Patents by Inventor Francesco Viola

Francesco Viola 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: 9579120
    Abstract: A hand-held apparatus can be used to assist in guiding a probe or locating a particular anatomical target in a subject. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic transducer located on or within a housing and configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. In an example, the apparatus can include a motion tracking circuit configured to provide information indicative of a motion of the hand-held apparatus to the processor circuit, and a display configured to present information about a location of the target with respect to a portion of the hand-held apparatus, the information about the location determined by the processor circuit using the obtained information indicative of the ultrasonic energy reflected by the target and the information indicative of the motion of the hand-held apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: F. William Mauldin, Jr., Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20160377577
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for the use of a portable unit for the evaluation of hemostasis. For example, a portable system for determining a plurality of hemostatic parameters may be included. The system includes a blood sample receptacle, an analyzer and a housing. The blood sample receptacle is configured to hold at least one blood sample. The analyzer is configured to determine at least two hemostatic parameters of the at least one blood sample. The housing is configured to operably couple the blood sample receptacle and the analyzer. The housing is portable and may, for example, have a thickness of 17.5 cm or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20160313357
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20160274067
    Abstract: A device for estimating a mechanical property of a sample is disclosed herein. The device may include a chamber configured to hold the sample; a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of waveforms, including at least one forcing waveform; and a transducer assembly operatively connected to the transmitter and configured to transform the transmit waveforms into ultrasound waveforms. The transducer assembly can also transmit and receive ultrasound waveforms into and out of the chamber, as well as transform at least two received ultrasound waveforms into received electrical waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: William F. Walker, F. Scott Corey, JR., Andrew Homyk, Tim Higgins, Francesco Viola, Frank Regan, Elisa Ferrante
  • Patent number: 9410971
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20160139159
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20160139080
    Abstract: An integrated system for determining a hemostasis and oxygen transport parameter of a blood sample, such as blood, is disclosed. The system includes a measurement system, such as an ultrasonic sensor, configured to determine data characterizing the blood sample. For example, the data could be displacement of the blood sample in response to ultrasonic pulses. An integrated aspect of the system may be a common sensor, sample portion or data for fast and efficient determination of both parameters. The parameters can also be used to correct or improve measured parameters. For example, physiological adjustments may be applied to the hemostatic parameters using a HCT measurement. Also, physical adjustments may be applied, such as through calibration using a speed or attenuation of the sound pulse through or by the blood sample. These parameters may be displayed on a GUI to guide treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Patent number: 9272280
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny, Karen Platt
  • Patent number: 9031701
    Abstract: An integrated system for determining a hemostasis and oxygen transport parameter of a blood sample, such as blood, is disclosed. The system includes a measurement system, such as an ultrasonic sensor, configured to determine data characterizing the blood sample. For example, the data could be displacement of the blood sample in response to ultrasonic pulses. An integrated aspect of the system may be a common sensor, sample portion or data for fast and efficient determination of both parameters. The parameters can also be used to correct or improve measured parameters. For example, physiological adjustments may be applied to the hemostatic parameters using a HCT measurement. Also, physical adjustments may be applied, such as through calibration using a speed or attenuation of the sound pulse through or by the blood sample. These parameters may be displayed on a GUI to guide treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Patent number: 8761477
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for reconstruction of target locations and amplitudes from signals received from one or more real targets in a space are provided, wherein the signals are at least one of signals received from the near-field and broadband signals. The space is modeled as a region of interest, and an array manifold matrix is calculated from signals received from hypothetical targets in the region of interest. One or more signal vectors received from the one or more real targets are reshaped into a data vector. A hypothetical target configuration is identified that, when applied to a signal model comprising the array manifold matrix, matches the data vector, a reconstruction vector is calculated. The reconstruction vector is reshaped into a reconstructed representation of the real targets in the space, and at least one of outputting the reconstructed representation for viewing by a user, and storing the reconstructed representation for later use are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Francesco Viola
  • Patent number: 8740818
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing changes in at least one physical property of soft tissue. A series of acoustic pulses is generated and directed into the soft tissue such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the tissue. Waves reflected off the tissue, or a flexible member that moves with the tissue, are received and measured to estimate at least one characteristic of the physical displacement induced thereby. Repetition of the generating, receiving and estimating steps provides characterization of the at least one physical property over time. Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing at least one physical property of blood, by generating a series of acoustic pulses and directing the series of pulses into the blood such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hemosonics, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Michael B. Lawrence, Francesco Viola, Margaret Kramer Sande
  • Patent number: 8548759
