Patents by Inventor Philip A. Eckhoff

Philip A. Eckhoff 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: 20200030234
    Abstract: Enteric elastomers and related methods are generally provided. In some embodiments, the enteric elastomer is a polymer composite. Certain embodiments comprise a polymer composite in which hydrogen bonds within two carboxyl group-containing polymers cross-link the polymer networks into an elastic and pH-responsive polymer composite. Advantageously, this polymer composite has the capacity of being stable and elastic in an acidic environment such as that of the stomach but can be dissolved in a neutral pH environment such as that of the small and large intestines. In some embodiments, the polymer composites described herein comprise a mixture of two or more polymers with carboxyl functionality such that the two or more polymers form hydrogen bonds. In certain embodiments, the polymer composite has both enteric and elastic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Shiyi Zhang, Andrew Bellinger, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Dean Liang Glettig, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10532027
    Abstract: Certain embodiments comprise administering a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. In certain embodiments, the structure has a modular design, combining a material configured for controlled release of therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or enhancement agents with a structural material necessary for gastric residence but configured for controlled and/or tunable degradation/dissolution to determine the time at which retention shape integrity is lost and the structure passes out of the gastric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the residence structure comprises a first elastic component, a second component configured to release an active substance, and, optionally, a linker. In some such embodiments, the linker may be configured to degrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10517820
    Abstract: Described are methods of making a gastric residence structure including an active substance. The methods may include forming one or more arms comprising a loadable polymeric component, wherein the loadable polymeric component includes one or more polymeric materials and at least one active substance. The methods may also include connecting the one or more arms to an elastic polymeric component using a separate linker component. The gastric residence structures may be configured to be folded and physically constrained during administration and may be configured to assume an open retention shape upon removal of a constraint. The change between the folded shape and the open retention shape may be mediated by the elastic polymeric component that undergoes elastic deformation when the residence structure is in the folded shape and recoils when the gastric residence structure assumes the open retention shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10517819
    Abstract: Described are gastric residence structures that include an active substance. The gastric residence structures may include one or more arms that include a loadable polymeric component, an elastic polymeric component, and a separate linker component. The linker may connect the one or more arms with the elastic polymeric component. The gastric residence structures may be configured to be folded and physically constrained during administration and may be configured to assume an open retention shape upon removal of a constraint. The change between the folded shape and the open retention shape may be mediated by the elastic polymeric component that undergoes elastic deformation when the residence structure is in the folded shape and recoils when the gastric residence structure assumes the open retention shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190298652
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10413507
    Abstract: Enteric elastomers and related methods are generally provided. In some embodiments, the enteric elastomer is a polymer composite. Certain embodiments comprise a polymer composite in which hydrogen bonds within two carboxyl group-containing polymers cross-link the polymer networks into an elastic and pH-responsive polymer composite. Advantageously, this polymer composite has the capacity of being stable and elastic in an acidic environment such as that of the stomach but can be dissolved in a neutral pH environment such as that of the small and large intestines. In some embodiments, the polymer composites described herein comprise a mixture of two or more polymers with carboxyl functionality such that the two or more polymers form hydrogen bonds. In certain embodiments, the polymer composite has both enteric and elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Shiyi Zhang, Andrew Bellinger, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Dean Liang Glettig, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190228669
    Abstract: Systems and methods for competency training and use authorization for dispensing an agent are described, which include: an agent-dispensing device configured to dispense one or more agents to a user, and including a controllable agent-dispensing mechanism and a receiver configured to receive a signal and to activate or deactivate a locking mechanism coupled to the controllable agent-dispensing mechanism; a computing device having a display and a user interface; and a web-based interactive tool accessible on the computing device, the web-based interactive tool including a training module to provide training to the user in proper use of the agent-dispensing device, a verification module to verify a competency of the user in the proper use of the agent-dispensing device, and an activation module responsive to the verification module and operable to provide an activation signal to deactivate the locking mechanism to allow dispensing of the one or more agents after verifying the competency of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 10342735
