Cheryl Renee Blanchard

US Patent:

6371984, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Sep 13, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/394783

Inventors:

Mark E. Van Dyke - Fair Oaks Ranch TX
Cheryl R. Blanchard - San Antonio TX
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61F 202

US Classification:

623 1111, 623 2364, 623 2371

Abstract:

A keratin hydrogel-filled implantable prosthetic device. One device is a breast implant for augmenting or reconstructing a human breast including an envelope containing a keratin hydrogel. One keratin hydrogel is formed from a solid precursor which forms a keratin hydrogel upon addition of water. One source of keratin is human hair. In one method, an envelope suitable for implantation and a solid keratin hydrogel precursor are provided. The solid can be in fibrous or powder form. The solid precursor can be inserted into the envelope interior. A small incision near the breast can be made and the envelope inserted into the incision. After insertion, water can be injected into the envelope interior, preferably through the incision and through a self-sealing port in the envelope. In one method, the implant is provided as a kit, with the envelope and keratin hydrogel provided. The hydrogel can be injected into the envelope either before or after insertion into the breast area.

US Patent:

6379690, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Dec 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/736957

Inventors:

Cheryl R. Blanchard - Warsaw IN
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61F 1300

US Classification:

424422, 424400, 424423, 424445, 514 21, 514944, 530357, 530842

Abstract:

A keratin hydrogel which can be used as a wound dressing and cell scaffolding. The keratin hydrogel is formed from clean, washed hair by partially oxidizing a significant percentage of disulfide linkages to form cysteic acid groups, while some disulfide linkages remain intact. The partially oxidized hair is treated with a reducing agent, thereby reducing most of the remaining disulfide linkages to cysteine-thioglycollate disulfide and cysteine groups. A soluble fraction of hair is collected and oxidized, such that the reduced sulfur groups are allowed to reform disulfide linkages, thereby binding the keratin together. The cysteic acid groups remain, providing hydrophilic sites within the hydrogel. A higher degree of partial oxidation results in a greater abundance of hydrophilic cysteic acid groups in the hydrogel.

US Patent:

RE37718, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Apr 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/820813

Inventors:

Cheryl Blanchard - San Antonio TX
Geoffrey Dearnaley - San Antonio TX
James Lankford, Jr. - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Southwest Research Institute - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61F 228

US Classification:

424423, 427 226, 427 227, 427523, 427527, 427529, 623 2356

Abstract:

The present invention provides for faster and stronger tissue-implant bonding by treating a ceramic implant with an ion beam to modify the surface of the ceramic. The surface modification can give the ceramic improved ion-exchange properties depending upon the particular ceramic and the type of ions used. In a preferred embodiment, a bioactive ceramic orthopaedic, dental, or soft tissue implant is bombarded with a beam of cations. When implanted in the body, the surface modification causes an increase in the release of critical ions, such as calcium or phosphorus, from the surface of the ceramic implant, and thereby accelerates implant-tissue bond formation.

US Patent:

6432435, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/685315

Inventors:

Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Cheryl R. Blanchard - San Antonio TX
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61F 1300

US Classification:

424422, 424400, 424426, 424443, 514 21, 525 541, 560357

Abstract:

Methods for producing thin keratin films, sheets, and bulk materials, and products formed using these methods. One method includes providing hair, reducing the hair such that the disulfide linkages are broken and free cysteine thiol groups formed, separating out a more soluble keratin fraction in solution, forming a thin layer from the more soluble fraction, and air drying the keratin fraction in the presence of oxygen, thereby forming new disulfide bonds imparting strength to the resulting thin keratin film. One method includes reducing hair by heating the hair under nitrogen in an ammonium hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate solution followed by centrifuging and collecting the supernatant containing the more soluble keratin fraction. The more soluble keratin in this method is precipitated using HCI, removed, and resuspended in ammonium hydroxide. The keratin solution thus formed is poured onto a flat surface and allowed to air dry into a thin keratin film.

