Patents Assigned to The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Vacuum pump systems for prosthetic limbs and methods of using the same
    Patent number: 11877938
    Abstract: Pump systems for use in suspension of a prosthetic device from a residual limb and methods of suspending a prosthetic device from a residual limb are disclosed. The pump systems include a mechanically activated pump having a first compression member coupled to a second compression member, a diaphragm disposed between the first and second compression members, and coupling elements that engage and couple together the first and second compression members. The mechanically activated pump may be connected with an electrically activated pump, forming a hybrid pump system to provide vacuum engagement between a prosthetic device and a residual limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Northwestern University
    Inventors: Ryan J. Caldwell, Matthew J. Major
  • APKC inhibitors and methods of treating a neurodegenerative disease or disorder
    Patent number: 11865125
    Abstract: Provided herein are formulations effective for and methods of treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject in need thereof that can include administering an amount of an aPKC inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Robert Vito Farese, Mini Paliyath Sajan, Margaret Genevieve Higgs
  • Neuropsychological and neurological rehabilitation headgear device
    Patent number: 11865328
    Abstract: A customizable headgear assembly for neuropsychological and neurological treatment, monitoring, or testing of a patient. The headgear assembly comprising a structural frame having a plurality of anatomical landmark tabs each individually configured to be located upon an anatomical landmark of a patient's head. The structural frame having first and second portions releasably coupled to enable the first and second portions to be at least partially separated for placement and removal from the patient's head. A plurality of electrode holders being operable coupled to the structural frame each configured to locate an electrode upon a predetermined neurological position of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Benjamin Hampstead, Allena Holzworth, Kevin Kramer, Alexander Rothmann, Shannon Ryan
  • Sensor based clear path robot guide
    Patent number: 11865062
    Abstract: A guide system is provided that uses a plurality of sensors to identify and determine a clear path for an ambulatory vision impaired person. The system includes one or more wheels that rotate to propel the system, a platform supported by the one or more wheels and housing a processor, a rigid harness with a haptic feedback grip that is positioned to be grasped by an operator, and one or more sensors configured to sense information about the environment. In operation, the processor analyzes information sensed by the sensors to identify object in the path of the guide system and sends messages to the operator to allow the operator to avoid the identified objects. The messages may be sent to the operator via the haptic feedback grip or audibly via a speaker or via a wireless connection to a haptic or audio device being worn by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventor: Brian L. Higgins
  • Benzathine analogs
    Patent number: 11857550
    Abstract: A compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, having a structure of: wherein X is a divalent linking moiety; and R1-R10 are each individually H, optionally-substituted alkyl, optionally-substituted alkoxy, optionally-substituted aryl, optionally-substituted cycloalkyl, optionally-substituted heterocyclic, halogen, amino, or hydroxy, provided that at least one of R3 or R8 is an optionally-substituted alkyl, a substituted alkoxy, optionally-substituted aryl, optionally-substituted cycloalkyl, optionally-substituted heterocyclic, or halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as Represented By the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Beibei Chen, Rama K. Mallampalli
  • Methods of treating viral infections affecting the respiratory tract using topically administered lithium agents
    Patent number: 11850259
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to topical lithium agents including inhalable lithium agents for treating a viral infection characterized by a cytokine storm in the respiratory tract of a subject such as a human. Topical lithium formulations can be used to mitigate such viral infections, including coronavirus infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventor: Carl Ganio
  • BIOENGINEERED WNT5A THERAPEUTICS FOR ADVANCED CANCERS
    Publication number: 20230407297
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for inhibiting Wnt5a expression in cells such as prostate cancer cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Allen C. Gao, Aiming Yu
  • PKC-Delta-I inhibitor formulations and uses thereof
    Patent number: 11844779
    Abstract: Provided herein are formulations that can contain an effective amount of a PKC? inhibitor. Also provided herein are methods of inhibiting a PKC? in a subject in need thereof, that can include the step of administering an effective amount of a compound that is capable of inhibiting a PKC?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Niketa A. Patel, Rekha S. Patel, Robert Pleasants Sparks, Wayne Charles Guida
  • Method for eye lens removal using cavitating microbubbles
    Patent number: 11844724
    Abstract: A surgical method of cataract fragmentation and extraction via microbubble cavitation is described. In particular, gas-filled microbubbles are injected into a lens capsule of a subject's eye, and cavitation of the microbubbles is activated by applied ultrasound energy. The ultrasound energy can be applied from an external device. The cavitation fragments cataract tissues without damaging other tissue, such as the lens capsule. Fragmented lens material is then aspirated from the lens capsule. The method can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods, such as phacoemulsification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California, United States Government represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Robert H. Grubbs, Marshall L Stoller, Ying Han, Frank L. Brodie
  • Compositions comprising recombinant probiotic bacteria and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 11839649
    Abstract: The invention features probiotic bacteria expressing Clostridium difficile SlpA, or fragment thereof, and its use for the treatment or prevention of Clostridium difficile infection and gut colonization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Gayatri Vedantam, Virinchipuram K. Viswanathan, Michael Mallozzi
  • Systems and methods for histotripsy immunosensitization
    Patent number: 11813485
