International Patent PCT/B2021/060750
The international patent PCT/B2021/060750, filed by the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” represents the first and most fundamental step in a long journey of research and development. This document formalizes an idea born from the intersection of medical, engineering, and entrepreneurial expertise, with the aim of providing a concrete solution to the challenge of venous access in settings without ultrasound equipment.
1. Background and Project Origin
1.1 Academic Spin-Off
On April 14, 2025, in Naples, EchoWatch S.r.l. was established as an academic spin-off of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli.” The founding members brought together a diverse range of expertise—from Internal Medicine (with over 800 scientific publications) to Electronic Engineering, as well as marketing and project management. It was from this synergy—where academic research met entrepreneurial pragmatism—that patent PCT/B2021/060750 took shape.
1.2 Clinical Need Behind the Patent
From the first discussions between clinical departments and engineering labs, a significant gap became evident: in many environments—provincial hospitals, rural clinics, or during home care—portable ultrasound devices are often unavailable. As a result, healthcare professionals must rely solely on palpation, which can lead to uncertain outcomes. Patent PCT/B2021/060750 was created precisely to fill this gap, by formalizing a technology capable of supporting venous access without the need for bulky equipment.
2. Core Content of the Patent
2.1 Industrial Property and Scope of Application
- Owner: University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
- Subject Matter: Structures and methods for developing a portable, wearable device capable of visualizing and stabilizing a blood vessel prior to puncture
- PCT Patent: The PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) filing ensures international protection, allowing parallel patent applications in countries of interest
3. Patent Innovation and Benefits
3.1 Uniqueness Compared to Traditional Solutions
- Compactness and Portability: The patent defines an approach that eliminates the need for large tabletop or handheld ultrasound devices, integrating optical, thermal, and mechanical systems into a single wearable unit
- Functional Integration: The self-regulating interaction between optical, thermal, and mechanical modules is a key part of the invention, ensuring effective synergy between vessel identification, dilation, and stabilization
3.2 Protection Scope
Thanks to the PCT format, the patent extends beyond Italy. Its structure enables protection to be initiated in Europe, North America, and other key commercial markets, safeguarding the innovation internationally and laying the groundwork for future collaborations with foreign partners.
Patent PCT/B2021/060750 marks the beginning of an innovation that, from the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” aims to redefine how healthcare professionals approach venous access. By reducing reliance on bulky devices and focusing on a compact, wearable, and integrated unit, this patent charts a new path toward faster, simpler, and more accessible clinical practices. Thanks to the international protection granted by the PCT and ongoing partnerships, the invention is set to spread beyond borders, opening opportunities with medical institutions and partners worldwide.