US 8772416

US Patent 8772416 Summary

Title: Ink compositions containing isosorbide-capped amide gellant
Assignee: Xerox Corp
Inventors: Naveen Chopra, Michelle N. Chrétien, Barkev Keoshkerian, Daryl Vanbesien, Jenny Eliyahu
Filing Date: April 9, 2012
Issue Date: July 8, 2014

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ester-terminated polyimide gellant compounds end-capped with isosorbide and UV curable ink compositions containing them.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a curable solid ink composition. It includes a curable wax, one or more monomers, an optional colorant, an amide gellant, and a photoinitiator. The key feature of this claim is that the amide gellant is an ester-terminated polyamide resin that is specifically "end-capped with isosorbide".

• Independent Claim 11: This claim describes a specific gellant compound. The compound has a central polyamide structure with "R1" and "R2" groups, and is terminally capped with isosorbide through ester linkages. "n" can range from 0 to 10. R1 and R2 are defined by various substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, arylene, arylalkylene, or alkylarylene groups with specific carbon atom ranges.

• Independent Claim 16: This claim outlines a method of ink jet printing an image. The method involves jetting a curable solid ink onto a print substrate to form an image, and then exposing the image to radiation to cure the ink. The curable solid ink used in this method is characterized as comprising a curable wax, an optional non-curable component, one or more monomers, an optional colorant, an amide gellant (which is an ester-terminated polyamide resin end-capped with isosorbide), and a photoinitiator.

No results were found for US Patent 8772416 in CAFC 2026 dockets.

As of April 26, 2026, a search for litigation involving US Patent 8772416 did not reveal any specific cases in the CAFC 2026 dockets or other publicly available litigation databases. Therefore, no known litigation for US Patent 8772416 can be reported at this time.

Proceedings overview

There are no PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) proceedings currently on file for US Patent 8772416.

Strategic summary

As of 2026-05-29, there are no recorded PTAB proceedings, such as Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs), Post-Grant Reviews (PGRs), or Covered Business Method (CBM) reviews, related to US Patent 8772416. This means that all claims (1-19) of the patent remain untested and sustained from a PTAB perspective. The absence of PTAB challenges can suggest several things: the patent may not have been aggressively asserted, potential challengers may have found the claims robust, or assertion activities have not yet triggered such challenges.

Since no PTAB proceedings have occurred, there is no estoppel landscape established under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2). Therefore, all prior-art grounds that could be raised in a PTAB petition against this patent remain available to a potential petitioner or defendant.

Recommended next steps

If facing an assertion of US Patent 8772416, a potential defendant would need to conduct their own prior art search and analysis to identify grounds for invalidity, which could then form the basis for a PTAB petition (e.g., IPR or PGR, depending on the claims and filing dates). The absence of PTAB activity means that the claims have not been subjected to the scrutiny of an AIA trial, and their validity against prior art remains open for challenge.

Inventors

• Naveen Chopra (Xerox Corp.)
• Michelle N. Chrétien (Xerox Corp.)
• Barkev Keoshkerian (Xerox Corp.)
• Daryl Vanbesien (Xerox Corp.)
• Jenny Eliyahu (Xerox Corp.)

All inventors were assigned to Xerox Corporation at the time of the patent application's filing, as indicated by the initial assignment recorded on 2012-04-09 (Reel 028442/0458).

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Xerox Corporation. Xerox is a global corporation known for its print and digital document technology and services. Based on the patent's subject matter ("Ink compositions containing isosorbide-capped amide gellant"), it is highly likely that Xerox Corporation has shipped products embodying the claims in their printing apparatuses. Xerox Corporation is currently an operating company.

Assignment timeline

There is only one assignment record for this patent, which documents the initial assignment from the inventors to the original assignee at the time of filing. No subsequent assignments from Xerox Corporation have been recorded with the USPTO.

• 2012-04-09 (executed) / recorded 2012-04-09 — Reel 028442/0458
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Chopra, Naveen; Chrétien, Michelle N.; Eliyahu, Jenny; Keoshkerian, Barkev; Vanbesien, Daryl
  • Assignee: Xerox Corporation
  • Correspondent: Xerox Corporation, C/O Xerox Patent Dept., 201 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06904
  • Context: Initial assignment from inventors to corporate employer.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8772416
    2012 : Inventors assigned to Xerox Corp
    2014 : Patent issued to Xerox Corp
    2032 : Patent expires

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The only recorded assignment is from the inventors to Xerox Corporation, a known operating company. There is no evidence of a transfer from Xerox to a licensing-only LLC.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Xerox Corporation is an operating company and is not identified as a known patent asserter (NPE) in this context. The patent has not been assigned to any entity on common NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. There is only one assignment record, where the correspondent is "Xerox Corporation, C/O Xerox Patent Dept.". This is a standard internal legal department, not a recurring third-party firm associated with NPE activities.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment, from the inventors to the original assignee, is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. No transfers from the operating company are recorded, and there is no indication of any infringement suits.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Xerox Corporation remains an active operating company, and there is no record of this patent being sold in bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — not present. No transfers to an NPE are recorded, thus no evidence of privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent's ownership remains with Xerox Corporation, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data
There is only one assignment record for US8772416, which documents the initial assignment from the inventors to Xerox Corporation on 2012-04-09 (Reel 028442/0458). No subsequent transfers from the original assignee are recorded, meaning there is insufficient data in the public assignment records to identify any NPE or patent-troll patterns. The patent appears to remain with the original operating assignee.

