Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Zewert

Thomas E. Zewert 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: 6085115
    Abstract: A method for measuring biopotential of an organism includes electroporating a portion of a tissue surface of the organism. The biopotential of the organism is then measured with electrodes at the electroporated portion of the organism. The portion of the organism that is electroporated can be, for example, a skin surface of the organism. A resistance-decreasing agent, such as heparin, sodium thiosulfate, thioglycolic acid solution and dithioglycolic acid can be applied to the tissue surface to facilitate reduction in electrical resistance. Another example of a resistance-decreasing agent is a keratin-disrupting agent, such as sulforhodamine. Examples of suitable biopotential measurements include electrocardiographic, electroencephalographic, electromyographic, electrohysterographic and elctrokymographic measurements. The method decreases skin resistance to diminish unwanted electrical voltages that compete with biopotential measurements, thereby significantly improving the biopotential measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institite of Technology
    Inventors: James C. Weaver, Uwe Pliquett, Rita Vanbever, Thiruvallur R. Gowrishankar, Thomas E. Zewert
  • Patent number: 5911223
    Abstract: A method of modifying epidermis for transport of a material by electroporation includes applying to epidermis an agent that, upon entry into the epidermis, will modify the epidermis to thereby cause and altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. Typically, the altered rate will be an increased rate of transport. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the modifying agent enters the electroporated epidermis, thereby modifying the epidermis to cause an altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. In another embodiment, the modifying agent can modify the epidermis to enable measurement and/or monitoring of physiological conditions or change within or beneath the epidermis. The modifying agents can also be employed to facilitate discharge of fluids from within an organism, such as by providing pathways for discharge of fluids from a tumor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James C. Weaver, Tani Chen, Christopher Cullander, Richard Guy, Robert S. Langer, Thomas E. Zewert, Uwe Pliquett, Rita Vanbever, Mark R. Prausnitz
  • Patent number: 5749847
    Abstract: A method for delivering a nucleotide into an organism includes applying a composition which includes a nucleotide component to epidermis of the organism. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the composition enters or passes across the epidermis, thereby delivering the nucleotide into the organism. An example of a suitable nucleotide which can be delivered by the method of the invention includes antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for treatment of melanomas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Thomas E. Zewert, Uwe Pliquett, Robert S. Langer, James C. Weaver