Patents by Inventor Paolo Fiorini

Paolo Fiorini 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: 11752498
    Abstract: A fluidic device (100) is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device (100) comprises a first (101), a second (102) and a third (103) fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction (105). The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device (100) further comprises a fluid control means (111) configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction (105) such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first (101) to the second (102) fluidic channel via the common junction (105) without propagating into the third (103) fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 11684915
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid analyzing device that includes a sensing device for analyzing a fluid sample. The sensing device includes a microchip configured for sensing the fluid sample, and a closed micro-fluidic component for propagating the fluid sample to the microchip. The fluid sample can be provided to the micro-fluidic component via an inlet of the fluid analyzing device. And a vacuum compartment, which is air-tight connected to the sensing device, can create in the micro-fluidic component a suction force suitable for propagating the fluid sample through the micro-fluidic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 11522861
    Abstract: Methods are provided to authorize a secondary user device for a network service provided over a network. Responsive to receiving a request from a primary user device, a voucher may be transmitted over the network to the primary user device. A request for an authorization waiver may be received from the secondary user device over the network, wherein the request for the authorization waiver includes the voucher that was transmitted to the primary user device. Responsive to receiving the request from the secondary user device including the voucher, an authorization waiver may be transmitted to the secondary user device. Related methods of operating primary and secondary user devices are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Samy Touati, Paolo Fiorini
  • Publication number: 20220110613
    Abstract: A device for transperineal biopsy with a movable arm of a robot, comprising: an ultrasound probe being mounted around a first axis; a surgical instrument with a needle, which is movable along a first trajectory; and a moving device comprising at least a first pair of arms facing one another and arranged around a first longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe so as to move, preferably oscillate, around the axis along a second trajectory, in order to guide and support the needle at a free end of each guide arm; and a connection interface to connect the device to a movable arm of a robot and having an operating module, which comprises a plurality of actuators each to move a respective said ultrasound probe or said guide arms, and a separation module arranged on the operating module and configured to transmit the motion to the ultrasound probe or to the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Paolo FIORINI, Francesco BOVO
  • Patent number: 11266990
    Abstract: A micro-fluidic device 100 for performing digital PCR is presented. The device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first micro-fluidic channel 104, comprising an inlet 102 and an outlet 103, embedded in the semiconductor substrate; a heating element 101 thermally coupled to the first micro-fluidic channel 104; a droplet generator 107 connected to the inlet 102 of the first micro-fluidic channel 104 for generating droplets and pumping generated droplets at a flow rate into the first micro-fluidic channel 104; characterized in that: the heating element 101 is a single heating element connected to a temperature control unit 111 configured to cycle the temperature of the complete first micro-fluidic channel 104 through at least two temperature values; and wherein the flow rate of the droplet generator 107 is adaptable. Further, a method to perform digital PCR is presented using the micro-fluidic device 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Paolo Fiorini, Tim Stakenborg, Frederik Colle
  • Patent number: 11241687
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for analyzing a fluid sample. An example device comprises a fluidic substrate comprising a micro-fluidic component embedded therein, for propagating a fluid sample; a needle or inlet for providing the fluid sample which is fluidically connected to the micro-fluidic component; a lid attached to the fluidic substrate thereby at least partly covering the fluidic substrate and at least partly closing the micro-fluidic component; wherein the fluidic substrate is a glass fluidic substrate and wherein the lid is a microchip. The present disclosure also relates to a method for fabricating a fluid analysis device. The method comprises providing a fluidic substrate; providing a lid; attaching the lid to the fluidic substrate to close the fluidic substrate at least partly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Paolo Fiorini
  • Publication number: 20220019792
    Abstract: Method and device for detecting and classifying a not-known object by a device having a two-dimensional field of view. The method includes a learning step, a detecting step and an inspection step. The learning step includes positioning a first known object in a field of view of the device and then positioning a second known object in the field of view of the device, to obtain images of the first and second known objects. Distinctive characteristics and common characteristics of the objects are identified and used to obtain an equality descriptor relative to common elements of the first and second known objects and a difference descriptor allowing association of the first and second known objects to two distinct classes. The device is then used to detect a third, not-known object. The equality descriptor and the difference descriptor are then used in an inspection step to classify the third not-known object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Francesco Paolo Muscaridola, Paolo Fiorini, Nicola Alessi, Alessandro Brunetta, Filippo Franzoni
  • Publication number: 20220008917
    Abstract: A fluidic device (100) is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device (100) comprises a first (101), a second (102) and a third (103) fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction (105). The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device (100) further comprises a fluid control means (111) configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction (105) such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first (101) to the second (102) fluidic channel via the common junction (105) without propagating into the third (103) fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 11220706
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for analyzing fluid samples comprising obtaining fluid samples in at least one cavity of a substrate and introducing also buffers and/or reagents in the cavity, performing nucleic acid extraction and/or purification in the cavity, and performing nucleic acid amplification in the same cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 11130124
    Abstract: A fluidic device is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device comprises a first, a second and a third fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction. The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device further comprises a fluid control means configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first to the second fluidic channel via the common junction without propagating into the third fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Benjamin Jones, Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 11110455
