Patents

John W. Elmer, Robert L. Bridges
Manifold Free Multiple Sheet Superplastic Forming
U.S. Patent 6,264,880 B1
July 24, 2001
Fluid-forming compositions in a container attached to enclosed adjacent sheets are heated to relatively high temperatures to generate fluids (gases) that effect inflation of the sheets. Fluid rates to the enclosed space between the sheets can be regulated by the canal from the container. Inflated articles can be produced by a continuous, rather than a batch, process.

Joe N. Lucas, Tore Straume, Kenneth T. Bogen
Kit for Detecting Nucleic Acid Sequences Using Competitive Hybridization Probes
U.S. Patent 6,270,972 B1
August 7, 2001
A kit for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample. The kit contains four hybridization probes. A first hybridization probe includes a nucleic acid sequence that is sufficiently complementary to selectively hybridize to a first portion of the target sequence. The first hybridization probe includes a first complexing agent for forming a binding pair with a second complexing agent. A second hybridization probe includes a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to selectively hybridize to a second portion of the target sequence to which the first hybridization probe does not selectively hybridize. The second hybridization probe includes a detectable marker. A third hybridization probe includes a nucleic acid sequence that is sufficiently complementary to selectively hybridize to a first portion of the target sequence. The third probe includes the same detectable marker as the second hybridization probe. A fourth hybridization probe includes a nucleic acid sequence that is sufficiently complementary to selectively hybridize to a second portion of the target sequence to which the third hybridization probe does not selectively hybridize. The fourth probe includes the first complexing agent for forming a binding pair with the second complexing agent.
The first and second hybridization probes are capable of simultaneously hybridizing to the target sequence, and the third and fourth hybridization probes are capable of simultaneously hybridizing to the target sequence. The detectable marker is not present on the first or fourth hybridization probes, and the first, second, third, and fourth hybridization probes include a competitive nucleic acid sequence sufficiently complementary to a third portion of the target sequence that the competitive sequences of the first, second, third, and fourth hybridization probes compete with each other to hybridize to the third portion of the target sequence.

William J. Benett, Peter A. Krulevitch
Microfluidic Interconnects
U.S. Patent 6,273,478 B1
August 14, 2001
A miniature connector for introducing microliter quantities of solutions into microfabricated fluidic devices. It incorporates a molded ring or seal set into a ferrule cartridge, with or without a compression screw. The fluidic connector, for example, joins standard high-pressure liquid chromatography tubing to 1-millimeter-diameter holes in silicon or glass, enabling milliliter-size volumes of sample solutions to be merged with microliter devices. The connector has many features, including ease of connecting and disconnecting; a small footprint that enables numerous connectors to be located in a small area; low dead volume; helium leak-tightness; and tubing that does not twist during connection. The connector thus enables easy and effective change of microfluidic devices and introduction of different solutions in the devices.

Troy W. Barbee, Jr., Stephen M. Lane, Donald E. Hoffman
High Efficiency Replicated X-Ray Optics and Fabrication Method
U.S. Patent 6,278,764 B1
August 21, 2001
Replicated x-ray optics are fabricated by sputter deposition of reflecting layers on a super-polished reusable mandrel. The reflecting layers are strengthened by a supporting multilayer that results in stronger stress-relieved reflecting surfaces that do not deform during separation from the mandrel. The supporting multilayer enhances the ability to part the replica from the mandrel without degradation in surface roughness. The reflecting surfaces are comparable in smoothness to the mandrel surface. An outer layer is electrodeposited on the supporting multilayer. A parting layer may be deposited directly on the mandrel before the reflecting surface to facilitate removal of the layered, tubular optics device from the mandrel without deformation. The inner reflecting surface of the shell can be a single-layer grazing-reflection mirror or a resonant multilayer mirror. The resulting optics can be used in a variety of applications, including lithography, microscopy, radiography, tomography, and crystallography.

Alan V. Barnes, Thomas Schenkel, Alex V. Hamza, Dieter H. Schneider, Barney Doyle
Highly Charged Ion Based Time of Flight Emission Microscope
U.S. Patent 6,288,394 B1
September 11, 2001
A highly charged ion-based time-of-flight emission microscope that improves the surface sensitivity of static secondary-ion mass-spectrometer measurements because of the higher ionization probability of highly charged ions. Slow, highly charged ions are produced in an electron-beam ion trap and directed to the sample surface. The sputtered secondary ions and electrons pass through a specially designed objective lens to a microchannel plate detector. This new instrument permits high surface sensitivity (10 billion atoms per square centimeter), high spatial resolution (100 nanometers), and chemical structural information because of the high molecular ion yields. The high secondary ion yield permits coincidence counting, which can be used to enhance determination of chemical and topological structure and to correlate specific molecular species.

Gary W. Johnson
High Sensitivity Charge Amplifier for Ion Beam Uniformity Monitor
U.S. Patent 6,288,402 B1
September 11, 2001
An ion-beam-uniformity monitor for low beam currents using a high-sensitivity charge amplifier with bias compensation. The ion-beam monitor is used to assess the uniformity of a raster-scanned ion beam, such as that in an ion implanter. The monitor includes four Faraday cups placed in the geometric corners of the target area. Current from each cup is integrated with respect to time, thus measuring accumulated dose, or charge, in coulombs. By comparing the dose at each corner, researchers can make a qualitative assessment of ion-beam uniformity. With knowledge of the relative area of the Faraday cups, the ion flux and areal dose can also be obtained.

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