Patents by Inventor Jonathan A. Eppstein

Jonathan A. Eppstein 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: 7384396
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting a biological fluid from an organism and continuously monitoring its characteristics. The system includes a tissue interface device suitable for positioning on or about the surface of the biological membrane of the organism and a monitor and control unit coupled to the tissue interface device. The tissue interface device includes a sensor positioned in a flow path of the fluid for continuously sensing a characteristic of the biological fluid as it flows out from the one or more artificial openings formed in the biological membrane. The sensor generates a sensor signal representative thereof. The monitor and control unit electrically or optically reads the sensor to obtain a measurement of a characteristic, such as concentration of a particular analyte, of the biological fluid on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: SpectRx Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Samuels, Jonathan A. Eppstein, Michael R. Hatch, Alan Smith, Mark Faupel
  • Publication number: 20070031495
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for causing the transdermal flux of a per meant into a subject via at least one formed pathway through a skin layer of the subject. The device comprises a delivery reservoir comprising: i) a non-biodegradable matrix having a bottom surface and defining a plurality of conduits therein the matrix, at least a portion of the plurality of conduits being in communication with the bottom surface; and ii)an undissolved hydrophilic per meant disposed therein at least a portion of the plurality of conduits of the matrix, wherein the hydrophilic per meant can come in contact with subcutaneous fluid from the subject when the bottom surface of the matrix is positioned in fluid communication with the at least one formed pathway. Also disclosed are systems and methods for causing the transdermal flux of a per meant into a subject via at least one formed pathway through a skin layer of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Jonathan Eppstein, David Enscore, Frank Tagliaferri, Gaurav Tolia, Shulun Chang, Alan Smith, Yogi Patel, Stuart McRae
  • Patent number: 7141034
    Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device for forming a micropore in a tissue membrane of an animal comprising a substrate and a porator that is located on or within the substrate. The porator is constructed of a material that is destroyed upon forming the micropore. The transdermal drug delivery device also comprises at least one reservoir and a controller for controlling the formation of said micropore by the porator and destroying the porator after the formation of the micropore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Altea Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Eppstein, Stuart McRae, Joseph Papp
  • Patent number: 7037277
    Abstract: A fluid collection and sensor device for placement over at least one artificial opening made in a biological membrane for measuring a characteristic of a biological fluid collected from the tissue through the at least one artificial opening. The device comprises a sensor positioned in a flow path of the biological fluid for contacting a quantity of the biological fluid and generating an indication of a characteristic of the biological fluid. According to one aspect of the invention, a waste fluid storage element, such as a reservoir, is positioned in the device to collect the biological fluid after it has made contact with the sensor. According to another aspect of the invention, various surfaces of the fluid flow path of the fluid collection and sensor device are treated with an agent to limit or minimize clotting, aggregation or sepsis of the biological fluid, blockage or clogging of the flow path or degradation of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignees: SpectRx, Inc., Altea Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smith, Harry K. Delcher, Jonathan A. Eppstein, David Farquhar, Michael R. Hatch, Krishna Kumar
  • Patent number: 6951411
    Abstract: An improved light beam generation and focusing device (15, 50) has a light source (16, 51) constructed and arranged to emit at least one beam of light (20), and a lens assembly (17, 19, 56) constructed and arranged to focus the at least one beam of light on a surface plane. The device is constructed and arranged to sequentially direct the at least one beam of light to at least two spaced locations (21, 21?) on the surface plane. The lens assembly comprises a collimating lens (17), and a spaced focusing lens (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignees: SpectRx, Inc., Altea Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna S. Kumar, Danny F. Lincoln, Jonathan A. Eppstein, Michael R. Hatch
  • Publication number: 20050165393
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the permeability of a biological membrane, including the skin or mucosa of an animal or the outer layer of a plant to a permeant is described utilizing microporation of selected depth and optionally one or more of sonic, electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal energy and a chemical enhancer. Microporation is accomplished to form a micropore of selected depth in the biological membrane and the porated site is contacted with the permeant. Additional permeation enhancement measures may be applied to the site to enhance both the flux rate of the permeant into the organism through the micropores as well as into targeted tissues within the organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Jonathan Eppstein
  • Patent number: 6922578
    Abstract: An integrated device for poration of biological tissue, harvesting a biological fluid from the tissue, and analysis of the biological fluid. The device comprises a tissue-contacting layer having an electrically or optically heated probe to heat and conduct heat to the tissue to form at least one opening, such as a micropore to collect biological fluid from the opening, and a detecting layer responsive to the biological fluid to provide an indication of a characteristic of the biological fluid, such as the concentration of an analyte in interstitial fluid. In the embodiment in which, the probe comprises a photosensitizing assembly designed for the uniform application of a photosensitizing material, such as, for example, a dye or a pigment, to a tissue, e.g., the stratum comeum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignees: SpectRx, Inc., Altea Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Eppstein, Mark A. Samuels, Michael R. Hatch
  • Patent number: 6918874
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a measuring an analyte in a biological fluid of an animal. A harvesting device (10) is provided suitable for positioning on the surface of tissue of an animal to harvest biological fluid therefrom. The harvesting device (10) comprises an analyte sensor (50) positioned to be contacted by the harvested biological fluid and which generates a measurement signal representative of the analyte. At least one attribute sensor (40) is provided to measure an attribute associated with the biological fluid harvesting operation of the harvesting device (10) or the assay of the biological fluid, and which generates an attribute signal representative of the attribute. Adjustments are made to operational parameters of the harvesting device (10) based on the one or more attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignees: SpectRx, Inc., Altea Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Hatch, Jonathan A. Eppstein, Stuart McRae
