Patents Examined by Andrew Bowman
  • Solventless method for forming a coating on a medical electrical lead body
    Patent number: 8753708
    Abstract: A solventless method for forming a coating on a medical electrical lead is described. The method includes combining particles of a therapeutic agent with a polymeric material in a flowable form in the absence of a solvent to form a uniform suspension. A predetermined amount of the suspension is dispensed onto a portion of the lead and is then cured to form the therapeutic agent eluting layer. Additional layers such as a primer layer, fluoro-opaque layer and/or a topcoat layer can be formed using the solventless method. Employing a solventless method may avoid contraction of the layer being formed due to solvent evaporation during the curing process, and may facilitate greater control over the thickness of the therapeutic agent eluting coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry L. Hum, James Q. Feng, Arienne P. Simon, Tolga Tas
  • Dental implant and method for the production thereof
    Patent number: 8734889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic implant, especially a dental implant, comprising a structured or porous surface for at least partially inserting into a bone. An especially advantageous surface is obtained when it is at least partially modified by a salt melt. These excellent osteointegration properties can be obtained by a method whereby the surface is modified in a salt melt at least in the regions exposed to the bones and/or soft tissue, optionally following a previous modification of the surface whereby material has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Thommen Medical AG
    Inventors: Falko Schlottig, Thomas Hefti
  • Method for forming a molecularly imprinted polymer biosensor
    Patent number: 8734890
    Abstract: A method for forming a molecularly imprinted polymer biosensor includes: (a) preparing a reaction solution including an imprinting molecule, a functional monomer, an initiator, and a crosslinking agent; (b) disposing the reaction solution in a space between upper and lower substrates each of which is made of a light-transmissible material; (c) disposing on the upper substrate a photomask having a patterned hole; (d) irradiating the reaction solution through the patterned hole of the photomask and the upper substrate so that the reaction solution undergoes polymerization to form a polymer between the upper and lower substrates; (e) removing the upper substrate after the polymer is formed on the lower substrate; and (f) extracting the imprinting molecule from the polymer so that a patterned molecularly imprinted polymer film is formed on the lower substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Chien-Chong Hong, Po-Hsiang Chang, Chih-Chung Lin
  • Coated stent and method of making the same
    Patent number: 8715771
    Abstract: A coated implantable medical device and a method of coating an implantable medical device is disclosed, the method includes applying a composition onto the device and drying the composition at elevated temperature in an environment having increased relative humidity. A pre-screening method for a manufacturing lot of coated stents to determine the number of drug coating layers for a desired drug release rate is disclosed. The method including coating and testing small groups of stents, and applying the results of the tests to determine the number of drug coating layers to apply to the manufacturing lot of stents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Orosa, John E. Papp, Hung T. Nguyen, Stephen D. Pacetti, Dudley Shelton Jayasinghe, Matthew J. Gillick
  • Endoluminal device for in vivo delivery of bioactive agents
    Patent number: 8697175
    Abstract: The present invention consists of an implantable structural element for in vivo delivery of bioactive active agents to a situs in a body. The implantable structural element may be configured as an implantable prosthesis, such as an endoluminal stent, cardiac valve, osteal implant or the like, which serves a dual function of being prosthetic and a carrier for a bioactive agent. Alternatively, the implantable structural element may simply be an implantable article that serves the single function of acting as a time-release carrier for the bioactive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Bio Prosthetic Surfaces, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Palmaz Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher T. Boyle
  • Method for coating stents
    Patent number: 8691320
    Abstract: A method for coating a stent can involve a device having a drying zone, a spray zone, and movable member for positioning a stent in the drying zone and another stent in the spray zone. Each stent can be on a support. A force can be applied to the outside surface of a stent to prevent rotation of the stent with respect to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: David Rego, Kurt Kilchenmann, Sang joon Park, Mark Haight, Anthony S. Andreacchi, Yung-Ming Chen, Arnoldo M. Currlin, Antonio Garcia, Jason Van Sciver, Thomas David Esbeck, Bryan D. Glenn, Patrick A. Tuohy, Richard Baillargeon, Edward P. Garcia, Steven E. Lehner, Ian Coulson
  • Method of and system for applying blocking material to assay substrates
