Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Kerr

Thomas M. Kerr 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: 8277651
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to centrifugal liquid chromatography are described. An angular velocity can be simultaneously imparted to a large number of chromatographic enclosures. Via centrifugal forces, a mobile phase fluid including a sample can be driven through a stationary phase within the chromatographic enclosure to perform a chromatographic separation process on components of the sample. The use of centrifugation as a driving force can allow significantly smaller stationary phase particles to be employed as compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, for an equivalent chromatographic separation process, the use of centrifugation can provide much greater separation efficiencies than HPLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Terrasep, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Kerr, James D. Whitaker, Thomas M. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20100230335
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to centrifugal liquid chromatography are described. An angular velocity can be simultaneously imparted to a large number of chromatographic enclosures. Via centrifugal forces, a mobile phase fluid including a sample can be driven through a stationary phase within the chromatographic enclosure to perform a chromatographic separation process on components of the sample. The use of centrifugation as a driving force can allow significantly smaller stationary phase particles to be employed as compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, for an equivalent chromatographic separation process, the use of centrifugation can provide much greater separation efficiencies than HPLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: TERRASEP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Kerr, James D. Whitaker, Thomas M. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20080261401
    Abstract: A process is taught for producing a smooth, damage-free surface on a SiC wafer, suitable for subsequent epitaxial film growth or ion implantation and semiconductor device fabrication. The process uses certain oxygenated solutions in combination with a colloidal abrasive in order to remove material from the wafer surface in a controlled manner. Hydrogen peroxide with or without ozonated water, in combination with colloidal silica or alumina (or alternatively, in combination with HF to affect the oxide removal) is the preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention also provides a means to monitor the sub-surface damage depth and extent since it initially reveals this damage though the higher oxidation rate and the associated higher removal rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: II-VI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas M. Kerr, Christopher T. Martin, Walter R. Stepko, Thomas E. Anderson