Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Bruno

Thomas J. Bruno 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: 20180156760
    Abstract: An inductive flash desorber includes: an induction coil that includes a coil; an substrate disposed through the induction coil; and a flow tube interposed between the induction coil and the substrate such that the flow tube: is encircled by the coil; surrounds the substrate within the coil; receives a carrier fluid that entrains the desorbed analyte from the substrate; and forms an analytical composition comprising the carrier fluid and the desorbed analyte, the flow tube including: a first end that receives the carrier fluid; and a second end opposing the first end through which the analytical composition flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bruno, Kimberly N. Urness
  • Patent number: 9772263
    Abstract: A sampling system includes an analyte sampler that includes an enclosure; a mount disposed in the enclosure; a capillary tube disposed in the mount; and a thermal member disposed in the enclosure and including a first fluid supply member to provide a fluid to an interior of the enclosure. The sampling system also includes a manifold in fluid communication with the analyte sampler. A process for sampling an analyte includes subjecting the capillary tube to a negative pressure; and controlling the temperature of the capillary tube to immobilize the analyte in the capillary tube; providing an analyte to a second end of the capillary tube; and immobilizing the analyte in the capillary tube to sample the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 9746399
    Abstract: A device and method for headspace sampling is disclosed herein. The headspace sampling device comprises a sample holding device configured to be sealed in a vial. The sample holding device has a pair of electrodes gap spaced from one another and a basket extending between the electrodes configured to hold a sample. The basket is configured to heat a sample held therewith and volatize at least a portion of the sample upon an electrical current being passed through the electrodes and the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: The Unites States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Publication number: 20150140673
    Abstract: A sampling system includes an analyte sampler that includes an enclosure; a mount disposed in the enclosure; a capillary tube disposed in the mount; and a thermal member disposed in the enclosure and including a first fluid supply member to provide a fluid to an interior of the enclosure. The sampling system also includes a manifold in fluid communication with the analyte sampler. A process for sampling an analyte includes subjecting the capillary tube to a negative pressure; and controlling the temperature of the capillary tube to immobilize the analyte in the capillary tube; providing an analyte to a second end of the capillary tube; and immobilizing the analyte in the capillary tube to sample the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Publication number: 20140057361
    Abstract: A device and method for headspace sampling is disclosed herein. The headspace sampling device comprises a sample holding device configured to be sealed in a vial. The sample holding device has a pair of electrodes gap spaced from one another and a basket extending between the electrodes configured to hold a sample. The basket is configured to heat a sample held therewith and volatize at least a portion of the sample upon an electrical current being passed through the electrodes and the basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 6585405
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid mixer that mixes liquids while simultaneously promoting rapid mixing entrainment of vapor in the liquid. The device includes a vertical rotor mounted centrally on a base assembly. The rotor comprises a tube which is hollow from an open top end to a bottom closed end, having an external screw thread in a right-side configuration relative from top to bottom and one or more holes located in the sidewall of the tube at the bottom of the hollow portion of the tube, preferably located centrally between two flanking surfaces of the screw thread. The base assembly comprises a stirbar and a supporting disk which contains a ceramic magnet. The base rests on the floor of a containment vessel. A magnetic stirring motor is centrally located sufficiently close to and beneath the containment vessel as to achieve magnetic flux coupling with the base magnet. Operation of the mixer develops a liquid vortex in the liquid phase material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bruno, Michael C. Rybowiak
  • Patent number: 6334949
    Abstract: A method for the removal of carbonyl sulfide from liquefied petroleum is disclosed. Removal of carbonyl sulfide is accomplished by contacting a liquid petroleum gas stream containing a carbonyl sulfide as an impurity with a calixarene complexing agent as the principal agent for the removal of the carbonyl sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bruno, Anthony F. Lagalante
  • Patent number: 5980834
    Abstract: A sample storage device comprises a vial provided with an opening, a permion tube arranged within the vial, permeable to a fluid contained in the vial or the permeation tube, and having a first closed end and an opposite second end, and a septum closure sealing the vial opening. In one embodiment, the permeation tube second end is open, the permeation tube is arranged within the vial with the second end adjacent the vial opening, and the septum closure seals the vial opening and the second open end of the permeation tube. The vial has a sample fluid, at least a portion of which is in contact with an outer surface of the permeation tube, and the permeation tube is permeable to the sample fluid. In a second embodiment, the permeation tube second end is closed, and the permeation tube includes a marker-containing adsorbent therein. The vial has a sample fluid therein and the permeation tube is permeable to the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 5280177
    Abstract: A sample cell for infrared spectrophotometry comprises a sample holder for holding a sample to be analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry, a cool air passageway and a vortex tube. The sample holder includes a primary optical surface through which infrared radiation is directed to a sample contained in the holder, and the cool air passageway is adjacent the primary optical surface of the sample holder for directing a cool air stream across the primary optical surface. The vortex tube has a cool air outlet connected to the cool air passageway for supplying cool air to the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 5217904
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaporative concentration of a liquid sample comprises a housing including an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a concentrator flask, a reflex tube and a vortex tube. The concentrator flask includes an upper solution vessel section and a lower cold finger section, and the flask is arranged within the housing with the solution vessel section positioned in the upper chamber and the cold finger section positioned in the lower chamber. The reflex tube is arranged at the upper end of the concentrator flask. The vortex tube has a cold air outlet connected with an inlet to the lower chamber of the housing and a hot air outlet connected with an inlet to the upper chamber of the housing. The apparatus is employed to concentrate a liquid sample contained in the concentrator flask with the temperatures of the cold and hot air from the vortex tube being sufficient to induce the evaporative separation of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 5070024
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon gas detection system utilizes a heat chamber or oven to maintain the system at a temperature that will support cracking of hydrocarbon gases. A gas chamber which is located inside the oven is used to contain the flow of gases under analysis and to pass these gases over a first temperature sensing device. A catalyzing material is associated with the first temperature sensing device, either by placing it very near the temperature sensing device or by coating the temperature sensing device with the catalyzing material. A second temperature sensing device is located inside the heat chamber or oven, either outside the gas chamber, or inside the gas chamber, but separated from the first temperature sensing device. The output of the first and second temperature sensing devices extend outside of the furnace to measurement and/or display instrumentation. With this system, the gas sample under analysis is passed through the gas chamber and brought into contact with the first temperature sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 4962275
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of a desired product from a supritical fluid extraction solution employ a restrictor nozzle, a coarse-pore sintered-glass enclosure member and a collecting means for collecting an oil suspension of the desired product. The supercritical fluid extraction solution is decompressed by passing through the restrictor nozzle. The resulting decompressed fluid stream is directed at the enclosure member which is saturated with an oil in which the desired product is soluble. Solutes including the desired product are dissolved in the oil, and the oil is collected. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for use in separating .beta.-carotene from a carbon dioxide solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bruno