Patents

Description: A method for non-invasive assessment of photoreceptor function in a mammalian subject comprises exposing a subject's eye to a visible light stimulus to initiate an intrinsic reflectance response in one or a population of photoreceptors and capturing multiple images of photoreceptor's intrinsic reflectance response to the stimulus. Patterns of variability in the intrinsic reflectance response of a single photoreceptor or population of photoreceptors are useful in diagnosis and treatment monitoring of an ocular condition, disease, disorder or a response to treatment for said ocular condition, disease or disorder.

Applicant:  The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

Collaborators:  Jessica I.W. Morgan, David H. Brainard, William S. Tuten

Patent No.:  11607125

Patent Issue Date:  Mar 21, 2023 

Description:  A medical instrument port is described for use with a surgical mask or other protective face covering. The medical instrument port provides a sealed pathway through which a medical instrument can be passed without exposing the clinician to aerosolized droplets expelled from the patient's respiratory system when the medical instrument is introduced into the patient's nasal and/or oral passages.

Applicant:  The Medical College of Wisconsin

Collaborators:  B. Tucker Woodson, David M. Poetker, Bonnie P. Freudinger, David R. Friedland, Todd A. Loehrl

Patent No.:  11911010

Patent Issue Date: Feb 27, 2024

Description:  A female incontinence control device includes a conduit having inlet and outlet openings for receiving, conducting and discharging urinary fluid. The device also includes structure for holding the conduit in position relative to the urethra such that the inlet opening is adapted to receive substantially all of the urinary fluids which drain from the bladder, and the outlet opening of the conduit is positioned outside the urethra. In one embodiment of the invention, the device can be entirely contained within the labia majora. In other embodiments of the invention the device extends through the urethra to the bladder. In all embodiments of the invention a drainage control valve is positioned within the conduit for location intermediate the urethral orifice and the labia majora for manual actuation to selectively control urinary flow through the conduit. The method of controlling female incontinence includes the steps of providing and positioning a conduit to receive the urinary fluid and manually actuating a valve in the conduit by squeezing the conduit, to allow accumulated urinary fluids to be drained from the urinary tract.

Applicant:  Cabot Technology Corporation

Collaborators:  Rebecca Y. Chin, Carl B. Barwick, Robert E. Trick

Patent No.:  5234409

Patent Issue Date: Aug 10, 1993

Description:  A stent for maintaining fluid flow through a body passage in a patient comprises a tubular member having an inlet at one end, an outlet at the other end and a lumen extending from the inlet to the outlet. The preferred stent also includes at least one projection on the outer wall of the tubular member which enters the wall of the body passage when the stent is rotated in the proper direction. A kit also is disclosed which includes the stent and a tool for grasping and turning the stent from outside the patient's body.

Applicant:  Medical Engineering Corporation

Collaborators:  Terri L. Tessmann, John A. Shimkus, Gerald T. Frisco 

Patent No.:  5167614

Patent Issue Date: Dec 1, 1992

Description:  A biodegradable, biocompatible, resorbable infusion stent comprising a terpolymer of: (a) L(-)lactide, (b) glycolide, and (c) epsilon-caprolactone. This invention includes a method for treating ureteral obstructions or impairments by utilizing a biodegradable, biocompatible, resorbable infusion stent, and a method for controlling the speed of resorption of the stent.

Applicant:  Medical Engineering Corporation

Collaborators:  Richard Sinclair

Patent No.:  5085629

Patent Issue Date: Feb 4, 1992

Description:  The catheter includes a user-controlled incontinence portion that is combinable with a fluid drainage member to permit continuous bladder drainage into a fluid collection member. The fluid drainage member can be detached from the incontinence portion of the catheter while the catheter is installed in the urethra and bladder to convert from a continuous drainage system to a user-controlled system. In some embodiments of the invention the fluid drainage member includes inflation lumen for inflating a bladder balloon and urethral cuff of the incontinence portion. In other embodiments of the invention the bladder engaging portion and the urethral cuff are non-inflatable and can be either compressed or distended to facilitate insertion in the urethra and bladder. A palpable valve means is palpable through the penis to an open condition to permit user-controlled bladder drainage. The valve means in several embodiments of the invention is maintained in a continuously open condition when the fluid drainage portion is joined to the incontinence portion. In another embodiment of the invention the valve means can still be palpated to an open or closed condition when the fluid drainage system is joined to the incontinence portion.

