Patents by Inventor Joseph M. DeSimone

Joseph M. DeSimone 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).

  • Engineered Aerosol Particles, And Associated Methods
    Publication number: 20120114554
    Abstract: An engineered aerosol particle for use in aerosol applications is provided. The engineered aerosol particle comprises a fabricated nanoparticle body member being non-spherical. The fabricated nanoparticle body member is configured to provide at least one of auto-rotation, tumbling, or lift when entrained in an airstream to thereby increase settling time of the fabricated nanoparticle body member. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: LIQUIDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Philip Desimone, Benjamin Maynor, Mary Napier, Jonathan Pillai, Joseph M. Desimone, Will Patrick, Kyle Laaker, Hanjun Zhang
  • Methods and materials for fabricating microfluidic devices
    Patent number: 8158728
    Abstract: Materials and Methods are provided for fabricating microfluidic devices. The materials include low surface energy fluoropolymer compositions having multiple cure functional groups. The materials can include multiple photocurable and/or thermal-curable functional groups such that laminate devices can be fabricated. The materials also substantially do not swell in the presence of hydrocarbon solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Jason P. Rolland, Ginger M. Denison Rothrock, Paul Resnick
  • Polymeric endoprosthesis and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 8152843
    Abstract: Improved polymeric endoprostheses having reinforcement elements and methods of making the endoprostheses are disclosed. The devices disclosed exhibit improved overall compliance, selective regional compliance, and selective radial strength without varying the geometries of selected regions. Numerous other physical characteristics of the endoprostheses described may be selectively varied during manufacture. Some embodiments may include an erodible polymer and magnesium. Some embodiments may have one or more therapeutics incorporated into the endoprosthesis via a solvent in a supercritical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: SyneCor, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Kevin D. Holbrook, Richard A. Glenn, Jeffrey A. Smith, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • DELIVERY APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20110264030
    Abstract: A delivery apparatus for delivering a cargo to a target site of internal body tissue is provided. The delivery apparatus comprises a flexible tubular member having a distal end adapted for insertion proximate to the target site. A first electrode is configured for insertion within the flexible tubular member such that the first electrode is capable of being disposed proximate to the target site. A second electrode is configured to cooperate with the first electrode to form an electric field. A delivery component has a cargo carried thereby and is coupled with the first electrode. The delivery component is configured to degrade when exposed to the electric field such that the cargo is released to the target site upon degradation thereof. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. Desimone, Lukas Miller Roush, Elizabeth Marti Enlow, Mary Elizabeth Napier
  • HIGH FIDELITY THROUGH HOLE FILM, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20110215045
    Abstract: A membrane is provided, comprising a first membrane layer having a first side and a second side. The first membrane layer defines a plurality of holes extending along a first axis between the first side and the second side. Each hole is defined by the first membrane layer as a complex three-dimensional shape, and each hole has a diameter of less than about 10 micrometers. The membrane is fabricated by dispersing a liquid polymeric material onto a patterned master template, hardening the polymeric material, and removing it from the master template. The membrane includes through holes which correspond to the structures of the patterned master template in size, cross-sectional and three dimensional shape, orientation, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Zhilian Zhou, Xiansheng Meng, Joseph M. Desimone, Benjamin Maynor, Jason Rolland, Kenton B. Wiles
  • Nanoparticle fabrication methods, systems, and materials
    Publication number: 20110182805
    Abstract: Nano-particles are molded in nano-scale molds fabricated from non-wetting, low surface energy polymeric materials. The nano-particles can include pharmaceutical compositions, taggants, contrast agents, biologic drugs, drug compositions, organic materials, and the like. The molds can be virtually any shape and less than 10 micron in cross-sectional diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M DeSimone, Jason P. Rolland, Ansley Exner Dennis, Edward T. Samulski, R. Jude Samulski, Benjamin W. Maynor, Larken E. Euliss, Ginger Denison Rothrock, Stephanie Barrett, Alexander Ermoshkin, Andrew James Murphy
  • Intraluminal Prostheses Having Polymeric Material with Selectively Modified Crystallinity and Methods of Making Same
    Publication number: 20110169198
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing polymeric intraluminal prostheses include annealing the polymeric material to selectively modify the crystallinity thereof. Annealing may be utilized to selectively modify various properties of the polymeric material of an intraluminal prosthesis, including: selectively increasing the modulus of the polymeric material; selectively increasing the hoop strength of the intraluminal prosthesis; selectively modifying the elution rate (increase or decrease) of a pharmacological agent subsequently disposed on or within the annealed polymeric material; selectively increasing/decreasing stress in the intraluminal prosthesis; and selectively modifying the polymeric material such that it erodes at a different rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Michael S. Williams
  • Intraluminal Prostheses and Carbon Dioxide-Assisted Methods of Impregnating Same with Pharmacological Agents
    Publication number: 20110118824
    Abstract: Intraluminal prostheses and methods of impregnating same with pharmacological agents for delivery within a body of a subject are provided. An intraluminal prosthesis comprising polymeric material is immersed in a mixture of carrier fluid and pharmacological agent(s). The mixture of carrier fluid and pharmacological agent is pressurized for a time sufficient to cause the polymeric material of the intraluminal prosthesis to swell such that the carrier fluid and pharmacological agent at least partially penetrate the swollen polymeric material. Pressure is then removed such that the carrier fluid diffuses out of the swollen polymeric material and such that a predetermined amount of the pharmacological agent remains elutably trapped within the polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • Methods of making orthodontic appliances
    Patent number: 7943079
