Patents by Inventor Robert E. Hillman

Robert E. Hillman 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).

  • Hydrogels for vocal cord and soft tissue augmentation and repair
    Patent number: 9682169
    Abstract: The present invention provides hydrogels and compositions thereof for vocal cord repair or augmentation, as well as other soft tissue repair or augmentation (e.g., bladder neck augmentation, dermal fillers, breast implants, intervertebral disks, muscle-mass). The hydrogels or compositions thereof are injected into the superficial lamina propria or phonatory epithelium to restore the phonatory mucosa of the vocal cords, thereby restoring a patient's voice. In particular, it has been discovered that hydrogels with an elastic shear modulus of approximately 25 Pa are useful in restoring the pliability of the phonatory mucosa. The invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive hydrogels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Zeitels, Robert E. Hillman, Sandeep Sidram Karajanagi, Robert S. Langer
  • System and Method for Evaluating Vocal Function Using an Impedance-Based Inverse Filtering of Neck Surface Acceleration
    Publication number: 20170014082
    Abstract: A system and method to assess vocal function of a subject. The system includes an accelerometer configured to acquire surface acceleration data associated with vocal functionality of the subject and a computer system configured to analyze the surface acceleration data and to estimate glottal airflow waveforms produced by the subject based on the surface acceleration data. The computer system performs the analysis and estimation by applying an inverse filter to the surface acceleration data based on a calibrated transmission line model and generates an indication of vocal functionality of the subject based on the estimated glottal airflow waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Matias Zanartu, Julio C. Ho, Daryush D Mehta, George R. Wodicka, Robert E. Hillman
  • Hydrogels for Vocal Cord and Soft Tissue Augmentation and Repair
    Publication number: 20160175483
    Abstract: The present invention provides hydrogels and compositions thereof for vocal cord repair or augmentation, as well as other soft tissue repair or augmentation (e.g., bladder neck augmentation, dermal fillers, breast implants, intervertebral disks, muscle-mass). The hydrogels or compositions thereof are injected into the superficial lamina propria or phonatory epithelium to restore the phonatory mucosa of the vocal cords, thereby restoring a patient's voice. In particular, it has been discovered that hydrogels with an elastic shear modulus of approximately 25 Pa are useful in restoring the pliability of the phonatory mucosa. The invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive hydrogels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Zeitels, Robert E. Hillman, Sandeep Sidram Karajanagi, Robert S. Langer
  • Methods and systems of matching voice deficits with a tunable mucosal implant to restore and enhance individualized human sound and voice production
    Patent number: 9198568
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and systems for making customized treatments to a subject's vocal tissues to provide a desired level of vocal function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Steven M. Zeitels, Robert E. Hillman, Sandeep Sidram Karajanagi, Robert S. Langer
  • System and Methods for Evaluating Vocal Function Using an Impedance-Based Inverse Filtering of Neck Surface Acceleration
    Publication number: 20140066724
    Abstract: A system and method to assess vocal function of a subject. The system includes an accelerometer configured to acquire surface acceleration data associated with vocal functionality of the subject and a computer system configured to analyze the surface acceleration data and to estimate glottal airflow wave-forms produced by the subject based on the surface acceleration data. The computer system performs the analysis and estimation by applying an inverse filter to the surface acceleration data based on a calibrated transmission line model and generates an indication of vocal functionality of the subject based on the estimated glottal airflow waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Matias Zanartu, Julio C. Ho, Daryush D. Mehta, George R. Wodicka, Robert E. Hillman
  • Methods and Systems of Matching Voice Deficits with a Tunable Mucosal Implant to Restore and Enhance Individualized Human Sound and Voice Production
    Publication number: 20130041467
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and systems for making customized treatments to a subject's vocal tissues to provide a desired level of vocal function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicants: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Zeitels, Robert E. Hillman, Sandeep Sidram Karajanagi, Robert S. Langer