Patents by Inventor Steven M. Fischer

Steven M. Fischer 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: 20080026479
    Abstract: A method of facilitating analysis of a peptide in a mass spectrometer comprising derivatizing the C-terminus of the peptide with an amino acid residue via a reaction with a carbodiimide reagent, yielding a derivative peptide, ionizing the derivative peptide with a double charge, and fragmenting the ionized derivative peptide in a mass spectrometry system, wherein binary fragments of the ionized derivative each include a charge, facilitating sequence analysis of the peptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick D. Perkins, Steven M. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20080014603
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample comprising multiple protein species is provided. The proteins are separated by species such that the multiple protein species emerge in a sequential order and are then digested in the sequential order in which they emerge from the separation process. The digested proteins are introduced into a mass spectrometer in the same sequential order so that, within a given time window, the digested proteins introduced into the mass spectrometer are covariant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Christine A. Miller
  • Patent number: 7309859
    Abstract: An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Patricia H. Cormia, James L. Bertsch, Karl Hanold
  • Patent number: 7259368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber. The apparatus comprises an ionization chamber, an ionization region within the ionization chamber, a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage and a vacuum chamber, wherein the ionization chamber communicates with the vacuum chamber through the vacuum interface. Sample is introduced into the ionization chamber from an electrospray assembly at approximately ground potential. Two electrodes are provided within the chamber such that three electric fields are generated, a first field extending from the electrospray assembly to the first electrode, a second field extending from the second electrode to the first electrode, and a third field extending from the second electrode to the vacuum interface. Ions are forced to travel through the fields in order before entering the vacuum chamber. In addition, the invention provides a method of delivering ions to a vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Frazer, Steven M. Fischer, Robert K. Crawford
  • Patent number: 7223968
    Abstract: A multimode ionization source includes an electrospray ionization source for providing a charged aerosol, an atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from the electrospray ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol, and a mode separator, or mask, situated so as to separate a portion of the charged aerosol and prevent the portion from being exposed to the atmospheric pressure ionization source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Patricia H. Cormia
  • Patent number: 7193206
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan
  • Patent number: 7180059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometry system. The invention provides an ion source, infrared emitter and sensor with closed control feedback loop coupled to the infrared emitter. Methods of control and heating using the apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Glen F. Ingle, Timothy Herbert Joyce
  • Patent number: 7166836
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions exiting a multipole mass filter. In general terms, the ion focusing apparatus comprises: a housing having an ion entrance and an ion exit, and, contained within the housing: a) a multipole ion guide having an open ion entrance end, and b) a neutral gas. The ion focusing apparatus is configured so that an ion beam enters the housing via the ion entrance and is collisionally focused by the multipole ion guide and neutral gas prior to exiting the housing. The apparatus is readily employed to collisionally focus an ion beam exiting a quadrupole mass filter. Also provided is a mass spectrometry system containing the ion focusing apparatus, and methods employing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Russ, IV, Steven M. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7112786
    Abstract: For generation and delivery of ions from an ionization chamber through an ion entrance orifice to a mass analyzer operating at high vacuum, high pass ion filtration is effected within the ionization chamber by application of electrical potentials to an electrode associated with the ion entrance orifice and to an electrode between the ionization region and the ion entrance orifice to create a retarding electric field upstream from the ion entrance orifice. The retarding electric field hinders the movement to the ion entrance orifice of ions having drift velocities below a lower limit, and as the retarding voltage gradient is made steeper, the lower limit increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Russ, IV, Steven M. Fischer, Robert K. Crawford
  • Patent number: 7102128
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan
  • Patent number: 7091483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometry system. The invention provides an ion source, infrared emitter and sensor with closed control feedback loop coupled to the infrared emitter. Methods of control and heating using the apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Glen F. Ingle, Timothy Herbert Joyce
  • Patent number: 7078681
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The multimode ionization source of the present invention provides one or more atmospheric pressure ionization sources (e.g., electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and/or atmospheric pressure photoionization) for ionizing molecules. A method of producing ions using the multimode ionization source is also disclosed. The apparatus and method provide the advantages of the combined ion sources without the inherent disadvantages of the individual sources. In an embodiment, the multimode ionization source includes an infrared emitter enclosed in an inner chamber for drying a charged aerosol. ESI/APCI multimode sources may include a corona needle shield and/or an auxiliary electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, James L. Bertsch
  • Patent number: 7041966
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber. The apparatus comprises an ionization chamber, an ionization region within the ionization chamber, a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage and a vacuum chamber, wherein the ionization chamber communicates with the vacuum chamber through the vacuum interface. Sample is introduced into the ionization chamber from an electrospray assembly at approximately ground potential. Two electrodes are provided within the chamber such that three electric fields are generated, a first field extending from the electrospray assembly to the first electrode, a second field extending from the second electrode to the first electrode, and a third field extending from the second electrode to the vacuum interface. Ions are forced to travel through the fields in order before entering the vacuum chamber. In addition, the invention provides a method of delivering ions to a vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Frazer, Steven M. Fischer, Robert K. Crawford
  • Patent number: 7034291
    Abstract: A multimode ionization source includes an electrospray ionization source for providing a charged aerosol, an atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from the electrospray ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol, and a mode separator, or mask, situated so as to separate a portion of the charged aerosol and prevent the portion from being exposed to the atmospheric pressure ionization source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Patricia H. Cormia
  • Patent number: 7002146
    Abstract: An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Fischer, Darrell L. Gourley, Patricia H. Cormia, James L. Bertsch, Karl Hanold
  • Patent number: 6998605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber. The apparatus comprises an ionization chamber, an ionization region within the ionization chamber, a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage and a vacuum chamber, wherein the ionization chamber communicates with the vacuum chamber through the vacuum interface. Sample is introduced into the ionization chamber from an electrospray assembly at approximately ground potential. Two electrodes are provided within the chamber such that three electric fields are generated, a first field extending from the electrospray assembly to the first electrode, a second field extending from the second electrode to the first electrode, and a third field extending from the second electrode to the vacuum interface. Ions are forced to travel through the fields in order before entering the vacuum chamber. In addition, the invention provides a method of delivering ions to a vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Frazer, Steven M. Fischer, Robert K. Crawford
  • Patent number: 6989530
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6952012
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: AgilentTechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan
  • Patent number: 6849847
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20040217283
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Steven M. Fischer, J. Michael Flanagan