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Intraluminal prostheses having polymeric material with selectively modified crystallinity and methods of making same
    Patent number: 7919162
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing polymeric intraluminal prostheses include annealing the polymeric material to selectively modify the crystallinity thereof. Annealing may be utilized to selectively modify various properties of the polymeric material of an intraluminal prosthesis, including: selectively increasing the modulus of the polymeric material; selectively increasing the hoop strength of the intraluminal prosthesis; selectively modifying the elution rate (increase or decrease) of a pharmacological agent subsequently disposed on or within the annealed polymeric material; selectively increasing/decreasing stress in the intraluminal prosthesis; and selectively modifying the polymeric material such that it erodes at a different rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: SyneCor, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Michael S. Williams
  • Methods of Making Orthodontic Appliances
    Publication number: 20110062609
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Polymeric endoprostheses with modified erosion rates and methods of manufacture
    Publication number: 20110038913
    Abstract: An erodible prosthesis comprising alternate rates of erosion is disclosed, wherein said alternate rates of erosion can be selectively initiated. Some embodiments according to the invention may comprise an agent for initiating an alternative rate of erosion, such as, for example, a sensitizer, dissolution inhibitor, photo-acid generator, biochemically active additive, thermally activated catalyst, light activated catalyst, electromagnetic radiation activated catalyst, hydration activated catalyst, pH activated catalyst, low melting agent, and/or enzyme activated catalyst. One or more of the foregoing agents may be dispersed within one or more layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • Photocurable endoprosthesis methods of manufacture
    Patent number: 7857748
    Abstract: Methods of manufacture of endoprostheses comprising one or more photocurable materials are disclosed. The endoprostheses may comprise regions wherein the photocurable materials are selectively disposed about the endoprosthesis and are cured according to desired parameters to achieve varying desired properties. Photolithographic masking material may be selectively disposed about an inflatable balloon and exposed to a radiation emitting catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Syne Cor, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Kevin D. Holbrook, Richard A. Glenn, Jeffrey A. Smith, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • Endoprostheses and methods of manufacture
    Publication number: 20100256734
    Abstract: A woven tubular endoprosthesis comprising means for locking the endoprosthesis in a deployed configuration is disclosed. The means for locking the endoprosthesis may comprise locking protrusions, notches, a chemical bond, a curable bond, or other mechanism. The woven fibers comprising the endoprosthesis may be hollow and comprise circumferentially oriented polymeric chains, and may be filled with a curable material. A method of treatment using an endoprosthesis according to the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Richard A. Glenn, Jeffrey A. Smith, Kevin D. Holbrook, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • POLYMER PARTICLE COMPOSITE HAVING HIGH FIDELITY ORDER, SIZE, AND SHAPE PARTICLES
    Publication number: 20100216928
    Abstract: A polymer composite includes a polymer and an additive encased in the polymer, wherein the additive includes a plurality of isolated particles where each particle of the plurality of particles has a substantially predetermined three dimensional shape and is substantially oriented with respect to each other in a predetermined two dimensional array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicants: The University of North Carolona at Chapel Hill, Liquidia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert Lyon Henn, Janine Nunes, Libin Du
  • NANOPARTICLE COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF NUCLEIC ACIDS
    Publication number: 20100196277
    Abstract: Micro- and nano-particles are molded in micro- and nano-scale molds fabricated from non-wetting, low surface energy polymeric materials. The micro- and nano-particles can include pharmaceutical compositions, biologic drugs, drug compositions, organic materials, RNA, DNA, oligonucleotides, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Andrew James Murphy, Ashley Galloway, Robby A. Petros
  • HIGH FIDELITY NANO-STRUCTURES AND ARRAYS FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20100147365
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes an electron accepting material and an electron donating material. One of the electron accepting or donating materials is configured and dimensioned as a first component of a bulk heterojunction with a predetermined array of first structures, each first structure is substantially equivalent in three dimensional shape, has a substantially equivalent cross-sectional dimension, and where each first structure of the array of first structures has a substantially equivalent orientation with respect to adjacent first structures of the predetermined array forming a substantially uniform array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Ginger Denison Rothrock, Zhilian Zhou, Edward T. Samulski, Meredith Hampton, Stuart Williams
  • DISCRETE SIZE AND SHAPE SPECIFIC ORGANIC NANOPARTICLES DESIGNED TO ELICIT AN IMMUNE RESPONSE
    Publication number: 20100151031
    Abstract: The presently disclosed invention is broadly directed to therapeutic micro- and/or nanoparticles designed to target an immune cell with an active agent. More particularly, the particles have a predetermined geometry and a broadest dimension of less than about 10 ?m. The immune cell-targeted micro and/or nanoparticles may additionally comprise a biocompatible polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robby Petros, Jeffrey Frelinger, Adam Buntzman
  • Endoprostheses and methods of manufacture
    Patent number: 7704276
    Abstract: A woven tubular endoprosthesis comprising means for locking the endoprosthesis in a deployed configuration is disclosed. The means for locking the endoprosthesis may comprise locking protrusions, notches, a chemical bond, a curable bond, or other mechanism. The woven fibers comprising the endoprosthesis may be hollow and comprise circumferentially oriented polymeric chains, and may be filled with a curable material. A method of treatment using an endoprosthesis according to the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: SyneCor, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Williams, Richard A. Glenn, Jeffrey A. Smith, Kevin D. Holbrook, Joseph M. DeSimone
  • Methods of Making Orthodontic Appliances
    Publication number: 20100065976
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca