Patents by Inventor Joel S. Schuman

Joel S. Schuman 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: 20160232324
    Abstract: A method for determining a disease state transition path includes receiving a patient data having functional data and/or structural data related to a patient. Based on the patient data, a first disease state of a plurality of non-overlapping disease states each associated with a predetermined range of functional and/or structural degeneration values may be identified. A second, non-adjacent disease state of the plurality of disease states may be identified based on the patient data. A most probable path between the first disease state and the second disease state may be determined using a two dimensional continuous-time hidden Markov model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yu-Ying Liu, Ishikawa Hiroshi, James Rehg, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20160022779
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating angiogenic disorders of the eye, such as macular degeneration, restenosis following glaucoma treatment or diabetic retinopathy, by administering an activator of C-X-C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3). In some embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is interferon-?-inducible 10 kDa protein (IP-10) or a fragment or variant thereof, such as a fragment comprising or consisting of the C-terminal ?-helix of IP-10. In other embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is platelet factor 4 (PF4) or a fragment or variant thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Alan H. Wells, Cecelia C. Yates-Binder, Joel S. Schuman
  • Publication number: 20150374633
    Abstract: A method for sustained delivery of an agent to an ocular organ in a subject, comprising topically delivering to the ocular surface a liquid thermoresponsive hydrogel comprising agent-loaded polymer microparticles, wherein the agent is sustainably released for a period of at least five days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Morgan V. FEDORCHAK, Steven R. LITTLE, Joel S. SCHUMAN, Anthony CUGINI
  • Patent number: 9180167
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating angiogenic disorders of the eye, such as macular degeneration, restenosis following glaucoma treatment or diabetic retinopathy, by administering an activator of C-X-C chemokine receptor 3(CXCR3). In some embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is interferon-?-inducible 10 kDa protein (IP-10), or a fragment or variant thereof, such as a fragment comprising or consisting of the C-terminal ?-helix of IP-10. In other embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is platelet factor 4 (PF4) or a fragment or variant thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Alan H. Wells, Cecelia C. Yates-Binder, Joel S. Schuman
  • Patent number: 8911089
    Abstract: A scan location matching (SLM) method identifies conventional time domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) circle scan locations within three-dimensional spectral domain OCT scan volumes. A technique uses both the SLM algorithm and a mathematical retinal nerve fiber bundle distribution (RNFBD) model, which is a simplified version of the anatomical retinal axon bundle distribution pattern, to normalize TD-OCT thickness measurements for the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of an off-centered TD-OCT circle scan to a virtual location, centered on the optic nerve head. The RNFBD model eliminates scan-to-scan RNFL thickness measurement variation caused by manual placement of TD-OCT circle scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Jong S. Kim, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20140307226
    Abstract: The innovation provides for a system and method available to image and visualize the palisades of Vogt via a non-contact process, analyze the image volumes acquired, evaluate the status of the palisades of Vogt from the data represented therein, and display the data in real-time or as a part of a medical record for ongoing consideration and evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Uniersity of Pittsburgh-Of the commonwealth System of higher Education
    Inventors: Kira L. Lathrop, Joel S. Schuman, Lawrence E. Kagemann
  • Publication number: 20140257075
    Abstract: Technologies are provided to estimate in vivo aqueous humor outflow for a subject. The method can include: preparing a virtual casting of the outflow network of the subject by use of background subtraction and contrast enhancement; tracing network terminal branches in said reduced virtual casting; obtaining Doppler data for at least some of the terminal branches, to calculate a fluid velocity within each of such terminal branch; then pairing each fluid velocity for each such terminal branch with a measurement of cross-sectional area for that terminal branch, thereby to provide a plurality of volumetric flow values; and integrating over the plurality to obtain a volumetric estimate of aqueous humor outflow for the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Kagemann, JR., Joel S. Schuman
  • Patent number: 8831304
    Abstract: In the context of the early detection and monitoring of eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the use of optical coherence tomography presents the difficulty, with respect to blood vessel segmentation, of weak visibility of vessel pattern in the OCT fundus image. To address this problem, a boosting learning approach uses three-dimensional (3D) information to effect automated segmentation of retinal blood vessels. The automated blood vessel segmentation technique described herein is based on 3D spectral domain OCT and provides accurate vessel pattern for clinical analysis, for retinal image registration, and for early diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of glaucoma and other retinal diseases. The technique employs a machine learning algorithm to identify blood vessel automatically in 3D OCT image, in a manner that does not rely on retinal layer segmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Juan Xu, David Tolliver, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Chaim Gad Wollstein, Joel S. Schuman
  • Patent number: 8815946
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of preventing a fibrotic response and/or scarring in a wound, comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising an amount of an amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid effective to inhibit a proliferative and/or fibrotic response in the wound. In one instance, the wound is to a subject's cornea, such as a wound resulting from refractive surgery. In one embodiment, the amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid is ethyl pyruvate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Weixang Dai, James L. Funderburgh, Joel S. Schuman, Nirmala SundarRaj
  • Publication number: 20140178451
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating angiogenic disorders of the eye, such as macular degeneration, restenosis following glaucoma treatment or diabetic retinopathy, by administering an activator of CXCR3. In some embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is IP-10 or a fragment or variant thereof, such as a fragment comprising or consisting of the C-terminal ?-helix of IP-10. In other embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is PF4 or a fragment or variant thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Alan H. Wells, Cecelia C. Yates-Binder, Joel S. Schuman
  • Patent number: 8712505
    Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing an optical coherence tomography image of a retina are discussed. A 2-dimensional slice of the image can be aligned to produce an approximately horizontal image of the retina and an edge map based at least in part on the aligned slice. Also, at least one global representation can be determined based on a (multi-scale) spatial division, such as multi-scale spatial pyramid, on the slice and/or edge map. Creating the local features is based on the specified cell structure of the global representation. The local features can be constructed based on local binary pattern (LBP)-based features. Additionally, a slice can be categorized into one or more categories via one or more classifiers (e.g., support vector machines). Each category can be associated with at least one ocular pathology, and classifying can be based on the constructed global descriptors, which can include the LBP-based local descriptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Gadi Wollstein, Joel S. Schuman, Yu-Ying Liu, James M. Rehg, Mei Chen
  • Publication number: 20130077046
    Abstract: A scan location matching (SLM) method identifies conventional time domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) circle scan locations within three-dimensional spectral domain OCT scan volumes. A technique uses both the SLM algorithm and a mathematical retinal nerve fiber bundle distribution (RNFBD) model, which is a simplified version of the anatomical retinal axon bundle distribution pattern, to normalize TD-OCT thickness measurements for the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of an off-centered TD-OCT circle scan to a virtual location, centered on the optic nerve head. The RNFBD model eliminates scan-to-scan RNFL thickness measurement variation caused by manual placement of TD-OCT circle scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Jong S. Kim, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20120213423
    Abstract: In the context of the early detection and monitoring of eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the use of optical coherence tomography presents the difficulty, with respect to blood vessel segmentation, of weak visibility of vessel pattern in the OCT fundus image. To address this problem, a boosting learning approach uses three-dimensional (3D) information to effect automated segmentation of retinal blood vessels. The automated blood vessel segmentation technique described herein is based on 3D spectral domain OCT and provides accurate vessel pattern for clinical analysis, for retinal image registration, and for early diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of glaucoma and other retinal diseases. The technique employs a machine learning algorithm to identify blood vessel automatically in 3D OCT image, in a manner that does not rely on retinal layer segmentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh -- Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Juan Xu, David Tolliver, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Chaim Gad Wollstein, Joel S. Schuman
  • Publication number: 20120184845
    Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing an optical coherence tomography image of a retina are discussed. A 2-dimensional slice of the image can be aligned to produce an approximately horizontal image of the retina and an edge map based at least in part on the aligned slice. Also, at least one global representation can be determined based on a (multi-scale) spatial division, such as multi-scale spatial pyramid, on the slice and/or edge map. Creating the local features is based on the specified cell structure of the global representation. The local features can be constructed based on local binary pattern (LBP)-based features. Additionally, a slice can be categorized into one or more categories via one or more classifiers (e.g., support vector machines). Each category can be associated with at least one ocular pathology, and classifying can be based on the constructed global descriptors, which can include the LBP-based local descriptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Gadi Wollstein, Joel S. Schuman, Yu-Ying Liu, James M. Rehg, Mei Chen
  • Patent number: 8184885
    Abstract: A system. The system includes a computing device configured for communication with an imaging system and with a display device. The computing device includes a contour modeling module. The contour modeling module is configured for superimposing reference anchors on a cross-sectional image generated from 3D image data, for generating a line which connects the reference anchors, for sampling the 3D image data in a variable thickness plane defined by the connecting line, and for generating a contour-modeled C-mode image from the sampled 3D image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20110176716
    Abstract: Advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT) have prompted a transition from time domain OCT, providing 2D OCT images, to spectral domain OCT, which has a 3D imaging capability. Yet conventional technology offers little toward the goal of inter-device compatibility between extant 2D OCT images and newer 3D OCT images for the same or comparable subjects, as in the context of ongoing monitoring the quantitative status of a patient's eyes. The inventive methodology is particularly useful to identify the scan location of tissue in a 2D OCT image within the 3D volumetric data, thereby allowing clinicians to image a patient via 3D OCT, based on available 2D OCT images, with minimal inter-device variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Jong S. Kim, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20090239947
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of preventing a fibrotic response and/or scarring in a wound, comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising an amount of an amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid effective to inhibit a proliferative and/or fibrotic response in the wound. In one instance, the wound is to a subject's cornea, such as a wound resulting from refractive surgery. In one embodiment, the amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid is ethyl pyruvate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Weixang Dai, James L. Funderburgh, Joel S. Schuman, Nirmala SundarRaj
  • Publication number: 20090028400
    Abstract: A system. The system includes a computing device configured for communication with an imaging system and with a display device. The computing device includes a contour modeling module. The contour modeling module is configured for superimposing reference anchors on a cross-sectional image generated from 3D image data, for generating a line which connects the reference anchors, for sampling the 3D image data in a variable thickness plane defined by the connecting line, and for generating a contour-modeled C-mode image from the sampled 3D image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi ISHIKAWA, Joel S. Schuman, Gadi Wollstein
  • Patent number: 6503892
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting, preventing, and/or treating conjunctival filtering bleb leaks that may occur following glaucoma filtering surgery by administering Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to glaucoma patients who have undergone such surgery. The invention additionally includes a method of using Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to inhibit, prevent, and/or treat ischemic damage to the retina and optic nerve in patients in need of such treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: New England Medical Center Hospitals Inc.
    Inventors: Joel S. Schuman, M. Elizabeth Fini, Shravan K. Chintala
  • Publication number: 20020042402
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting, preventing, and/or treating conjunctival filtering bleb leaks that may occur following glaucoma filtering surgery by administering Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to glaucoma patients who have undergone such surgery. The invention additionally includes a method of using Matrix Metalloproteinase inhibitors to inhibit, prevent, and/or treat ischemic damage to the retina and optic nerve in patients in need of such treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Joel S. Schuman, M. Elizabeth Fini, Shravan K. Chintala