Patents by Inventor Jeffrey W. Ruberti

Jeffrey W. Ruberti 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: 7745532
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide polymer compositions and methods for controlling a property of a resultant gel. A preferred method includes dissolving a vinyl polymer in a first solvent to form a solution; and contacting the vinyl polymer solution in a suitable volume of at least one immersion solvent comprising a second solvent to cause gelation. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides poly(vinyl alcohol) compositions and methods that produce physically crosslinked hydrogels that have tunable physical properties. Also provided are articles of manufacture such as prosthetic intervertebral disks and contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J. C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20100063174
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of controllably making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having desired physical properties without chemical cross links or radiation. The gelation process is modulated by controlling, for example, the temperature of a resultant vinyl polymer mixture having a gellant or using active ingredients provided in an inactive gellant complex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. RUBERTI
  • Patent number: 7619009
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of controllably making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having desired physical properties without chemical cross links or radiation. The gelation process is modulated by controlling, for example, the temperature of a resultant vinyl polymer mixture having a gellant or using active ingredients provided in an inactive gellant complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J. C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20090148601
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for assembling polymer-forming molecular components such that highly-structured arrays of polymer strands, such as collagen fibrils, are formed without the need for cells. A polymer nanoloom is designed to control the self-assembly of monomers into fibrils and related tissue constructs including ligament, tendon, cartilage, and bone. A nanoloom system comprises a polymer printhead, a temperature controller, and a movable substrate for polymer printing. A polymer printhead contains one or more nanoreactors that can control the assembly of collagen fibrils or other polymers on a nanoscale. Methods are provided for temperature-driven, enzyme-driven, and cholesteric assembly of collagen or other polymers into two- or three-dimensional tissue constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gregory J. Kowalski, Daniel Burkey
  • Publication number: 20090131548
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels having advantageous physical properties, and covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions made by such methods, as well as articles of manufacture comprising such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions. The physical properties of the produced hydrogels can be adjusted by varying controlled parameters such as the proportion of physical associations, the concentration of polymer and the amount of radiation applied. Such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels can be made translucent, preferably transparent, or opaque depending on the processing conditions. The stability of the physical properties of the produced vinyl polymer hydrogel can be enhanced by controlling the amount of covalent crosslinks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Orhun K. Muratoglu, Stephen H. Spiegelberg, Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Niels A. Abt
  • Patent number: 7485670
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of controllably making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having desired physical properties without chemical cross links or radiation. The gelation process is modulated by controlling, for example, the temperature of a resultant vinyl polymer mixture having a gellant or using active ingredients provided in an inactive gellant complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J. C. Braithwaite
  • Patent number: 7235592
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels having advantageous physical properties, and covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions made by such methods, as well as articles of manufacture comprising such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogel compositions. The physical properties of the produced hydrogels can be adjusted by varying controlled parameters such as the proportion of physical associations, the concentration of polymer and the amount of radiation applied. Such covalently crosslinked vinyl polymer hydrogels can be made translucent, preferably transparent, or opaque depending on the processing conditions. The stability of the physical properties of the produced vinyl polymer hydrogel can be enhanced by controlling the amount of covalent crosslinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Orhun K. Muratoglu, Stephen H. Spiegelberg, Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Niels Abt
  • Patent number: 7048963
    Abstract: This invention includes a method of producing a thin, oriented layer of polymer material. The material is preferably produced by the method of introducing a shearing flow to a free surface in a predominantly monomeric solution of the self-assembling polymer sub-units, and inducing polymerization or growth of the monomer while in this shearing flow. The system for forming the oriented layer of material provides relative movement between a delivery system and the substrate on or over which the material is deposited. The rate of flow of the material from the delivery system and the relative velocity between the deposition surface and the material as it is delivered to the surface are controlled to properly orient the material at the desired thickness. These rates can be adjusted to vary the properties of the film in a controlled manner. Preferred embodiments include either angular or linear relative movement between the delivery system and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Cambridge Polymers Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin J. C. Braithwaite, Jeffrey W. Ruberti
  • Patent number: 6884264
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for reducing pores, or air pockets, that form at the interface between the material used to attach or adhere the surface of a component, such as a prosthesis, to a site. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an actuator that controls a coupler which transmits energy to a prosthesis being inserted into a material to reduce porosity at an interface between the prosthesis and the material. The system of the present invention can include an oscillating hand-held device that vibrates the stem component of an orthopedic prosthesis at a particular frequency and amplitude. The device is typically held by the hand of the surgeon, who guides the vibrating prosthesis into the cement-filled medullary cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Spiegelberg, Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin G. C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20040171740
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of controllably making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having desired physical properties without chemical cross links or radiation. The gelation process is modulated by controlling, for example, the temperature of a resultant vinyl polymer mixture having a gellant or using active ingredients provided in an inactive gellant complex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J. C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20040092653
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide polymer compositions and methods for controlling a property of a resultant gel. A preferred method includes dissolving a vinyl polymer in a first solvent to form a solution; and contacting the vinyl polymer solution in a suitable volume of at least one immersion solvent comprising a second solvent to cause gelation. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides poly(vinyl alcohol) compositions and methods that produce physically crosslinked hydrogels that have tunable physical properties. Also provided are articles of manufacture such as prosthetic intervertebral disks and contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J.C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20030141618
    Abstract: This invention includes a method of producing a thin, oriented layer of polymer material. The material is preferably produced by the method of introducing a shearing flow to a free surface in a predominantly monomeric solution of the self-assembling polymer sub-units, and inducing polymerization or growth of the monomer while in this shearing flow. The system for forming the oriented layer of material provides relative movement between a delivery system and the substrate on or over which the material is deposited. The rate of flow of the material from the delivery system and the relative velocity between the deposition surface and the material as it is delivered to the surface are controlled to properly orient the material at the desired thickness. These rates can be adjusted to vary the properties of the film in a controlled manner. Preferred embodiments include either angular or linear relative movement between the delivery system and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin J. C. Braithwaite, Jeffrey W. Ruberti
  • Publication number: 20020183851
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for reducing pores, or air pockets, that form at the interface between the material used to attach or adhere the surface of a component, such as a prosthesis, to a site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Spiegelberg, Jeffrey W. Ruberti, Gavin J.C. Braithwaite