Patents by Inventor Walfre Franco
Walfre 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).
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Publication number: 20240115292Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Richard Rox Anderson, William A. Farinelli, Walfre Franco, Joshua Tam, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Apostolos G. Doukas, Martin Purschke, Min Yao
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Publication number: 20230414249Abstract: Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for harvesting a plurality of small tissue pieces, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using one or more hollow needles. A fluid can be flowed through a conduit past the proximal ends of the needles to facilitate removal of the tissue pieces from the needle lumens, and can maintain the tissue pieces in a controlled and protective liquid environment. A filter can be used to extract and collect the tissue pieces from the liquid, or the tissue pieces can be deposited directly onto a porous dressing. Such tissue pieces can be used as microscopic grafts, which can be applied directly to a wound site or provided on a substrate or dressing, or stored for later use. Such microscopic grafts can promote tissue regrowth and wound healing, or can be applied to a scaffold to grow new tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Richard R. Anderson, Walfre Franco, Joel N. Jimenez-Lozano, William A. Farinelli
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Patent number: 11832845Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Richard Rox Anderson, William A. Farinelli, Walfre Franco, Joshua Tam, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Apostolos G. Doukas, Martin Purschke, Min Yao
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Patent number: 11826580Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating or preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. In particular, systems and methods are provided for a phototherapy treatment or prevention system that delivers light radiation to a patient's body to photodissociate carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Warren M. Zapol, R. Rox Anderson, Luca Zazzeron, Walfre Franco, William A. Farinelli
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Patent number: 11717317Abstract: Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for harvesting a plurality of small tissue pieces, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using one or more hollow needles. A fluid can be flowed through a conduit past the proximal ends of the needles to facilitate removal of the tissue pieces from the needle lumens, and can maintain the tissue pieces in a controlled and protective liquid environment. A filter can be used to extract and collect the tissue pieces from the liquid, or the tissue pieces can be deposited directly onto a porous dressing. Such tissue pieces can be used as microscopic grafts, which can be applied directly to a wound site or provided on a substrate or dressing, or stored for later use. Such microscopic grafts can promote tissue regrowth and wound healing, or can be applied to a scaffold to grow new tissue.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Richard R. Anderson, Walfre Franco, Joel N. Jimenez-Lozano, William A. Farinelli
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Publication number: 20230201514Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and delivering nitric oxide are provided. In one aspect, a nitric oxide generator includes an inlet arranged to receive a gas including nitrogen and oxygen, an outlet, a pair of electrodes arranged downstream of the inlet and configured to generate nitric oxide from the gas, a pressure regulator configured to selectively adjust a pressure of the gas surrounding the electrodes, an accumulator in communication with the pressure regulator, a nitric oxide sensor arranged to measure a concentration of nitric oxide at the outlet, and a controller in communication with the pair of electrodes, the pressure regulator, and the nitric oxide sensor. The controller is configured to selectively instruct the pressure regulator to adjust the pressure of the gas surrounding the electrodes in response to the concentration of nitric oxide measured at the outlet by the nitric oxide sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Warren M. Zapol, Lorenzo Berra, Caio Morais, Stefano Gianni, Ryan W. Carroll, Walfre Franco, Binglan Yu, R. Rox Anderson
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Publication number: 20230082466Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a hair transplant using a hair transplant device. The hair transplant device comprises an extraction unit including a coring needle configured to extract at least one hair follicle from a donor site, an implanting unit removably coupled to the extraction unit, the implanting unit including a splitting needle configured to create an opening in a recipient site, a housing coupled to the extraction unit, and a user interface extending from the housing and moveable relative to the housing. The user interface includes a pin movable within the coring needle relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Walfre FRANCO, Esmeralda IBARRA-SILVA, William A. FARINELLI, Joshua TAM, Richard Rox Anderson, Lynn Drake, Sandeep Korupolu
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Publication number: 20210220666Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating or preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. In particular, systems and methods are provided for a phototherapy treatment or prevention system that delivers light radiation to a patient's body to photodissociate carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Warren M. Zapol, R. Rox Anderson, Luca Zazzeron, Walfre Franco, William A. Farinelli
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Patent number: 11065027Abstract: The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus for harvesting, handling and implanting small tissue grafts obtained from a donor site. In some embodiments the apparatus includes hollow needles and base that can be formed of one or more biocompatible materials that are biodegradable and/or dissolvable.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Walfre Franco, Joel N. Jimenez-Lozano, Martin Purschke, Richard R. Anderson