  • Publication number: 20050090800
    Abstract: A method for delivering permeant substances transdermally into a membrane of an animal includes forming at least one delivery opening in the skin tissue, with the at least one delivery opening having a mean opening depth of between about 40 and about 90 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Alan Smith, Jonathan Eppstein, Bernadette Messier, Zoran Novakovic, Stuart McRae
  • Patent number: 6882873
    Abstract: A system and method embodying the invention can be used to detect a characteristic or condition of a patient. A method embodying the invention may include the steps of illuminating a portion of a skin of the patient with light, detecting a frequency spectrum of light scattered from the skin, determining, from first and second portions of the spectrum, a first parameter indicative of a blood content of the skin and a second parameter indicative of a melanin content of the skin, determining, from a third portion of the spectrum, a third parameter indicative of an uncorrected bilirubin concentration, and calculating a corrected bilirubin concentration based on the first, second and third parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Respironics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Samuels, Keith D. Ignotz, Gregory J. Newman, Jonathan A. Eppstein, Fan Xu
  • Publication number: 20040220456
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the permeability of a biological membrane, including the skin or mucosa of an animal or the outer layer of a plant to a permeant is described utilizing microporation of selected depth and optionally one or more of sonic, electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal energy and a chemical enhancer. Microporation is accomplished to form a micropore of selected depth in the biological membrane and the porated site is contacted with the permeant. Additional permeation enhancement measures may be applied to the site to enhance both the flux rate of the permeant into the organism through the micropores as well as into targeted tissues within the organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Altea Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Eppstein
  • Publication number: 20040158137
    Abstract: An integrated device for poration of biological tissue, harvesting a biological fluid from the tissue, and analysis of the biological fluid. The device comprises a tissue-contacting layer having an electrically or optically heated probe to heat and conduct heat to the tissue to form at least one opening, such as a micropore to collect biological fluid from the opening, and a detecting layer responsive-to the biological fluid to provide an indication of a characteristic of the biological fluid, such as the concentration of an analyte in interstitial fluid. In the embodiment in which, the probe comprises a photosensitizing assembly designed for the uniform application of a photosensitizing material, such as, for example, a dye or a pigment, to a tissue, e.g., the stratum comeum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Eppstein, Mark A. Samuels, Michael R. Hatch
  • Patent number: 6730028
    Abstract: A method and device for forming artificial openings in a biological membrane with a pyrotechnic charge that is exploded in a controlled manner in proximity of the biological membrane to form the artificial opening(s) therein. The method and device are useful in connection with transdermal delivery and monitoring applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Altea Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Eppstein, Michael R. Hatch, Joseph Papp, Mark L. Faupel, Krishna Kumar
  • Publication number: 20040039343
    Abstract: The invention provides for a transdermal drug delivery device for forming a micropore in a tissue membrane of an animal, comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jonathan Eppstein, Stuart McRAE, Joseph Papp
  • Publication number: 20040039342
    Abstract: The invention provides for an integrated device for forming a cavity in a surface of a tissue of an animal comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jonathan Eppstein, Stuart McRae
  • Patent number: 6692456
    Abstract: The invention provides for improved devices and methods for forming openings in a biological membrane for delivering substances into an animal through the biological membrane for treatment applications, or extracting substances from the animal through the biological membrane for monitoring or other diagnosis applications and for increased transmembrane flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Altea Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Eppstein, Michael R. Hatch, Joseph Papp
  • Patent number: 6685699
    Abstract: A device to facilitate ablation of tissue, such as for forming one or more openings in the tissue for transdermal monitoring and/or delivery applications. The device comprises: (a) a support layer having at least one aperture therein, and (b) at least one energy absorbent film layer disposed over the at least one aperture in the support layer for making substantial contact with tissue through the aperture. The at least one energy absorbent film layer is under a tension force and absorbs energy focused thereon to thermally ablate the tissue. After ablation, the layer breaks apart allowing access to the ablated tissue beneath it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: SpectRx, Inc., Altea Therapeutics Corp.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Eppstein, Stuart McRae
  • Patent number: 6679841
    Abstract: An article capable of both collecting interstitial fluid and detecting an analyte in that fluid and a method for use of that article. Preferably, the article is also capable of measuring the amount of analyte in the interstitial fluid. The article can be used in conjunction with a meter that contains an appropriate detection element for determining the amount of analyte in the interstitial fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Peter M. Bojan, Timothy P. Henning, Neil W. Loomis, Mark R. Pope, Jonathan A. Eppstein
  • Publication number: 20030225360
    Abstract: The invention provides for a transdermal drug delivery device for forming a drug delivery patch system comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan Eppstein, Stuart McRae, Alan Smith
  • Publication number: 20030191376
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting a biological fluid from an organism and continuously monitoring its characteristics. The system comprises a tissue interface device suitable for positioning on or about the surface of the biological membrane of the organism and a monitor and control unit coupled to the tissue interface device. The tissue interface device comprises a sensor positioned in a flow path of the fluid for continuously sensing a characteristic of the biological fluid as it flows out from the one or more artificial openings formed in the biological membrane. The sensor generates a sensor signal representative thereof. The monitor and control unit electrically or optically reads the sensor to obtain a measurement of a characteristic, such as concentration of a particular analyte, of the biological fluid on a continuous basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Mark A. Samuels, Jonathan A .Eppstein, Michael R. Hatch