JAMES T WILLERSON, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Fannin St, Houston, TX

6764826, Jul 20, 2004

Jun 8, 2001

09/878124

Edward T. H. Yeh - Houston TX
Vincenzo Pasceri - Rome, IT
James T. Willerson - Houston TX

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

G01N 3353

435 71, 435 721, 435337392, 530363

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in treating cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory disorders that are augmented by C-reactive protein. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for screening for modulators that inhibit C-reactive protein and the use of these modulators to inhibit C-reactive protein induced vascular inflammation.

2006009, May 11, 2006

Dec 15, 2005

11/300722

Pierre Zoldhelyi - Bellaire TX, US
Janet Cunningham - Alameda CA, US
James Willerson - Houston TX, US

A61K 48/00

424093200

A recombinant adeno-associated virus is used to transduce the cells of a tissue graft ex vivo. More specifically, rAAV encoding a therapeutic protein is delivered to a vascular graft to prevent smooth muscle cell proliferation or thrombosis in the graft. The cells are transfected ex vivo with the recombinant virus carrying a gene known to inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. The methods can be used for the treatment of restenosis, vascular thrombosis, balloon injury or other vascular pathology.

2005013, Jun 16, 2005

Oct 25, 2004

10/972528

Pierre Zoldhelyi - Houston TX, US
Qi Liu - Houston TX, US
George Bobustuc - Houston TX, US
James Willerson - Houston TX, US

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System - Austin TX
The Texas Heart Institute - Houston TX

A61K048/00, A61K031/202

514044000, 514560000

Compositions and methods for gene transfer of cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms alone or in conjunction with administration of one or more fatty acid substrate for the COX isoform (e.g., dihommo-γ-linoleic acid (DGLA)) are disclosed. Methods for enhancing synthesis of the prostaglandins E(PGE) and prostacyclin (PGI), without marked local production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E(PGE) are also disclosed. The compositions and methods are valuable for protection of vascular conduits, kidney function, airway patency, and renal, cardiac, and other allografts, and promoting increased vascular flow, mucus secretion and bicarbonate secretion as protective factors against gastric and duodenal ulcers.

2004013, Jul 8, 2004

Aug 22, 2003

10/645970

Morteza Naghavi - Houston TX, US
S. Casscells - Houston TX, US
James Willerson - Houston TX, US

A61B006/00

600/425000, 128/920000, 378/004000, 382/128000

The present invention relates to a system and method for using an analysis of data generated during a scan of a patient to aid in assessment of coronary risk based upon coronary calcification. In an embodiment, a region of interest in a patient is scanned using computed tomography (CT). CT generated data resulting from the scanning are stored where the data comprise calcification data. The data are analyzed to determine a distribution of calcification in the patient and the patient's risk of cardiovascular disease based upon the analysis is assessed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

7123968, Oct 17, 2006

Apr 30, 1999

09/303313

James T. Willerson - Houston TX, US

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System - Austin TX

A61B 17/36

607 98, 606 27

The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammation in body tissues. More specifically, certain disclosed methods relate to selectively inducing apoptosis in inflammatory immune cells. The methods are particularly suitable for treating inflamed atherosclerotic plaques. The techniques generally involve heating the cells with a catheter that is equipped to produce infrared radiation. The cells are heated for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to induce programmed cell death.

6993382, Jan 31, 2006

Aug 16, 2002

10/222342

S. Ward Casscells - Houston TX, US
James T. Willerson - Houston TX, US
Gregory H. Bearman - Pasadena CA, US
Michael L. Eastwood - So. Pasadena CA, US
Timothy N. Krabach - Valencia CA, US

Board of Regents The University of Texas System - Austin TX

A61B 5/04

600545

A method of detecting vulnerable arterial plaque formed on the vessel wall in vivo is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining an image of the arterial plaque, measuring the temperature of the arterial plaque, and determining whether the plaque exhibits an elevated temperature compared to the temperature of at least one adjacent vessel wall site. The method may include determining whether the plaque exhibits an elevated temperature of between 0. 4 to 4° C. above at least one adjacent vessel wall site.

2002019, Dec 19, 2002

Aug 14, 2002

10/219595

Morteza Naghavi - Houston TX, US
Bujin Guo - Houston TX, US
Birendra Lal - Houston TX, US
S. Casscells - Houston TX, US
James Willerson - Houston TX, US

A61B018/04

606/028000, 607/096000

The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammation in body tissues. More specifically, certain disclosed methods relate to selectively inducing apoptosis in inflammatory immune cells by heating cells for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to induce programmed cell death. The disclosed stents can be placed in contact with the inflammatory cells and heated under controlled conditions. The disclosed apparatus and methods are particularly suitable for treating athersclerotic plaques.

6214333, Apr 10, 2001

Jan 26, 1998

9/013366

Pierre Zoldhelyi - Bellaire TX
James T. Willerson - Houston TX

Texas Heart Institute - Houston TX

A61K 4800, C12N 510, C12N 15861, C12N 1564

424 931

A recombinant adenoviral vector encoding the human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene is disclosed which is useful for transduction of vascular smooth muscle cells at a selected blood vessel site to provide local vascular expression of TFPI. A method of using the transduced hTFPI cDNA as an in vivo antithrombotic agent to provide localized production of hTFPI for protecting an at-risk site against thrombus deposition is also disclosed. Gene therapy using the new TFPI expression vector is also expected to deter the development of chronic vascular stenosis in blood vessels (arteries, veins, arteriovenous shunts, and endovascular grafts) and deterring intimal hyperplasia.

6950063, Sep 27, 2005

Jul 3, 2002

10/188788

Krzysztof Nesteruk - Warszawa, PL
Jaroslaw Wosik - Houston TX, US
Leiming P. Xie - Houston TX, US
James T. Willerson - Houston TX, US
Samuel Ward Casscells - Houston TX, US
Morteza Naghavi - Houston TX, US

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System - Austin TX
The University of Houston - Houston TX

G01R003/327, A61B005/05

342423, 600410

The present invention relates to an intraluminal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe which may be used for intraluminal MRI. The present invention is sized sufficiently small to be inserted into a patient intraluminally. The probe of the present invention comprises a substrate having a dielectric constant in the range of 1-1000, and first and second conducting layers on each side of the dielectric. The present invention is configured to result in a distributed capacitance.