Michigan State University

Research, Incorporated

Meridian Instruments, Inc.

Other

American Energy Services, Inc.

Ktm Industries, Inc.

John F Holland

Christie G Enke

Melvin S Schindler

Marcos Dantus

John T Stults

George E Yefchak

Bruce H Newcome

Richard D McLane

Michael R Davenport

Lawrence W Janow

A method and preferred apparatus (10) to cut a preform material which is biodegradable and preferably dispersible in water, to produce a shaped article, is described. The cut is produced without producing harmful fumes or leaving a harmful residue and preferably without charring at the cut. Preferably, only small amounts of carbon dioxide and water are produced at the cut. Shaped articles which are in sheet or block form or which are for 2-D or 3-D shaped article formation can be produced.

Method and apparatus for producing a shaped article

An integrating transient recorder for time array detection of ions within an ion source extraction. The arrival times of all ions having various mass-to-charge ratios are calculated and integrating or peak detecting circuitry is activated just prior to the calculated time of arrival of each ion, and then only for a time duration in accordance with a predetermined data collection time window sufficient to enable each ion mass value to be completely measured. An analog-to-digital converter converts the area or peak analog signal for each ion into a corresponding digital signal and outputs the digital signals to a plurality of FIFO buffers. The FIFO buffers are read out for each successive transient by a digital signal processor and summed over a predetermined number of sequential transients in a mass locked registry creating a file of ion intensities versus mass-to-charge ratio of all ions detected. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a mass defect detector which compares the actual arrival time of the ions with the calculated anticipated time of arrival and applies appropriate time delays from a selected one of a plurality of delta-mass tables. This causes the area or peak detection circuity to be turned on either slightly prior to or subsequent to the calculated times of arrival of each of the ions to thus cause each of the ions to be received clearly and completely within each data collection window. Preferred embodiments include combinations of analog or digital peak or area capture and analog or digital successive summations.

Integrating transient recorder apparatus for time array detection in

A process and apparatus employing the time compression of chromatography in mass spectrometry with array detection in which the time compressed informatioin is deconvoluted by mathematical analysis for recovery of analytical information made inaccessible in the time compression and thereby resulting in a decrease in analysis time and improved component identification without loss of sensitivity.

Time-compressed chromatography in mass spectrometry

An improved non-destructive sonic testing apparatus is disclosed which is specially adapted for use in assessing the integrity of wooden utility poles. In one embodiment, the sonic testing apparatus of the present invention operates to perform a Fourier analysis on a signal which has been transmitted through a pole to be tested. Two or more criteria selected from the group of mode, mean, median and range are then determined for the resulting waveform and compared in order to provide a visual display representative of the condition of the pole being tested. In another embodiment of the present invention a software peak seeking algorithm is utilized to provide an envelope waveform from which successive half lives are determined. The relative time duration for successive half lives are compared to provide an indication of the amount of decay.

Sonic wood testing apparatus and method

A method and apparatus for testing the battery and the related circuitry of an internal combustion automobile every time the vehicle is started. The test is automatic and the results are available for visual interpretation at the discretion of the operator. The cranking motor furnishes the load for the battery and an electronic apparatus automatically measures the condition of the battery every time the engine is started. The battery tester compares the unloaded voltage of the battery with the voltage under load. If the difference is larger than a preset value, or if the voltage drops below a fixed level, an indicator on the dashboard of the vehicle shows that the battery is low in charge, or it is in a faulty condition, or because of faulty conductors its power is not being delivered to the engine.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and indicating the condition of a

A method and apparatus for positive selection of viable cells based upon differing chemical or physical properties or dynamic processes using a focussed radiant energy beam, such as a laser beam (11) to kill unwanted cells is described. The apparatus includes a microscope (14) with a photomultiplier (27) which is used to selectively detect light from certain cells produced by an attenuated laser beam irradiating the cells for identifying the cells to be killed or saved. Based upon identification, selected cells to be killed are exposed to the unattenuated laser beam.

Positive selection sorting of cells

A method and apparatus for position selection of viable cells based upon differing chemical or physical properties or dynamic processes using a focussed radiant energy beam, such as a laser beam (11) to kill unwanted cells or to isolate wanted cells is described. The apparatus includes microscope means (14) and cell detection means (27) for identifying the cells to be killed or saved and attenuator means (12) for modifying the beam to prevent destruction of cells to be saved.

A system for high speed acquisition and storage of data from transient electrical signal waveforms sampled in time at a multiplicity of points, and where it is desired to collect and store data in real time in a mass storage unit, but where the data rate is in excess of the apparent rate at which data can be transferred to mass storage. The overall system employs two levels of data reduction, the first being digital integration (summation) and the second being data processing. In the digital summation section memory read and write cycles overlap for higher speed. In one embodiment, a charge-coupled device is employed as an input element to reduce the data rate prior to subsequent digital processing. The system is capable of recording all the intensities of all transients continuously without loss of data significance.

High repetition rate transient recorder with automatic integration

Time of flight mass spectrometry techniques are simultaneously combined with path-bending spatial dispersion in magnetic- or electric-sector mass spectrometers to improve the mass resolution or, with an ion fragmentation region, to rapidly obtain multidimensional mass spectral data previously only obtainable by tandem mass spectrometry. The instrumentation generates data defining relationships between parent ions and daughter ions produced by fragmentation, metastable or induced, data to differentiate stable from metastable ions, and data to improve mass resolution. The subject time-resolved mass spectrometers can be combined with chromatography apparatus to obtain multidimensional MS/MS-type data during the relatively short duration of a single chromatographic peak.

Growing community of inventors

Lansing, MI, United States of America

John F Holland