel having a length, with width and depth dimensions that both vary over its length and forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanochannel into the planar substrate at an interface adjacent the narrow end of the nanofunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard, Jinsheng Zhou, Michael Rubinstein, Sergey Panyukov
  • Patent number: 10068759
    Abstract: Mass spectrometry systems include an ionizer, mass analyzer and the detector, with a high pressure chamber holding the mass analyzer and a separate chamber holding the detector to allow for differential background pressures where P2<P1 which generates gas flow through an unsealed, sealed or partially sealed ion trap and enhances detected signal relative to when P2=P1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Kevin Philip Schultze, Bruno Jean-Bernard Coupier
  • Publication number: 20180224398
    Abstract: Devices and methods generate an ordered restriction map of genomic DNA extracted from whole cells, nuclei, whole chromosomes, or other sources of long DNA molecules. The devices have a fluidic microchannel that merges into a reaction nanochannel that merges into a detection nanochannel at an interface where the nanochannel diameter decreases in size by between 50% to 99%. Intact molecules of DNA are transported to the reaction nanochannel and then fragmented in the reaction nanochannel using restriction endonuclease enzymes. The reaction nanochannel is sized and configured so that the fragments stay in an original order until they are injected into the detection nanochannel. Signal at one or more locations along the detection nanochannel is detected to map fragments in the order they occur along a long DNA molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard
  • Publication number: 20180200720
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide fluidic devices such as, but not limited to, microfluidic chips, with one or more freeze thaw valves (FTVs) employing one or more ice-nucleating agents (INAs), that can reliably operate to freeze at relatively higher temperatures and/or at faster rates than conventional microfluidic devices with FTV systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, William Hampton Henley, Joseph Carl Gaiteri
  • Publication number: 20180158662
    Abstract: A pneumatic method, and associated apparatus, for injecting a discrete sample plug into the separation channel of an electrophoresis microchip (100) is disclosed. In a first step, pressurized gas (90) is applied to the sample (30) and background electrolyte (20) reservoirs such that the pressure is higher there than at the sample waste reservoir (35) to create a focused sample stream at the junction between the sample and separation channels. In a second step, the pressure at the sample reservoir (30) is reduced in order to pneumatically inject the sample plug into the separation channel. The waste reservoir (35) may be connected to a pressure reducing device (91). The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer (200i).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: John Scott Mellors, Erin Anne Redman, John Michael Ramsey
  • Patent number: 9989515
    Abstract: Methods of forming a chip with fluidic channels include forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanofunnel with a wide end and a narrow end into a planar substrate, the nanofunnel having a length, with width and depth dimensions that both vary over its length and forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanochannel into the planar substrate at an interface adjacent the narrow end of the nanofunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard, Jinsheng Zhou, Michael Rubinstein, Sergey Panyukov
  • Patent number: 9970898
    Abstract: Devices and methods generate an ordered restriction map of genomic DNA extracted from whole cells, nuclei, whole chromosomes, or other sources of long DNA molecules. The devices have a fluidic microchannel that merges into a reaction nanochannel that merges into a detection nanochannel at an interface where the nanochannel diameter decreases in size by between 50% to 99%. Intact molecules of DNA are transported to the reaction nanochannel and then fragmented in the reaction nanochannel using restriction endonuclease enzymes. The reaction nanochannel is sized and configured so that the fragments stay in an original order until they are injected into the detection nanochannel. Signal at one or more locations along the detection nanochannel is detected to map fragments in the order they occur along a long DNA molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent Menard
  • Publication number: 20180126379
    Abstract: Fluidic devices with a primary transport nanochannel(s) intersected by at least one nanoscale manifold for active control of capture, manipulation and transport of analyte molecules. The at least one manifold can be an array or network of nanochannels, nanoslits or nanoelectrodes joined to a common voltage or pressure source. A respective nanoscale manifold can be configured to allow for precise and active control of driving forces applied to the primary transport nanochannel(s) to drive molecular transport through the various regions along the transport nanochannel(s). The at least one manifold can generate monotonic force gradients with a limited or reduced number of independent input potentials and/or pressures applied to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: John Michael Ramsey, Laurent D. Menard, Michael a. Tycon, Oscar A. McCrate