    Abstract: Techniques (e.g., system, apparatus, method, machine-readable medium) can be configured for characterizing a rheological or other structural physical property of a sample of a substance. In an example, this can include acoustically bidirectionally deforming the portion of the sample over a deformation range about a neutral-deformation locus within the deformation range, measuring a deformation response of at least a portion of the sample to the insonification, and characterizing the physical property of the sample using the measured response of at least a portion of the sample to the insonification, even in the presence of a flowing substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: University of Virginia Patent Foundation, HemoSonics, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Francesco Viola, F. William Mauldin
  • Publication number: 20120329082
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HEMOSONICS LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny, Karen Platt
  • Publication number: 20120294767
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for the use of a portable unit for the evaluation of hemostasis. For example, a portable system for determining a plurality of hemostatic parameters may be included. The system includes a blood sample receptacle, an analyzer and a housing. The blood sample receptacle is configured to hold at least one blood sample. The analyzer is configured to determine at least two hemostatic parameters of the at least one blood sample. The housing is configured to operably couple the blood sample receptacle and the analyzer. The housing is portable and may, for example, have a thickness of 17.5 cm or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120296213
    Abstract: A hand-held apparatus can be used to assist in guiding a probe or locating a particular anatomical target in a subject. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic transducer located on or within a housing and configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. In an example, the apparatus can include a motion tracking circuit configured to provide information indicative of a motion of the hand-held apparatus to the processor circuit, and a display configured to present information about a location of the target with respect to a portion of the hand-held apparatus, the information about the location determined by the processor circuit using the obtained information indicative of the ultrasonic energy reflected by the target and the information indicative of the motion of the hand-held apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: F. William Mauldin, JR., Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Patent number: 8306293
    Abstract: Methods systems and computer readable media are provided for extracting information pertaining to at least one moving target. A set of signal data are inputted to a principal components processor, wherein the set of signal data comprise signal data corresponding to at least one waveform acquired from the at least one moving target. A complex representation of the set of signal data is formed and, using a principal components processor, at least one complex principal component of the complex representation is calculated. At least one of the calculated complex principal components is automatically selected and each of the at least one automatically selected complex principal component is applied to extract information about the at least one moving target. Methods systems and computer readable media are provided extracting information pertaining to at least one moving target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Francesco Viola, William F. Mauldin, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120244564
    Abstract: Method and systems for of evaluating a mechanical property of a material by applying force to the material sufficient to physically displace a portion of the material, measuring displacement of the material, adaptively adjusting the force when the displacement measured is not within a predetermined range of displacement values, wherein the force is increased or decreased depending upon whether the measured displacement is below or above the predetermined range, respectively, and computing a mechanical property value resultant from the displacement of the material
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Francesco Viola, F. William Mauldin, II
  • Publication number: 20120232803
    Abstract: An integrated system for determining a hemostasis and oxygen transport parameter of a blood sample, such as blood, is disclosed. The system includes a measurement system, such as an ultrasonic sensor, configured to determine data characterizing the blood sample. For example, the data could be displacement of the blood sample in response to ultrasonic pulses. An integrated aspect of the system may be a common sensor, sample portion or data for fast and efficient determination of both parameters. The parameters can also be used to correct or improve measured parameters. For example, physiological adjustments may be applied to the hemostatic parameters using a HCT measurement. Also, physical adjustments may be applied, such as through calibration using a speed or attenuation of the sound pulse through or by the blood sample. These parameters may be displayed on a GUI to guide treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20110252352
    Abstract: A system for displaying a plurality of hemostatic indexes is disclosed. The system includes a communication receiver configured to receive the hemostatic indexes and a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to the communication receiver and configured to simultaneously display the hemostatic indexes. The hemostatic indexes are derived from a plurality of independent measurements, such as the mechanical measurements determined using the sonorheometry systems and processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: HEMOSONICS LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Adam Looker, Bryan Roy, Bjarne Hansen
  • Publication number: 20110137588
    Abstract: Techniques (e.g., system, apparatus, method, machine-readable medium) can be configured for characterizing a rheological or other structural physical property of a sample of a substance. In an example, this can include acoustically bidirectionally deforming the portion of the sample over a deformation range about a neutral-deformation locus within the deformation range, measuring a deformation response of at least a portion of the sample to the insonification, and characterizing the physical property of the sample using the measured response of at least a portion of the sample to the insonification, even in the presence of a flowing substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Francesco Viola, F. William Mauldin