Patents Examined by Cachet Sellman
  • Patent number: 9307901
    Abstract: A method may involve forming a cross-linked polymer plug over a sensor located on a structure, such that the sensor is covered by the cross-linked polymer plug. The sensor is configured to detect an analyte. The method may involve forming a first polymer layer, which defines a posterior side of an eye-mountable device. Further, the method may involve positioning the structure on the first polymer layer. Still further, the method may involve forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure to provide a partially-fabricated device. The second polymer layer defines an anterior side of the eye-mountable device. The method may also involve soaking the partially-fabricated device in a fluid, such that the cross-linked polymer plug swells out of the partially-fabricated device to leave a channel in the second polymer layer, wherein the sensor is configured to receive the analyte via the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey George Linhardt, Zenghe Liu
  • Patent number: 9308355
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for coating drug eluting medical devices. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating apparatus including a coating application unit comprising a movement restriction structure; a fluid applicator; and an air nozzle. The apparatus can further include a rotation mechanism and an axial motion mechanism, the axial motion mechanism configured to cause movement of at least one of the coating application unit and the rotation mechanism with respect to one another. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SurModies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph A. Chappa, Andrew G. Bach, Mark MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9295749
    Abstract: A wound dressing product comprising: a substrate layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; a tacky silicone coating composition present on said upper surface and on said lower surface; and upper and lower release sheets covering said substrate and said tacky silicone coating composition on said upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and adhered to said surfaces by said tacky silicone coating composition, wherein said upper surface is less tacky than said lower surface whereby said upper release sheet can be removed from said upper surface more readily than said lower release sheet can be removed from said lower surface. The same silicone composition is used to form both the upper and the lower surface. Also provided are methods for making such dressings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: KCI USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah Addison, Sally Stephens, Rachel Hadley
  • Patent number: 9277998
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in chemical vapor infiltration processes and devices for depositing a biocompatible material onto a porous substrate to form an orthopedic implant. The substrate may be formed of reticulated vitreous foam and coated with tantalum, niobium, tungsten, or other biocompatible materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Vargas, Steven Seelman, David B. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9271813
    Abstract: A digital painting process provides computer-controlled finishing of dental articles. The process can selectively apply different materials over portions of a dental article in one or more layers to achieve a multi-chromatic finish having a variety of colors, finishes, and surface properties that closely match the appearance and function of human dentition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Naimul Karim, Sumita B. Mitra
  • Patent number: 9266370
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of marking an item with naturally-derived or synthetic non-natural polymeric marker molecules, such as a DNA or Peptide marker in conjunction with optional visible or rapid scan reporters for authenticating or tracking, in which the method includes providing an item for marking, and applying a medium including a DNA marker to the item. The invention further provides methods for stably binding and immobilizing activated deoxyribonucleic acid onto objects and substrates. The method includes exposing the deoxyribonucleic acid to alkaline conditions, and contacting the deoxyribonucleic acid to the object or substrate. Also provided are methods for increasing the recoverability of taggants from an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: APDN (B.V.I) Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Jung, James A. Hayward, MingHwa Benjamin Liang, Abdelkrim Berrada
  • Patent number: 9259959
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing panels of the type which is at least composed of a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer includes at least two material layers, amongst which a print, the method may involve applying the two material layers, such that the print is performed directly on the substrate and the print forms at least a portion of a printed decor. At least one of the two material layers may include a mixture having at least a thermally curing component and a radiation-curing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
  • Patent number: 9254351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the surface treatment of a biologically inert titanium implant to be placed in contact with a bone of the human body, which involves allowing body fluids, such as the inorganic portion of human blood plasma, to naturally deposit, onto the titanium implant, a calcium phosphate film having the formula Ca5(PO4)3(OH), in the form of hydroxyapatite, with a view to rendering the biologically inert titanium biologically active so as to enable the bone to chemically bond to the implant, thus promoting osseointegration, the method including an operation that involves submerging the titanium in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, wherein said submersion causes the formation of a film of hydrated titanium oxides (HTiO3—) on the titanium, which in turn causes hydroxyl groups (TiOH) to appear, thus enabling the deposition of said calcium phosphate film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: OBL (Société Anonyme)
    Inventor: Alexandre Barbas
  • Patent number: 9242268