Applicant:  Medical Engineering Corporation

Collaborators:  Frank P. Gregory, Donald L. Anderson, Jr.

Patent No.:  4932938

Patent Issue Date: Jun 12, 1990

Description:. A ureteral stent has a main body that is soft and flexible and a proximal hook portion which is stiffer to minimize expulsion from the kidney.

Applicant:  Medical Engineering Corporation

Collaborators:  Donald V. Hillegass

Patent No.:  4874360

Patent Issue Date: Oct 17, 1989

Description:  A dual wire guidewire system for inserting a ureteral stent with a proximal end with a reduced opening into the ureter of a patient comprises an elongated tubular pusher wire, an elongated guidewire and a retaining member. The pusher wire is open at both ends and sized to fit in the lumen of the stent. The leading end of the pusher wire has a diameter larger than the reduced opening in the stent. The guidewire is sized to fit within the lumen of pusher wire and has a leading end which is smaller in diameter than the reduced opening in the stent. The retaining member keeps the leading end of the guidewire from leaving the lumen of the pusher wire. When an obstruction is encountered in the ureter, the retaining member is disengaged and the leading end of the guidewire is passed through the reduced opening and maneuvered past the obstruction. The pusher wire and stent then can be advanced over the guidewire past the obstruction.

Applicant:  Medical Engineering Corporation

Patent No.:  4787884

Patent Issue Date: Nov 29, 1988

Description:  Method and apparatus for enhancing the depth of the acetabulum to improve the containment of the femoral head, and the concepts of the invention are employed to correct an unstable hip joint, particularly as occurs with children. A synthetic extracapsular curvilinear prosthesis is affixed to the ilium by fasteners and the prosthesis includes a concave surface corresponding to the configuration of the acetabular socket wherein the prosthesis increases the depth of the acetabulum without disturbing the existing anatomy.

Collaborators:  Edward A. Millar, Roy G. Fink 

Patent No.:  4919672   

Patent Issue Date: Apr 24, 1990

Description:  A device for state-dependent pudendal nerve stimulation for bladder control in a subject and methods of making and using the same.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  12337174

Patent Issue Date: Jun 24, 2025

Description:  A neuromodulation apparatus and methods of using the neuromodulation apparatus for treating bladder dysfunction.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  12329967

Patent Issue Date: Jun 17, 2025

Description:  Systems and methods for targeted nerve stimulation. In particular, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining the location of electrode placement providing the most therapeutic benefit for a particular subject. The various embodiments disclosed herein include methods for identifying a target nerve having the strongest representation and/or the strongest subject perception associated with a peripheral nerve in a patient-specific manner.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  12064627

Patent Issue Date: Aug 20, 2024

Description:  Device for state-dependent pudendal nerve stimulation for bladder control in a subject and methods of making and using the same.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  11911614

Patent Issue Date: Feb 27, 2024

Description:  A neuromodulation apparatus and methods of using the neuromodulation apparatus for treating bladder dysfunction.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  11617886

Patent Issue Date: Apr 4, 2023

Description:  A device for state-dependent pudendal nerve stimulation for bladder control in a subject and methods of making and using the same.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  11278721

Patent Issue Date: Mar 22, 2022

Description:  A neuromodulation apparatus and methods of using the neuromodulation apparatus for treating bladder dysfunction.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Warren Grill, Christopher Langdale

Patent No.:  10722708

Patent Issue Date: Jul 28, 2020

Description:  Methods and composition for trans-tympanic membrane delivery of therapeutic agents such as antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and anti-biofilm agents to the middle ear for rapid, localized treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions associated with a middle ear infection. In particular, provided herein are cationic, anionic, and polymer-based nanoparticles that provide a platform for delivery of therapeutic cargo, as well as cationic, anionic, and polymer-based nanoparticles compositions for rapid, localized delivery of therapeutic agents to the middle ear.

