Theodore A Dourdeville

6367847, Apr 9, 2002

Mar 5, 1999

09/263453

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA
Dennis DellaRovere - Mendon MA
Joseph D. Antocci - Leominister MA

Waters Investments Limited

F16L 3900

2851251, 2851242, 285118FOR

One embodiment of the present coupler comprises two or more conduits for transporting fluid. Each of the two or more conduits has at least one end defining an opening in said conduit, and each of the conduits has an axis running parallel to the flow of fluid through said conduit. The coupler further comprises a housing body having a first housing planar surface. The housing body holds the two or more conduits in alignment wherein the axis of each conduit is substantially parallel, and at least one end of each conduit is aligned about said first housing planar surface. And, the coupler has a cap element having a cap planar surface. The cap planar surface is fixed to the first housing planar surface in sealed engagement. At least one of the first housing planar surface and the cap planar surface has a channel in fluid communication with the opening in the conduits. The channel allows two or more fluid streams, each fluid stream defined by one of said conduits, to be placed in communication.

6404193, Jun 11, 2002

Apr 9, 2001

09/829064

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA

Waters Investments Limited

G01V 300

324306, 324307, 324308, 324309, 324318, 324321

A method and apparatus in which the limitation upon analysis caused by variation of the magnetic susceptibility of the solvent conveying a sample to an NMR spectrometer can be addressed. The solvent composition which is used to bring about elution of analyte from devices such as chromatography columns can be varied without causing a corresponding variation of the solvent composition used to transport the analyte to the NMR spectrometer. The decoupling is achieved by the summing into the chromatographic stream, post column, a solvent composition which is complementary to the instantaneous composition emerging from the column, such that the magnetic susceptibility of the summed streams remains constant.

6526188, Feb 25, 2003

Jan 11, 2001

09/758066

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA
Anthony C. Gilby - Foxborough MA
Dennis DellaRovere - Mendon MA

Waters Investments Limited

G02B 600

385 12, 385141, 385123, 25022711, 25022525, 250573, 356436, 425542, 425547

A modular flow cell having a high optical throughput, a long optical path length and a small cross-section. The modular flow cell configuration includes remote ports or connections for liquid and light input, and liquid and light output. The flow cell includes a flow cell body having two ends, each with a respective end interface secured thereto. The flow cell is configured to formn a part of a modular flow cell assembly. The flow cell body includes a channel having a through-aperture with an inner surface. A light guiding material, e. g. a transparent fluoropolymer material having a refractive index less than the refractive index of common chromatography solvents, is disposed proximate to the channel to form a light guiding through-aperture in the flow cell body. The channel is formed of materials that can provide the necessary mechanical strength and a fluid seal, and more particularly, includes materials such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which can develop a fluid seal at the interface between the flow cell body end and each end interface.

6557575, May 6, 2003

Nov 19, 2001

09/997491

Geoff C. Gerhardt - Milbury MA
Edouard S. P. Bouvier - Stow MA
Theodore Dourdeville - Marion MA

Waters Investments Limited - New Castle DE

F16K 4900

137 13, 1372511, 137828

Methods and devices for the management of fluid flow within nanoscale analytical systems, comprising a freeze thaw valve having differing geomentries to constrict a frozen plug within the freeze thaw segment. The freeze thaw valve is directed to use in high-pressure analytical systems. The geometry of an inner diameter of a channel or tube within a freeze thaw segment is configured to cause constriction of a freeze plug when axial force is applied. The constriction is used in the flow-path of a freeze thaw valve to prevent movement of the frozen plug at high pressures to avoid valve leakage.

