Patents by Inventor Brian C. Wilson

Brian C. Wilson 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: 12251191
    Abstract: A system for outputting a representation of a wound in tissue comprises a housing configured to removably receive at least a portion of a wireless communication device. At least one light source coupled to the housing is configured to emit excitation light to illuminate a target which includes at least a portion of the wound. A power supply contained in the housing is configured to provide power to the light source. A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a program executable to cause the performance of operations comprising detecting signals responsive to illumination of the target, outputting the representation of the target based thereon, storing data relative to one or more target surface parameter based on the detected signals, and displaying the representation. The signals correspond to at least one of endogenous or exogeneous fluorescence, absorbance, and reflectance from at least one biological component in and/or on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventors: Ralph Sebastian Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 12226186
    Abstract: A system for acquiring data regarding a wound in tissue comprises at least one excitation light source configured to directly illuminate a wound with excitation light; a spectral filtering mechanism configured to permit passage of optical signals responsive to illumination of the wound and having at least one wavelength corresponding to bacterial, fungal, and/or other microorganism autofluorescence and/or bacterial, fungal, viral, and/or microbial fluorescence, the spectral filtering mechanism including a plurality of selectable filters respectively corresponding to different discrete spectral bandwidths; an optical sensor configured to detect the spectrally filtered signals; and a processor configured to receive the detected, filtered signals and to identify a fluorescent signature of bacteria in the wound based at least in part on the detected, filtered signals and to output data regarding the bacterial, fungal, viral, and/or microbial fluorescent signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph Sebastian Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240366090
    Abstract: A portable imaging system for visualizing bacteria in a wound in real time includes an excitation light source configured to emit violet and/or blue excitation light to illuminate a wound and cause at least one biomarker associated with the wound to fluoresce and a camera configured to detect fluorescence emitted by the at least one biomarker associated with the wound in response to illumination of the wound with the excitation light. A portable frame is configured to support the camera and the excitation light source for hands-free operation and to position the camera and the excitation light source relative to the wound. The system also includes a power source for the excitation light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. DaCosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240293029
    Abstract: A method of visualizing bacteria in real time includes positioning a portable frame of a portable imaging system relative to a target, wherein the portable imaging system includes a camera and an excitation light source mounted on the portable frame, operating the portable imaging system in a hands-free manner to illuminate the target with excitation light having at least one wavelength to cause at least one biomarker associated with the target to fluoresce and to detect fluorescence of the at least one biomarker with the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. DaCosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11977027
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Publication number: 20230324301
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Patent number: 11662315
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Publication number: 20230000356
    Abstract: A system for outputting a representation of a wound in tissue comprises a housing configured to removably receive at least a portion of a wireless communication device. At least one light source coupled to the housing is configured to emit excitation light to illuminate a target which includes at least a portion of the wound. A power supply contained in the housing is configured to provide power to the light source. A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a program executable to cause the performance of operations comprising detecting signals responsive to illumination of the target, outputting the representation of the target based thereon, storing data relative to one or more target surface parameter based on the detected signals, and displaying the representation. The signals correspond to at least one of endogenous or exogeneous fluorescence, absorbance, and reflectance from at least one biological component in and/or on the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph Sebastian Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11375898
    Abstract: A system for acquiring data regarding a wound in tissue comprises at least one light source configured to directly illuminate a target surface with a homogeneous field of excitation light. An optical sensor is configured to detect signals responsive to illumination of an illuminated portion of a wound and the area around the wound. A thermal sensor is configured to detect thermal information regarding the illuminated portion of the wound and the area around the wound. A processor receives the detected signals and the detected thermal information and outputs data regarding the illuminated portion of the wound and the area around the wound. The output data may include wound size of the illuminated portion of the wound, bacterial load of the illuminated portion of the wound, or at least one temperature associated with the illuminated portion of the wound and the area around the wound. The data output by the processor may be displayed on a display of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph Sebastian Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11284800
    Abstract: A portable, handheld device for fluorescence-based imaging is provided. The device comprises a wireless communication device having a sensor configured to detect optical signals. The device further comprises an assembly configured to receive and secure the wireless communication device therein. The assembly includes a housing, at least one light source coupled to the housing, a power supply, and an optical filter holder coupled to the housing and configured to receive one or more optical filters. An endoscope portion of the device is positioned relative to the sensor to visualize at least a portion of a confined anatomical space and to receive optical signals from a visualized, illuminated portion of a target positioned within the confined anatomical space. A processor of the device includes image analysis software and is configured to produce a composite representation of the illuminated portion of the target positioned within the confined anatomical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220057328
