Royalty Report: Dental, Medical, Diagnostic – Collection: 6066

License Grant

The Licensee exclusively licensed a portfolio of seven patents from the University for diagnostic products used in the dental field.

License Property

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is generally regarded as the 6th Imaging Modality and is a new, light-based system with characteristics that make it ideally suited to bio-medical diagnostic imaging applications.  OCT represents a major advancement in imaging in dentistry due its ability to provide detailed characterization of the dental microstructures, enabling the dentist to make earlier and more accurate diagnosis of oral disease including decay and periodontal disease.  The early detection of tooth decay facilitates the dentist to employ non- or minimally invasive techniques to treat or even reverse decay and periodontal disease.  Less invasive treatment enhances the patient experience and results in a higher level of professional service and patient care. The proprietary OCT Dental Imaging System(TM) will be used by dentists to obtain a real-time chairside evaluation of the oral tissues to aid in the early detction of decay, periodontal disease and microstructural deficiencies.

In general, Optical Coherence Tomography, or ‘OCT’, is a technique for obtaining sub-surface images of translucent or opaque materials at a resolution equivalent to a low-power microscope. It is effectively ‘optical ultrasound’, imaging reflections from within tissue to provide cross-sectional images.

Patent No.
5,570,182; 6,179,611; 6,385,358; 6,419,484; 6,451,009; 6,466,713, 6,522,407

Field of Use

The rights granted apply to the dental field.

License Grant

The University has granted the Licensee an exclusive license for patents and patent applications in the field of Optical Coherence Imaging technology for dental applications in humans and animals, in the United States. The Licensor also grants to Licensee the right to issue royalty-bearing subLicenses to third parties in the Field of Use.

License Property

United States Patents Granted

5,570,182 Method for Detection of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease Usin Optical
6,179,611 Dental Optical Coherence Domain Reflectometry Explorer

Optical Coherence Tomography, or ‘OCT’, is a technique for obtaining sub-surface images of translucent or opaque materials at a resolution equivalent to a low-power microscope. It is effectively ‘optical ultrasound’, imaging reflections from within tissue to provide cross-sectional images.

Field of Use

The field of Optical Coherence Imaging technology for dental applications in humans and animals.

License Grant

The Licensor has granted the Licensee a non-exclusive worldwide license to use certain medical imaging technologies, known as Optical Coherence Tomography, or ‘OCT,’ in the field of general dentistry, excluding oral surgery and imaging through a microscope.

License Property

(a) Licensee’s Release of a Licensed Product;
(b) Licensee’s First Commercial Sale of a Licensed Product; or
(c) the second anniversary of the effective date.

Optical Coherence Tomography is a technique for obtaining sub-surface images of translucent or opaque materials at a resolution equivalent to a low-power microscope. It is effectively ‘optical ultrasound’, imaging reflections from within tissue to provide cross-sectional images.

There are many industrial, medical, and other applications where high resolution (generally less than 10 micrometer) images of, and measurements of distances, thicknesses, and optical properties of, a biological or other sample are required.

“Method And Apparatus For Optical Imaging With Means For Controlling The Longitudinal Range Of The Sample”  Issued US Patent 5,321,501, June 14, 1994. Filed 4/29/92. – A method and apparatus for performing optical imaging on a sample wherein longitudinal scanning or positioning in the sample is provided by either varying relative optical path lengths for an optical path leading to the sample and to a reference reflector, or by varying an optical characteristic of the output from an optical source applied to the apparatus. Transverse scanning in one or two dimensions is provided on the sample by providing controlled relative movement between the sample and a probe module in such direction and/or by steering optical radiation in the probe module to a selected transverse position. The probe module may be an external module or may be an endoscope or angioscope utilized for scanning internal channels. Multiple optical paths may be provided for parallel scanning and focus may be enhanced by varying the focal point in the sample in synchronism with longitudinal scanning of the sample.

“Method and Apparatus for Performing Optical Measurements” Issued US Patent 5,459,570, Oct. 14, 1995. Filed 3/16/93.

“Method and Apparatus for Performing Optical Imaging and Measurements” Issued in Europe and Japan.

“Method and Apparatus for Acquiring Images using a CCD Detector Array and No Transverse Scanner” Issued US Patent 5,465,147, Nov. 7, 1995. Filed 6/2/94. CIP of 4/29/91 filing.

“Method and Apparatus for Performing Optical Measurements using a Fiber Optic Imaging Guidewire, Catheter or Endoscope” Issued US Patent 6,134,003, Oct. 17, 2000. Filed 2/27/96.

“Methods and Apparatus for Forward-Directed Optical Scanning Instruments for the Acquisition of Optical Imaging and Delivery of Optical Radiation,” Pending Patent.

“Grating Based Phase Control Optical Delay Line” Issued US Patent 6,111,645 August, 2000.

“Method and Apparatus for Performing Optical Measurements using a Rapidly Frequency Tuned Laser” Issued US Patent 5,956,355 September 21, 1999.

“Short Coherence Length, Doppler Velocimetry System” Issued US Patent 5,501,226, 3/26/96. Filed 10/16/94. Issued EPO and Japan.

“Short Coherence Length, Doppler Velocimetry System” Issued US Patent 5,549,114, 8/27/96. Filed 10/23/95. Issued EPO and Japan.

“Optical Coherence Tomography Assisted Surgical Apparatus” Issued US Patent 6,004,314 December 21, 1999.

