Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Needham

Thomas E. Needham 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: 6190699
    Abstract: The present invention describes a surprising new and effective pharmaceutical composition comprising microparticles and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In particular, the present invention describes a pharmaceutical composition containing microparticles off a matrix material into which is infused a therapeutic agent. The present invention further provides a method of infusing a therapeutic agent such as a protein or peptide into a matrix material to form microparticles containing said therapeutic agent by employing a compressed solvent which is normally gaseous at ambient temperature and pressure. A method is also disclosed of treating or preventing a disease in a mammal by administering to said mammal through a mucosal membrane an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising microparticles containing a therapeutic agent which effectively treats the disease or disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: NZL Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A. Luzzi, Thomas E. Needham, Zia Hossein, Polireddy Dondeti
  • Patent number: 6106856
    Abstract: A transdermal formulation of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists and specifically nifedipine, nimodipine and nitrendipine. The calcium antagonists are dispersed in a mixed liquid. The mixed liquid comprises varying mole fractions of cis-oleic acid and dimethylisosorbide dispersed in a polypropylene glycol base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Emilio Squillante, Anita Nanda, Thomas E. Needham, Hossein Zia
  • Patent number: 6090368
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition of a water soluble drug admixed with an aqueous bioadhesive cellulosic polymer containing microcrystalline particles. When sprayed (via a conventional spray device) into the nose, drug molecules are retained in contact with the nasal membrane. The drug composition comprises ketorolac tromethamine in an aqueous nasal polymeric spray formulation that without the addition of any permeation enhancer will promote drug absorption and provides absolute drug bioavailability greater than 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Hossein Zia, Thomas E. Needham, Muhammad Quadir
  • Patent number: 5024657
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the safe, passive reconstruction of a drug or other beneficial agent, without requiring manual reconstitution steps. The apparatus includes a housing, preferably having a receptacle "in-line" in an administration set and forming part of an intravenous delivery system, and a cartridge adapted for receiving a beneficial agent or beneficial agent and carrier. The cartridge is plugged into the receptacle to initiate reconstitution of the agent. The apparatus creates first and second delivery modes, in which the delivery rate of the agent to a patient is independent from and dependent upon, respectively, the fluid flow rate through the intravenous delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Needham, Jeremy C. Wright, Steve Pearson, Rao Chilamkurti, Clinton V. Kopp