Patents by Inventor Anthony J. Armini

Anthony J. Armini 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).

  • Patent number: 6527693
    Abstract: This application relates to devices and methods for locally delivering therapeutic radiation to tissue in the body of a patient. In certain embodiments, the subject devices are implanted into a cavity in the patient left by surgical removal of tumorous tissue or other diseased tissue, to deliver radiation to the tissue surrounding the cavity. In certain embodiments, the devices are elastic or can otherwise be shaped to conform to the shape of the cavity in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Munro, III, Anthony J. Armini
  • Publication number: 20020103410
    Abstract: This application relates to devices and methods for locally delivering therapeutic radiation to tissue in the body of a patient. In certain embodiments, the subject devices are implanted into a cavity in the patient left by surgical removal of tumorous tissue or other diseased tissue, to deliver radiation to the tissue surrounding the cavity. In certain embodiments, the devices are elastic or can otherwise be shaped to conform to the shape of the cavity in the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: John J. Munro, Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 6299438
    Abstract: A dental article coated with a friction-reducing coating and methods for coating dental articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the dental device first is coated with an adhesion layer, followed by application of a friction-reducing coating. The friction-reducing coating is selected to create a hard, inert, friction-reducing layer on the device. The presence of the continuous outer coating of on the device reduces adhesive wear and friction on the device, and significantly improves its frictional properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Sahagian, Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 6264598
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices which use a palladium source enriched in Pd-102 and depleted in Pd-108 and Pd-110 to coat the body of a medical device. Whereas prior devices, which include palladium throughout the volume of the body, require the use of highly enriched palladium sources to counteract the effect of absorption of radiation by palladium and other metals in the body, devices wherein palladium is located primarily on the surface of the body more efficiently deliver therapeutic radiation to the target tissue, and thus can employ less highly enriched palladium sources. Such palladium sources are significantly less expensive than highly enriched sources, thereby greatly reducing the cost of devices and methods which use such a coating of palladium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 6183409
    Abstract: An implantable medical device according to the present invention comprises a body, such as a stent or a wire, and an isotope having a high neutron activation cross-section, such as 168Yb or 124Xe, ion-implanted onto the surface of the body. The use of isotopes having high neutron activation cross-sections allows a wider choice of substrates to be employed, including stainless steel, nickel, titanium, and alloys including these metals, because the time required for neutron activation of the device is reduced. A coating of high-density material may be incorporated to serve several useful purposes, including containment of undesirable beta particles from long-lived radioactive species, creation of a biologically inert surface, and enhancement of x-ray radiopacity to improve the visibility of an implanted medical device. The implantable medical devices of the present invention also comprise radioactive medical devices which include radioisotopes such as 169Yb and 125I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 6060036
    Abstract: Past techniques utilized wet chemistry to produce a carrier free radioisotope for a seed implant. However, by using the technique of ion implantation, it is possible to physically separate the precursor isotope by magnetic means and further, to physically direct a beam of these isotopically pure atoms and to embed them into a suitable carrier body. Thus, formation of the seed implant may be accomplished using dry techniques, that is, no liquid chemistry. The systems and methods disclosed herein are designed to produce a beam of a single stable isotope using an ion implanter and to further implant this single stable isotope below the surface of a carrier body. After neutron activation, these single stable isotopes will produce the isotopes iodine-125, palladium-103, cesium-131, or ytterbium embedded within the carrier body. Optionally, the carrier body may be encapsulated prior to activating the precursor isotope embedded in the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 6059714
    Abstract: An implantable medical device according to the present invention comprises a body, such as a stent or a wire, having a radioisotope or non-radioactive precursor isotope associated with the body. The isotope preferably is disposed on the body using an efficient deposition method, such as an effusion cell. The method reduces the waste of costly isotopes and reduces the buildup of hazardous material in the apparatus. A metal layer may be deposited simultaneously with or subsequent to deposition of the isotope to encapsulate the radioactive isotope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6010445
    Abstract: An implantable medical device according to the systems and methods described herein may include a metal body or stent that does not contain significant quantities of iron or chromium and that is initially formed from a non-radioactive structural material. A non-radioactive activatable additive (the precursor isotope) may be added into or onto the body of the medical device. Neutron activation of the body of the medical device with the incorporated non-radioactive isotope may then be accomplished, and, if the metal body of the medical device contains a significant quantity of nickel, a coating of a high-density material may be applied over the radioactive body of the medical device. In an alternate embodiment, a coating of certain types of high-density material may be applied prior to neutron activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 5980974
    Abstract: An improved coated orthopaedic implant component is disclosed. The implant may be coated with platinum, iridium or other metals for improved characteristics. Ion beam coating orthopaedic parts by ion implanting the parts with zirconium ions while the parts are immersed in an oxygen-containing background gas is also disclosed. The adhesion of the graded interface zirconium oxide surface layer so formed is further improved by the initial removal of surface contamination using an ion bombardment and the deposition of an intermediate layer of platinum or similar metal or silicon between the orthopaedic metal component and the zirconium oxide. Furnace heating results in atomic interdiffusion to enhance adhesion between the surfaces. The zirconium oxide provides a low friction, low wear articulating surface. The graded interface may be characterized by a blackish color and a transition between pure zirconium oxide and pure intermediate layer that extends over a thickness of hundreds of Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 5919126
