Patents by Inventor Nathan A. Jones

Nathan A. Jones 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: 12023388
    Abstract: Components, for example, nanoparticles for detecting and/or treating one or more active carious lesions or microcavities in teeth of a subject are provided. The component or nanoparticle may comprise a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer (e.g., a starch) bearing at least one cationic region and/or having a net positive charge and thereby capable of associating with one or more active and/or early carious lesions on a tooth in an oral cavity of a subject. The components or nanoparticles are optionally water soluble or dispersible. The components or nanoparticle also comprises an imaging agent (e.g., a fluorophore or dye) bonded to the biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. The component or nanoparticle is thus capable of indicating the presence of one or more active carious lesions when the component or nanoparticle is associated therewith. Oral care compositions comprising such compounds/nanoparticles and methods of making and using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignees: The Regents of The University of Michigan, POZNAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Joerg Lahann, Sywe-Ren Chang, Brian Clarkson, Nathan A. Jones, Agata Czajka-Jakubowska
  • Publication number: 20230204326
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store map data. The apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to segment one or more objects from one or more environment surfaces in the map data. The at least one processor is also configured to determine an offset based on a projectile drift. The at least one processor is further configured to generate a safety bounding box around each of the one or more objects using the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventor: Nathan A. Jones
  • Patent number: 11666515
    Abstract: A phosphorous compound such as STMP is used as a cross-linking agent while making a starch nanoparticle in an emulsion process. Negative charge of the nanoparticle is reduced or reversed by adding cations and/or cationizing the starch optionally while forming the nanoparticles. Anionic active agents, such as fluoride or fluorescein, are optionally incorporated into the nanoparticle during the formation process. For example, a fluoride salt can also be used, which promotes the crosslinking reaction while also providing fluoride in the nanoparticle. The retention of both calcium and fluoride in the nanoparticle is improved when both salts are used. Alternatively, the nanoparticle may be used without added calcium and/or fluoride. The nanoparticles may be useful for tooth remineralization, the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity, to treat caries, or as a diagnostic agent to locate carious lesions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Bloembergen, Nathan A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10987434
    Abstract: Components, for example, nanoparticles for detecting and/or treating one or more active carious lesions or microcavities in teeth of a subject are provided. The component or nanoparticle may comprise a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer (e.g., a starch) bearing at least one cationic region and/or having a net positive charge and thereby capable of associating with one or more active and/or early carious lesions on a tooth in an oral cavity of a subject. The components or nanoparticles are optionally water soluble or dispersible. The components or nanoparticle also comprises an imaging agent (e.g., a fluorophore or dye) bonded to the biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. The component or nanoparticle is thus capable of indicating the presence of one or more active carious lesions when the component or nanoparticle is associated therewith. Oral care compositions comprising such compounds/nanoparticles and methods of making and using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, POZNAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Joerg Lahann, Sywe-Ren Chang, Brian Clarkson, Nathan A. Jones, Agata Czajka-Jakubowska
  • Publication number: 20170112949
    Abstract: Components, for example, nanoparticles for detecting and/or treating one or more active carious lesions or microcavities in teeth of a subject are provided. The component or nanoparticle may comprise a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer (e.g., a starch) bearing at least one cationic region and/or having a net positive charge and thereby capable of associating with one or more active and/or early carious lesions on a tooth in an oral cavity of a subject. The components or nanoparticles are optionally water soluble or dispersible. The components or nanoparticle also comprises an imaging agent (e.g., a fluorophore or dye) bonded to the biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. The component or nanoparticle is thus capable of indicating the presence of one or more active carious lesions when the component or nanoparticle is associated therewith. Oral care compositions comprising such compounds/nanoparticles and methods of making and using the same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of Michigan, Poznan University of Medical Sciences
    Inventors: Joerg Lahann, Sywe-Ren Chang, Brian Clarkson, Nathan A. Jones, Agata Czajka-Jakubowska