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating an article surface. The method comprises removing a metal oxide surface from the metal substrate to expose a metal surface; and delivering particles comprising a dopant from at least one fluid jet to the metal surface to impregnate the surface of the article with the dopant. The method also comprises delivering substantially simultaneously a first set of particles comprising a dopant and a second set of particles comprising an abrasive from at least one fluid jet to a surface of an article to impregnate the surface of the article with the dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: EnBio Limited
    Inventors: John Gerard O'Donoghue, Donncha Haverty
  • Patent number: 9237989
    Abstract: A method of coating an article includes the steps of providing a powder comprising coated particles; and spray coating the powder onto a surface of the article to form a composite coating. The spray coating may be carried out by combustion spraying, gas plasma spraying, including vacuum plasma spraying (VPS), and cold spraying. The article may be an implant for surgical or dental use. The powder may include particles of metal coated calcium phosphates, especially metal coated hydroxyapatite. The particles may include bioactive agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Taragenyx Limited
    Inventors: Rehan Ahmed, Gerardus Hendricus Markx
  • Patent number: 9228859
    Abstract: A method of constructing a sensor includes depositing a first material in a predetermined arrangement to form a structure. The depositing results in at least one void occurring within the structure. The method further includes depositing a second material within the voids. The second material may have electrical properties that vary according to deformation of the second material. The method also includes providing electrical access to the second material to enable observation of the one or more electrical properties. A sensor includes a structure that has one or more voids distributed within the structure. The sensor also includes a material deposited within the one or more voids. The material may be characterized by one or more electrical properties such as piezoresistivity. The sensor includes a first contact electrically coupled to a first location on the material, and a second contact electrically coupled to a second location on the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Richard Ranky, Constantinos Mavroidis
  • Patent number: 9229455
    Abstract: A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Delamarche, Martina Hitzbleck, Govind Kaigala, Robert Lovchik
  • Patent number: 9220294
    Abstract: A method of purifying at least one of THC and CBD from a cannabis-containing composition includes heating the cannabis-containing composition to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least one of THC and CBD into a vapor and condensing the vapor on a substrate. A drug delivery cartridge includes a substrate coated with at least one of THC and CBD and configured to allow for passage of air through the cartridge to volatilize at least one of THC and CBD for inhalation by a user to induce a medicinal or therapeutic effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Timothy McCullough
  • Patent number: 9216929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hydroxyapatite coated ceramics components. In a first step of the inventive method the ceramic component is provided with a Ti coating and in a second step a hydroxyapatite is applied to the Ti coating. The invention further relates to hydroxyapatite coated ceramic components produced according to the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ceram Tec GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Andersch, Wolfgang Burger, Herbert Richter, Gert Richter
  • Patent number: 9216268
    Abstract: Described are methods for modifying a substrate by exposing the substrate to a densified fluid. The substrate may be a polymer or a metal alloy, and the densified fluid may be carbon dioxide. Uses of such substrate modification include impregnation of the substrate with one or more drugs, impregnation of microcellular particles, and formation of microcellular compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jian-Lin Liu, Bruce J. Demars
  • Patent number: 9211755
    Abstract: A printing table arrangement includes at least one printing device for printing of substrates, at least one printing table, a first transport device to transport the substrates being printed in a first plane, and a lifting device to move the first transport device with the first plane between a printing plane assigned to the printing device and a transport plane lying underneath. The printing table has a second transport device to transport substrates in a second plane beneath the first plane, in which the fixed spacing between the first plane and the second plane corresponds to the spacing between the printing plane and transport plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: EKRA AUTOMATISIERUNGSSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Vegelahn, Alfred Heupel, Stephan Bergmoser, Michael Hammann
  • Patent number: 9204981
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods for coating stents are described herein. Applying a composition including polymer component and solvent to a stent substrate followed by exposing the polymer component to a temperature equal to or greater than a Tg of the polymer component is disclosed. Repeating the applying and exposing one or more times to form a coating with the result that the solvent content of the coating after the final exposing step is at a level suitable for a finished stent is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Chen, Jason Van Sciver, Syed F. A. Hossainy, Stephen Pacetti
  • Patent number: 9207684
    Abstract: A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Delamarche, Martina Hitzbleck, Govind Kaigala, Robert Lovchik
  • Patent number: 9204944
    Abstract: A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface. The method further comprises forming a nanoscale roughened surface on the microscale roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of depositing discrete nanoparticles on the nanoscale roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the roughened surface to a solution including the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles comprise a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet 3i, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Berckmans, III, Ross W. Towse, Robert L. Mayfield
  • Patent number: 9199008
    Abstract: This invention relates to stents, a type of implantable medical device, with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating and methods of fabricating stents with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Huang, David C. Gale, Daniel A. Castro, Vincent J. Gueriguian