Patents by Inventor Robin Shandas

Robin Shandas 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: 20120046687
    Abstract: Shape memory materials (SMM) are formed as coil-shaped vascular occlusion devices upon deployment. Shape memory polymer (SMP) materials are tailored through formulation for specific mechanical behavior of the coils. Concurrent coil diameter changes enhance the relative change in stiffness along the length of the coil. Interconnecting structures (104a/b) are formed on ends of elongated members (102a) in the pre-deployment shape for multiple coil insertion capability within an introducer. Channels (206) are formed in pre-deployment shape, elongate members (202) that allow access for injection of imaging contrast agent or concurrent placement of instruments. A single SMM occlusive device (300) transforms into multiple, smaller diameter coils (302b) in the deployed state to generate a complex occlusive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, EndoShape, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie Marie Trommeter, Michael B. Lyons, Jeffrey Paul Castleberry, Robin Shandas, James Fogelberg, Stephen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110144227
    Abstract: A variety of biomedical devices are provided which include thiol-ene or thiol-yne shape memory polymers. The biomedical devices of the invention are capable of exhibiting shape memory behavior at physiological temperatures and may be used in surgical procedures. Methods of making the devices of the invention are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher Bowman, Neil Cramer, Robin Shandas, Devatha P. Nair
  • Publication number: 20100192959
    Abstract: Transcervical contraceptive devices (TCDs) are disclosed. The TCDs are constructed of shape memory polymer (SMP) materials capable of assuming a memory shape at physiological temperatures. These SMPTCDs (410) have a post-implantation memory shape that is substantially identical to or slightly larger than the insertion site (420) to adapt to changes that may occur in a fallopian tube. The SMPTCDs (410) may be formed as occlusion devices (i.e., plugs) having a number of different structural features. The SMPTCDs (410) may provide for a temporary or permanent means of contraception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Robin Shandas, Christopher M. Yakacki, Devatha P. Nair, Kenneth Gall, Michael Lyons
  • Publication number: 20100152839
    Abstract: A prosthetic medical device is formed by the combination of a biological tissue a shape memory polymer structure. The biological tissue provides an in-situ physiological function of the device. The shape memory polymer provides a capability for minimizing the device profile during insertion and then deploying after placement into a memory shape that achieves suitable mechanical structure and stability within an anatomical lumen or cavity. This configuration may be applied to form various prosthetic devices including aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves in the heart; venous valves; anti-reflux valves for the lower esophageal sphincter; and other biological valve structures. Alternatively, an entirely non-biologic implementation using only shape memory polymer-based structures may be used as a prosthetic valve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Robin Shandas, Avery Nelson, Bryan Rech, Devatha P. Nair, Michael B. Lyons, Jeffrey Paul Castleberry, Timothy Francis Scott
  • Publication number: 20090248141
    Abstract: Medical devices for in vivo medical applications are disclosed. The medical devices are constructed of shape memory polymer (SMP) materials capable of assuming a memory shape at physiological temperatures. These medical devices may be used in surgical procedures and in both vascular and non-vascular applications. These SMP medical devices have a post-implantation memory shape that is substantially identical to or slightly larger than the insertion site to adapt to vessel growth or size changes. SMP medical devices may be formed as stents or occlusion devices (i.e., plugs) having a number of different structural features. The SMP medical devices may be formed from a first monomer and a second cross-linking monomer, wherein the weight percentages of the first and second monomers are selected by performing an iterative function to reach a predetermined glass transition temperature (Tg) and a predetermined rubbery modulus to optimize post-implantation memory shape properties of the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
    Inventors: Robin Shandas, Christopher M. Yakacki, Kenneth Gall, Alex E. Eckstein, Michael Lyons, Devatha P. Nair
  • Publication number: 20080015440
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting fluid flow. An ultrasound system comprises a signal generator providing ultrasound firing sequences applied to a linear array transducer. The transducer generating ultrasound energy applied to the fluid flow. A pre-processor comprises a digital RF data acquisition component receiving an RF signal from the transducer of back-scattered ultrasound energy and a B-mode image generation component for reconstructing images form the RF data. A post-processor executes particle image velocity (PIV) algorithms for generating velocity vectors indicative of the fluid flow. The sequences may have triangular waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
    Inventors: Robin Shandas, Hairong Zheng, Fuxing Zhang, Lingli Liu, Jean Hertzberg