Patents by Inventor John A. Franco

John A. Franco 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: 20040093044
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved light delivery catheters for use in therapeutic methods, such as PDT, that require illumination of target tissue within a blood vessel or other hollow body organ. An improved catheter comprises a catheter shaft having a light treatment zone at its distal end. A light guide, such as an optical fiber, in the catheter shaft transmits light from a light source at the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the light treatment zone. An occlusion balloon is positioned on the distal end of the catheter shaft adjacent to the light treatment zone. An inflation lumen in the catheter shaft, and in fluid communication with the balloon, delivers fluid from an inflation fluid source at the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the balloon. An infusion lumen in the catheter shaft delivers infusion fluid from an infusion fluid source at the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the light treatment zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Steven J. Rychnovsky, John A. Franco, Jeffrey A. Vasek, C.T. Lo Blong, John S. Hill
  • Publication number: 20040092830
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for detecting and treating diseased tissue in a blood vessel or other hollow body organ. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter shaft having a distal end comprising a light transmission zone. A first fiber lumen in the catheter shaft contains a diagnostic optical fiber having a distal end terminating within the light transmission zone for emitting and receiving light through the light transmission zone. A diagnostic subassembly at the proximal end and in communication with the diagnostic optical fiber processes diagnostic light for use in connection with a diagnostic method for detecting diseased tissue. A second fiber lumen can be provided in the catheter shaft for containing a treatment optical fiber for delivering treatment light from a light source at the proximal end of the catheter shaft to the light transmission zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Robert W. Scott, Steven J. Rychnovsky, Ian M. Leitch, Jeffrey A. Vasek, John A. Franco
  • Patent number: 5770533
    Abstract: A casino operating system is disclosed for controlling the flow of funds and monitoring gambling activities in a casino or a gaming establishment utilizing a network of computers, including a central computer and individual game computers. Each player receives an encoded betting card from the cashier. At the games, each player position is equipped with a control panel including a card reader into which the betting card is inserted. The control panel also includes an electronic screen and keyboard. From the control panel, the player may place a bet and perform all options available to the player in the particular game. The system records the hands dealt to each player and the winner, and credits or debits the player's betting card accordingly. In an alternative embodiment, the casino operating system allows the players to use chips to place bets instead of the above-described betting card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: John Franco Franchi
  • Patent number: 3940129
    Abstract: A party game for two players wearing foam rubber or plastic headbands in which each stands on his own circular disc, and tries to push his opponent out of the opponent's circle with his hands tied behind his back, by pushing his head band against his opponent's head band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Franco