Applicant:  The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.

Collaborators:  Joseph E. Kerschner, Wenzhou Hong, Gayatri Sharma

Patent No.:  12285519

Patent Issue Date: Apr 29, 2025

Description:  Embodiments of photoactivatable, lipid-based nanoparticles, as well as methods of making and using the nanoparticles. Pharmaceutical compositions including the nanoparticles also are disclosed. The lipid-based nanoparticles include a vesicle wall surrounding a cavity, wherein the vesicle wall includes (i) a lipid bilayer comprising 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC_8,9PC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and (ii) 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) within the lipid bilayer. The nanoparticles may further include an agent within the cavity.

Applicant:  The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services; Baylor College of Medicine

Collaborators:  Anu Puri, Robert P. Blumenthal, Darayash B. Tata, Mathias Viard

Patent No.:  10117942

Patent Issue Date: Nov 6, 2018

Description:  A method and system for non-contact fluorescent optical tomography using patterned illumination. The method comprises illuminating a surface of a medium with light from at least one excitation light source to project at least two patterns. Each pattern comprises at least one motif, wherein the medium comprises at least one fluorescent target. The method further comprises for each pattern, measuring excitation light reflected from the medium to generate an excitation data set. In addition, the method comprises, for each pattern, measuring fluorescence emitted from the at least one fluorescent target to generate a fluorescence data set. The method also comprises generating a 3D image of the at least one fluorescent target in the medium by applying iterative algorithm. The iterative algorithm minimizes the difference between a predicted data set based on a mathematical model, and each excitation data set and each fluorescence data set.

Applicant:  Baylor College of Medicine

Collaborators:  Eva Sevick-Muraca 

Patent No.:  08084753

Patent Issue Date: Dec 27, 2011

Description:   A particle and a method of manufacturing a particle that includes a complex, a paramagnetic entity, and a silica layer that encapsulates the paramagnetic entity and the complex. The dielectric layer of the particle encapsulates the complex and the paramagnetic entity such that at least a portion of an outer surface of the complex is covered by the paramagnetic entity. In addition, the particle may or may not include a fluorescent entity encapsulated within the dielectric layer. Also, the particle may or may not include a targeting entity covalently bonded to the silica layer.

Applicant:  William Marsh Rice University; Baylor College of Medicine

Collaborators:  Rizia Bardhan, Nancy J. Halas 

WIPO Publication No.:  US20110158915

WIPO Publication Date:  Jun 30, 2011

Description:  Blood component processing systems and methods are coupled to a blood component processing device. The systems and methods include a fluid circuit that comprises at least one fluid pressure actuated pump station, at least one fluid flow path communicating with the pump station, and at least one valve in the fluid flow path. A control module is sized and configured to interact with the fluid circuit. The control module includes an actuator to selectively apply fluid pressure to the pump station in concert with operation of the valve to pump fluid through the fluid flow path in response to a control program. A controller coupled to the control module includes the control program and a fluid circuit integrity test function. The fluid circuit integrity test function commands the control module to selectively apply fluid pressure to the pump station in concert with operation of the valve to introduce a fluid within a region of the fluid circuit and to confine the fluid within the region while applying fluid pressure to the pump chamber. The fluid circuit integrity test function generates an integrity output in response to sensing leakage of fluid from the region.

Applicant:  Baxter International Inc

Collaborators:  Tiffany Kline, Peter Bedard, Carson Ingo, Christopher Boniquit, Abinash Nayak

Patent No.:  6846161

Patent Issue Date: Jan 25, 2005

Description:  A medical treatment device that includes a plurality of digitally controlled medical treatment modules with a feature authorizing system to enable selected treatment modules in response to the entry and subsequent validation of a user's passcode.

Applicant:  Medical Research Laboratories, Inc.

