Patents by Inventor Peter Lukens

Peter Lukens 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: 7309987
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method comprises generating an indicator of an anticipated time-averaged power for a radio-frequency (RF) pulse set, and anticipatively adjusting a cooling supplied by a cryogenic cooling fluid to an RF coil according to the indicator of the anticipated time-averaged power. The cryogenic cooling adjustment may be performed using a cryogenic fluid heater and/or a mass flow controller disposed in the cryogenic fluid path. The time difference between the start of the cooling adjustment and the start of the RF pulse set is set to be equal to the difference in timescales between the cooling effect of the cooling adjustment and the heating effect of the RF pulse set on the RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lukens, Atholl Gibson
  • Publication number: 20070286738
    Abstract: A vacuum ion-getter pump includes a vacuum chamber having a pumping port, an anode positioned in the vacuum chamber, a cathode positioned in the vacuum chamber in proximity to the anode, a voltage source coupled between the anode and the cathode, a magnet assembly to produce a magnetic field in the vacuum chamber, and a cooling device thermally coupled to the cathode. The cooling device may be a cryogenic cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Lukens
  • Publication number: 20070096734
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method comprises generating an indicator of an anticipated time-averaged power for a radio-frequency (RF) pulse set, and anticipatively adjusting a cooling supplied by a cryogenic cooling fluid to an RF coil according to the indicator of the anticipated time-averaged power. The cryogenic cooling adjustment may be performed using a cryogenic fluid heater and/or a mass flow controller disposed in the cryogenic fluid path. The time difference between the start of the cooling adjustment and the start of the RF pulse set is set to be equal to the difference in timescales between the cooling effect of the cooling adjustment and the heating effect of the RF pulse set on the RF coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Lukens, Atholl Gibson
  • Publication number: 20060045754
    Abstract: Ion pumping modules without ion pump magnets are disposed within evacuated spaces located within the fringing fields of cryostatic housed high field magnets. Improved vacuum conditions are obtainable both within superconducting magnet cryostats and for evacuated auxiliary apparatus proximate the magnet cryostat, particularly where such auxiliary apparatus is sensitive to RF noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventor: Peter Lukens
  • Publication number: 20050258834
    Abstract: An NMR apparatus, sample contained in a sample holder is ejected from an NMR probe to the top of the magnet region where a sample latching mechanism holds the sample in place without requiring a continuing flow of pressurized gas, electrical power or other outside force. The sample can then be removed and/or exchanged with another sample that is also held in place without the expenditure of gas. When ready the operator depresses a lever arm enabling the exchanged sample to move into the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Peter Lukens, Dusan Baic