Groups awarded new patents

Two new patents have been awarded to two groups of researchers from CU Anschutz, CU Denver and CU-Boulder.

One patent is for improved shape memory polymers, a “smart material” used in many next-generation implantable medical devices. The inventors on the patent are Christopher Bowman, CU-Boulder, chemical and biological engineering; Robin Shandas, CU Denver, bioengineering, and CU Anschutz, Pediatrics; Devatha Nair, CU Anschutz, ophthalmology; and former chemical and biological engineering research associate Neil Cramer.

U.S. 8,846,777, “Thiol-vinyl and thiol-yne systems for shape memory polymers,” was issued on Sept. 30, 2014.

Another collaboration between CU Anschutz and CU-Boulder has resulted in a patent for a technique to non-invasively detect complement-mediated inflammation using nanoparticles. This method could reduce the need for frequent biopsies to diagnose and monitor inflammatory diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and many others.

This research group was led by Joshua Thurman, CU School of Medicine, renal diseases and hypertension, University of Colorado Hospital. The team included CU Anschutz researchers Natalie Serkova, School of Medicine, anesthesiology/pharmacology/radiology; V. Michael Holers, School of Medicine, rheumatology, Barbara Davis Center; Conrad Stoldt, CU-Boulder, mechanical engineering/materials Science and engineering; and former CU-Boulder research assistant Brian Larsen.

TTO began prosecuting this patent on behalf of CU in 2009. U.S. 8,840,868, “Non-Invasive Detection of Complement-Mediated Inflammation Using CR2-Targeted Nanoparticles,” was issued on Sept. 23, 2014.