Patents by Inventor Steven J. Bank

Steven J. Bank 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).

  • High throughput method and apparatus for introducing biological samples into analytical instruments
    Patent number: 6827287
    Abstract: Provided is a system for delivering a liquid sample to an inlet of an analytical instrument. Included is an acoustic ejector driven by a drive system that generates drive signals provided to the ejector. The drive signals are generated with a pulse width sufficient to eject at least a portion of the liquid sample. A reservoir provided for holding the liquid sample is in operational arrangement with the acoustic ejector. A liquid sample voltage source is located within the reservoir, and the liquid sample voltage source is designed to provide a charge to the liquid sample. An analytical instrument voltage source is in operational arrangement with the analytical instrument and is designed to provide a voltage bias between the reservoir and the analytical instrument. In another aspect of the invention, provided is a method for delivering a liquid sample to an inlet of an analytical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated, The Sripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Scott A. Elrod, Steven J. Bank