Collaborators:  Brian J. Skelton, Dean L. Milani, Michael C. Gerrett, William J. Smirles, Raymond Bender

Patent No.:  6292692

Patent Issue Date: Sep 18, 2001

Description:  Split-crank pedaling devices and methods of operation support patient use and rehabilitation, particularly for stroke patients. A split-crank pedaling device includes first and second crank assemblies. First and second motors are operably connected to the first and second crank assemblies. A first shaft sensor produces an indication of a position of the shaft of the first crank assembly. A second shaft sensor produces an indication of a position of the shaft of the second crank assembly. A controller is communicatively connected to the first and second motors and the first and second shaft sensors and calculates a phase error between the positions of the first and second shafts and a predetermined phase relationship between the first and second shafts. The controller operates at least one of the first motor or the second motor to provide a supplemental torque to one of the first crank assembly and the second crank assembly.

Applicant:  Marquette University

Collaborators:  Sheila Schinder-Ivens, Domenic Busa

Patent No.:  10569125

Patent Issue Date: Feb 25, 2020

Description:  A system and method are provided for targeted training of a person walking on a powered backward moving surface. Kinematic information of motor performance, such as ankle position and velocity, is measured throughout one or more phases of a gait cycle with a detector. The gait phase is determined, and a resistive/assistive force is applied to the leg that differs depending upon the gait phase and the measured kinematic information.

Applicant:  Ming Wu, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Brian D. Schmit, T. George Hornby

Collaborators:  Ming Wu, T. George Hornby

Patent No.:  09713439

Patent Issue Date: Jul 25, 2017

Description:  A laparoscopic vacuum delivery device is used for placing an epimysial electrode at the phrenic nerve motor point. The vacuum delivery device is adapted to hold the epimysial electrode while the electrode is introduced through a port into the abdomen during a laparoscopic procedure. The electrode is forcibly held against the diaphragm muscle surface for test stimulation using a suction ported through the delivery device. Multiple test sites may be explored by controlling the suction to and the position of the delivery device. The electrode is secured at an optimal location on the diaphragm muscle using an endoscopic stapler.

Applicant:  Case Western Reserve University

Collaborators:  J. Thomas Mortimer

Patent No.:  5472438

Patent Issue Date: Dec 5, 1995

Description:  Synthetic vascular conduits are constructed to have patterned microchannels on the blood-contacting surface of the vascular conduits. Endothelial cells are seeded in the microchannels. The patterned microchannels protect the seeded endothelial cells from wall shear stress, increasing the retention of endothelial cells in the vascular conduits under physiological conditions. The microchannels are patterned to optimize total surface area protected from wall shear stress and/or endothelial cell migration distance between microchannels.

Applicant:  The Medical College of Wisconsin

Collaborators:  John F. LaDisa Jr., Adam J. Telega, Robert P. McCarthy, Hilda Jurkiewicz, Alexander Raskin, Alexander Armstrong

WIPO Publication No.:  WO/2025/065018

WIPO Publication Date:  Mar 27, 2025

Description:  A prosthetic heart valve is constructed from a flexible substrate that can be folded from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration, in which the prosthesis is operable as a prosthetic heart valve. The prosthetic heart valves can be designed as atrioventricular valves (e.g., tricuspid valve, mitral valve) or as semilunar valves (e.g., aortic valve, pulmonary valve).

Applicant:  The Medical College of Wisconsin

Collaborators:  Yang Wei William Yuan

WIPO Publication No.:  US20240033077

WIPO Publication Date:  Feb 1, 2024

Description:  Systems and methods for generating sound maps that depict the spatiotemporal distribution of sounds occurring within a subject. To this end, the sound maps may be four-dimensional ("4D") maps that depict the three-dimensional spatial distribution of acoustic sources within a subject, and also the temporal evolution of sounds measured at those acoustic sources over a duration of time.

Applicant:  Medical College of Wisconsin

Collaborators:  Shayan Shafiee

WIPO Publication No.:  US20220142600

WIPO Publication Date:  May 12, 2022

Description:  Magnetic vascular grafts and methods for their use

Applicant:  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Collaborators:  Gurpreet S. Sandhu, Dan Dragomir-Daescu, Susheil Uthamaraj

Patent No.:  10136986

Patent Issue Date: Nov 27, 2018

Description:  In some aspects, the invention pertains to self-expanding emboli-capturing centering devices for centering a medical instrument in a conduit within a patient. The centering devices comprise (a) an elongate shaft, (b) a self-expanding centering member having an open distal end and an inner surface forming a central lumen with a flared distal portion, the centering member being configured such that a fluid flowing in a distal-to-proximal direction that is received by the open distal end flows proximally along the flared distal portion of the central lumen before exiting the central lumen through one or more openings in a proximal portion of the centering member, and (c) a filter material configured to filter the fluid received by the open distal end of the centering member. Other aspects of the present disclosure pertain to systems and methods employing such centering devices.

