Patents by Inventor R. Timothy Short

R. Timothy Short 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: 20230012777
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed provide a laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, which can include a pulsed inlet, a multi-wavelength laser system, and a first mass spectrometer module including a plurality of first ionization sources. In an embodiment, the pulsed inlet can be configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Ashish Chaudhary, R. Timothy Short
  • Patent number: 9589776
    Abstract: A dual-ionization mass spectrometer includes a first mass spectrometer module forming a hard ionization mass spectrometer, a second mass spectrometer forming a soft ionization mass spectrometer, a vacuum ultraviolet light source positioned between the first and second modules, a housing encompassing the first and second sets of plates and the light source, and an inlet positioned to receive a sample of an analyte and provide it to at least one of the sets of plates. A method of detecting a substance includes receiving a sample of an analyte into a housing through an inlet, performing soft ionization mass spectrometry on the sample with a soft ionization mass spectrometer in the housing, performing hard ionization spectrometry on the sample with a hard ionization spectrometer in the housing if needed, and generating a detection result from at least one of the soft ionization spectrometry and the hard ionization spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Ashish Chaudhary, Friso Van Amerom, R. Timothy Short
  • Publication number: 20160276144
    Abstract: A dual-ionization mass spectrometer includes a first mass spectrometer module forming a hard ionization mass spectrometer, a second mass spectrometer forming a soft ionization mass spectrometer, a vacuum ultraviolet light source positioned between the first and second modules, a housing encompassing the first and second sets of plates and the light source, and an inlet positioned to receive a sample of an analyte and provide it to at least one of the sets of plates. A method of detecting a substance includes receiving a sample of an analyte into a housing through an inlet, performing soft ionization mass spectrometry on the sample with a soft ionization mass spectrometer in the housing, performing hard ionization spectrometry on the sample with a hard ionization spectrometer in the housing if needed, and generating a detection result from at least one of the soft ionization spectrometry and the hard ionization spectrometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: ASHISH CHAUDHARY, FRISO VAN AMEROM, R. TIMOTHY SHORT
  • Patent number: 9117645
    Abstract: A planar ion funnel is disclosed that can be used for ion control. In one application, the planar ion funnel can be used for ion control in a mass spectrometer. The planar ion funnel can be formed on a surface of a substantially planar substrate including an orifice. An electrically conductive structure can be formed on a top surface of the substrate that surrounds the orifice. In operation, a power can be applied to the conductive structure that causes an electric field to be generated that draws ions into and through the orifice. In one embodiment, the orifice can be circular and the conductive structure can be a series of nested rings of increasing diameter surrounding the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Friso H. W. van Amerom, Ashish Chaudhary, R. Timothy Short
  • Patent number: 8785207
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for measuring multiple parameters in-situ in a sample collected from an environmental system via a single device. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting the sample from said environmental system via the single device, measuring a first parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device, adding a reagent tot the sample within the single device to create a reagent infused sample and measuring a second parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device using the reagent infused sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bell, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Robert H. Byrne
  • Patent number: 8742335
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a rotator sample introduction interface. In one embodiment, the rotary interface for collecting an analyte includes a valve body, a rotor coupled to the valve body and a stator coupled to the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor is channel-free and the stator includes a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel comprises an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet for expelling the liquid, wherein a carrier gas is provided via an inlet of the second channel and an outlet of the second channel is coupled to an analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bell, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Friso H. W. van Amerom
  • Patent number: 8413490
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for obtaining a sample underwater. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a syringe pump comprising a plurality of syringes, a sampling probe coupled to the syringe pump for collecting the sample underwater and an analyzer module coupled to the syringe pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bell, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Bill Huzar
  • Publication number: 20110147580
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a rotator sample introduction interface. In one embodiment, the rotary interface for collecting an analyte includes a valve body, a rotor coupled to the valve body and a stator coupled to the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor is channel-free and the stator includes a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel comprises an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet for expelling the liquid, wherein a carrier gas is provided via an inlet of the second channel and an outlet of the second channel is coupled to an analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bell, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Friso H.W. van Amerom
  • Publication number: 20100070201
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for measuring multiple parameters in-situ in a sample collected from an environmental system via a single device. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting the sample from said environmental system via the single device, measuring a first parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device, adding a reagent tot the sample within the single device to create a reagent infused sample and measuring a second parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device using the reagent infused sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: RYAN J. BELL, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Robert H. Byrne
  • Publication number: 20100064825
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for obtaining a sample underwater. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a syringe pump comprising a plurality of syringes, a sampling probe coupled to the syringe pump for collecting the sample underwater and an analzyer module coupled to the syringe pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: RYAN J BELL, R. Timothy Short, Strawn K. Toler, Bill Huzar