Patents by Inventor Donald A. Masquelier

Donald A. Masquelier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7591197
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles entrained in the air that potentially include bioagents. The system comprises providing a receiving surface, directing a liquid to the receiving surface and producing a liquid surface. Collecting samples of the air and directing the samples of air so that the samples of air with particles entrained in the air impact the liquid surface. The particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid. The air with particles entrained in the air impacts the liquid surface with sufficient velocity to entrain the particles into the liquid but cause minor turbulence. The liquid surface has a surface tension and the collector samples the air and directs the air to the liquid surface so that the air with particles entrained in the air impacts the liquid surface with sufficient velocity to entrain the particles into the liquid, but cause minor turbulence on the surface resulting in insignificant evaporation of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Perry M. Bell, Allen T. Christian, Christopher G. Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald A. Masquelier, Shanavaz L. Nasarabadi
  • Patent number: 7503230
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles potentially including bioagents entrained in the air for detection. The system comprises collecting a sample of the air with the particles entrained in the air, directing the sample to a receiving surface, directing a liquid to the receiving surface thereby producing a liquid surface, wherein the particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid, and heating the liquid wherein the particles potentially including bioagents become heated to lysis the bioagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Perry M. Bell, Allen T. Christian, Christopher G. Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald A. Masquelier, Shanavaz L. Nasarabadi
  • Patent number: 7503229
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles entrained in the air comprising a receiving surface, a liquid input that directs liquid to the receiving surface and produces a liquid surface, an air input that directs the air so that the air with particles entrained in the air impact the liquid surface, and an electrostatic contact connected to the liquid that imparts an electric charge to the liquid. The particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid by the air with particles entrained in the air impacting the liquid surface. Collection efficiency is improved by the electrostatic contact electrically charging the liquid. The effects of impaction and adhesion due to electrically charging the liquid allows a unique combination in a particle capture medium that has a low fluid consumption rate while maintaining high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Perry M. Bell, Allen T. Christian, Christopher G. Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald A. Masquelier, Shanavaz L. Nasarabadi
  • Publication number: 20070107539
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles entrained in the air that potentially include bioagents. The system comprises providing a receiving surface, directing a liquid to the receiving surface and producing a liquid surface. Collecting samples of the air and directing the samples of air so that the samples of air with particles entrained in the air impact the liquid surface. The particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid. The air with particles entrained in the air impacts the liquid surface with sufficient velocity to entrain the particles into the liquid but cause minor turbulence. The liquid surface has a surface tension and the collector samples the air and directs the air to the liquid surface so that the air with particles entrained in the air impacts the liquid surface with sufficient velocity to entrain the particles into the liquid, but cause minor turbulence on the surface resulting in insignificant evaporation of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Perry Bell, Allen Christian, Christopher Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald Masquelier, Shanavaz Nasarabadi
  • Publication number: 20070107538
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles potentially including bioagents entrained in the air for detection. The system comprises collecting a sample of the air with the particles entrained in the air, directing the sample to a receiving surface, directing a liquid to the receiving surface thereby producing a liquid surface, wherein the particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid, and heating the liquid wherein the particles potentially including bioagents become heated to lysis the bioagents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Perry Bell, Allen Christian, Christopher Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald Masquelier, Shanavaz Nasarabadi
  • Publication number: 20070107537
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particles entrained in the air comprising a receiving surface, a liquid input that directs liquid to the receiving surface and produces a liquid surface, an air input that directs the air so that the air with particles entrained in the air impact the liquid surface, and an electrostatic contact connected to the liquid that imparts an electric charge to the liquid. The particles potentially including bioagents become captured in the liquid by the air with particles entrained in the air impacting the liquid surface. Collection efficiency is improved by the electrostatic contact electrically charging the liquid. The effects of impaction and adhesion due to electrically charging the liquid allows a unique combination in a particle capture medium that has a low fluid consumption rate while maintaining high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Perry Bell, Allen Christian, Christopher Bailey, Ladona Willis, Donald Masquelier, Shanavaz Nasarabadi
  • Patent number: 6688187
    Abstract: A system for sampling air and collecting particulate of a predetermined particle size range. A low pass section has an opening of a preselected size for gathering the air but excluding particles larger than the sample particles. An impactor section is connected to the low pass section and separates the air flow into a bypass air flow that does not contain the sample particles and a product air flow that does contain the sample particles. A wetted-wall cyclone collector, connected to the impactor section, receives the product air flow and traps the sample particles in a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Donald A. Masquelier
  • Patent number: 6520034
    Abstract: A high air volume to low liquid volume aerosol collector. A high volume flow of aerosol particles is drawn into an annular, centripetal slot in a collector which directs the aerosol flow into a small volume of liquid pool contained is a lower center section of the collector. The annular jet of air impinges into the liquid, imbedding initially airborne particles in the liquid. The liquid in the pool continuously circulates in the lower section of the collector by moving to the center line, then upwardly, and through assistance by a rotating deflector plate passes back into the liquid at the outer area adjacent the impinging air jet which passes upwardly through the liquid pool and through a hollow center of the collector, and is discharged via a side outlet opening. Any liquid droplets escaping with the effluent air are captured by a rotating mist eliminator and moved back toward the liquid pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Donald A. Masquelier, Fred P. Milanovich, Klaus Willeke