Patents by Inventor Ward Small IV

Ward Small IV 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: 20240261082
    Abstract: A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, William J. Benett, Jonathan Hartman, David Saloner
  • Publication number: 20240008875
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, William J. Benett, Jason M. Ortega, Duncan J. Maitland, Jonathan Hartman
  • Patent number: 11864989
    Abstract: A system comprising first, second, and third shape memory polymers (SMPs); wherein (a) the first SMP is a biodegradable open cell foam that includes a first channel; (b) the second SMP includes a second channel and is included in the first channel; (c) the foam is in a first state and is configured to expand to a second state, radially outward from the second foam, in response to thermal stimulus; (d) the third SMP is between the first and second SMPs and includes a stent having a first strut that includes the third SMP and a second strut that includes the third SMP; and (e) each of the first, second, and third SMPs is coupled to a wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, William J. Benett, Jonathan Hartman, David Saloner
  • Patent number: 11771435
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, William J. Benett, Jason M. Ortega, Duncan J. Maitland, Jonathan Hartman
  • Publication number: 20230098681
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Landon D. Nash, Duncan J. Maitland, Nicole Docherty, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Jason Ortega, Pooja Singhal
  • Publication number: 20220370086
    Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Szafron, Duncan Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, Andrea D. Muschenborn
  • Patent number: 11459439
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Landon D. Nash, Duncan J. Maitland, Nicole Docherty, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Jason Ortega, Pooja Singhal
  • Patent number: 11406401
    Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Jason Szafron, Duncan Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, Andrea D. Muschenborn
  • Publication number: 20220064481
    Abstract: A product includes a porous three-dimensional printed structure having printed filaments arranged in a geometric pattern. The printed filaments include a material having a plurality of gas-filled microballoons. The printed structure has hierarchical porosity including an inter-filament porosity defined by the arrangement of the printed filaments, and an intra-filament porosity of the material. The intra-filament porosity is defined by the plurality of gas-filled microballoons in the material of the printed filament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jennifer Nicole Rodriguez, Eric B. Duoss, Alexandra Golobic, Jeremy M. Lenhardt, Lemuel Perez Perez, Ward Small, IV, Thomas S. Wilson, Amanda Wu, Timothy Dexter Yee, Stephanie Schulze
  • Publication number: 20210137527
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, William J. Benett, Jason M. Ortega, Duncan J. Maitland, Jonathan Hartman
  • Publication number: 20210022847
    Abstract: A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, William J. Benett, Jonathan Hartman, David Saloner
  • Patent number: 10898199
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, William J. Benett, Jason M. Ortega, Duncan J. Maitland, Jonathan Hartman
  • Publication number: 20200362134
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Landon D. Nash, Duncan J. Maitland, Nicole Docherty, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Jason Ortega, Pooja Singhal
  • Patent number: 10806561
    Abstract: A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, William J. Benett, Jonathan Hartman, David A. Saloner
  • Patent number: 10781294
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Landon D. Nash, Duncan J. Maitland, Nicole Docherty, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Jason Ortega, Pooja Singhal
  • Publication number: 20200107841
    Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Szafron, Duncan Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, Andrea D. Muschenborn
  • Patent number: 10499935
    Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Szafron, Duncan Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick Buckley, Andrea D. Muschenborn
  • Publication number: 20190021838
    Abstract: A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland, Ward Small, IV, Patrick R. Buckley, William J. Benett, Jonathan Hartman, David A. Saloner
  • Patent number: 10161390
    Abstract: A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Marion, III, Jane P. Bearinger, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Duncan J. Maitland
  • Patent number: 10107270
    Abstract: A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Marion, III, Jane P. Bearinger, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Duncan J. Maitland