Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.

Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLC

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.

Jay N Wilkins

Leif Christian Summerfield

Shane Robert Hilliard

Ciaran J O'Connor

William Eugene Clem

Erik Barnholt Larsen

Robert Mesaros

Yas Matsui

Martin Albini

Cory R Williamson

Erik G Green

Robert W Hutchinson

Robert Hutchinson

William Hollman

Gary Swinford

John Russell Murkowski

Ulrich H Rankers

Jonathan D Halderman

Ciaran John Patrick O'Connor

Randall Dean Lord

Jay Bernasek

Tom Wernikowski

Bill Clem

Leif C Summerfield

Leif Summerfield

Systems and methods for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy using one or more fiber optics within a laser ablation chamber are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, an ablation chamber defining an interior region configured to hold a sample target for ablation by an ablation beam source to generate a plasma upon ablation; and at least one optical fiber having an end positioned within the interior region adjacent the sample target to receive light emitted from the plasma generation.

Laser ablation system with in-chamber fiber optic detection for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

An ablation system for ablating a material can include a laser source, a set of homogenizing optics, and a homogenizing optics adjustment device. The laser source is for generating a laser beam. The set of homogenizing optics receives the laser beam and includes a first homogenizer and a second homogenizer. The homogenizing optics adjustment device carries the homogenizing optics, the homogenizing optics adjustment device configured to selectably adjust the position of at least one of the first homogenizer and the second homogenizer in order change a size of the laser beam, with a change in size of the beam changing the fluence thereof. The ablation system can be incorporated within a laser-ablation based analytical system, where the laser-ablation based analytical system includes a spectrometer.

Variable beam size via homogenizer movement

A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.

System and method for automated sampling and analysis

In a laser assisted spectroscopy system, an apparatus for bypassing the fluid conduit and a method of bypassing the fluid conduit, opening the sample chamber and replacing the sample, closing and purging the sample chamber, and removing the fluid conduit bypass and returning to online status is addressed by the present disclosure.

Apparatus and method to bypass a sample chamber in laser assisted spectroscopy

A sample chamber is configured to accommodate a target such that a portion of the target is removable as a sample. A carrier gas injection system is configured to introduce a carrier gas into the sample region from a first position and a second position within the sample chamber such that at least a portion of the sample is entrainable by the carrier gas within the sample region. A portion of the sample region is located between the first position and the second position. A sample transport conduit is configured to transport at least a portion of the sample entrained by the carrier gas to a location outside the sample chamber.

In-chamber fluid handling system and methods handling fluids using the same

A touch screen user interface for an optical device wherein the touch screen user interface is connected to a controller which controls motion stages permitting the motion stages to re-position, re-size, re-orient or focus the field of view of the optical device in response to commands input from the touch screen user interface.

Touch screen interface for laser processing

A method of characterizing an object includes determining a depth-wise composition of the object at a measurement site within the object. A property of the object within a region adjacent to the measurement site can, optionally, be estimated based on the determining. Another method of characterizing an object includes disposing at least a portion of an object within a measurement region of a metrology tool, aligning a feature of the object and a location of a designated measurement site within the measurement region relative to each other, and performing a performing a compositional analysis of a portion of the object occupying the measurement site. Various apparatus for performing these methods are also disclosed, as are methods of monitoring manufacturing processes based on these methods.

Method and apparatus for characterizing objects and monitoring manufacturing processes

An improved sample chamber for laser assisted spectroscopy integrates valve mechanisms into the sample drawer, permitting the sample chamber to automatically bypass, purge and resume flow as the sample drawer is opened and closed to insert samples for processing. Integrating valve mechanisms into the sample drawer in this manner eliminates the need for external valves to be operated to bypass, purge and resume flow, thereby increasing system throughput and reducing system complexity.

Sample chamber for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy

Spectroscopy data are correlated to physical locations on a sample. A laser beam is scanned along a beam trajectory relative to the sample located in a sample chamber. The laser beam disassociates material from the sample along the beam trajectory to produce an aerosol of the disassociated material within the sample chamber. A fluid is passed through the sample chamber to transport the disassociated material to a spectrometer for determining spectroscopy data values of a selected element along the beam trajectory. The spectroscopy data values are correlated with respective locations of the sample along the beam trajectory, and an image is displayed of at least a portion of the sample including the respective locations along the beam trajectory where the material was disassociated by the laser beam. The image includes indicia of the spectroscopy data values at their correlated locations.

Spectroscopy data display systems and methods

A device for modifying the shape of a mitral valve annulus. In one embodiment, the device includes a connector disposed between first and second anchors, the first and second anchors each adapted to be deployed in a coronary sinus adjacent the mitral valve annulus to anchor the device in the coronary sinus; and an actuation element adapted to receive a proximally or distally directed actuation force from an actuator and to transmit the actuation force to the first and second anchors simultaneously. The invention also includes a system for modifying the shape of a mitral valve annulus, including a percutaneous deployment apparatus, including an actuator; and a percutaneous mitral valve annuloplasty device with a connector disposed between first and second anchors, the first and second anchors each adapted to be deployed in a coronary sinus adjacent the mitral valve annulus to anchor the device in the coronary sinus; and an actuation element adapted to receive a distally proximally directed actuation force from the actuator and to transmit the actuation force to the first and second anchors simultaneously. The invention also includes a method of using such devices and systems.

Device, system and method to affect the mitral valve annulus of a heart

The control panel of an ultrasound system can be moved laterally from one side of the ultrasound system to the other, enabling an operator to more comfortably operate the ultrasound system while scanning a patient located to the side of the ultrasound system. The control panel locks in its central home position and can be moved linearly to either side of the home position. Detents serve to retain the control panel at different lateral locations. Preferably the control panel can swivel independently of its lateral articulation.

Diagnostic ultrasound system cart with laterally articulating control panel

A cart-borne ultrasound system is described which includes a portable cart holding the electronic circuitry of the ultrasound system, a control panel for controlling the ultrasound system, and a display. The control panel is supported by an articulating mechanism which enables the control panel to be raised and lowered to accommodate operators of different height, and enables the control panel to move toward and away from the user to accommodate users in the sitting or standing positions. In a preferred embodiment the articulating mechanism comprises a parallelogram-shaped linkage which also maintains a constant angle of inclination of the control panel as it is raised and lowered.

Growing community of inventors

Belgrade, MT, United States of America

Jay N Wilkins