Patents by Inventor Adam D. MAXWELL

Adam D. MAXWELL 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: 20240043825
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating patterns in tissue growth for tissue engineering are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for arranging biological cells along predetermined patterns using an ultrasound includes: emitting the ultrasound by an ultrasound transducer; transmitting the ultrasound through a holographic lens toward a plurality of cells; and generating a pressure field in the predetermined patterns. The predetermined pattern includes a plurality of mutually parallel transverse planes. The parallel transverse planes are configured to entrap groups of cells of the plurality of cells. The axial pressure gradients within the parallel transverse planes are smaller than a first predetermined threshold. The lateral pressure gradients within the parallel transverse planes are larger than a second predetermined threshold. In response to generating the pressure field, the groups of entrapped cells are aligned within parallel transverse planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, University of Rochester
    Inventors: Michael R. Bailey, Adam D. Maxwell, Mohamed Abdalla Ghanem, Diane Dalecki
  • Publication number: 20240033542
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for applying ultrasound pulses into tissue or a medium in which the peak negative pressure (P?) of one or more negative half cycle(s) of the ultrasound pulses exceed(s) an intrinsic threshold of the tissue or medium, to directly form a dense bubble cloud in the tissue or medium without shock-scattering. In one embodiment, a microtripsy method of Histotripsy therapy comprises delivering an ultrasound pulse from an ultrasound therapy transducer into tissue, the ultrasound pulse having at least a portion of a peak negative pressure half-cycle that exceeds an intrinsic threshold in the tissue to produce a bubble cloud of at least one bubble in the tissue, and generating a lesion in the tissue with the bubble cloud. The intrinsic threshold can vary depending on the type of tissue to be treated. In some embodiments, the intrinsic threshold in tissue can range from 15-30 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Charles A. CAIN, Adam D. MAXWELL, Zhen XU, Kuang-Wei LIN
  • Patent number: 11857813
    Abstract: High intensity focused ultrasound systems for treating tissue are disclosed herein. A system of treating tissue in a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, an ultrasound source having a focal region and configured to deliver high intensity focused ultrasound energy to a target site in tissue of the patient. The system can further include a controller operably coupled to the ultrasound source. The controller comprises a pulsing protocol for delivering the high intensity focused ultrasound energy with the ultrasound source to the target site. The controller is configured to cause the ultrasound source to pulse high intensity focused ultrasound waves to lyse cells in a volume of the tissue of the subject while preserving an extracellular matrix in the volume of the tissue exposed to the high intensity focused ultrasound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Yak-Nam Wang, Michael R. Bailey, Tatiana D. Khokhlova, Wayne Kreider, Adam D. Maxwell, George R. Schade, Vera A. Khokhlova
  • Publication number: 20230321327
    Abstract: A phantom for fibrous tissue, the phantom formed from a precursor solution including about 30-90 wt % of water, acrylamide, and alginate, where the acrylamide and alginate, in combination, are about 10 to 70 wt % of the precursor solution, and where a ratio of acrylamide to alginate is in the range of about 60:40 to about 99:1 w/w.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Yashwanth Nanda Kumar
  • Patent number: 11701134
    Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Hitinder S. Gurm, Charles A. Cain
  • Publication number: 20230104557
    Abstract: Methods and systems for tuning lithotripsy frequency to target size are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lithotripsy system for comminuting a stone in a body includes: a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) therapy transducer configured to transmit smooth ultrasound waves within a burst of ultrasound waves toward the stone; and a controller configured to determine operating frequency of the ultrasound waves of the therapy transducer. The operating frequency of the ultrasound waves is determined as: f = Const . c d where: d is a diameter of the stone, f is the frequency of the ultrasound waves, c is a wave speed in the stone, and Const. is a predetermined constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Michael R. Bailey, Adam D. Maxwell, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov
  • Patent number: 11592366
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include illustrative piezoelectric element array assemblies, methods of fabricating a piezoelectric element array assembly, and systems and methods for shearing cellular material. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative piezoelectric element array assembly includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to produce ultrasound energy responsive to amplified driving pulses. A lens layer is bonded to the at least one piezoelectric element. The lens layer has a plurality of lenses formed therein that are configured to focus ultrasound energy created by single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element into a plurality of wells of a microplate disposable in ultrasonic communication with the lens layer, wherein more than one of the plurality of lenses overlie single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: Matchstick Technologies, Inc., University of Washington
    Inventors: Karol Bomsztyk, Greg P. Darlington, Brian E. MacConaghy, Thomas J. Matula, Adam D. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 11583299
    Abstract: A method for attempting to fragment or comminute an object in a body using ultrasound includes producing a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) waveform by a therapy transducer. The BWL waveform is configured to fragment or comminute the object. The BWL waveform includes a first burst of continuous ultrasound cycles and a second burst of continuous ultrasound cycles. A burst frequency corresponds to a frequency of repeating the bursts of the BWL waveform. The method also includes determining a cycle frequency f of the continuous ultrasound cycles within the first burst and the second burst based on a target fragment size D, where the cycle frequency is: f(MHz)=0.47/D(mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Bryan W. Cunitz, Wayne Kreider, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Ryan S. Hsi, Michael R. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11580945
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens includes a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Wayne Kreider, Michael R. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20230038081
