Patents by Inventor Natalie D. Winblade

Natalie D. Winblade 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: 7029688
    Abstract: The invention discloses materials that adsorb readily to the surfaces of body tissues in situ and provide a steric barrier between such tissues, so that tissue adhesions, which typically form following surgical procedures, are minimized. These materials contain a polymer of hydrophilic molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound to a polymer that spontaneously adsorbs to biological tissue such as phenylboronic acid (PBA). The PEG-PBA co-polymer can be formed in a variety of geometries. The materials can also be used to coat prosthetics and other implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Natalie D. Winblade, Donald L. Elbert
  • Patent number: 6652902
    Abstract: Boronic acid containing polymers are used to form bioinert gels and multilayer surface structures. These polymers form crosslinked hydrogels, which are highly swollen in water. The crosslinking can either be chemical or physical. Water soluble polymers containing boronic acid groups, such as phenylboronic acid (PBA), can be physically crosslinked by mixing the polymers in water with other polymers containing hydroxyls or carboxylic acids. Alternatively, surfaces can be treated by stepwise incubation with a solution of the boronic acid containing polymer, followed by incubation with a solution of a diol or carboxylic acid containing polymer. Many successive layers can be generated, increasing the thickness of the formed structure at each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignees: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Universitat Zurich
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Donald L. Elbert, Natalie D. Winblade
  • Publication number: 20030185787
    Abstract: The invention discloses materials that adsorb readily to the surfaces of body tissues in situ and provide a steric barrier between such tissues, so that tissue adhesions, which typically form following surgical procedures, are minimized. These materials contain a polymer of hydrophilic molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound to a polymer that spontaneously adsorbs to biological tissue such as phenylboronic acid (PBA). The PEG-PBA co-polymer can be formed in a variety of geometries. The materials can also be used to coat prosthetics and other implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Natalie D. Winblade, Donald L. Elbert
  • Patent number: 6596267
    Abstract: The invention discloses materials that adsorb readily to the surfaces of body tissues in situ and provide a steric barrier between such tissues, so that tissue adhesions, which typically form following surgical procedures, are minimized. These materials contain a polymer of hydrophilic molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound to a polymer that spontaneously adsorbs to biological tissue such as phenylboronic acid (PBA). The PEG-PBA co-polymer can be formed in a variety of geometries. The materials can also be used to coat prosthetics and other implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Natalie D. Winblade, Donald L. Elbert
  • Publication number: 20020061288
    Abstract: Boronic acid containing polymers are used to form bioinert gels and multilayer surface structures. These polymers form crosslinked hydrogels, which are highly swollen in water. The crosslinking can either be chemical or physical. Water soluble polymers containing boronic acid groups, such as phenylboronic acid (PBA), can be physically crosslinked by mixing the polymers in water with other polymers containing hydroxyls or carboxylic acids. Alternatively, surfaces can be treated by stepwise incubation with a solution of the boronic acid containing polymer, followed by incubation with a solution of a diol or carboxylic acid containing polymer. Many successive layers can be generated, increasing the thickness of the formed structure at each step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Donald L. Elbert, Natalie D. Winblade
  • Patent number: 6350527
    Abstract: Boronic acid containing polymers are used to form bioinert gels and multilayer surface structures. These polymers form crosslinked hydrogels, which are highly swollen in water. The crosslinking can either be chemical or physical. Water soluble polymers containing boronic acid groups, such as phenylboronic acid (PBA), can be physically crosslinked by mixing the polymers in water with other polymers containing hydroxyls or carboxylic acids. Alternatively, surfaces can be treated by stepwise incubation with a solution of the boronic acid containing polymer, followed by incubation with a solution of a diol or carboxylic acid containing polymer. Many successive layers can be generated, increasing the thickness of the formed structure at each step. The bioinert gel or surface coating can be used for passivating the surfaces of medical implants (especially those based on transplanted tissue), or for passivating the surfaces of tissues in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignees: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Universitat Zurich
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Donald L. Elbert, Natalie D. Winblade