Patents by Inventor Michael E. Benz

Michael E. Benz 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: 20230193347
    Abstract: A self-contained sterilization process biological indicator is provided. The indicator includes a housing. Test microorganisms disposed in the housing are enveloped by a wax composition. The wax composition comprises a long-chain (greater than C22) linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl alcohol, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a short chain alkyl or aryl (C1-C6) group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an ester bond or an ether bond to a long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl group, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl alcohol is not linked through an amide bond to a linear or branched long chain (C8-C36) alkyl or alkenyl amine or acid. The wax composition has a melting point between 78° C. and 120° C. Also contained in the housing are a nutrient composition and an openable container containing a liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Ahimou Francois, Timothy A. Kohman, Sarah J. Davis, Michael E. Benz
  • Patent number: 8956642
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain, such as chronic pelvic pain, for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of bupivacaine formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Patent number: 8940315
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of a benzodiazepine, such as midazolam, formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Patent number: 8475823
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of baclofen formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Patent number: 8323654
    Abstract: Antibody complexes including anti-A? antibodies conjugated with a sialic acid-containing molecule show improved bioavailability with no significant adverse effects on binding to amyloid beta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Lisa L. Shafer, Deepak R. Thakker
  • Patent number: 8106146
    Abstract: The invention describes poly(ortho ester) polymers that include at least one therapeutic compound in the polymer backbone. The therapeutic compound includes at least one phenol residue and an aliphatic alcohol residue or two or more phenolic residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Erica M. Tenbroek, Lian Leon
  • Publication number: 20100311935
    Abstract: The present invention provides curable materials, medical devices incorporating such materials, wherein the curable materials are capable of releasing hydrolyzable leaving agents upon hydrolysis that can form agents (e.g., pharmaceutically active agents), and methods of making and using such materials and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Michael E. Benz
  • Patent number: 7776351
    Abstract: The present invention provides curable materials, medical devices incorporating such materials, wherein the curable materials are capable of releasing hydrolyzable leaving agents upon hydrolysis that can form agents (e.g., pharmaceutically active agents), and methods of making and using such materials and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E Benz
  • Publication number: 20090208554
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of baclofen formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Publication number: 20090202436
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain, such as chronic pelvic pain, for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of bupivacaine formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Publication number: 20090202604
    Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of a benzodiazepine, such as midazolam, formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hobot, Michael E. Benz, Keith R. Hildebrand, Bryant J. Pudil
  • Patent number: 6879861
    Abstract: A novel polymeric electrically insulating material that includes a linked voltage stabilizing agent. Also provided are methods of making the novel material and articles and devices that incorporate the novel material, particularly implantable medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Mark A. Tapsak, Angela Pratt, Randall V. Sparer
  • Publication number: 20040228902
    Abstract: The present invention provides curable materials, medical devices incorporating such materials, wherein the curable materials are capable of releasing hydrolyzable leaving agents upon hydrolysis that can form agents (e.g., pharmaceutically active agents), and methods of making and using such materials and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Benz
  • Publication number: 20040054113
    Abstract: Polymers that include silane-containing groups in soft segments, and optionally urethane groups, as well as medical devices and methods for making such compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Christopher M. Hobot, Kelvin Bonnema, Randall V. Sparer
  • Publication number: 20040054210
    Abstract: Compounds that include diorgano groups having quaternary carbons, silicon-containing groups, and optionally urethane groups, urea groups, or combinations thereof (i.e., polyurethanes, polyureas, or polyurethane-ureas), as well as materials and methods for making such compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Christopher M. Hobot, Randall V. Sparer
  • Patent number: 6451947
    Abstract: A high energy density capacitor comprising an organic polymeric dielectric material having a dielectric constant of at least about 7; wherein the organic polymeric dielectric material comprises polymerized alkyl (alpha-substituted)acrylate monomers having at least one dipole group; wherein when the monomers are polymerized, the dipole group is attached to the main polymeric chain through a heteroatom-containing linking group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Edward DiDomenico, Randall V. Sparer
  • Publication number: 20020082673
    Abstract: A novel polymeric electrically insulating material that includes a linked voltage stabilizing agent. Also provided are methods of making the novel material and articles and devices that incorporate the novel material, particularly implantable medical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Mark A. Tapsak, Angela Pratt, Randall V. Sparer
  • Patent number: 6184324
    Abstract: A high energy density capacitor comprising an organic polymeric dielectric material having a dielectric constant of at least about 7; wherein the organic polymeric dielectric material comprises polymerized alkyl (alpha-substituted)acrylate monomers having at least one dipole group; wherein when the monomers are polymerized, the dipole group is attached to the main polymeric chain through a heteroatom-containing linking group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Benz, Edward DiDomenico, Randall V. Sparer