Patents by Inventor William F. Walker

William F. Walker 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: 20190244692
    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: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Adam Looker, Bryan Roy, Bjarne Hansen
  • Patent number: 10161944
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. In some embodiments, an apparatus is disclosed comprising a housing; a plurality of test chambers located in the housing, the plurality of test chambers including chambers configured for measurements via a system that interrogates one or more viscoelastic properties of test samples in the test chambers, wherein the one or more viscoelastic properties is used to characterize dynamics of coagulation and/or fibrinolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Patent number: 10147152
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HemoSonics, LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Adam Looker, Bryan Roy, Bjarne Hansen
  • Publication number: 20180306774
    Abstract: A disposable system, in some embodiments, includes a multi-channel or multi-chamber test cartridge device configured to operate with a testing system for evaluation of hemostasis in a subject by in vitro evaluation of a test sample from the subject. The disposable system, in some embodiments, is configured to interrogate the test sample to evaluate clot stiffness, strength, or other mechanical properties of the test sample to assess the function of various physiological processes occur during coagulation and/or dissolution of the resulting clot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, Timothy Higgins, Andrew Homyk, F. Scott Corey, Frank Regan, William F. Walker, David Bryant, Thomas Givens, Cynthia Ann Lloyd
  • Publication number: 20180275150
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. In some embodiments, an apparatus is disclosed comprising a housing; a plurality of test chambers located in the housing, the plurality of test chambers including chambers configured for measurements via a system that interrogates one or more viscoelastic properties of test samples in the test chambers, wherein the one or more viscoelastic properties is used to characterize dynamics of coagulation and/or fibrinolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20180231575
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. In some embodiments, an apparatus is disclosed comprising a housing; a plurality of test chambers located in the housing, the plurality of test chambers including chambers configured for measurements via a system that interrogates one or more viscoelastic properties of test samples in the test chambers, wherein the one or more viscoelastic properties is used to characterize dynamics of coagulation and/or fibrinolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Patent number: 10031144
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Patent number: 9989497
    Abstract: Pulse-echo imaging systems and methods are provided, including a transmit code sequencer and a pulse generation circuit, The transmit code sequencer is configured to input a transmit code sequence to the pulse generation circuit. A transducer is configured to receive electrical signals provided as pulses using coded excitation according to the transmit code sequence, and to transduce the electrical signals to pulses of energy other than electrical signals. The transducer is further configured to receive echoes of the pulses of energy other than electrical signals and convert the echoes to received electrical signals generate using coded excitation. A receive circuit is configured to receive the received electrical signals generate using coded excitation, perform analog sampling of the received electrical signals generate using coded excitation, and provide a weighted, summed digital signal by processing the analog samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Michael I. Fuller, Karthik Ranganathan, John A. Hossack, Travis N. Blalock
  • Patent number: 9977039
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20170363585
    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: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: William F. Walker, F. Scott Corey, Andrew Homyk, Tim Higgins, Francesco Viola, Frank Regan, Elisa Ferrante
  • Publication number: 20170315143
    Abstract: Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, William F. Walker, Gregory V. Browne, Robert S. Magyar, Bjarne Hansen, Christopher G. Denny
  • Publication number: 20170296068
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing changes in at least one physical properly 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 or 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: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Michael B. Lawrence, Francesco Viola, Margaret Kramer Sande
  • Patent number: 9726647
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hemosonics, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Walker, F. Scott Corey, Jr., Andrew Homyk, Tim Higgins, Francesco Viola, Frank Regan, Elisa Ferrante
  • Patent number: 9723996
    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: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hemosonics, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Walker, Michael B. Lawrence, Francesco Viola, Margaret Kramer Sande
  • 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: 20170000458
    Abstract: In some illustrative embodiments, an incoming signal from a transducer in an ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus is applied to an in-phase sample-and-hold and a quadrature sample-and-hold. The quadrature sample-and-hold may be clocked a quarter period behind the in-phase sample-and-hold. The output of the sample-and-holds are applied to in-phase and quadrature analog-to-digital converters. A magnitude calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a magnitude. A phase calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a phase. An apodizer applies a difference between an amplitude of the outgoing signal and the magnitude and applies a first illumination to a image point in substantial proportion to the difference, and a phase rotator applies a second illumination to the image point in substantial proportion to the phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Travis N. Blalock, William F. Walker, John A. Hossack
  • 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
  • Patent number: D839447
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, Timothy Higgins, Andrew Homyk, F. Scott Corey, Franklin Francis Regan, IV, William F. Walker, David Bryant, Thomas Givens
  • Patent number: D841184
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HemoSonics LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Viola, Timothy Higgins, Andrew Homyk, F. Scott Corey, Franklin F. Regan, IV, William F. Walker, David Bryant, Thomas Givens