Applicant:  Boston Scientific Scimed Inc, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Collaborators:  Roger W. McGowan, Alexander J. Wiedmann, Jennifer Reinhart, Patrick A. Haverkost, Timothy A. Ostroot, Gurpreet S. Sandhu, Daniel B. Spoon

Patent No.:  11166803

Patent Issue Date: Nov 9, 2021

Description:  Devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions such as valvular stenosis. For example, devices and methods by which a guide catheter can align itself with a blood flow stream to thereby help direct a guidewire or other elongate device transmitted from the guide catheter through an orifice of a heart valve.

Applicant:  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Collaborators:  Gurpreet S. Sandhu, Daniel B. Spoon

Patent No.:  10610361

Patent Issue Date: Apr 7, 2020

Description:  A medical device that includes a tubular member having a lumen defined therein and a distal end portion, the distal end portion defining a guidewire port. The medical device also includes an expandable frame disposed along the distal end portion of the tubular member, the expandable frame being designed to shift between a first configuration and an expanded configuration. The frame includes a base, an end region and a plurality of struts extending between the base and the end region, the struts defining a plurality of apertures along the frame. The medical device also includes a cover attached to a portion of the frame and the cover is configured to cover one or more of the plurality of apertures such that the frame will align the guidewire port with an opening in a heart valve when the frame is positioned within a body lumen.

Applicant:  Boston Scientific Scimed Inc, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Collaborators:  Gurpreet S. Sandhu, Daniel B. Spoon, Roger W. McGowan, Patrick A. Haverkost, Joel N. Groff, Lloyd Radman, Daniel Ross

WIPO Publication No:  US20170252152

WIPO Publication Date:  Sep 7, 2017 

Description:  Materials and methods for generating conformable stents at sites of stenosis in bodily vessels (e.g., blood vessels). The work is based in part on the development of stents that can be prepackaged in an uncured, fluid form into a desired configuration within a wrapper, combined with a placement device, inserted into a vessel and positioned at a site of stenosis, and cured to form a solid, rigid structure.

Applicant:  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Collaborators:  Gurpreet S. Sandhu, Dan Dragomir-Daescu, Susheil Uthamaraj

WIPO Publication No.:  US20170258611 

WIPO Publication Date:  Sep 14, 2017 

Description:  A composition is disclosed for orthopedic regeneration. The composition comprises bone extracellular matrix particles, wherein the particles have an average particle size in a range of 1 nanometer to 500 nanometers. The composition can further comprise a fluorescent dye associated with each particle of at least a portion of the particles. The composition can further comprise one or more bioactive agents associated with each particle of at least a portion of the particles. Also disclosed are methods of making the compositions.

Applicant:  Medical College of Wisconsin

Collaborators:  Austin Stellpflug, Christopher Hansen, Amit Joshi, Jacob Walls

Application No.:  US PASN 63/619,634; US2511068

Application File Date:  Jan 10, 2024 

Description:  Nanogels and methods of synthesizing and using these nanogels. The nanogels are formed by mixing a building block (e.g., polymer), crosslinker, preferably a target (e.g., biomedical compound or molecule), and a solvent in a multi-inlet vortex mixer, so as to cause the polymer and crosslinker to react and form a chemically crosslinked polymer network. In embodiments including a target, the target will be interspersed in and among that network and can be physically embedded and/or chemically bound therein.

Applicant:  The Curators of the University of Missouri

Collaborators:  Da Huang

Patent No.:  11925705 

Patent Issue Date: Mar 12, 2024

Description:  Pilocarpine ionic liquid analogs are useful in the treatment of ophthalmological disorders such as glaucoma.