    Patent number: 8685486
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for applying blocking material to assay substrates are disclosed. A method includes supplying an assay substrate having at least one surface. A first portion of the surface of the substrate has at least one analysis feature thereon, and a second portion of the surface of the substrate lacks analysis features. The method also includes generating a spray of a blocking material in proximity to the surface of the substrate and continuing the spray generation in proximity to the surface of the substrate at least until the second portion of the surface of the substrate is substantially covered by the blocking material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Aushon Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Oliver, Toni Holway, Travis Sullivan
  • Coated stent
    Patent number: 8679572
    Abstract: A coated stent (20) for use in a medical procedure and methods of manufacturing the coated stent (20) are described. A stent component (30) has an expanded state in which an inner diameter (ds) of the stent (30) is less than or equal to an outer diameter (dc2) of a coating (40), thereby causing an inner surface (35) of the stent (30) to engage the outer surface (42) of the coating (40). In one exemplary method of manufacture, the stent (30) is disposed over the coating (40) when the coating (40) is provided with a first, smaller outer diameter (dc1). The coating (40) then is radially expanded to a second, larger outer diameter (dC2), which is greater than or equal to the inner diameter (ds) of the stent (30), to cause the outer surface (42) of the coating (40) to engage the inner surface (35) of the stent (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Fred T. Parker
  • System and method for conditioning implantable medical devices
    Patent number: 8653632
    Abstract: A method for passivating a biomaterial surface includes exposing the biomaterial surface to therapeutic electrical energy in the presence of blood or plasma. The biomaterial surface may be removably secured within a chamber of a treatment system, which communicates the therapeutic electrical energy to the biomaterial surface while interfacing the biomaterial surface with blood or plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Pederson, Larry Peterson, Brian Hanson
  • Maintaining a fixed distance by providing an air cushion during coating of a medical device
    Patent number: 8647702
    Abstract: System and method for coating an expandable member of a medical device comprising a support structure to support the expandable member and an applicator positioned with at least one outlet proximate a surface of an expandable member. A drive assembly establishes relative movement between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member to apply fluid on the surface of the expandable member along a coating path. A positioning device maintains a substantially fixed distance between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member during relative movement therebetween by ejecting a pressurized medium against the surface of the expandable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Randy Shen, Michael J. Leonard, Anthony S. Andreacchi
  • Functionalizing a sensing ribbon on a whispering gallery mode microresonator using light force to fabricate a whispering gallery mode sensor
    Patent number: 8642111
    Abstract: Methods using light force to fabricate WGM sensors including microresonators having target receptors selectively and substantially provided at only ribbon area of the microresonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Polytechnic Institute of New York University
    Inventors: Stephen Arnold, Stephen Holler, Ta Kang Keng, Siyka Shopova
  • Thermally treated ceramic coating for implants
    Patent number: 8642112
    Abstract: A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel G. Scrafton, Jeffrey P. Anderson, David M. Miller, Oludele O. Popoola
  • Methods of manufacture of bioresorbable and durable stents with grooved lumenal surfaces for enhanced re-endothelialization
    Patent number: 8632847
    Abstract: Methods of making bioabsorbable stents with grooved lumenal surfaces for enhanced re-endothelialization are disclosed. Methods include molding grooves on the lumenal surface of coated bioresorbable and durable stents. Methods further include molding grooves on lumenal surfaces of a bioresorbable tube and forming a scaffold from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen D. Pacetti
  • Methods to increase fracture resistance of a drug-eluting medical device
    Patent number: 8597716
    Abstract: Methods for increasing the fracture resistance of a polymer stent's drug-polymer coating and scaffolding including applying a coating and crimping using techniques that increase the resistance to fracture in the coating layer and scaffolding and scaffolding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Castro, Yunbing Wang
  • Thermal treatment of an implantable medical device
    Patent number: 8586125
