Patents by Inventor Howard Jerome WALLS

Howard Jerome WALLS 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).

  • Publication number: 20210338879
    Abstract: An air filtration media with integrated disinfection capability. The media has a collection filter for capture of pathogens, and an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source integrated into the collection filter such that the pathogens collected by the collection filter are exposed to UV radiation from the UV radiation source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: James Lynn Davis, Howard Jerome Walls, Karmann C. Mills, David Edward Dausch
  • Patent number: 11047787
    Abstract: An optical system for particle detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, Roger H. Pope
  • Patent number: 10876145
    Abstract: An aerosol collection system and method. The system includes a bio-aerosol delivery device configured to supply bioparticles in a gas stream, a moisture exchange device including a partition member coupled to the gas stream and configured to humidify or dehumidify the bioparticles in the gas stream, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the moisture exchange device and configured to collect the bioparticles. The method includes delivering bioparticles in a gas stream, humidifying or dehumidifying the bioparticles in the gas stream by transport of water across a partition member and into a vapor phase of the gas stream, and collecting the bioparticles by a collection medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: David S. Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde, Susanne Vera Hering, Steven Russel Spielman
  • Publication number: 20200347434
    Abstract: An aerosol collection system and method. The system includes a bio-aerosol delivery device configured to supply bioparticles in a gas stream, a moisture exchange device including a partition member coupled to the gas stream and configured to humidify or dehumidify the bioparticles in the gas stream, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the moisture exchange device and configured to collect the bioparticles. The method includes delivering bioparticles in a gas stream, humidifying or dehumidifying the bioparticles in the gas stream by transport of water across a partition member and into a vapor phase of the gas stream, and collecting the bioparticles by a collection medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: David S. Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde, Susanne Vera Hering, Steven Russel Spielman
  • Publication number: 20200340899
    Abstract: An optical system for particle detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, Roger H. Pope
  • Patent number: 10767210
    Abstract: An aerosol collection system and method. The system includes a bio-aerosol delivery device configured to supply bioparticles in a gas stream, a moisture exchange device including a partition member coupled to the gas stream and configured to humidify or dehumidify the bioparticles in the gas stream, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the moisture exchange device and configured to collect the bioparticles. The method includes delivering bioparticles in a gas stream, humidifying or dehumidifying the bioparticles in the gas stream by transport of water across a partition member and into a vapor phase of the gas stream, and collecting the bioparticles by a collection medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Research Triangle, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde, Susanne Vera Hering, Steven Russel Spielman
  • Patent number: 10481070
    Abstract: Sample monitoring and flow control systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring of airborne particulates. A system may include a particle collection filter. The system also includes a fluid moving device for moving a sample through the particle collection filter. Further, the system includes a light source configured to direct irradiating light towards the particle collection filter. The system also includes a light detector positioned to receive the irradiating light passing through the particle collection filter and configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of the received light. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive the signal and to control the fluid moving device based on the amount of the received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, David S. Ensor, Andrei Yurievich Khlystov
  • Publication number: 20190330675
    Abstract: An aerosol collection system and method. The system includes a bio-aerosol delivery device configured to supply bioparticles in a gas stream, a moisture exchange device including a partition member coupled to the gas stream and configured to humidify or dehumidify the bioparticles in the gas stream, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the moisture exchange device and configured to collect the bioparticles. The method includes delivering bioparticles in a gas stream, humidifying or dehumidifying the bioparticles in the gas stream by transport of water across a partition member and into a vapor phase of the gas stream, and collecting the bioparticles by a collection medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: David S. Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde, Susanne Vera Hering, Steven Russel Spielman
  • Publication number: 20190257737
    Abstract: Sample monitoring and flow control systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring of airborne particulates. A system may include a particle collection filter. The system also includes a fluid moving device for moving a sample through the particle collection filter. Further, the system includes a light source configured to direct irradiating light towards the particle collection filter. The system also includes a light detector positioned to receive the irradiating light passing through the particle collection filter and configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of the received light. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive the signal and to control the fluid moving device based on the amount of the received light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, David S. Ensor, Andrei Yurievich Khlystov
  • Patent number: 10378042
    Abstract: An aerosol collection system and method. The system includes a bio-aerosol delivery device configured to supply bioparticles in a gas stream, a moisture exchange device including a partition member coupled to the gas stream and configured to humidify or dehumidify the bioparticles in the gas stream, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the moisture exchange device and configured to collect the bioparticles. The method includes delivering bioparticles in a gas stream, humidifying or dehumidifying the bioparticles in the gas stream by transport of water across a partition member and into a vapor phase of the gas stream, and collecting the bioparticles by a collection medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde, Susanne Vera Hering, Steven Russel Spielman
  • Patent number: 10345216
    Abstract: Sample monitoring and flow control systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring of airborne particulates. A system may include a particle collection filter. The system also includes a fluid moving device for moving a sample through the particle collection filter. Further, the system includes a light source configured to direct irradiating light towards the particle collection filter. The system also includes a light detector positioned to receive the irradiating light passing through the particle collection filter and configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of the received light. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive the signal and to control the fluid moving device based on the amount of the received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, David S. Ensor, Andrei Yurievich Khlystov
  • Patent number: 10208331
