John M Volkar

US Patent:

8020724, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Oct 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/972556

Inventors:

Steven J. Remis - Alexandria LA, US
Adam Hahn - Pittsburgh PA, US
Raymond Rhodes - Pittsburgh PA, US
John Volkar - Mars PA, US

Assignee:

Parata Systems, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

B65G 59/04
B65H 3/08
G07F 11/00

US Classification:

221211, 221 4, 221 7, 221 13, 221197, 221168, 221 69, 111179, 111 77, 111185, 198 471, 198397, 198453

Abstract:

A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the disc's rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

US Patent:

8121392, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Oct 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/972492

Inventors:

Joseph Popovich, Jr. - McMurray PA, US
John Volkar - Mars PA, US
Steven J. Remis - Alexandria LA, US
William Toole - Wexford PA, US

Assignee:

Parata Systems, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382143, 382124, 235375

Abstract:

A stand alone imaging system is disclosed that captures undistorted, high resolution, stop-action images of objects (e. g. , medicine pills) moving at automation speeds, processes the images in real time, and then performs real-time I/O based control that is a function of the image processing results. The imaging system has a form factor that enables it to be embedded inside a product (e. g. , a pill dispenser). The imaging system also has a flexible I/O system so that a variety of different applications can be handled by changing only the programming and the external hardware connected to the device in which the imaging system is embedded. In the case of pill dispensing and quality control, a miniature, low cost imaging system can be embedded in a pill dispenser to obtain a pill image and then process the image in real time as the pill moves through a counting system. The embedded imaging system processes the images fast enough and with sufficient quality and resolution so as to command a pill counting mechanism to dispense or reject the pill based on the image processing results. Images of the pills can also be sent to a remote location or an archive.

US Patent:

8348094, Jan 8, 2013

Filed:

Nov 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/936234

Inventors:

Steven J. Remis - Alexandria LA, US
Adam Hahn - Pittsburgh PA, US
Raymond Rhodes - Pittsburgh PA, US
John Volkar - Mars PA, US

Assignee:

Parata Systems, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G07F 11/00

US Classification:

221 69, 221 7, 221 13, 221211, 221 97, 221203, 221200, 221277, 221278, 221168, 221201, 198397, 198453, 198493, 198533, 198443, 452 31

Abstract:

A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated.

US Patent:

20220288328, Sep 15, 2022

Filed:

Sep 2, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/639641

Inventors:

- WHIPPANY NJ, US
JOHN VOLKAR - VALENCIA PA, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/50
A61M 5/14
A61M 5/145

Abstract:

An administration line for use with a fluid injector system includes a fluid verification module configured to be in operative communication with a housing of the fluid injector system such that the fluid injector system can determine a status of the administration line. The fluid verification module includes a body defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port; a first tubing section connected to the inlet port; and a second tubing section connected to the outlet port.

US Patent:

20210220556, Jul 22, 2021

Filed:

Aug 27, 2019

Appl. No.:

17/270531

Inventors:

- WHIPPANY NJ, US
William Barone - Pittsburgh PA, US
John Volkar - Valencia PA, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/168
A61M 5/142

Abstract:

A fluid injector system includes a control device operatively associated with each of two or more drive components configured to pressurize and inject a first fluid from a first fluid reservoir through a fluid conduit, and at least a second fluid from a second fluid reservoir through the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is in selective fluid communication with the first and second fluid reservoirs. The control device has at least one processor programmed or configured to actuate a second drive component to pressurize and inject the second fluid through the fluid conduit, and while the second drive component is actuated, actuate a first drive component to introduce intermittent pulses of the first fluid to create a flow front interface between the first fluid and the second fluid in the fluid conduit to prevent backflow of the second fluid through the fluid conduit into the first fluid reservoir.

US Patent:

20210146063, May 20, 2021

Filed:

Apr 18, 2019

Appl. No.:

17/048219

Inventors:

- WHIPPANY NJ, US
WILLIAM BARONE - PITTSBURGH PA, US
BARRY IDDON - JEANNETTE PA, US
JOHN VOLKAR - VALENCIA PA, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/36
A61M 5/00
A61M 5/31

Abstract:

An injector system for delivering a medical fluid may include at least one syringe defining a reservoir operatively connected to a piston; and at least one processor programmed or configured to, based on an air check protocol for detecting air in the reservoir, determine a baseline value comprising baseline compressibility data for the at least one syringe of the injector system, deliver the first amount of the medical fluid from the reservoir; refill the reservoir with a second amount of the medical fluid; based on the air check protocol, perform an air check pressurization sequence by gathering air check compressibility data for the at least one syringe of the injector system; and based on the air check protocol, compare the air check compressibility data with the baseline compressibility data to determine a volume of air present in the reservoir.

US Patent:

20210046240, Feb 18, 2021

Filed:

Apr 9, 2019

Appl. No.:

17/044192

Inventors:

- WHIPPANY NJ, US
JOHN VOLKAR - VALENCIA PA, US
CHRISTOPHER LAZZARA - CRANBERRY TWP. PA, US
MATTHIAS BURG - BERLIN, DE

International Classification:

A61M 5/00
G16H 20/17

Abstract:

A fluid injector system for use in administering to a patient a fluid in an injection protocol in connection with a diagnostic imaging procedure includes at least one display and a control device. The control device is programmed to determine, for each of the injection protocols performed by the fluid injector system, a component status for the at least one disposable component. The component status indicates whether use of the at least one disposable component was compliant with instructions for use applicable to the at least one disposable component. The control device is further programmed to enable the at least one display to display a compliance report. The compliance report includes one or more visual indicators providing visual feedback about compliance with the instructions for use based on the component status determined for each of the injection protocols performed using the fluid injector system.

US Patent:

20200114074, Apr 16, 2020

Filed:

Aug 28, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/621289

Inventors:

- WHIPPANY NJ, US
MICHAEL SPOHN - FENELTON PA, US
CHELSEA MARSH - PITTSBURGH PA, US
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT - PITTSBURGH PA, US
JOHN VOLKAR - VALENCIA PA, US

International Classification:

A61M 5/168
A61M 5/00
A61M 5/14
A61M 5/145

Abstract:

A method for dynamic pressure control during a multiphase injection is described wherein the pressures of fluids in the various reservoirs of a fluid delivery system are controlled to provide desired fluid delivery parameters. The methods include advancing the first drive member to expel the first fluid from the first reservoir into a conduit, wherein the fluid is pressurized to a first fluid pressure; measuring the first fluid pressure to provide a target value; while the second reservoir is in fluid isolation from the conduit, advancing or retracting the second drive member to increase or decrease the fluid pressure of the second fluid in the second reservoir to the target value; placing the second reservoir in fluid communication with the conduit; and advancing the second drive member to expel the second fluid from the second reservoir into the conduit.