USPTO Assignment Center search page for verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/[8772416](/patent/8772416)

The USPTO Patent Public Search is a valuable resource for identifying prior art. I will perform a search for US Patent 8772416 to identify its cited references.

Unfortunately, I cannot directly access the USPTO database and provide a real-time list of citations. My capabilities do not include live interaction with external databases like the USPTO Patent Public Search. Therefore, I cannot provide a list of prior art citations directly from the USPTO database for US patent 8772416, nor can I identify which claims they potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US Patent 8772416

This analysis considers whether the claims of US Patent 8772416, "Ink compositions containing isosorbide-capped amide gellant," would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) as of the patent's filing date (April 9, 2012), based on the prior art identified in the preceding "Prior Art" section.

A PHOSITA in the field of curable solid ink compositions and gellant chemistry would possess knowledge of polymer chemistry, synthesis of amide and ester compounds, the various components of curable inks (waxes, monomers, photoinitiators, gellants), and desired ink performance characteristics (viscosity, jetting temperature, cure speed, hardness, shrinkage). They would also be aware of industry trends, such as the increasing demand for bio-renewable materials.

The core distinguishing feature of US8772416's gellant (Claims 1-10) is the use of isosorbide as the end-capping group for an ester-terminated polyamide resin. While the prior art teaches various end-capped amide gellants for different applications, none explicitly disclose isosorbide as the end-capping agent. The obviousness argument will therefore center on whether a PHOSITA would have been motivated to substitute conventional end-caps with isosorbide, with a reasonable expectation of success.

Combinations of Prior Art for Obviousness

Combination 1: U.S. Patent No. 5,783,657 (Pavlin et al.) or U.S. Patent No. 6,111,055 (Berger et al.) in view of general knowledge regarding bio-renewable materials and the advantageous reactivity of isosorbide.

• Prior Art Teachings:
  • US5783657 (Pavlin et al.) and US6111055 (Berger et al.) (a continuation-in-part of Pavlin et al.) disclose ester-terminated polyamide gelling agents. These patents teach the fundamental structure and synthesis of polyamide gellants that are end-capped with ester groups derived from alcohols (specifically C12-C22 alkyl and alkenyl groups).
• Motivation to Combine/Modify:
  • Desire for Bio-Renewable Content: By 2012, there was a well-established and growing trend in various industries, including materials science and chemistry, to develop and utilize bio-renewable resources to reduce reliance on petroleum-based products. Isosorbide was a known bio-based diol molecule derived from sorbitol (from corn) and would be a prime candidate for incorporating bio-renewable content into chemical compounds. The patent itself identifies isosorbide as a "low-cost bio-renewable content substitute to conventional gellants, such as those end-capped with alcohols."
  • Improved Synthesis and Controlled Reactivity: The patent explicitly highlights isosorbide's "unique V-shaped structure" and "different reactivity (endo and exo-)" of its two hydroxyl groups. It notes that this allows for "only one functional group [to] participate[] in the esterification process under mild DCC coupling conditions," which can prevent "undesired side products, such as dimers or oligomers" that might occur with other diols. A PHOSITA, seeking to optimize the synthesis of ester-terminated polyamide gellants (as taught by Pavlin/Berger) for better purity or yield, would be motivated to explore diols offering such controlled reactivity. Isosorbide's known selective functionalization properties would make it an attractive choice for replacing less specific alcohol end-cappers.
• Reasonable Expectation of Success: Given that isosorbide is a known diol and its chemical reactivity (including differential reactivity of its hydroxyl groups) would be understood by a PHOSITA, there would be a reasonable expectation of successfully synthesizing an isosorbide-capped ester-terminated polyamide gellant using established esterification techniques (e.g., DCC coupling as described in the patent).
• Obviousness Finding: This combination would render the specific isosorbide end-capped amide gellant compounds claimed in Claims 1-10 of US8772416 obvious. A PHOSITA, motivated by the desire for bio-renewable materials and the known synthetic advantages of isosorbide, would have found it obvious to substitute the conventional alcohol end-caps of the Pavlin/Berger gellants with isosorbide.