    Abstract: Systems and methods for histotripsy and immunotherapy are provided. In some embodiments, histotripsy can be applied to a target tissue volume to lyse and solubilize the target tissue volume to release tumor antigens. In some embodiments, an immune response of the treatment can be evaluated. In other embodiments, an immune therapy can be applied after applying the histotripsy. In one embodiment, the lysed and solubilized cells can be extracted from the tissue. The extracted cells can be used to create immune therapies, including vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Zhen Xu, Clifford Suhyun Cho
  • Specialized computer-aided diagnosis and disease characterization with a multi-focal ensemble of convolutional neural networks
    Patent number: 11817204
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate determination of whether lesions are benign or malignant. One example embodiment is a method, comprising: accessing medical imaging scan(s) that are each associated with distinct angle(s) and each comprise a segmented region of interest (ROI) of that medical imaging scan comprising a lesion associated with a first region and a second region; providing the first region(s) of the medical imaging scan(s) to trained first deep learning (DL) model(s) of an ensemble and the second region(s) of the medical imaging scan(s) to trained second DL model(s) of the ensemble; and receiving, from the ensemble of DL models, an indication of whether the lesion is a benign architectural distortion (AD) or a malignant AD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Case Western Reserve University, The United States Government as Represented by The Department of Veteran Affairs
    Inventors: Anant Madabhushi, Nathaniel Braman, Tristan Maidment, Yijiang Chen
  • Catheter configured for use with negative pressure and system comprising same
    Patent number: 11813395
    Abstract: An external catheter system can comprise an external catheter comprising an engagement portion that is configured to receive and sealingly engage at least a portion of a penis of a user and an outlet. The system can further comprise a negative pressure source. A conduit can couple the negative pressure source to the external catheter. At least one of the external catheter and the conduit can comprise a portion that, upon application of a negative pressure by the negative pressure source, is configured to collapse to provide a pressure drop between the negative pressure source and the engagement portion of the external catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventor: Andrew Kelley
  • System and medication box for improving medication adherence
    Patent number: 11806312
    Abstract: A medication adherence system and corresponding medication box for improving medication adherence. The system includes the medication box, which is transparent and has a machine-readable marker, such as a QR code, on or beneath the floor thereof. The marker is capable of being scanned and read through the transparent bottoms of individual chambers. Data embedded in the marker includes, but is not limited to, the user's medication plan, the date and time when the medication is to be ingested, and instructions for recording the date and time when the marker is scanned and read. The underlying software program/application processes this information and provides an indication as to the user's compliance with the medication plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: William Diehl Kearns, Kimberly Ann Crosland, Jeffrey D. Craighead, James Leonard Fozard
  • Compositions and methods for treating central nervous system injury
    Patent number: 11806389
    Abstract: The present invention describes compositions and method for improving outcomes after injury to the central nervous system wherein complement signaling is activated. In one aspect, the method comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent comprising a targeted inhibitor molecule comprising a targeting portion and an inhibitor portion, wherein the molecule inhibits complement, and wherein therapeutic agent is administered in combination with rehabilitation therapy or thrombolytic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: MUSC Foundation For Research Development, United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veteran Affairs
    Inventors: Stephen Tomlinson, DeAnna Adkins, Ali Alawieh
  • Muscarinic M2 receptor blockade to delay or prevent onset of progressive memory decline
    Patent number: 11801241
    Abstract: Provided are methods for delaying or preventing onset of progressive memory decline by administering a muscarinic M2 receptor blocking compound to patients identified as at risk of developing a condition characterized by progressive memory decline, prior to onset of the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventor: William Z. Suo
  • Vault complexes for cytokine delivery
    Patent number: 11793860
    Abstract: The invention relates to compositions of vault complexes containing recombinant cytokine fusion proteins that include a cytokine and a vault targeting domain, and methods of using the vault complexes to deliver the cytokines to a cell or subject, and methods for using the compositions to treat cancer, such as lung cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Leonard H. Rome, Valerie Ann Kickhoefer, Steven M. Dubinett, Sherven Sharma, Upendra K. Kar
  • Compositions and methods for treating and preventing autoimmune induced cardiac long QT syndrome
    Patent number: 11787840
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, are decoy peptides or polypeptides capable of neutralizing and/or inhibiting the binding of anti-Ro antibodies to a hERG potassium channel extracellular pore region, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the decoy peptides or polypeptides and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mohamed Boutjdir, Timothy Jude Cardozo
  • Portable polysomnography apparatus and system
    Patent number: 11779266
    Abstract: A portable polysomnography apparatus comprises a unitary flexible structured pillow that is embedded with one or more sensors for data collection. The one or more sensors can comprise a tilt sensor that is configured to generate respiratory effort signals based on tilting of the head of the subject on the pillow. The one or more sensors can further be configured to generate ballistocardiogram signals from movement of the head of the subject caused by beating of the heart of the subject. The polysomnography apparatus can be advantageously sized and shaped to cause the sleeping subject to properly orient her head with respect to the sensors for optimal data collection while the subject is asleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventor: Steven H. Woodward
  • Computer pointing device
    Patent number: D1012932
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: UNITED STATE GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
    Inventors: Rory A. Cooper, Garrett G. Grindle, Zachary Kitzmiller Anzelone, Aaron Tyler Anderson