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device, such as a drug eluting stent, is disclosed. The method includes subjecting an implantable medical device that includes a polymer to a thermal condition. The thermal condition can result in reduction of the rate of release of an active agent from the device subsequent to the implantation of the device and/or improve the mechanical properties of a polymeric coating on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Syed F. A. Hossainy, Yiwen Tang, Manish B. Gada
  • Articles having non-fouling surfaces and processes for preparing the same without altering bulk physical properties
    Patent number: 8574660
    Abstract: Processes are described herein for preparing medical devices and other articles having a low-fouling surface on a substrate comprising a polymeric surface. The polymeric surface material may possess a range of polymeric backbones and substituents while providing the articles with a highly efficient, biocompatible, and non-fouling surface. The processes involve treating the substrate to reduce the concentration of chemical species on the surface of or in the substrate without altering the bulk physical properties of the device or article, and thereafter forming a grafted polymer layer on the treated substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Semprus Biosciences Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. K. Weaver, Jun Li, Zheng Zhang, Abby N. Deleault, Eric W. Marchese, Phu C. Nguyen, Chad C. Huval, Michael A. Bouchard, Arthur J. Coury, Christopher R. Loose
  • Biocompatible coatings for medical devices
    Patent number: 8551555
    Abstract: Biocompatible coatings for implantable medical devices are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide methods for coating an object with a biocompatible coating wherein the device is suspended using a flowing gas during the coating process. Embodiments of the invention provide tropoelastin coatings and methods of creating tropoelastin coatings for implantable medical devices. Optionally, the biocompatible coating can be a drug eluting coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John Burghard, Carmen Campbell, Todd R. Younkin, Markus Kuhn, David Shykind, Jose Maiz
  • Method and system for coating insertable medical devices
    Patent number: 8529983
    Abstract: A coating system for coating an Insertable Medical Device (IMD) with one or more drugs is disclosed. The coating system includes a spray nozzle unit for coating the IMD with one or more drugs. The IMD includes a guiding member, a coating member and a supporting member. The IMD is passed through a protection tube such that the guiding member is located within the protection tube and an end of the supporting member is connected to a holder to expose the coating member of the IMD to the spray nozzle unit. The protection tube is received by a mandrel fixture which includes a circular disc for holding and rotating the protection tube and the IMD within the protection tube. When the protection tube along with the IMD is rotated, the spray nozzle unit coats the coating member of the IMD with the one or more drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Envision Scientific Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Manish Doshi, Divyesh Sherdiwala, Prakash Sojitra, Ashwin Vyas, Pankaj Gandhi, Bhavesh Chevli, Yavar Pothiawala
  • Method for producing photocatalytic coating material
    Patent number: 8524325
    Abstract: A method of producing a photocatalytic coating material which includes: the steps of coating the surface of a base material having hydrophobic substances on its surface with a photocatalytic coating material including at least (a) photocatalytic oxide particles, (b) a hydrophobic-resin emulsion, (c) water, and (d) silica particles, and hardening the coated material. The average sizes of the ingredient (a) and the ingredient (d) are smaller than that of the emulsified particles of the hydrophobic resin dispersed in the ingredient (b), ingredient (a) constitutes 1 to <5% by weight of the total solid matter of the coating material, ingredient (d) constitutes 1 to 90% by weight of a total solid matter of the coating material, and once the coating material is applied onto a base material, the photocatalytic oxide particles and the silica particles move upward and a coating film 1 ?m to 1 mm thick is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Toto Ltd., JHCC Ltd., Okitsumo Incorporated
    Inventors: Kazuo Takahashi, Akira Shimai, Mitsuhide Shimohigoshi, Norio Sendoda, Tatsuhiko Kuga, Koji Okubo, Kazumasa Okita
  • Antibody protective agent and methods of using same
    Patent number: 8512700
    Abstract: The invention provides an effective and environmentally friendly antibody protective agent and the methods of using it in immunological detection. The antibody protective agent helps antibody to maintain relatively high immunological activity at room temperature. Working electrodes coated with antibodies and the antibody protective agent are installed in immunological detection devices to enhance stability and accuracy of immunological detection. The antibody protective agent is effectively used in the detection of a variety of toxins, for example, aflatoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin, algae toxin, and vomitoxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Jiangnan University, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Xiulan Sun, Yinzhi Zhang, Zaijun Li, Jingping Zhang, Weimin Niu