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Publication number: 20220047164
    Abstract: A system for fluorescence-based imaging of a target includes at least one excitation light source configured to emit a homogeneous field of excitation light and positioned to uniformly illuminate a target surface with the homogeneous field of excitation light during fluorescent imaging, a power source, and a portable housing configured to be held in a user's hand during imaging. The housing contains a lens, a filter, an image sensor, and a processor. The filter is configured to permit optical signals responsive to illumination of the target surface and having a wavelength corresponding to at least one of bacterial autofluorescence and tissue autofluorescence to pass through the filter to the image sensor. The at least one excitation light is adjacent to the housing so as to be positioned between the target surface and the image sensor during fluorescent imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. DACOSTA, Brian C. WILSON, Kai ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20220039656
    Abstract: A method of screening for contamination during food production is disclosed. The method includes applying an exogenous, bacteria-specific contrast agent to a surface to be screened, wherein the surface to be screened is one or more of a food product, a food-preparation surface, a food-handling surface, and a food-equipment surface. The surface is illuminated with excitation light emitted by at least one light excitation light source of a handheld device and optical signals responsive to illumination of the surface are filtered with at least one optical filter of the handheld device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. DaCosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210378518
    Abstract: A method for fluorescence-based imaging of a target to detect contamination and/or pollutants is disclosed. The method includes labelling a pre-selected biomarker at the target, illuminating the target with excitation light emitted by an excitation light source and having at least one wavelength or wavelength band causing at least the pre-selected biomarker to fluoresce, detecting fluorescence emissions of at least the pre-selected biomarker with an image detector of a handheld imaging device, and determining the presence, location, and/or quantity of contamination and/or pollutants on and/or in the illuminated target based on the detected fluorescence emissions of at least the pre-selected biomarker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11162900
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Patent number: 11154198
    Abstract: A system for fluorescence-based imaging of a target includes at least one excitation light source configured to emit a homogeneous field of excitation light and positioned to uniformly illuminate a target surface with the homogeneous field of excitation light during fluorescent imaging, a power source, and a portable housing configured to be held in a user's hand during imaging. The housing contains a lens, a filter, an image sensor, and a processor. The filter is configured to permit optical signals responsive to illumination of the target surface and having a wavelength corresponding to at least one of bacterial autofluorescence and tissue autofluorescence to pass through the filter to the image sensor. The at least one excitation light is adjacent to the housing so as to be positioned between the target surface and the image sensor during fluorescent imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph S. Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210259552
    Abstract: A system for acquiring data regarding a wound in tissue comprises at least one excitation light source configured to directly illuminate a wound with excitation light; a spectral filtering mechanism configured to permit passage of optical signals responsive to illumination of the wound and having at least one wavelength corresponding to bacterial, fungal, and/or other microorganism autofluorescence and/or bacterial, fungal, viral, and/or microbial fluorescence, the spectral filtering mechanism including a plurality of selectable filters respectively corresponding to different discrete spectral bandwidths; an optical sensor configured to detect the spectrally filtered signals; and a processor configured to receive the detected, filtered signals and to identify a fluorescent signature of bacteria in the wound based at least in part on the detected, filtered signals and to output data regarding the bacterial, fungal, viral, and/or microbial fluorescent signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Ralph Sebastian Dacosta, Brian C. Wilson, Kai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210239617
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the depth and fluorophore concentration of a fluorophore concentration below the surface of an optically absorbing and scattering medium suitable for use in fluorescence-based surgical guidance such as in tumor resection is described. Long-wavelength stimulus light us used to obtain deep tissue penetration. Recovery of depth is performed by fitting measured modulation amplitudes for each spatial frequency to precomputed modulation amplitudes in a table of modulation amplitudes indexed by optical parameters and depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Keith D. Paulsen, David W. Roberts, Dennis Wirth, Brian C. Wilson, Mira Sibai
  • Patent number: 10648228
    Abstract: A system for biasing or encouraging a sheet of material to gather in one direction when one edge of the sheet of material is moved toward an opposite edge of the sheet of material is provided. A plurality of strips of material may extend along a face of the sheet of material and may be laminated to the face of the sheet of material. The plurality of strips of material may overlap each other and may define stiffened regions extending along the overlapped interface between the plurality of strips of material. When the covering is moved from an extended position to a retracted position, the sheet of material may gather in loops of material that may have apexes defined at or adjacent the overlapped interfaces of the plurality of strips of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Geist, Gary E. Moss, Galen B. Rhodes, Kent A. Smith, Brian C. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20190085621
    Abstract: A system for biasing or encouraging a sheet of material to gather in one direction when one edge of the sheet of material is moved toward an opposite edge of the sheet of material is provided. A plurality of strips of material may extend along a face of the sheet of material and may be laminated to the face of the sheet of material. The plurality of strips of material may overlap each other and may define stiffened regions extending along the overlapped interface between the plurality of strips of material. When the covering is moved from an extended position to a retracted position, the sheet of material may gather in loops of material that may have apexes defined at or adjacent the overlapped interfaces of the plurality of strips of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Geist, Gary E. Moss, Galen B. Rhodes, Kent A. Smith, Brian C. Wilson