Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Egan

Thomas F. Egan 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: 20150086311
    Abstract: A power lift and transfer system and method are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the power lift and transfer system and method may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The power lift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device for a user with a disability, and then assist the person with the disability to transfer in and out of a vehicle. The power lift and transfer system may further transport the wheeled or other mobility device from a position in a rear or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areas of the vehicle, and then assist the user by means of a conveyor belt to transfer laterally into the automobile seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Patent number: 8829428
    Abstract: Described is an analytical method and apparatus for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons, secondary ions and neutrals, scattered ions and/or neutrals and for correlating coincidences between these while maintaining a continuous un-pulsed, micro-focused, primary particle beam for impinging a surface for purposes of microprobe imaging and microanalysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Steven Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Publication number: 20140084153
    Abstract: Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: IONWERKS, INC.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Ernest K. Lewis, Steven Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8614416
    Abstract: Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Ernest K. Lewis, Steven Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8558168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for ionizing a neutral MALDI desorption plume, and in particular, for efficiently measuring the ionized MALDI desorption plume when post-ionization techniques are combined with a medium pressure MALDI-IM-oTOFMS instrument. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus that simultaneously separates tissue-sample MALDI ions by IM-oTOFMS according to their chemical family. After separation, the MALDI ions are directly compared to the ions created by post-ionizing the co-desorbed neutral molecules with a second laser wherein the second laser is delayed by a few hundred microseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Ernest K. Lewis, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8540474
    Abstract: A power lift and transfer system and method are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the power lift and transfer system and method may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The power lift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device for a user with a disability, and then assist the person with the disability to transfer in and out of a vehicle. The power lift and transfer system may further transport the wheeled or other mobility device from a position in a rear or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areas of the vehicle, and then assist the user by means of a conveyor belt to transfer laterally into the automobile seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Patent number: 8519329
    Abstract: The present invent provides a particle detector for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons and scattered ions and neutrals and to correlate coincidences between these and backscattered ions/and neutrals while maintaining a continuous unpulsed microfocused primary ion beam for impinging a surface. Intensities of the primary particle scattering and secondary particle emissions are correlated with the position of impact of the focused beam onto a materials surface so that a spatially resolved surface elemental and electronic structural mapping is obtained by scanning the focused beam across the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Steven R. Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8492710
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas F. Egan, William Burton, J. Albert Schultz, Valerie E. Vaughn, Steven R. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8384023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for ionizing a neutral MALDI desorption plume, and in particular, for efficiently measuring the ionized MALDI desorption plume when post-ionization techniques are combined with a medium pressure MALDI-IM-oTOFMS instrument. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus that simultaneously separates tissue-sample MALDI ions by IM-oTOFMS according to their chemical family. After separation, the MALDI ions are directly compared to the ions created by post-ionizing the co-desorbed neutral molecules with a second laser wherein the second laser is delayed by a few hundred microseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Kelley L. Waters, Ernest K. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20120237324
    Abstract: A lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be realized as a power lift and transfer system which has the capability of attaching to, lifting, and carrying a mobility device for a person with a disability in conjunction with a wide variety of vehicles. The unique design of the apparatus eliminates a typical platform structure that is often incorporated by other devices and substitutes an interlocking mechanism which comprises a docking device on the personal mobility device and a mated receiver on the apparatus, thus saving significant weight and bulk. A unique swivel swing-away design incorporates a swing away hinge in a space between a hitch and the apparatus instead of in a space between the apparatus and the mobility device and platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Publication number: 20120091772
    Abstract: A compact multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and a method of operating same are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the apparatus may comprise an intermediary support member configured to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis, an electrically or hydraulically powered up/down extension arm, a support member for supporting a seat for accommodating at least one person, and a latching mechanism for securing the seat and seat support mechanism in a fully stowed position suitable for traveling in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Publication number: 20120093623
    Abstract: A power lift system and method are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the power lift system and method may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The power lift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device for a user with a disability. The power lift and transfer system may further transport the mobility device in and out of a vehicle from a position adjacent to a user or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areas of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan
  • Publication number: 20120085898
    Abstract: The present invent provides a particle detector for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons and scattered ions and neutrals and to correlate coincidences between these and backscattered ions/and neutrals while maintaining a continuous unpulsed microfocused primary ion beam for impinging a surface. Intensities of the primary particle scattering and secondary particle emissions are correlated with the position of impact of the focused beam onto a materials surface so that a spatially resolved surface elemental and electronic structural mapping is obtained by scanning the focused beam across the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas F. Egan, J. Albert Schultz, Steven R. Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8129675
    Abstract: The content of the invention comprises a concept of reactor for isolated ion transformations induced by collisions with neutral species. This reactor is also an interface between mobility cell and orthogonal injection TOFMS based on supersonic adiabatic gas flow with variable controlled composition directed along the axis of a multipole ion guide with sectioned rods for possibility of creating of controlled distributions of RF, DC and AC rotating fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Valeriy V. Raznikov, Thomas F. Egan, Michael V. Ugarov, Agnès Tempez, Marina O. Raznikova, Vladislav V. Zelenov, Alexander R. Pikhtelev, Valerie E. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 8115167
    Abstract: The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri V. Raznikov, J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Michael V. Ugarov, Agnès Tempez, Gennadiy Savenkov, Vladislav Zelenov
  • Publication number: 20120018630
    Abstract: Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Ernest K. Lewis, Steven Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Patent number: 8101909
    Abstract: The present invent provides a particle detector for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons and scattered ions and neutrals and to correlate coincidences between these and backscattered ions/and neutrals while maintaining a continuous unpulsed microfocused primary ion beam for impinging a surface. Intensities of the primary particle scattering and secondary particle emissions are correlated with the position of impact of the focused beam onto a materials surface so that a spatially resolved surface elemental and electronic structural mapping is obtained by scanning the focused beam across the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ionwerks, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Egan, J. Albert Schultz, Steven R. Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Publication number: 20110147578
    Abstract: Described is an analytical method and apparatus for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons, secondary ions and neutrals, scattered ions and/or neutrals and for correlating coincidences between these while maintaining a continuous un-pulsed, micro-focused, primary particle beam for impinging a surface for purposes of microprobe imaging and microanalysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: IONWERKS, INC.
    Inventors: J. Albert Schultz, Thomas F. Egan, Steven Ulrich, Kelley L. Waters
  • Publication number: 20110049355
    Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: IONWERKS, INC.
    Inventors: Katrin Fuhrer, Marc Gonin, Thomas F. Egan, William Burton, J. Albert Schultz, Valerie E. Vaughn, Steven Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7862287
    Abstract: A multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. The multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method may be realized in primarily two versions, the first being referred to as the single linkage arm version, and the second being referred to as the dual linkage arm version. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus in accordance with the single linkage arm version may be realized as having a first pivot point for rotating an intermediary support member about a first substantially vertical axis, a second pivot point for rotating an electrically or hydraulically powered up/down extension arm about a second substantially vertical axis, and a seat support member for supporting a seat for accommodating at least one person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas F. Egan