“OCT-Assisted Surgical Microscope with Multi- Coordinate Manipulator” Issued US Patent 5,795,295.

“Optical Coherence Tomography with New Interferometer” Issued US Patent 6,053,613.

“Method and Apparatus for Simultaneous Measuring the Length and Refractive Error of and Eye” Issued US Patent 5,975,699.

Measurement of Lens Characteristics” Issued US Patent 5,469,261 11/21/95.

“Fundus Illumination Apparatus Formed from Three Separated Radiation Path Systems” Issued US Patent 5,506,634, 4/9/96.

“Optical Coherence Tomography Corneal Mapping Apparatus” Issued US Patent 5,491,524, 2/13/96. Filed 10/5/94.

“Method and Apparatus for Optical Coherence Tomographic Fundus Imaging” Pending Patent.

“Gaze Tracking using Optical Coherence Tomography” Issued US Patent 5,644,642, 7/1/97. Filed 4/3/95.

“Optical Coherence Tomography Assisted Ophthalmologic Surgical Microscope” Issued US Patent 5,493,109, 2/20/96. Filed 8/18/94.

“Method and Apparatus for Optical Coherence Tomographic Fundus Imaging without Vignetting” Issued US Patent 5,537,162, 6/16/96. Filed 12/17/93.

“Method and Apparatus for High Speed Longitudinal Scanning in Imaging Systems” Issued US Patent 6,191,862 2/20/01.

“Fiber Optic Needle Probes for Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging” Patent Pending.

“Micro-Lens for Miniature Optical Probes” Patent Pending.

“Method and Apparatus for Performing Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry” Issued US Patent 6,160,826. 12/12/00. Filed 1999.

“Broadband Light Source System and Method Thereof” Patent Pending.

“Apparatus and Method for Selective Data Collection and Signal to Noise Ratio Enhancement Using Optical Coherence Tomography” Patent Pending Filed 4/6/01.

“Fiber Optic Endoscopic Gastrointestinal Probe” Patent Pending.

License Grant

The University grants a license under its rights in and to Patent Rights to make, use, Sell, offer for Sale and import Licensed Products and to practice Licensed Methods, in the United States and in other countries where The University may lawfully grant such licenses, only in the Field of Use.

License Property

Certain inventions, generally characterized as near-infrared transillumination for the imaging of early dental decay and microstructural defects.

Field of Use

Field of Use means all human and veterinary dental applications. Certain inventions, generally characterized as near-infrared transillumination for the imaging of early dental decay and microstructural defects (collectively 'Invention').

License Grant

The Licensor is granted exclusivity to manufacture and distribute the ClearView LAB product.

License Property

The Licensor designs and owns the intellectual property rights of ultrasound technology for dental use, including the ClearView LAB product.

The Licensor has been issued its first patent, which provides coverage for the unique way of using ultrasound for dental applications. An additional 31 provisional patents have been secured for other aspects of the system and additional software.

ClearView LAB is used to scan conventional impressions, thereby eliminating all stone models, transportation costs, and several days of waiting for patients. The inherent errors in model fabrication will also be eliminated. Since the scans produced by ClearView LAB are highly accurate in terms of capturing detail, crowns, veneers, bridges, braces and retainers may be fabricated from these scans. As mentioned, a great deal of time – more than a week – will be saved by avoiding the familiar process involving poured models, bases, trimming, and shipping.

Field of Use

The Licensee would book the revenue from the product sales, regardless if it was to dental laboratories  or individual dentists. The Agreement would allow Probe to control manufacturing costs and profits.

License Grant

Licensee, specializes in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of oral care and cosmetic dentistry products, and wishes to be relieved of various obligations under the 2009 Agreement, including, without limitation, its obligation to supply Products to Licensor, who manufactures and markets cosmetic and restorative dental products,

License Property

GlamSmile is a revolutionary cosmetic dental system that substantially expands the consumer and professional dental market for veneers. To produce the veneers, License utilizes high-tech scanning, CAD/CAM design technology, and a proprietary fabrication technique. The veneers are delivered to a dentist already prepared for a simple, single-motion veneer placement. This patent-pending painless delivery system not only dramatically lowers the dentist's cost of installation, but also significantly reduces the amount of time patients spend in the dental chair.

Field of Use

Licensee or its B2C Market Licensee, may purchase its requirements for GlamSmile Product in the B2C Market from another Person other than Licensor.

License Grant

We completed a settlement Agreement that was the result of a mediated settlement.  This relates to the agreement with Licensor for ViziLite® products.

License Property

The ViziLite device is used in conjunction with a conventional visual oral mucosal examination to improve the identification, evaluation and monitoring of oral mucosal abnormalities in those at increased risk for oral cancer. The ViziLite test kit includes a hand-held disposable chemiluminescent light and a one-percent acetic mouth rinse that work together to help dental professionals detect abnormalities in the oral cavity that might not be visible to the unaided eye.

The settlement addresses changes to the contractual restrictions relating to sales milestones as well as royalty rates for net sales of the ViziLiteâ„¢ products.

Field of Use

ViziLite is a test that uses fluorescent light to help dentists spot abnormal changes in the mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth and throat.  ViziLite exam can help your dentist or hygienist identify abnormal tissue, that might develop into oral cancer.' The key consideration, however, should be whether ViziLite-assisted screening is more effective than standard screening in which the dentist looks with the naked eye using ordinary (incandescent) light.