    Abstract: A bioparticle collection device and an aerosol collection system. The bioparticle collection device includes a collection medium including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat and configured to collect bioparticles thereon, and includes a viability enhancing material provider disposed in a vicinity of the plurality of fibers and configured to provide a viability enhancing material to the collected bioparticles to maintain viability of the bioparticles collected by the fiber mat. The aerosol collection system includes an aerosol pumping device configured to entrain particles in an gas stream, an aerosol saturation device configured to saturate the particles in the gas stream with a biocompatible liquid, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the aerosol saturation device and including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat for collection of the saturated aerosol particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: David Samuel Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde
  • Patent number: 10188973
    Abstract: A filtration device including a base filtration material having openings for fluid flow there through and a filtration medium. The filtration medium includes a plurality of patterned nanofibers formed on the base filtration material. The filtration medium has a figure of merit greater than 30 kPa?1, where the figure of merit is given by ?Log (Pt)/?P, where Pt is the fractional penetration of a specific aerosol particle diameter and ?P is a pressure drop across the filtration medium corresponding to a face velocity of 5.3 cm/s and particle size of 0.3 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, Adam Joseph Rieth, David Samuel Ensor
  • Patent number: 10099165
    Abstract: A filtration device including a contoured support having 1) an interior surface, 2) an outside peripheral surface spaced farther from a center of the contoured support than the interior surface, and 3) a rim enclosed and sealed to a perimeter of the contoured support. The filtration device includes macroscopic openings in the contoured support extending from the interior surface to the outside peripheral surface, and a plurality of nanofibers having diameters less than 1 micron. The nanofibers are disposed on the outside peripheral surface of the contoured support, and cover the macroscopic openings to form a filtration medium on the contoured support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Howard Jerome Walls, Randall J. Newsome, Anthony Clint Clayton, Robert W. Yaga, David Samuel Ensor
  • Publication number: 20180245126
    Abstract: A bioparticle collection device and an aerosol collection system. The bioparticle collection device includes a collection medium including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat and configured to collect bioparticles thereon, and includes a viability enhancing material provider disposed in a vicinity of the plurality of fibers and configured to provide a viability enhancing material to the collected bioparticles to maintain viability of the bioparticles collected by the fiber mat. The aerosol collection system includes an aerosol pumping device configured to entrain particles in an gas stream, an aerosol saturation device configured to saturate the particles in the gas stream with a biocompatible liquid, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the aerosol saturation device and including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat for collection of the saturated aerosol particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: David Samuel Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K. Foarde
  • Patent number: 10018551
    Abstract: A particle detector includes a housing, a light source, and a photo-responsive material. The housing includes a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and encloses a detection cavity. The light source directs irradiating light along a longitudinal axis to particles of a sample fluid flowing in the detection cavity. The photo-responsive material surrounds at least a portion of the detection cavity, and receives measurement light propagating from the particles in a plurality of measurement light paths angled relative to the longitudinal axis. The particle detector may be utilized to measure scattered light and/or light emitted due to autofluorescence. Fluids sampled may include aerosols, bio-aerosols, and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Howard Jerome Walls, Anthony Clint Clayton, Randall J. Newsome, Paul G. Hoertz
  • Patent number: 9988664
    Abstract: A bioparticle collection device and an aerosol collection system. The bioparticle collection device includes a collection medium including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat and configured to collect bioparticles thereon, and includes a viability enhancing material provider disposed in a vicinity of the plurality of fibers and configured to provide a viability enhancing material to the collected bioparticles to maintain viability of the bioparticles collected by the fiber mat. The aerosol collection system includes an aerosol pumping device configured to entrain particles in an gas stream, an aerosol saturation device configured to saturate the particles in the gas stream with a biocompatible liquid, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the aerosol saturation device and including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat for collection of the saturated aerosol particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: David Samuel Ensor, Howard Jerome Walls, Karin K Foarde
  • Publication number: 20180149578
    Abstract: A particle detector includes a housing, a light source, and a photo-responsive material. The housing includes a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and encloses a detection cavity. The light source directs irradiating light along a longitudinal axis to particles of a sample fluid flowing in the detection cavity. The photo-responsive material surrounds at least a portion of the detection cavity, and receives measurement light propagating from the particles in a plurality of measurement light paths angled relative to the longitudinal axis. The particle detector may be utilized to measure scattered light and/or light emitted due to autofluorescence. Fluids sampled may include aerosols, bio-aerosols, and liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Howard Jerome Walls, Anthony Clint Clayton, Randall J. Newsome, Paul G. Hoertz
  • Patent number: 9915600
    Abstract: A particle detector includes a housing, a light source, and a photo-responsive material. The housing includes a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and encloses a detection cavity. The light source directs irradiating light to particles of a sample fluid flowing in the detection cavity. The photo-responsive material faces the detection cavity, and receives measurement light propagating from the particles in a plurality of measurement light paths angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The particle detector may be utilized to measure scattered light and/or light emitted due to autofluorescence. Fluids sampled may include aerosols, bio-aerosols, and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Howard Jerome Walls, Anthony Clint Clayton, Randall J. Newsome, Paul G. Hoertz
  • Publication number: 20170268980
    Abstract: Sample monitoring and flow control systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring of airborne particulates. A system may include a particle collection filter. The system also includes a fluid moving device for moving a sample through the particle collection filter. Further, the system includes a light source configured to direct irradiating light towards the particle collection filter. The system also includes a light detector positioned to receive the irradiating light passing through the particle collection filter and configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of the received light. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive the signal and to control the fluid moving device based on the amount of the received light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Clint Clayton, Howard Jerome Walls, David S. Ensor, Andrei Yurievich Khlystov