Patents by Inventor Francesco Visinoni

Francesco Visinoni 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: 20240019345
    Abstract: The invention refers to a container (100, 300, 400) for collecting, transporting and storing a biological tissue sample of a human or animal, wherein the container (100, 300, 400) comprises a tag (10) with a receiver (12.1) for receiving data relating to the biological tissue sample, a non-volatile memory (11) for storing the data received by the receiver (12.1), and a transmitter (12.2) for transmitting the data stored by the memory (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Michele Martinelli, Roberto Lorenzi
  • Patent number: 11629793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (1) for mounting to a surface (2) and for use in a flow path, which flows through said surface (2), for permitting flow in said flow path in a first direction and for preventing flow in said flow path in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. The valve (1) comprises: one or more ports (21) defined by a plurality of lips (22), wherein each lip (22) is resiliently deformable from a first position, in which the lips (22) are in contact with one another in order to close the respective port (21), to a second position, in which the respective port (21) is opened in order to permit flow in the first direction, and one or more contacting structures (30) arranged to mechanically contact the surface (2), when the valve is mounted to the surface (2), such that the one or more contacting structures (30) bias the lips (22) into the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MILESTONE S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Michele Bellini
  • Patent number: 11584556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MILESTONE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Marco Bellini, Michele Bellini, Michele Martinelli
  • Patent number: 11378497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue processor (100) for automatically processing histological tissue specimens, the tissue processor (100) comprising a plurality of containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) each being provided for a respective histological process for processing at least one tissue carrier, a robotic arm (9) for handling a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for being processed in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and a control unit for controlling the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and for controlling the robotic arm (9), wherein the control unit is configured such that the robotic arm (9) handles a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) while the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) continues in an uninterrupted fashion, so that the execution of the process for each tissue carrier is independent from the loading order and/or process duration of other tissue carriers being proc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MILESTONE S.r.l.
    Inventors: Matteo Minuti, Francesco Visinoni
  • Patent number: 11231348
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus (100) for identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue that are grouped in a batch (200), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a working area (110) for receiving the batch (200) of at least two tissue carriers (210); a presence sensor (120) for detecting the presence of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); an identification device (130) for detecting a unique identifier (220) of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); and a control unit (140, 141, 142) being configured to identify positions of the working area (110), at which a tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present but no unique identifier (220) is detected and/or at which a unique identifier (220) is detected but no tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present, as identified positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MILESTONE s.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti
  • Publication number: 20210339898
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Marco Bellini, Michele Bellini, Michele Martineiii
  • Patent number: 11117695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Milestone S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Marco Bellini, Michele Bellini, Michele Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20210148476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (1) for mounting to a surface (2) and for use in a flow path, which flows through said surface (2), for permitting flow in said flow path in a first direction and for preventing flow in said flow path in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. The valve (1) comprises: one or more ports (21) defined by a plurality of lips (22), wherein each lip (22) is resiliently deformable from a first position, in which the lips (22) are in contact with one another in order to close the respective port (21), to a second position, in which the respective port (21) is opened in order to permit flow in the first direction, and one or more contacting structures (30) arranged to mechanically contact the surface (2), when the valve is mounted to the surface (2), such that the one or more contacting structures (30) bias the lips (22) into the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Michele Bellini
  • Publication number: 20210011552
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (100) for medical gross examination. The system (100) comprises an examination area (200) for receiving biospecimens (TS), a camera device (300) for visual inspection of the examination area (200) and for providing images captured during visual inspection, and a display device (400) for displaying the captured images. The system (100) further comprises an eye-tracking device (500) for detecting eye information based on the point of gaze (505) or eye movement of a user's (OP) eye and a controller (600) for controlling the system (100) based on the detected eye information. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the control of a system (100) for medical gross examination, comprising the steps of placing a biospecimen (TS) in an examination area (200), visually inspecting the examination area (200), capturing images thereof and displaying the captured images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Marco Bellini, Mattia Salvi
  • Publication number: 20200079542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Marco Bellini, Michele Bellini, Michele Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20190316994
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus (100) for identification of tissue carriers (210) of human or animal tissue that are grouped in a batch (200), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a working area (110) for receiving the batch (200) of at least two tissue carriers (210); a presence sensor (120) for detecting the presence of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); an identification device (130) for detecting a unique identifier (220) of each of the tissue carriers (210) of the batch (200) received at the working area (110); and a control unit (140, 141, 142) being configured to identify positions of the working area (110), at which a tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present but no unique identifier (220) is detected and/or at which a unique identifier (220) is detected but no tissue carrier (210) is detected to be present, as identified positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti
