Michael Barbella, Managing Editor06.01.22
ENDRA Life Sciences Inc. has fortified its intellectual property portfolio with the addition of four new TAEUS-related patents. One of the newly issued U.S. patents, which protects the ability to transfer data without an internet connection, expands potential licensing opportunities for the company.
The four patents—two in the United States and two in China—include:
ENDRA Life Sciences developed the Thermo Acoustic Enhanced UltraSound (TAEUS), a technology designed to visualize tissue like MRI, but at 1/50 th the cost and at the point of patient care. TAEUS aims to work in concert with 400,000 cart-based ultrasound systems in use globally today. TAEUS is initially focused on measuring fat in the liver as a means to assess and monitor Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and inflammation (NASH)—chronic liver conditions that affect more than 1 billion people globally, and for which there are no practical diagnostic tools. Beyond the liver, ENDRA is exploring several other clinical applications of TAEUS , including visualization of tissue temperature during energy-based surgical procedures.
The four patents—two in the United States and two in China—include:
- U.S. Patent No. 11314617 (the "617 patent”), titled, “Methods and Systems for Exchange of Equipment Performance Data,” is ENDRA’s first patent that protects its proprietary method and system for acquiring, analyzing, and sharing data in the cloud. Although this technology was developed for the TAEUS system, it has broad applicability within the healthcare industry and as such, represents an additional licensing opportunity. The company has filed another application to complement the 617 patent, which is expected to form the keystone of a patent family.
- U.S. Patent No. 11304606, titled, “Method and System for Enhancing RF Energy Delivery During Thermoacoustic Imaging,” relates to optimizing the thermoacoustic energy source, a radiofrequency emitter, to provide a stronger and clearer signal that improves thermoacoustic measurements.
- Chinese Patent No. ZL 2019 8 00868104 (the "104 patent”), titled, “Method and System for Monitoring Tissue Temperature,” relates to a novel method and system for monitoring tissue temperature during surgical procedures. ENDRA expects its TAEUS system to be effective for both thermotherapy and cryotherapy procedures. The 104 patent is linked to its parent, U.S. Patent No. 10631734B1.
- Chinese Patent No. ZL 2019 8 00859567 (the "567 patent”), titled, “Method and System for Estimating Fractional Fat Content of an Object of Interest,” relates to a novel method for determining the fractional fat content of an object, such as a person’s liver. This method utilizes a radiofrequency applicator that is a critical component of the TAEUS system. The 567 patent is linked to its parent, U.S. Patent No. 11051699B2.
ENDRA Life Sciences developed the Thermo Acoustic Enhanced UltraSound (TAEUS), a technology designed to visualize tissue like MRI, but at 1/50 th the cost and at the point of patient care. TAEUS aims to work in concert with 400,000 cart-based ultrasound systems in use globally today. TAEUS is initially focused on measuring fat in the liver as a means to assess and monitor Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and inflammation (NASH)—chronic liver conditions that affect more than 1 billion people globally, and for which there are no practical diagnostic tools. Beyond the liver, ENDRA is exploring several other clinical applications of TAEUS , including visualization of tissue temperature during energy-based surgical procedures.