Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine
This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses.
Original patent title: “Lipid nanoparticle compositions and methods as carriers of cannabinoids in standardized precision-metered dosage forms”
This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses. Owned by Nanosphere Health Sciences with 15 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a drug delivery system that uses very small structures called nanoparticles to deliver medicine. Each nanoparticle has a single outer layer of essential phospholipids that surrounds liquid lipids and the drug, which in this case are cannabinoids (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). These nanoparticles are specifically sized, ranging from 50 to 150 nanometers (Claim 1), and are designed to provide a consistent, accurate dose of the drug. The system increases how much of the drug the body absorbs, called bioavailability, by 2 to 8 times compared to non-encapsulated forms (Claim 9). This means a patient can take 2 to 8 times less medicine to get the same effect, potentially reducing side effects (Claim 10, Claim 11). For example, a sublingual (under the tongue) cannabinoid product using these nanoparticles could deliver a precise, effective dose with fewer adverse reactions.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover nanoparticle structures that contain surfactants, as specified in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3.
- Does not cover drug delivery systems where the phospholipid content is outside the 5-30% weight/volume range (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover nanoparticle structures with a particle size distribution outside the 50 to 150 nm range (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems where the drug is not encapsulated within a single layer of essential phospholipids (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover drug delivery systems that do not achieve a 2-fold to 8-fold increase in bioavailability or decrease in dose (claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 9 and 10).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is creating a stable, precisely sized lipid nanoparticle (50-150 nm) using a single layer of essential phospholipids to encapsulate liquid lipids and the drug, specifically *without* using surfactants (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3). This unique structure dramatically increases drug bioavailability and reduces the required dose, while also mitigating adverse effects.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Sublingual cannabinoid drops
Buccal cannabinoid sprays
Topical cannabinoid creams or patches
Nasal cannabinoid formulations
Oral cannabinoid capsules
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Cannabinoids are often difficult for the body to absorb efficiently, leading to inconsistent effects and the need for larger doses. This patent offers a solution by creating a highly effective delivery method that significantly boosts absorption and allows for smaller, more precise dosing. This could lead to more reliable, safer, and more effective cannabinoid-based medicines, making them more predictable for therapeutic use.
Filed
June 16, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Nanosphere Health Sciences Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing products based on this technology. Other companies in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors focused on cannabinoid-based therapies and advanced drug delivery systems would also be interested in similar approaches to improve drug efficacy and patient outcomes.
Market impact
This patent's technology could significantly advance the market for cannabinoid therapies by addressing key challenges like inconsistent absorption and variable dosing. By enabling more predictable and effective treatments, it could help shift cannabinoid products from unregulated supplements towards mainstream pharmaceutical applications, potentially opening new markets for medical use.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a drug delivery system that uses very small structures called nanoparticles to deliver medicine. Each nanoparticle has a single outer layer of essential phospholipids that surrounds liquid lipids and the drug, which in this case are cannabinoids (Claim 1). These nanoparticles are specifically sized, ranging from 50 to 150 nanometers (Claim 1), and are designed to provide a consistent, accurate dose of the drug. The system increases how much of the drug the body absorbs, called bioavailability, by 2 to 8 times compared to non-encapsulated forms (Claim 9). This means a patient can take 2 to 8 times less medicine to get the same effect, potentially reducing side effects (Claim 10, Claim 11). For example, a sublingual (under the tongue) cannabinoid product using these nanoparticles could deliver a precise, effective dose with fewer adverse reactions.
The clever bit
The clever bit is creating a stable, precisely sized lipid nanoparticle (50-150 nm) using a single layer of essential phospholipids to encapsulate liquid lipids and the drug, specifically *without* using surfactants (Claim 3). This unique structure dramatically increases drug bioavailability and reduces the required dose, while also mitigating adverse effects.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover nanoparticle structures that contain surfactants, as specified in claim 3.
- Does not cover drug delivery systems where the phospholipid content is outside the 5-30% weight/volume range (claim 1).
- Does not cover nanoparticle structures with a particle size distribution outside the 50 to 150 nm range (claim 1).
- Does not cover systems where the drug is not encapsulated within a single layer of essential phospholipids (claim 1).
- Does not cover drug delivery systems that do not achieve a 2-fold to 8-fold increase in bioavailability or decrease in dose (claims 9 and 10).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
10/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$45K – $144K
Midpoint $90K · 15.9 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
15 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kaufman, R. C. Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine (U.S. Patent No. 20,220,304,938). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220304938/lipid-nanoparticle-compositions-and-methods-as-carriers-of-cannabinoids-in-stand
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US20220304938"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 10155945 · 2018 · Nitto Denko Corp
How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
US 8580275 · 2013 · University of Massachusetts Amherst
Using Yeast Cell Walls to Deliver Genetic Medicine
US 12350368 · 2025 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine cover?
This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses.
Who owns patent US 20220304938?
This patent is owned by Nanosphere Health Sciences.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 16, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Cannabinoids are often difficult for the body to absorb efficiently, leading to inconsistent effects and the need for larger doses. This patent offers a solution by creating a highly effective delivery method that significantly boosts absorption and allows for smaller, more precise dosing. This could lead to more reliable, safer, and more effective cannabinoid-based medicines, making them more predictable for therapeutic use.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover nanoparticle structures that contain surfactants, as specified in claim 3.
Same assignee
More from Nanosphere Health Sciences
Patent monitoring