    Abstract: Multi-monodose containers are described including a row of at least two vials, a first vial connected to an adjacent second vial through an articulating joint, the articulating joint sufficiently flexible to reversibly mate a planar outer surface of the first vial with a planar outer surface of the adjacent second vial; wherein the row of the at least two vials is configured to form a first rectangular packing cross-sectional area in an expanded configuration and configured to form a second rectangular packing cross-sectional area in a folded configuration, the second rectangular packing cross-sectional area smaller than the first rectangular packing cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Fong-Li Chou, Philip A. Eckhoff, Lawrence Morgan Fowler, Shieng Liu, Krishnan Natarajan, Nels R. Peterson, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10348884
    Abstract: A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190175500
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190145877
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus includes a sensor configured to be selectively positionable within an interior head cavity of a helmet to acquire compliance data regarding a liner of the helmet and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190133936
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10229607
    Abstract: Systems and methods for competency training and use authorization for dispensing an agent are described, which include: an agent-dispensing device configured to dispense one or more agents to a user, and including a controllable agent-dispensing mechanism and a receiver configured to receive a signal and to activate or deactivate a locking mechanism coupled to the controllable agent-dispensing mechanism; a computing device having a display and a user interface; and a web-based interactive tool accessible on the computing device, the web-based interactive tool including a training module to provide training to the user in proper use of the agent-dispensing device, a verification module to verify a competency of the user in the proper use of the agent-dispensing device, and an activation module responsive to the verification module and operable to provide an activation signal to deactivate the locking mechanism to allow dispensing of the one or more agents after verifying the competency of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190070108
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190070107
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10182985
    Abstract: Certain embodiments comprise administering a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. In certain embodiments, the structure has a modular design, combining a material configured for controlled release of therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or enhancement agents with a structural material necessary for gastric residence but configured for controlled and/or tunable degradation/dissolution to determine the time at which retention shape integrity is lost and the structure passes out of the gastric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the residence structure comprises a first elastic component, a second component configured to release an active substance, and, optionally, a linker. In some such embodiments, the linker may be configured to degrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 10184867
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10163403
    Abstract: A system may produce images including narrow-bandwidth colors. One or more sets of the narrow-bandwidth colors may be selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user. The system may include a light source configured to produce the narrow-bandwidth colors, and/or narrow-passband filters may create narrow-bandwidth colors from light emitted by broad-spectrum light sources or color sources. Spatial and/or time multiplexing may be used to create separate narrow-bandwidth colors interpreted as substantially a same color by the user. For example, the light source and/or the narrow-passband filter elements may be adjustable and may alternate between emission of two or more narrow-bandwidth colors. A viewing device may include filters allowing the user to selectively filter the narrow-bandwidth colors. The user may filter the narrow-bandwidth colors to separate a stereoscopic image pair, to view a user-specific image, to view desired content obfuscated by an obfuscating image, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Erez Lieberman Aiden, Philip A. Eckhoff, William Gates, Peter L. Hagelstein, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Robert Langer, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Michael Schnall-Levin, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10134342
    Abstract: A system may produce images including narrow-bandwidth colors. One or more sets of the narrow-bandwidth colors may be selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user. The system may include a light source configured to produce the narrow-bandwidth colors, and/or narrow-passband filters may create narrow-bandwidth colors from light emitted by broad-spectrum light sources or color sources. Spatial and/or time multiplexing may be used to create separate narrow-bandwidth colors interpreted as substantially a same color by the user. The light source and/or the narrow-passband filter elements may be adjustable and may alternate between emission of two or more narrow-bandwidth colors. A viewing device may include filters configured to selectively filter the narrow-bandwidth colors. The user may filter the narrow-bandwidth colors to separate a stereoscopic image pair, to view an image specific to a user, to view desired content obfuscated by an obfuscating image, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Erez Lieberman Aiden, Philip A. Eckhoff, William Gates, Peter L. Hagelstein, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Robert Langer, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Michael Schnall-Levin, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10135302
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a shell; a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell; and a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.