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for electrically activating a passive capillary stop valve, an apparatus and method are provided. The microfluidic device includes a first channel for containing a first fluid, and an output channel, wherein the first channel comprises a first interface with the output channel, and the first interface comprises a capillary stop valve characterised in that the microfluidic device also comprises a second channel for containing a second fluid, wherein the second channel comprises a second interface with the output channel, and the first channel and the second channel are electrically isolated from each other, and the first interface and the second interface are arranged relative to each other thereby being configured to activate fluid flow from the first channel into the output channel when a first fluid and a second fluid are present, and an electrical potential difference is applied between the first fluid and the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D
    Inventors: Ujjal Barman, Benjamin Jones, Paolo Fiorini, David Mikaelian
  • Patent number: 11052387
    Abstract: A micro-fluidic device is described. The micro-fluidic device includes a semiconductor substrate; at least one micro-reactor in the semiconductor substrate; one or more micro-fluidic channels in the semiconductor substrate, connected to the at least one micro-reactor; a cover layer bonded to the semiconductor substrate for sealing the one or more micro-fluidic channels; and at least one through-substrate trench surrounding the at least one micro-reactor and the one or more micro-fluidic channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: IMEC VZW, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D, Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Jones, Paolo Fiorini, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210006560
    Abstract: Methods are provided to authorize a secondary user device for a network service provided over a network. Responsive to receiving a request from a primary user device, a voucher may be transmitted over the network to the primary user device. A request for an authorization waiver may be received from the secondary user device over the network, wherein the request for the authorization waiver includes the voucher that was transmitted to the primary user device. Responsive to receiving the request from the secondary user device including the voucher, an authorization waiver may be transmitted to the secondary user device. Related methods of operating primary and secondary user devices are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Samy Touati, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 10798096
    Abstract: Methods are provided to authorize a secondary user device for a network service provided over a network. Responsive to receiving a request from a primary user device, a voucher may be transmitted over the network to the primary user device. A request for an authorization waiver may be received from the secondary user device over the network, wherein the request for the authorization waiver includes the voucher that was transmitted to the primary user device. Responsive to receiving the request from the secondary user device including the voucher, an authorization waiver may be transmitted to the secondary user device. Related methods of operating primary and secondary user devices are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Samy Touati, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 10701203
    Abstract: A first user device may be included in a user device group including the first user device and a second user device that share a same service identifier for a communication service. The method may include accepting user input at the first user device to activate an operation mode for the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, the operation mode may be activated at the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, a notification regarding activation of the operation mode may be transmitted to a control server that is remote from the first user device. Related user devices and control servers are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Paolo Fiorini, Samy Touati
  • Publication number: 20200053217
    Abstract: A first user device may be included in a user device group including the first user device and a second user device that share a same service identifier for a communication service. The method may include accepting user input at the first user device to activate an operation mode for the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, the operation mode may be activated at the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, a notification regarding activation of the operation mode may be transmitted to a control server that is remote from the first user device. Related user devices and control servers are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Paolo Fiorini, Samy Touati
  • Publication number: 20190351415
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for electrically activating a passive capillary stop valve, an apparatus and method are provided. The microfluidic device includes a first channel for containing a first fluid, and an output channel, wherein the first channel comprises a first interface with the output channel, and the first interface comprises a capillary stop valve characterised in that the microfluidic device also comprises a second channel for containing a second fluid, wherein the second channel comprises a second interface with the output channel, and the first channel and the second channel are electrically isolated from each other, and the first interface and the second interface are arranged relative to each other thereby being configured to activate fluid flow from the first channel into the output channel when a first fluid and a second fluid are present, and an electrical potential difference is applied between the first fluid and the second fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Ujjal Barman, Benjamin Jones, Paolo Fiorini, David Mikaelian
  • Patent number: 10484534
    Abstract: A first user device may be included in a user device group including the first user device and a second user device that share a same service identifier for a communication service. The method may include accepting user input at the first user device to activate an operation mode for the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, the operation mode may be activated at the first user device. Responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device, a notification regarding activation of the operation mode may be transmitted to a control server that is remote from the first user device. Related user devices and control servers are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICCSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Paolo Fiorini, Samy Touati
  • Publication number: 20190309346
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for analyzing fluid samples comprising obtaining fluid samples in at least one cavity of a substrate and introducing also buffers and/or reagents in the cavity, performing nucleic acid extraction and/or purification in the cavity, and performing nucleic acid amplification in the same cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Tim Stakenborg, Paolo Fiorini
  • Patent number: 10427156
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid analysis device which comprises a sensing device for analyzing a fluid sample, the sensing device comprising a micro-fluidic component for propagating the fluid sample and a microchip configured for sensing the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic component; a sealed fluid compartment containing a further fluid, the compartment being fluid-tight connected to the sensing device and adapted for providing the further fluid to the micro-fluidic component when the sealed fluid compartment is opened; and an inlet for providing the fluid sample to the micro-fluidic component. Further, the present disclosure relates to a method for sensing a fluid sample using the fluid analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Paolo Fiorini