US Patent:

6461628, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587157

Inventors:

Cheryl R. Blanchard - San Antonio TX
Mark E. Van Dyke - Fair Oaks Ranch TX
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A01N 2534

US Classification:

424402, 424443, 424449, 514 2, 514 21

Abstract:

A hydratable, highly absorbent keratin solid fiber or powder capable of absorbing a large weight excess of water may be produced by partially oxidizing hair keratin disulfide bonds to sulfonic acid residues and reacting the sulfonic acid residues with a cation. The neutralized suspension can be filtered, washed, and dried, leaving keratin solid which can be shredded into fibers and further ground into powder. Addition of water to the solid produces a hydrogel. The powder or hydrogel may be useful as an absorbent material, as a therapeutic for skin, or as an excipient. The keratin materials can be incorporated into nonwoven films. The hydrogel may be used as biocompatible viscoelastic filler for implant applications. Both the hydrogel and nonwoven materials are also suitable for use as tissue engineering scaffolds.

US Patent:

6544548, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Aug 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/638643

Inventors:

Mark E. Van Dyke - Fair Oaks Ranch TX
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Cheryl R. Blanchard - San Antonio TX
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61F 1300

US Classification:

424449, 424400, 424 701, 424 7011, 424 7012, 424 7021, 424 7022, 424 7024, 424 7027, 424401, 424402, 424443, 514 2, 514 21

Abstract:

A hydratable, highly absorbent keratin solid fiber or powder capable of absorbing a large weight excess of water may be produced by partially oxidizing hair keratin disulfide bonds to sulfonic acid residues and reacting the sulfonic acid residues with a cation. The neutralized suspension can be filtered, washed, and dried, leaving keratin solid which can be shredded into fibers and further ground into powder. Addition of water to the solid produces a hydrogel. The powder or hydrogel may be useful as an absorbent material, as a therapeutic for skin, or as an excipient. The keratin materials can be incorporated into nonwoven films. The hydrogel can be used as a biocompatible viscoelastic filler for implant applications. Another use for the absorbent keratin and keratin hydrogel is as an excipient in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

US Patent:

6649740, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Mar 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/516755

Inventors:

Robert Allen Smith - Jackson MS
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX
Mark E. Van Dyke - Fair Oaks Ranch TX
Cheryl R. Blanchard - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61K 3817

US Classification:

530357, 530355, 530842, 530418, 530422, 530423, 514 2, 73 73, 106900

Abstract:

A hydratable oxidized keratin composition comprising one or more metal ion species capable of absorbing water to form a hydrogel. The keratin material is useful as a soil amendment providing organic and inorganic nutrients. The keratin material is also useful as a nutrient source in the bioremediation of toxic contaminants soils and liquids.

US Patent:

6849092, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Mar 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/802113

Inventors:

Mark E. Van Dyke - Fair Oaks Ranch TX, US
Cheryl R. Blanchard - Warsaw IN, US
Scott F. Timmons - San Antonio TX, US
Robert A. Smith - Jackson MS, US

Assignee:

Keraplast Technologies, Ltd. - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

A61F 244

US Classification:

623 1712, 623 1716

Abstract:

A keratin hydrogel-filled implantable prosthetic device. One device is a breast implant for augmenting or reconstructing a human breast including an envelope containing a keratin hydrogel. One keratin hydrogel is formed from a solid precursor which forms a keratin hydrogel upon addition of water. One source of keratin is human hair. In one method, an envelope suitable for implantation and a solid keratin hydrogel precursor are provided. The solid can be in fibrous or powder form. The solid precursor can be inserted into the envelope interior. A small incision near the breast can be made and the envelope inserted into the incision. After insertion, water can be injected into the envelope interior, preferably through the incision and through a self-sealing port in the envelope. In one method, the implant is provided as a kit, with the envelope and keratin hydrogel provided. The hydrogel can be injected into the envelope either before or after insertion into the breast area.