Patents by Inventor Richard Heller

Richard Heller 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: 11801312
    Abstract: A method of treating cancerous tumors is presented herein. The method includes injecting an effective dose of a plasmid encoded for IL-12, B7-1 or IL-15 into a cancerous tumor and subsequently administering at least one high voltage, short duration pulse to the tumor. The electroporation pulses may be administered at least 700V/cm for a duration of less than 1 millisecond. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in at least a two-treatment protocol with the time between treatments being about 7 days. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in a three-treatment protocol with a time of four days between the first and second treatments and a time of three days between the second and third treatments. It was found that the intratumor treatments using electroporation not only resulted in tumor regression but also induced an immune memory response which prevented the formation of new tumors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Melinda Lee Lucas
  • Patent number: 11123554
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering a molecule to a specific area of a tissue by controlling temperature and impedance is presented. The method is generally comprised of applying heat to a biological structure, such as cells or tissues, to heat the biological structure to a preset temperature after which at least one electroporation pulse is administered to the biological structure. Impedance is measured as a feedback control mechanism after each pulse and pulse parameters are adjusted accordingly until desired impedance is reached. The system generally comprises an electroporation system capable of generating at least one pulse, measuring impedance and measuring temperature. The method may be used to deliver a molecule such as a vaccine or therapeutic to a biological structure, such as for prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: University of South Florida, Old Dominion University
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Loree C. Heller, Mark Jeffery Jaroszeski
  • Publication number: 20210138087
    Abstract: A method of treating cancerous tumors is presented herein. The method includes injecting an effective dose of a plasmid encoded for IL-12, B7-1 or IL-15 into a cancerous tumor and subsequently administering at least one high voltage, short duration pulse to the tumor. The electroporation pulses may be administered at least 700V/cm for a duration of less than 1 millisecond. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in at least a two-treatment protocol with the time between treatments being about 7 days. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in a three-treatment protocol with a time of four days between the first and second treatments and a time of three days between the second and third treatments. It was found that the intratumor treatments using electroporation not only resulted in tumor regression but also induced an immune memory response which prevented the formation of new tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Melinda Lee Lucas
  • Patent number: 10974045
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering a molecule to a specific area of a tissue by controlling temperature and impedance is presented. The method is generally comprised of applying heat to a biological structure, such as cells or tissues, to heat the biological structure to a preset temperature after which at least one electroporation pulse is administered to the biological structure. Impedance is measured as a feedback control mechanism after each pulse and pulse parameters are adjusted accordingly until desired impedance is reached. The system generally comprises an electroporation system capable of generating at least one pulse, measuring impedance and measuring temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: University of South Florida, Old Dominion University
    Inventors: Mark Jeffery Jaroszeski, Richard Heller
  • Publication number: 20210101003
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering a molecule to a specific area of a tissue by controlling temperature and impedance is presented. The method is generally comprised of applying heat to a biological structure, such as cells or tissues, to heat the biological structure to a preset temperature after which at least one electroporation pulse is administered to the biological structure. Impedance is measured as a feedback control mechanism after each pulse and pulse parameters are adjusted accordingly until desired impedance is reached. The system generally comprises an electroporation system capable of generating at least one pulse, measuring impedance and measuring temperature. The method may be used to deliver a molecule such as a vaccine or therapeutic to a biological structure, such as for prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Loree C. Heller, Mark Jeffery Jaroszeski
  • Patent number: 10881447
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating or manipulating biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a biological tissue is placed in contact with an array of electrodes. Electrical pulses are then applied between a bias voltage bus and a reference voltage bus of a distributor having switching elements associated with each of the electrodes. The switching elements provide a first contact position for coupling electrodes to bias voltage bus, a second contact position for coupling electrodes to the reference voltage bus, and a third contact position for isolating electrodes from the high and reference voltage buses. The switching elements are operated over various time intervals to provide the first contact position for first electrodes, a second contact position for second electrodes adjacent to the first electrodes, and a third contact position for a remainder of the electrodes adjacent to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Karl Schoenbach, Richard Heller
  • Patent number: 10814129
