Patents by Inventor Paul S. Sheeran

Paul S. Sheeran 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: 20220000790
    Abstract: Acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy and methods for making and using same are disclosed. A particle of material includes a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create a droplet or emulsion that is stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At least some of the first substance exists in a gaseous phase at the time of encapsulation of the first substance within the second substance to form a bubble. After formation of the bubble, the bubble is condensed into a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into the droplet or emulsion having a core consisting of a liquid. The droplet or emulsion is an activatable phase change agent that remains a droplet having a core consisting of a liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. The first substance has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Paul A. Dayton, Paul S. Sheeran, Terry O. Matsunaga, Mark A. Borden
  • Patent number: 11123302
    Abstract: Acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy are disclosed. A particle of material includes a first substance that includes at least one component that has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create the particle. The particle has a core consisting of a liquid and is an activatable phase change agent. The second substance includes a polymeric brush layer to prevent aggregation and coalescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
    Inventors: Paul A. Dayton, Paul S. Sheeran, Terry O. Matsunaga, Mark A. Borden
  • Publication number: 20160361447
    Abstract: Acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy and methods for making and using same are disclosed. A particle of material includes a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create a droplet or emulsion that is stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At least some of the first substance exists in a gaseous phase at the time of encapsulation of the first substance within the second substance to form a bubble. After formation of the bubble, the bubble is condensed into a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into the droplet or emulsion having a core consisting of a liquid. The droplet or emulsion is an activatable phase change agent that remains a droplet having a core consisting of a liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. The first substance has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Paul A. Dayton, Paul S. Sheeran, Terry O. Matsunaga, Mark A. Borden
  • Patent number: 9427410
    Abstract: A method of producing particles of materials includes, with a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, extruding or emulsifying the first substance into or in the presence of a second substance to create a bubble in which the first substance is encapsulated by the second substance and wherein at least some of the first substance is in a gaseous phase, and causing the first substance to condense to a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into a droplet or emulsion. The droplet or emulsion so created is an activatable phase change agent that is stable at room temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of The University of Arizona, The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Paul A. Dayton, Paul S. Sheeran, Terry O. Matsunaga, Mark A. Borden
  • Publication number: 20130336891
    Abstract: Formulation of acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy and methods for using same are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method of producing particles of materials includes, with a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, performing one of: causing the first substance to condense to a liquid phase, and extruding or emulsifying the first substance into or in the presence of a second substance to create a droplet or emulsion in which the first substance is encapsulated by the second substance; or extruding or emulsifying the first substance into or in the presence of a second substance to create a bubble in which the first substance is encapsulated by the second substance and wherein at least some of the first substance is in a gaseous phase, and causing the first substance to condense to a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into a droplet or emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Paul A. Dayton, Paul S. Sheeran, Terry O. Matsunaga, Mark A. Borden