    Abstract: Non-planar holographic beam shaping lenses for acoustics are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic therapy system that is configured to apply ultrasound to a target in a body includes: an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate the ultrasound; and a customizable holographic lens configured to focus the ultrasound onto a focal area of a target that is an object or a portion of the object in the body. The customizable holographic lens is designed and produced based on the target. Furthermore, the customizable holographic lens is curved to mate with a front surface of the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Michael R. Bailey, Mohamed Abdalla Ghanem, Adam D. Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20220323088
    Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Adam D. MAXWELL, Zhen XU, Hitinder S. GURM, Charles A. CAIN
  • Patent number: 11364042
    Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Hitinder S. Gurm, Charles A. Cain
  • Publication number: 20210325280
    Abstract: A system for processing biological or other samples includes an array of transducer elements that are positioned to align with sample wells in a microplate. Each transducer element produces ultrasound energy that is focused towards a well of the microplate with sufficient acoustic pressure to cause inertial cavitation. In one embodiment, the transducers are configured to direct ultrasound energy into cylindrical wells. In other embodiments, the transducer elements are configured to direct ultrasound energy into non-cylindrical wells of a microplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas J. Matula, Karol Bomsztyk, Brian MacConaghy, Justin Reed, Adam D. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 11058399
    Abstract: A Histotripsy therapy system is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the system includes a high voltage power supply, a pulse generator electrically coupled to at least one signal switching amplifier, at least one matching network electrically coupled to the signal switching amplifier(s), and an ultrasound transducer having at least one transducer element. The Histotripsy therapy system can further include an ultrasound Doppler imaging system. The Doppler imaging system and the Histotripsy therapy system can be synchronized to enable color Doppler acquisition of the fractionation of tissue during Histotripsy therapy. Methods of use are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Zhen Xu, Ryan M. Miller, Adam D. Maxwell, Charles A. Cain
  • Publication number: 20210187330
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for ultrasound beam shaping are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic therapy system is configured to apply ultrasound to a target in a body. The system includes: an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate the ultrasound; and a customizable lens configured to focus the ultrasound onto a focal area of the target. The target is an object or a portion of the object in the body. The customizable lens is designed and produced based on at least one acquired image of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Michael R. Bailey, Adam D. Maxwell, Akshay Purushottamji Randad, Mohamed Abdalla Ghanem
  • Patent number: 11026706
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are ultrasound systems comprising a plurality of transducers configured to work in concert to produce a customizable beam profile through the additive effects of multiple pulses. As an example, uniform and wide beam profiles can be generated using transducer elements that cannot independently generate such beam profiles. Related methods, systems, and computer-readable media are all disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: University of Washington, SonoMotion Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Doug Corl
  • Publication number: 20210038924
    Abstract: High intensity focused ultrasound systems for treating tissue are disclosed herein. A system of treating tissue in a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, an ultrasound source having a focal region and configured to deliver high intensity focused ultrasound energy to a target site in tissue of the patient. The system can further include a controller operably coupled to the ultrasound source. The controller comprises a pulsing protocol for delivering the high intensity focused ultrasound energy with the ultrasound source to the target site. The controller is configured to cause the ultrasound source to pulse high intensity focused ultrasound waves to lyse cells in a volume of the tissue of the subject while preserving an extracellular matrix in the volume of the tissue exposed to the high intensity focused ultrasound waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Yak-Nam Wang, Michael R. Bailey, Tatiana D. Khokhlova, Wayne Kreider, Adam D. Maxwell, George R. Schade, Vera A. Khokhlova
  • Patent number: 10809166
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include illustrative piezoelectric element array assemblies, methods of fabricating a piezoelectric element array assembly, and systems and methods for shearing cellular material. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative piezoelectric element array assembly includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to produce ultrasound energy responsive to amplified driving pulses. A lens layer is bonded to the at least one piezoelectric element. The lens layer has a plurality of lenses formed therein that are configured to focus ultrasound energy created by single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element into a plurality of wells of a microplate disposable in ultrasonic communication with the lens layer, wherein more than one of the plurality of lenses overlie single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Matchstick Technologies, Inc., University of Washington
    Inventors: Karol Bomsztyk, Greg P. Darlington, Brian E. MacConaghy, Thomas J. Matula, Adam D. Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20200227018
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens includes a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Wayne Kreider, Michael R. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20200222728
    Abstract: An example method includes generating an acoustic ultrasound wave that is focused at a focal point. The method further includes sequentially directing the focal point upon distinct portions of an object to form respective shock waves at the distinct portions of the object. The method further includes, via the respective shock waves, causing the distinct portions of the object to boil and form respective vapor cavities. The method further includes causing substantially uniform ablation of a region of the object that comprises the distinct portions. The substantially uniform ablation is caused via interaction of the respective shock waves with the respective vapor cavities. An example ablation system and an example non-transitory computer-readable medium, both related to the example method, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Vera Khokhlova, Michael R. Bailey, Navid Farr, Tatiana D. Khokhlova, Wayne Kreider, Adam D. Maxwell, Ari Partanen, Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, George R. Schade, Yak-Nam Wang