Cleveland Clinic Awarded Four New Patents for New Medical Devices

Cleveland Clinic recently received four U.S. patents for innovations in ophthalmology, cardiology and for developing a support pad for surgical patients.

The first patent (United States Patent No. 7,172,874) was received for a new method of screening and diagnosing age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in individuals 65 and older. The new technique helps determine if a patient has or is at risk for developing age-related macular degeneration.

The diagnostic method was developed by Joe G. Hollyfield, Ph.D., in collaboration with John W. Crabb, Ph.D., and Xiaorong Gu at Cleveland Clinic, and Robert G. Salomon, Ph.D., a researcher at Case Western Reserve University.

A second patent (United States Patent No. 7,169,106) was issued for a new device capable of measuring intraocular pressure (IOP), or the fluid pressure inside the eye, using a miniature sensor that is mounted on a contact lens. The device can be used to monitor intraocular pressure in patients who have undergone surgery for glaucoma. The device was developed by researchers Aaron Fleischman, Ph.D., and Shuvo Roy, Ph.D., in collaboration with Hilel Lewis, M.D., Chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute.

The third patent (United States Patent No. 7,175,597) was issued for a new non-invasive ultrasound device that provides cardiologists with images of blood vessels, allowing them to assess the vessels' omposition and plaque contents. Geoffrey Vince, M.D., and Anuja Nair, Ph.D., of Cleveland Clinic developed the device in collaboration with Jon D. Klingensmith, Ph.D. of Duke University.

The fourth patent (United States Patent No. 7,168,116) pertains to the development of a new surgical support pad that conforms to a patient's body and distributes body weight to alleviate pressure points and improve patient comfort during medical and surgical procedures. Cleveland Clinic's Steven Reger, Ph.D., developed the device in collaboration with and Richard Navarro.
Cleveland Clinic is in the process of identifying potential commercialization partners to bring the new devices to market.

CCF Innovations, the technology commercialization arm of Cleveland Clinic, stewards the Clinic's technology innovation strategy. It enhances product-oriented innovation throughout Cleveland Clinic and transforms promising therapies, devices and diagnostics into beneficial medical products, via spin-off companies, licensees and equity partnerships.

Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Approximately 1,500 full-time salaried physicians at Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Florida represent more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. In 2005, there were 2.9 million outpatient visits to Cleveland Clinic. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 80 countries. There were nearly 54,000 hospital admissions to Cleveland Clinic in 2005. Cleveland Clinic ,, s Web site address is www.clevelandclinic.org.