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Patent number: 11065031Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling a plurality of tissue grafts are provided. A method includes harvesting the plurality of micro tissue grafts from a donor site, arranging the plurality of micro tissue grafts in a desired orientation, forming a tissue construct containing the plurality of micro tissue grafts arranged in the desired orientation, and applying the tissue construct to a recipient site.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Richard Rox Anderson, Joshua Tam, Walfre Franco, William Farinelli, Ying Wang, Martin Purschke
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Publication number: 20210145476Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a hair transplant using a hair transplant device. The hair transplant device comprises a coring needle, a splitting needle, a housing, and a user interface. The coring needle forms a coring lumen configured to extract a hair follicle from a donor site. The splitting needle is configured to create an opening in a recipient site. The housing at least partially surrounds one of the coring needle and the splitting needle. The user interface extends from the housing and is movable relative to the coring needle to push the hair follicle from the coring lumen into the opening in the recipient site formed by the splitting needle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Walfre Franco, Esmeralda Ibarra-Silva, William F. Farinelli, Joshua Tam, R. Rox Anderson, Lynn Drake
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Publication number: 20210128813Abstract: Systems and methods for removing carbon monoxide from whole blood are provided. In one configuration, an extracorporeal phototherapy system includes an oxygenator and a light source configured to output light and arranged to emit the light output by the light source onto at least one surface of the oxygenator. The oxygenator includes a plurality of membrane layers each having a plurality of microporous hollow fiber membranes. The plurality of microporous hollow fiber membranes each include an external surface and an internal channel. Each of the plurality of membrane layers may be rotationally offset with respect to an adjacent layer. The oxygenator further includes a gas inlet port in fluid communication with a first end of the internal channels, a gas outlet port in fluid communication a second end of the internal channels, a blood inlet port, and a blood outlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Warren M. Zapol, Richard Rox Anderson, Luca Zazzeron, Walfre Franco, William A. Farinelli, Anna Fischbach
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Patent number: 10953236Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating or preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. In particular, systems and methods are provided for a phototherapy treatment or prevention system that delivers light radiation to a patient's body to photodissociate carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Warren M. Zapol, R. Rox Anderson, Luca Zazzeron, Walfre Franco, William A. Farinelli
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Publication number: 20200360039Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Richard Rox Anderson, William A. Farinelli, Walfre Franco, Joshua Tam, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Apostolos G. Doukas, Martin Purschke, Min Yao
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Patent number: 10736654Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventors: Richard Rox Anderson, William A. Farinelli, Walfre Franco, Joshua Tam, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Apostolos G. Doukas, Martin Purschke, Min Yao
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Publication number: 20190269430Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling a plurality of tissue grafts are provided. A method includes harvesting the plurality of micro tissue grafts from a donor site, arranging the plurality of micro tissue grafts in a desired orientation, forming a tissue construct containing the plurality of micro tissue grafts arranged in the desired orientation, and applying the tissue construct to a recipient site.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Richard Rox Anderson, Joshua Tam, Walfre Franco, William Farinelli, Ying Wang, Martin Purschke
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Publication number: 20180140863Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating or preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. In particular, systems and methods are provided for a phototherapy treatment or prevention system that delivers light radiation to a patient's body to photodissociate carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Warren M. Zapol, R. Rox Anderson, Luca Zazzeron, Walfre Franco, William A. Farinelli
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Publication number: 20180140316Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Richard Rox ANDERSON, William A. FARINELLI, Walfre FRANCO, Joshua TAM, Fernanda H. SAKAMOTO, Apostolos G. DOUKAS, Martin PURSCHKE, Min YAO
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Patent number: 9895162Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATIONInventors: Richard Rox Anderson, William A. Farinelli, Walfre Franco, Joshua Tam, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Apostolos G. Doukas, Martin Purschke, Min Yao
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Publication number: 20160030722Abstract: Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for an improved wound dressing that facilitates healing. For example, the dressing can include a membrane that maintains a sterile enclosed volume over the wound. Pressure in the enclosed volume can be reduced by deforming the membrane and compressing a resilient open-cell sponge provided therein, facilitating a relatively unobstructed flow of air out of the enclosed volume. Oxygen and/or moisture can be introduced by a controlled flow of moist oxygen-containing gas into the enclosed volume. An oxygen-producing reaction within the enclosed volume using calcium peroxide or the like can also provide oxygen to the wound site. An external vacuum source that includes compressible foam can also be coupled to the enclosed volume to provide a reduced pressure therein. The external vacuum source can be attached to a user's body to maintain the reduced pressure without use of electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: RICHARD R. ANDERSON, MARTIN PURSCHKE, WALFRE FRANCO, JOSHUA TAM, YING WANG, WILLIAM FARINELLI