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering a molecule to a specific area of a tissue by controlling temperature and impedance is presented. The method is generally comprised of applying heat to a biological structure, such as cells or tissues, to heat the biological structure to a preset temperature after which at least one electroporation pulse is administered to the biological structure. Impedance is measured as a feedback control mechanism after each pulse and pulse parameters are adjusted accordingly until desired impedance is reached. The system generally comprises an electroporation system capable of generating at least one pulse, measuring impedance and measuring temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: University of South Florida, Old Dominion University
    Inventors: Mark Jeffery Jaroszeski, Richard Heller
  • Patent number: 10792375
    Abstract: A method of treating cancerous tumors is presented herein. The method includes injecting an effective dose of a plasmid encoded for IL-12, B7-1 or IL-15 into a cancerous tumor and subsequently administering at least one high voltage, short duration pulse to the tumor. The electroporation pulses may be administered at al least 700 V/cm for a duration of less than 1 millisecond. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in at least a two-treatment protocol with the time between treatments being about 7 days. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in a three-treatment protocol with a time of four days between the first and second treatments and a time of three days between the second and third treatments. It was found that the intratumor treatments using electroporation not only resulted in tumor regression but also induced an immune memory response which prevented the formation of new tumors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Kenneth E. Ugen
  • Patent number: 10668278
    Abstract: Catheter devices can include an elongate housing extending along a major axis, the elongate housing comprising a first end an opening. The catheter devices can also include an electrode assembly disposed in the elongate housing and including deformable electrodes with respective electrode distal ends, where the electrode distal ends each consist of respective member portions and respective tip portions. The electrode assembly is slidably movable within the housing along the major axis to allow the electrode distal end portions to transition between a first retracted position and a second extended position. The catheter device is configured such that an average distance between the tip portions in the second position is configured to be greater than an average distance between the tip portions in the first position the tip portions are positioned substantially in a same plane when the electrode assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Chen Yeong-Jer
  • Patent number: 10660693
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treatment of a biological tissues including target tissues and other tissues. The method includes elevating a temperature of the target tissues above a physiological temperature of the biological tissues to treatment temperature, and generating an electric field extending through at least a portion of the target tissues using a pre-defined sequence of short voltage pulses applied between at least two electrodes. In the method, the treatment temperature is maintained during the generating. Further, the pre-defined sequence is selected such that a magnitude of the electric field generated is sufficient to induce electromanipulation in the portion of the target tissues without substantially elevating of the temperature of the portion of the target tissues above the treatment temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Karl H. Schoenbach, Richard Heller, James Camp, Stephen P. Beebe, Shu Xiao, Amy Donate
  • Publication number: 20190105408
    Abstract: A method of treating cancerous tumors is presented herein. The method includes injecting an effective dose of a plasmid encoded for IL-12, B7-1 or IL-15 into a cancerous tumor and subsequently administering at least one high voltage, short duration pulse to the tumor. The electroporation pulses may be administered at al least 700 V/cm for a duration of less than 1 millisecond. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in at least a two-treatment protocol with the time between treatments being about 7 days. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in a three-treatment protocol with a time of four days between the first and second treatments and a time of three days between the second and third treatments. It was found that the intratumor treatments using electroporation not only resulted in tumor regression but also induced an immune memory response which prevented the formation of new tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Kenneth E. Ugen
  • Publication number: 20190038337
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treatment of a biological tissues including target tissues and other tissues. The method includes elevating a temperature of the target tissues above a physiological temperature of the biological tissues to treatment temperature, and generating an electric field extending through at least a portion of the target tissues using a pre-defined sequence of short voltage pulses applied between at least two electrodes. In the method, the treatment temperature is maintained during the generating. Further, the pre-defined sequence is selected such that a magnitude of the electric field generated is sufficient to induce electromanipulation in the portion of the target tissues without substantially elevating of the temperature of the portion of the target tissues above the treatment temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Karl H. SCHOENBACH, Richard HELLER, James CAMP, Stephen P. BEEBE, Shu XIAO, Amy DONATE
  • Publication number: 20190029654