    Abstract: A stent according to the systems and methods described herein may include a body formed from a non-radioactive structural material, a radiopaque material coating the body, and a beta-emitting radioisotope ion implanted into the radiopaque material. Optionally, an adhesion layer, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, or some combination or alloy thereof, may be applied to the body to facilitate adhesion of the radiopaque material. The radiopaque material may include platinum, iridium, rhenium, gold, tantalum, or some combination or alloy thereof. The beta-emitting radioisotope may include sulfur-35 or phosphorous-32 and may be ion implanted into the radiopaque material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 5894133
    Abstract: Making a sputter cathode for applying a radioactive material includes obtaining a wafer containing a base material having a stable precursor dissolved therein. The base material is transmutable into a material having a relatively short atomic half-life. The wafer is atomically activated to transmute a portion of the stable precursor into a radioactive material. The base material may be silicon or germanium. The stable precursor may be .sup.31 P and the radioactive material may be .sup.32 P. Atomically activating the wafer may include exposing the wafer to a source of thermal neutrons by, for example, placing the wafer in a high-flux nuclear reactor for approximately four weeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Implant Science Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 5887985
    Abstract: A bearing includes a first component having a surface and a second component having a surface moveable relative to the surface of the first component and contacting that surface when the components are at rest relative to each other. The surface of the second component is coated with a ceramic material and the surface of the second component is implanted with ions. The bearing can be used in an implantable heart pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Thermo Cardiosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Loree, II, David B. Gernes, Anthony J. Armini, Dennis A. Gadarowski
  • Patent number: 5852345
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an ion source apparatus for producing an ion beam from a solid material of arsenic or phosphorus. The ion source includes a plasma chamber having an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice wherein a non-toxic carrier gas is inputted into the plasma chamber. A means for generating a gas plasma is arranged within the plasma chamber and an electrically insulated platform is also arranged within the plasma chamber. A heatable wafer of solid source material of a metal phosphide or arsenide is attached to the platform, for conversion upon heating, into an ion beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corp.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 5808416
    Abstract: An ion source generating device having a main arc chamber and an auxiliary chamber attached to and in fluid communication with the main chamber. The auxiliary chamber contains solid reactants consisting of Ca.sub.3 P.sub.2 or Mg.sub.3 As.sub.2 to provide a reduction reaction of feed gas such as HF or H.sub.2 O respectively, passing through the chamber and into the main chamber, in which the ion beam is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corp.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 5674293
    Abstract: An improved coated orthopaedic implant component is disclosed. The implant may be coated with platinum for improved characteristics. Ion beam coating orthopaedic parts by ion implanting the parts with zirconium ions while the parts are immersed in an oxygen-containing background gas is also disclosed. The adhesion of the graded interface zirconium oxide surface layer so formed is further improved by the initial removal of surface contamination using an ion bombardment and the deposition of an intermediate layer of platinum or silicon between the orthopaedic metal component and the zirconium oxide. Furnace heating results in atomic interdiffusion to enhance adhesion between the surfaces. The zirconium oxide provides a low friction, low wear articulating surface. The graded interface may be characterized by a blackish color and a transition between pure zirconium oxide and pure intermediate layer that extends over a thickness of hundreds of Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 5383934
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for ion beam coating orthopaedic parts by ion implanting the parts with zirconium ions while the parts are immersed in an oxygen-containing background gas. A highly adherent surface layer of zirconium oxide is formed which provides a low friction, low wear graded interface for the articulating surface. The graded interface is characterized by a blackish color and a transition between pure zirconia and pure substrate material that extends over a thickness of hundreds of Angstroms. In an alternative embodiment, the thickness of the zirconia coating may be increased by also adding a simultaneous evaporation of zirconium metal on the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Implant Sciences, Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 5379712
    Abstract: A method of epitaxially growing a surface layer on a substrate including the steps of coating the substrate surface, with a meltable film, melting the film and implanting ions into he melted film, to deposit ion material onto the coated substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Implant Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Armini, Stephen N. Bunker
  • Patent number: 5309064
    Abstract: An ion source generating device having a main arc chamber and an auxiliary chamber attached to and in communication with the main chamber. The auxiliary chamber contains metal chips of barium, calcium or cerium to provide a reduction reaction of feed gas passing through the chamber and into the main chamber, in which ion beams are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Anthony J. Armini
  • Patent number: 4944754
    Abstract: A process is provided for depositing hydroxylapatite on the surface of materials suitable for implantation into animals and humans. In this process, a coating of hydroxylapatite is applied to dental or surgical implants using a sputter technique that employs a high energy ion beam and a negative potential to coat the implant. The process is carried out in a vacuum into which a controlled amount of oxygen is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Vent-Plant Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard I. Linkow, Anthony J. Armini, Anthony W. Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 4908030
    Abstract: A process is provided for depositing hydroxylapatite on the surface of materials suitable for implantations into animals and humans. In this process, a coating of hydroxylapatite is applied to dental or surgical implants using a sputter technique that employs a high energy Xenon ion beam. The process is carried out in a vacuum into which a controlled amount of hydroxide ions are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Vent-Plant Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard I. Linkow, Anthony J. Armini, Anthony W. Rinaldi