  • Publication number: 20190033179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue processor (100) for automatically processing histological tissue specimens, the tissue processor (100) comprising a plurality of containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) each being provided for a respective histological process for processing at least one tissue carrier, a robotic arm (9) for handling a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for being processed in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and a control unit for controlling the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and for controlling the robotic arm (9), wherein the control unit is configured such that the robotic arm (9) handles a tissue carrier between the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) while the histological process in each of the containers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) continues in an uninterrupted fashion, so that the execution of the process for each tissue carrier is independent from the loading order and/or process duration of other tissue carriers being proc
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Matteo Minuti, Francesco Visinoni
  • Patent number: 10109376
    Abstract: Measuring apparatus (1) for tracking human and/or animal tissues comprising: a working area (2) for receiving a tissue; a detecting unit (5) configured to detect a unique tissue code provided with the tissue placed on the working area (2); a measuring unit (9) configured to automatically measure quantitative properties of the tissue placed on the working area (2); and a processing and storing unit (22) configured to automatically link the quantitative properties with the tissue code and to automatically store the so linked quantitative properties and tissue code such that the quantitative properties can be retrieved based on the tissue code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Milestone S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Michele Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20180173851
    Abstract: Measuring apparatus (1) for tracking human and/or animal tissues comprising: a working area (2) for receiving a tissue; a detecting unit (5) configured to detect a unique tissue code provided with the tissue placed on the working area (2); a measuring unit (9) configured to automatically measure quantitative properties of the tissue placed on the working area (2); and a processing and storing unit (22) configured to automatically link the quantitative properties with the tissue code and to automatically store the so linked quantitative properties and tissue code such that the quantitative properties can be retrieved based on the tissue code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Matteo Minuti, Michele Martinelli
  • Patent number: 9955953
    Abstract: The invention refers to a container (1) for collecting, transporting and storing biological tissue samples, wherein the container (1) is filled with a first component (3) being a fixative and a second component (4) being a fluid, wherein the second component (3) has a lower specific gravity compared to the fixative (3), and is immiscible with the fixative (3). The second component (4) is stratified on top of the fixative (3) to form a protective film to prevent fixative fumes to escape from the container (1). The invention further relates to a method for collecting, transporting and storing biological tissue samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Milestone S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Marco Bellini, Giovanni Bussolati, Michele Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20160157837
    Abstract: The invention refers to a container (1) for collecting, transporting and storing biological tissue samples, wherein the container (1) is filled with a first component (3) being a fixative and a second component (4) being a fluid, wherein the second component (3) has a lower specific gravity compared to the fixative (3), and is immiscible with the fixative (3). The second component (4) is stratified on top of the fixative (3) to form a protective film to prevent fixative fumes to escape from the container (1). The invention further relates to a method for collecting, transporting and storing biological tissue samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Marco Bellini, Giovanni Bussolati, Michele Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20160135447
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for collecting and preserving biological specimens, such as human and animal tissues, cell types and subcellular materials for biobanking cryopreservation, comprising the steps of i) placing said specimen in a cooling fluid pre-set at a first predetermined temperature of between ?10° C. and ?60° C. for snap freezing—i.e. rapidly freezing—the specimen, and ii) reducing the temperature of said cooling fluid to a second predetermined temperature suitable for preserving said specimen. The reduction of the temperature in step ii) is performed by a predetermined cooling profile. The invention is further directed to an apparatus (1, 100) for collecting and preserving biological specimens such as human and animal tissues, cell types and subcellular materials for biobanking cryopreservation, comprising a receiving means (2) for receiving a cooling fluid and said specimen, and cooling means (5) to cool said fluid in said receiving means (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Marco Bellini, Michele Bellini
  • Patent number: 8901471
    Abstract: A device for the extraction of a compound from a solid material, which includes a microwave unit enclosing an inner vessel that is configured to hold a solid and that is fluidly sealed within an outer vessel configured to hold a solvent to be vaporized, and a condenser that is arranged to condense the vaporized solvent and deliver the condensed solvent to the inner vessel is described. The inner vessel has a solvent outlet configured to deliver condensed solvent that contains an extracted compound back to the outer vessel. The device includes a stirrer within the outer vessel and a stirrer within the inner vessel to provide agitation during the extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Milestone S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Camillo Pirola
  • Publication number: 20140339070
    Abstract: A hot-plate stirrer comprising at least one non-contact IR temperature sensor and an engagement/positioning means to couple a holder for a glass container for chemicals is disclosed. Furthermore a holder for a glass container for chemicals is disclosed. The holder comprises an engagement/positioning means to couple to an engagement/positioning means of the hot-plate stirrer. An apparatus for extracting an extract from a substance is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Francesco Visinoni, Pirola Camillo
  • Patent number: 8802021
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method of extraction of solid compounds by microwaves and to the apparatus used in said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Milestone S.r.l., Universite d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse
    Inventors: Farid Chemat, Valerie Tomao, Francesco Visinoni