    Abstract: A method of collecting and sensing a biofluid with enhanced concentration of analytes due to electroporation comprises electroporating biofluid glands (14) that are generating a biofluid and specifically sensing at least one analyte in said biofluid, the at least one analyte having a molecular weight greater than 50 Da. A device (100) wearable on a user's skin (12) for receiving an advective flow of a biofluid comprises at least one of a biofluid stimulation component (140), a biofluid sensor (220, 222) specific to an analyte, or a biofluid collection element (230, 232), at least one electroporation electrode (290) for enhancing concentration of at least one analyte in the biofluid having a molecular weight of greater than 50 Da, a counter electrode (195), and an electroporation waveform generator configured to cause the electroporation electrode (290) to generate and direct a plurality of electroporation pulses into the skin (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicants: University Of Cincinnati, Eccrine Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Heikenfeld, Richard Heller
  • Patent number: 10143759
    Abstract: A method of treating cancerous tumors is presented herein. The method includes injecting an effective dose of a plasmid encoded for IL-12, B7-1 or IL-15 into a cancerous tumor and subsequently administering at least one high voltage, short duration pulse to the tumor. The electroporation pulses may be administered at at least 700V/cm for a duration of less than 1 millisecond. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in at least a two-treatment protocol with the time between treatments being about 7 days. The intratumor treatments with electroporation may be administered in a three-treatment protocol with a time of four days between the first and second treatments and a time of three days between the second and third treatments. It was found that the intratumor treatments using electroporation not only resulted in tumor regression but also induced an immune memory response which prevented the formation of new tumors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Richard Heller, Kenneth E. Ugen
  • Patent number: 10070914
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treatment of a biological tissues comprising target tissues and other tissues. The method includes elevating a temperature of the target tissues above a physiological temperature of the biological tissues to treatment temperature, and generating an electric field extending through at least a portion of the target tissues using a pre-defined sequence of short voltage pulses applied between at least two electrodes. In the method, the treatment temperature is maintained during the generating. Further, the pre-defined sequence is selected such that a magnitude of the electric field generated is sufficient to induce electromanipulation in the portion of the target tissues without substantially elevating of the temperature of the portion of the target tissues above the treatment temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Karl H. Schoenbach, Richard Heller, James Camp, Stephen P. Beebe, Shu Xiao, Amy Donate
  • Publication number: 20180153609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating or manipulating biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a biological tissue is placed in contact with an array of electrodes. Electrical pulses are then applied between a bias voltage bus and a reference voltage bus of a distributor having switching elements associated with each of the electrodes. The switching elements provide a first contact position for coupling electrodes to bias voltage bus, a second contact position for coupling electrodes to the reference voltage bus, and a third contact position for isolating electrodes from the high and reference voltage buses. The switching elements are operated over various time intervals to provide the first contact position for first electrodes, a second contact position for second electrodes adjacent to the first electrodes, and a third contact position for a remainder of the electrodes adjacent to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Karl SCHOENBACH, Richard HELLER
  • Publication number: 20180154142
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for stimulating an immune response to a disease in a subject, which involves passing sub-microsecond long pulses of electric fields having an amplitude between 5 kV/cm and 68 kV/cm through an abnormal growth of a subject sufficient to suppress myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) or regulatory T cell (Treg) production, increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) production, or stimulate dendritic cell activation in the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Siqi Guo, Stephen J. Beebe, Richard Heller
  • Patent number: 9872721
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating or manipulating biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a biological tissue is placed in contact with an array of electrodes. Electrical pulses are then applied between a bias voltage bus and a reference voltage bus of a distributor having switching elements associated with each of the electrodes. The switching elements provide a first contact position for coupling electrodes to bias voltage bus, a second contact position for coupling electrodes to the reference voltage bus, and a third contact position for isolating electrodes from the high and reference voltage buses. The switching elements are operated over various time intervals to provide the first contact position for first electrodes, a second contact position for second electrodes adjacent to the first electrodes, and a third contact position for a remainder of the electrodes adjacent to the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Karl Schoenbach, Richard Heller
  • Patent number: D965123
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: PLM Global Logistics, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Heller
  • Patent number: D978641
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PLM Global Logistics, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Heller