Patents by Inventor Sarah Blair

Sarah Blair 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: 20240081941
    Abstract: Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive, non-radioactive, and low cost technology for diagnosis and identification of implantable medical devices in real time. Developing new ultrasound activated coatings is important to broaden the utility of in vivo marking by ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound responsive macro-phase segregated micro-composite thin films were developed to be coated on medical devices composed of multiple materials and with multiple shapes and varying surface area. The macro-phase segregated films having silica micro-shells in polycyanoacrylate produces strong color Doppler signals with the use of a standard clinical ultrasound transducer. Electron microscopy showed a macro-phase separation during slow curing of the cyanoacrylate adhesive, as air-filled silica micro-shells were driven to the surface of the film. The air sealed in the hollow space of the silica shells acted as an ultrasound contrast agent and echo decorrelation of air exposed to ultrasound waves produces color Doppler signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Jian Yang, Alexander Liberman, James Wang, Christopher Barback, Natalie Mendez, Erin Ward, Sarah Blair, Andrew C. Kummel, Tsai-Wen Sung, William C. Trogler
  • Patent number: 11813123
    Abstract: Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive, non-radioactive, and low cost technology for diagnosis and identification of implantable medical devices in real time. Developing new ultrasound activated coatings is important to broaden the utility of in vivo marking by ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound responsive macro-phase segregated micro-composite thin films were developed to be coated on medical devices composed of multiple materials and with multiple shapes and varying surface area. The macro-phase segregated in films having silica micro-shells in polycyanoacrylate produces strong color Doppler signals with the use of a standard clinical ultrasound transducer. Electron microscopy showed a macro-phase separation during slow curing of the cyanoacrylate adhesive, as air-filled silica micro-shells were driven to the surface of the film. The air sealed in the hollow space of the silica shells acted as an ultrasound contrast agent and echo decorrelation of air exposed to ultrasound waves produces color Doppler signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jian Yang, Alexander Liberman, James Wang, Christopher Barback, Natalie Mendez, Erin Ward, Sarah Blair, Andrew C. Kummel, Tsai-Wen Sung, William C. Trogler
  • Patent number: 11338069
    Abstract: A composition for coating a medical device and a coated medical device are provided. The composition includes a polymeric matrix having non-toxic quantum dots or a fluorophore or both. The polymeric matrix contains the quantum dots or fluorophore and binds as a coating to the medical device. Coated medical devices can be readily identified within or outside of a body and in open or laparoscopically surgeries, greatly reducing or eliminating the risk of a retained foreign object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the Unversity of California
    Inventors: Jian Yang, James Wang, Christopher Barback, Erin Ward, Natalie Mendez, Sarah Blair, Andrew C. Kummel, William C. Trogler, Tsai W. Sung
  • Publication number: 20190381218
    Abstract: A composition for coating a medical device and a coated medical device are provided. The composition includes a polymeric matrix having non-toxic quantum dots or a fluorophore or both. The polymeric matrix contains the quantum dots or fluorophore and binds as a coating to the medical device. Coated medical devices can be readily identified within or outside of a body and in open or laparascopical surgeries, greatly reducing or eliminating the risk of a retained foreign object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Jian Yang, James Wang, Christopher Barback, Erin Ward, Natalie Mendez, Sarah Blair, Andrew C. Kummel, William C. Trogler
  • Publication number: 20190192253
    Abstract: Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive, non-radioactive, and low cost technology for diagnosis and identification of implantable medical devices in real time. Developing new ultrasound activated coatings is important to broaden the utility of in vivo marking by ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound responsive macro-phase segregated micro-composite thin films were developed to be coated on medical devices composed of multiple materials and with multiple shapes and varying surface area. The macro-phase segregated in films having silica micro-shells in polycyanoacrylate produces strong color Doppler signals with the use of a standard clinical ultrasound transducer. Electron microscopy showed a macro-phase separation during slow curing of the cyanoacrylate adhesive, as air-filled silica micro-shells were driven to the surface of the film. The air sealed in the hollow space of the silica shells acted as an ultrasound contrast agent and echo decorrelation of air exposed to ultrasound waves produces color Doppler signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jian Yang, Alexander Liberman, James Wang, Christopher Barback, Natalie Mendez, Erin Ward, Sarah Blair, Andrew C. Kummel, Tsai-Wen Sung, William C. Trogler
  • Publication number: 20180099050
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods using degradable silica nanoshells for local intra-operative ultrasound marking; tumor detection via systemic injection; and nanoshell enhanced ultrasonic ablation of tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: William C. Trogler, Andrew C. Kummel, Zhe Wu, Sarah Blair, Robert F. Mattrey, Alexander Liberman, Casey N. Ta
  • Publication number: 20150273061
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods using degradable silica nanoshells for local intra-operative ultrasound marking; tumor detection via systemic injection; and nanoshell enhanced ultrasonic ablation of tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: William C. Trogler, Andrew C. Kummel, Zhe Wu, Sarah Blair, Robert F. Mattrey, Alexander Liberman, Casey N. Ta
  • Patent number: D739764
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventors: Sarah Blair, Jeffrey Darling