6610201, Aug 26, 2003

Sep 14, 2001

09/952934

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA

Waters Investments Limited - DE

B01D 1508

2101982, 210656, 210101, 73 6156

High pressure capillary liquid chromatography solvent delivery is effected at substantially low volume and atmospheric pressure. The low volume solvent composition is subsequently pressurized and expelled at high pressure into a receiving device such as a column. The solvent composition is expelled from a fluid metering system configured to deliver liquids at low pressures to a storage matrix via an isolation valve. The solvent composition is delivered to the storage matrix in reverse order such that the first volume of liquid delivered into the storage matrix is the last volume of liquid expelled out. Liquid pre-existing within the storage matrix is transferred into a fluid accumulator in fluid communication with the storage matrix. The fluid accumulator is enveloped in a pressure caisson which can be pressurized or depressurized in response to sensor signals obtained from a fluid volume displacement transducer and a pressure sensor, in accordance with solvent composition cycle formation. As the caisson is pressurized, the pressure acting on the fluid accumulator causes the solvent composition within the storage matrix to be expelled out past the isolation valve into a chromatographic column.

7128081, Oct 31, 2006

Jun 9, 2005

11/148615

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA, US

Waters Investments Limited - DE

F17D 1/18
F15C 1/04

137 13, 137341, 137828, 2512511

A freeze-thaw valve is provided using a Peltier heat pump where the thermal short-circuit path between a cooled thermal mass and a heated thermal mass is reduced or absent and the valve state transition time is minimized. The freeze-thaw valve comprises a Peltier heat pump mounted to a heat exchange surface that comprises a cross-drilled copper water jacket or manifold. The Peltier heat pump is operated to maintain a cooled thermal mass at a substantially constant low temperature. A resistance heating element is used to produce a heated thermal mass. The freeze-thaw segment of a fluid conduit is commutated to contact either the heated or the cooled thermal mass to thaw and therefore open the valve or cool and thus close the valve. The operation of the Peltier heat pump at a constant temperature avoids problems inherent in the use of a Peltier heat pump to both heat and cool a freeze thaw segment.

7356995, Apr 15, 2008

Sep 21, 2006

11/533831

Theodore A. Dourdeville - Marion MA, US

Waters Investments Limited - New Castle DE

F25B 21/02

62 33

A freeze-thaw valve is provided using a Peltier heat pump where the thermal short-circuit path between a cooled thermal mass and a heated thermal mass is reduced or absent and the valve state transition time is minimized. The freeze-thaw valve comprises a Peltier heat pump mounted to a heat exchange surface that comprises a cross-drilled copper water jacket or manifold. The Peltier heat pump is operated to maintain a cooled thermal mass at a substantially constant low temperature. A resistance heating element is used to produce a heated thermal mass. The freeze-thaw segment of a fluid conduit is commutated to contact either the heated or the cooled thermal mass to thaw and therefore open the valve or cool and thus close the valve. The operation of the Peltier heat pump at a constant temperature avoids problems inherent in the use of a Peltier heat pump to both heat and cool a freeze thaw segment.

7841190, Nov 30, 2010

Mar 16, 2005

11/081321

Geoff C. Gerhardt - Millbury MA, US
Theodore Dourdeville - Marion MA, US

Waters Technologies Corporation - Milford MA

F17C 13/00
F17D 1/16

62 507, 62601, 62384, 1372511, 137 13, 137828, 137340

Methods and devices for the management of cryogenic agents within analytical systems using freeze thaw valving having an expansion chamber that limits the flow of the cryogenic agent. The expansion chamber is fitted with an expansion nozzle through which a cryogen flows and a porous frit that allows the cryogen to be exhausted. The porous frit initially allows a rapid flow of cryogen into the expansion chamber. This rapid flow lowers the temperature of the expansion chamber causing fluid contents within a freeze thaw segment to freeze. As the cryogen expands into the expansion chamber and turns into a solid, the porous frit is occluded causing the rapid flow to be restricted. The restriction of the cryogen flow by the occlusion of the porous frit allows the freeze thaw valve to use significantly less cryogen. Sublimation of the cryogen trapped within the porous frit provides sufficient cooling to maintain the valve in its closed position.