Applicant:  Virginia Commonwealth University, Intellectual Property Foundation

Collaborators:  Juan Wang

Patent No.:  11845741

Patent Issue Date:  Dec 19, 2023

Description: Carbohydrate-functionalized nanoparticles and methods of treating cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis

Applicants:  Virginia Commonwealth University Intellectual Property Foundation

Collaborators:  Shobha Ghosh, Hongliang He, Michael Lancina

Patent No.:  11801309

Patent Issue Date: Oct 31, 2023

Description:  Nanoparticle conjugated synthetic opioid prodrugs that target the peripheral mu opioid receptor (MOR). The prodrugs exhibit long-lived bioavailability, do not compromise the analgesic effects of opioids administered for pain relief (and in some cases can be used for pain relief), and do not induce opioid withdrawal symptoms, when their use is discontinued. Certain of the prodrugs are especially useful for the prevention and/or treatment of unwanted opioid-induced side effects such as opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

Applicants:  Virginia Commonwealth University

Collaborators:  Yan Zhang, Dana Selly, William Dewey, Hamid Akbarali

Patent No.:  11590241

Patent Issue Date: Feb 28, 2023

Description:  A polymer is provided, comprising a subunit having a formula wherein A, B, C, D, a, b, c, d, and p are defined. Compositions, methods of making, and methods of use are provided.

Applicant:  Virginia Commonwealth University

Collaborators:  Olga Zolotarskaya, Kenneth J. Wynne, Kristoffer Valerie

Patent No.:  09421276

Patent Issue Date: Aug 23, 2016

Description:  A fiber optic probe includes a first diffuse reflectance spectroscopy fiber, a second diffuse reflectance spectroscopy fiber, and a temperature sensor at a distal end of a temperature sensor fiber. Other embodiments further include a treatment fiber for delivering a high optical power density of light to a tumor and a dosimetry fiber for monitoring the light flux of the treatment fiber. Other embodiments utilize an image-guidance step in a method of using the fiber optic probe.

Applicant:  The University of Akron

Collaborators:  Vivek K. Nagarajan

Patent No.:  10687895

Patent Issue Date: Jun 23, 2020

Description:  A smart fiber-optic sensor system for use with robotic surgical systems performs optical spectroscopy using a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) sensing channel, a self-calibration (SC) channel, a pressure-sensing channel, and a temperature sensing channel. During use of the fiber-optic sensor during a laparoscopic procedure, the pressure-sensing channel ensures that the fiber-optic sensor is maintained in suitable contact with the target tissue being treated. In addition, the temperature sensor is used to ensure that the target tissue does not exceed a desired temperature from the use of an electrosurgical cutting device during the laparoscopic procedure, so as to prevent burning or charring damage at the target tissue.

Applicant:  The University of Akron

Collaborators:  Erik D. Engeberg

Publication No.:  US20150141768  

Publication Date:  May 21, 2015 

Description:  A multimodal endoscope apparatus includes optical components (couplers, collimators, mirrors, beam splitters, filters and the like) structured to work together to interact with a multimodal endoscope probe to provide at least two imaging modalities selected from fluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and photoacoustic imaging. The multimodal endoscope probe includes a fiber optic imaging bundle including a multitude of optical fibers. In embodiments employing photoacoustic imaging, the multimodal endoscope probe further includes a polymer-Fabry-Perot interferometer. In some embodiments, a Galvo scanner and fiber collimator are included and are together capable of directing light to a single optical fiber of the multitude optical fibers. The system is modular in some embodiments, allowing for switching of some components.

Applicant:  The University of Akron

Patent No.:  10537235

Patent Issue Date: Jan 21, 2020

Description:  A smartphone endoscope system includes a smartphone with first and second imaging sensors, and an imaging optics attachment. The imaging optics attachment includes a first and second imaging apparatus, the first imaging apparatus including a first light source, a beam splitter, an objective lens, and a fiber optic imaging bundle, wherein the fiber optic imaging bundle delivers excitation light to a target which emits a fluorescence emission and a reflectance emission both collected by the fiber optic imaging bundle and transmitted to the first imaging sensor. The second imaging apparatus includes a second light source, a DRS source fiber delivering broadband light to the target which produces a diffuse reflectance emission, a DRS detection fiber, a collimator, a slit, and a transmission grating wherein the transmission grating diffracts diffuse reflectance emission and creates diffracted light which is transmitted to a second imaging sensor.

