Michael S Hargreaves

US Patent:

20130016337, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Jun 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/529916

Inventors:

Craig Morris GARDNER - Belmont MA, US
Michael Derek HARGREAVES - Lawrence MA, US
Peidong WANG - Carlisle MA, US
Yu SHEN - Waltham MA, US

Assignee:

Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc. - Tewksbury MA

International Classification:

G01J 3/44
G01N 21/01

US Classification:

356 51, 356301, 356244

Abstract:

A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

US Patent:

20140005980, Jan 2, 2014

Filed:

Jul 2, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/540152

Inventors:

Robert L. Green - Haverhill MA, US
Michael D. Hargreaves - Lawrence MA, US
Craig M. Gardner - Belmont MA, US

International Classification:

G06F 17/18
G06F 15/00

US Classification:

702181, 702127

Abstract:

A method, apparatus and computer program product for tagging reference materials of interest in spectroscopic searching applications is presented. A reference list of materials to be considered as part of a final analysis of a spectroscopic analysis of a sample material is generated. A watchlist of at least one material to be retained for a final analysis of the spectroscopic analysis of a sample material is provided. A final analysis of the sample material is preformed using the watchlist of at least one material and the reference list of materials. A determination is then made regarding whether a spectrum of the sample material matches at least one spectrum of materials on the watchlist and on the reference list.

US Patent:

20190017922, Jan 17, 2019

Filed:

Jul 16, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/036286

Inventors:

- Tewksbury MA, US
Eric A. MARTIN - Medford MA, US
David PEREZ - Milford MA, US
Michael HARGREAVES - Burlington MA, US
Lin ZHANG - Andover MA, US
Xiaofeng TAN - Acton MA, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/01
G01N 21/71

Abstract:

In the operation of analytical devices, and particularly laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) devices, a number of advantages may be obtained by the use of complementary safety mechanisms, such as those that govern the operation or firing of a laser. Such complementary safety mechanisms, compared to the individual safety mechanisms acting alone, prevent operation of the laser under a greater number of unsafe circumstances (even if one or more detected conditions are safe, based on not activating the associated safety mechanism) and permits operation under a greater number of safe circumstances (even if one or more detected conditions are unsafe, based on activating the associated safety mechanism).

US Patent:

20170299431, Oct 19, 2017

Filed:

Jan 16, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/406968

Inventors:

- Tewksbury MA, US
David PEREZ - Milford MA, US
Michael D. HARGREAVES - Lawrence MA, US

International Classification:

G01J 3/02
G01J 3/02
G01J 3/42
G01J 3/44
G01N 21/552
G01J 3/02
G01N 21/39
G01N 21/359
G01N 21/65
G01N 21/71
G01N 21/35

Abstract:

A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof.

US Patent:

20160131586, May 12, 2016

Filed:

Jan 15, 2016

Appl. No.:

14/996725

Inventors:

- Tewksbury MA, US
Michael Derek HARGREAVES - Lawrence MA, US
Peidong WANG - Carlisle MA, US
Yu SHEN - Waltham MA, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/65
G01N 21/94

Abstract:

A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

US Patent:

20150323383, Nov 12, 2015

Filed:

Dec 17, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/573594

Inventors:

- Tewksbury MA, US
David PEREZ - Milford MA, US
Michael D. HARGREAVES - Burlington MA, US

International Classification:

G01J 3/02
G01J 3/44
G01J 3/42

Abstract:

A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof.