Patents by Inventor Michael S. Healy

Michael S. Healy 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).

  • Patent number: 7037450
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Publication number: 20040253316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 6726860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 6569458
    Abstract: Small diameter particles of biologically active molecules are produced by atomizing solutions of the molecules through a nozzle into very cold liquified gases, which immediately freeze the atomized droplets. The resulting frozen particles having diameters of approximately 10 to 90 micrometers are lyophilized to produce porous particles, suspended in a non-solvent for the molecules, and exposed to ultrasonic energy or homogenization to produce particles having diameters of 0.1 to 10 micrometers with greater than 70 to 95% of the initial biological activity of the molecules in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Gombotz, Michael S. Healy, Larry R. Brown, Henry E. Auer
  • Publication number: 20020135085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 6358443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 6153129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 5922253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, whereby the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then contacted with a liquid non-solvent to extract the solvent into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Herbert, Michael S. Healy
  • Patent number: 5019400
    Abstract: A process for preparing microspheres using very cold temperatures to freeze polymer-biologically active agent mixtures into polymeric microspheres with very high retention of biological activity and material. Polymer is dissolved in a solvent together with an active agent that can be either dissolved in the solvent or dispersed in the solvent in the form of microparticles. The polymer/active agent mixture is atomized into a vessel containing a liquid non-solvent, alone or frozen and overlayed with a liquified gas, at a temperature below the freezing point of the polymer/active agent solution. The cold liquified gas or liquid immediately freezes the polymer droplets. As the droplets and non-solvent for the polymer is warmed, the solvent in the droplets thaws and is extracted into the non-solvent, resulting in hardened microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Enzytech, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Gombotz, Michael S. Healy, Larry R. Brown