Applicant:  The University of Akron

Collaborators:  Vivek K. Nagarajan

Patent No.:  10524647

Patent Issue Date: Jan 7, 2020

Description:  Systems and methods for spectral analysis of a tissue mass using an instrument, an optical probe, and a Monte Carlo algorithm or a diffusion algorithm are provided. According to one method, an instrument is inserted into a tissue mass. A fiber optic probe is applied via the instrument into the tissue mass. Turbid spectral data of the tissue mass is measured using the fiber probe. The turbid spectral data is converted to absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data via a Monte Carlo algorithm or diffusion algorithm. Biomarker concentrations in the tissue mass are quantified using the absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Nirmala Ramanujam, Jonathon Q. Brown

Patent No.:  09820655

Patent Issue Date: Nov 21, 2017

Description:  Smart fiber optic sensors, systems, and methods for performing quantitative optical spectroscopy are disclosed. In one embodiment, smart fiber optic sensor can include a sensing channel, a calibration channel, and a pressure sensing channel. External force or pressure can be calculated at pressure sensing channel for monitoring and controlling pressure at a sensor-specimen interface thereby ensuring more accurate specimen spectral data is collected. Contact pressure can be adjusted to remain within a specified range. A calibration light of the calibration channel and an illumination light of the sensing channel can be generated simultaneously from a shared light source. Pressure sensing channel can transmit light from a second light source and collect pressure spectral data.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Nirmala Ramanujam

Patent No.:  09091637

Patent Issue Date: Jul 28, 2015

Description:  Systems and methods for performing optical spectroscopy using a self-calibrating fiber optic probe are disclosed. One self-calibrating fiber optic probe includes a sensing channel for transmitting illumination light to a specimen and for collecting spectral data of the specimen. The spectral data includes the illumination light diffusely reflected from the specimen at one or more wavelengths. The self-calibrating fiber optic probe may also include a calibration channel for transmitting calibration light. The calibration light and the illumination light are generated simultaneously from a common light source. The calibration channel collects calibration spectral data associated with the calibration light contemporaneously with the collection of the spectral data of the specimen.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Nirmala Ramanujam

Patent No.:  08804115

Patent Issue Date: Aug 12, 2014

Description:  A diffuse reflectance spectroscopy system for quantifying electromagnetic absorption and scattering in a tissue is provided. Also provided are optical probes and methods for imaging a tissue mass. In some embodiments, the methods include the steps of contacting a tissue mass with an optical probe, wherein the optical probe includes at least one entity for emitting light that interacts with a tissue mass and then is remitted to a collecting entity, for collecting the light that has interacted with the tissue mass, wherein the collecting entity comprises a detector comprising one or more photodiodes; measuring turbid spectral data of the tissue mass using the optical probe; converting the turbid spectral data to at least one of absorption and scattering spectral data via a Monte Carlo algorithm or a diffusion algorithm; and quantifying tissue compositions and scatterer size in a tissue mass using the at least one of absorption and scattering spectral data.

Applicant:  Duke University

Collaborators:  Nirmala Ramanujam, Justin Y. Lo 

Publication No.:  US20110105865   

Publication Date:  May 5, 2011

Description:  The invention relates to an optical assay system having a multi-probe imaging array that orients a plurality of probes with respect to one another and to a sample. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a multi-probe imaging array for contacting biological samples and simultaneously illuminating a plurality of locations on the biological sample and collecting the reflected radiation from the locations. The multi-probe imaging array can be used for the rapid imaging of biological samples, for example, during surgery.

Collaborators:  Nirmala Ramanujam, Jonathon Q. Brown

Publication No.:  US20110059016

Publication Date:  Mar 10, 2011  

Description:  Provisional patent application; details not available. 

Collaborators:  Tongtong Lu, Dong Hye Ye

Description:  Provisional patent applications; details not available. 

Collaborators:  Joseph Kerschner, Tongtong Lu