Combination 2: U.S. Patent No. 7,296,614 (Toma et al.) or U.S. Patent No. 7,279,584 (Odell et al.) in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,783,657 (Pavlin et al.) or U.S. Patent No. 6,111,055 (Berger et al.), further in view of general knowledge regarding bio-renewable materials and the advantageous reactivity of isosorbide.

• Prior Art Teachings:
  • US7296614 (Toma et al.) discloses curable amide gellants where the end caps have at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, used in phase change ink compositions to increase mechanical robustness after curing.
  • US7279584 (Odell et al.) discloses photoinitiating compounds with phase change properties and gellant affinity, where the end caps have at least one photoinitiating group, integrated into solid ink compositions. (Note: The patent also mentions US7279587, which pertains to photoinitiating compounds in curable solid inks, supporting the general knowledge of such ink systems.)
  • These patents (Toma and Odell) establish the context of curable solid inks containing amide gellants, along with other standard components like monomers, curable waxes, and photoinitiators.
  • US5783657 (Pavlin et al.) and US6111055 (Berger et al.) teach the fundamental chemistry of ester-terminated polyamide gelling agents.
• Motivation to Combine/Modify:
  • A PHOSITA working on curable solid inks (as taught by Toma/Odell) would be continuously seeking to improve ink formulations. Given the established prior art on amide gellants (Toma/Odell, Pavlin/Berger), a motivation would exist to enhance these gellants by incorporating desirable properties such as bio-renewable content and improved synthesis control.
  • The explicit stated benefits in US8772416 for isosorbide-capped gellants, such as being a "low-cost bio-renewable content substitute to conventional gellants, such as those end-capped with alcohols" with "comparable phase-change properties to those with aromatic end-caps," directly provide the motivation for a PHOSITA to explore this substitution. The unique controlled reactivity of isosorbide (as discussed in Combination 1) further solidifies this motivation for a chemist to achieve a cleaner, more efficient synthesis of the gellant.
• Reasonable Expectation of Success: As noted in Combination 1, a PHOSITA would have a reasonable expectation of successfully synthesizing the isosorbide-capped gellant. Once such a gellant is available, its incorporation into existing curable solid ink formulations (which routinely include curable waxes, monomers, and photoinitiators as taught by Toma and Odell) would be an expected and straightforward modification. The methods of jetting and curing such inks are also well-established in the prior art, as broadly referenced in US8772416 (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,731 for solid ink jetting).
• Obviousness Finding: This combination would render the curable solid ink compositions (as claimed in Claims 11-17) and the methods of jet printing using such inks (as claimed in Claims 18-19) obvious. The specific isosorbide-capped gellant would be an obvious substitution into a known ink system with known components and processing steps, driven by the motivations to incorporate bio-renewable materials, improve synthesis, and potentially achieve comparable or improved performance.

Conclusion

While US8772416 highlights specific performance advantages like "faster phase change characteristics, excellent curing performance, increased hardness after curing, and low shrinkage characteristics", the underlying motivation for substituting conventional end-capping alcohols with isosorbide is strongly supported by the desire for bio-renewable content, cost-effectiveness, and the unique, advantageous reactivity of isosorbide in chemical synthesis. A PHOSITA, seeking these benefits, would have been motivated to combine the teachings of the prior art regarding polyamide gellants and curable ink compositions with the known properties and availability of isosorbide. The resulting gellant and ink compositions would therefore likely be considered obvious, as the claimed invention represents an obvious modification of existing technologies to achieve predictable results based on known chemical properties and industry trends.

To provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding US Patent 8772416, I will query the USPTO databases for the details you've requested. My current capabilities do not include direct, real-time access to the USPTO database to check for specific patent term adjustments (PTA) or extensions (PTE) or a comprehensive list of all related family members and their current status. However, I can provide general information about these concepts and the projected expiration date based on the information I have from the patent text.

Based on the patent text and general patent law:

• Projected Expiration Date: A U.S. utility patent typically lasts 20 years from the filing date of the earliest non-provisional application. US Patent 8772416 has a filing date of April 9, 2012. Therefore, its statutory expiration date would be April 9, 2032. The patent abstract, however, shows a "Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed). Expired - Fee Related , expires 2032-08-03". This suggests that, despite the filing date, the system indicates an expiration date of August 3, 2032. This adjusted date likely accounts for some Patent Term Adjustment (PTA).

• Patent Term Adjustments (PTA): PTA compensates for delays during the patent examination process at the USPTO. These delays can include the USPTO taking longer than statutory time limits to issue an office action, respond to an applicant's reply, act on a PTAB decision, or issue a patent within 36 months of filing. The "Expired - Fee Related, expires 2032-08-03" status, as opposed to the statutory 20-year term from the filing date, indicates that some PTA has been applied, extending the patent term.

• Patent Term Extensions (PTE): PTEs are granted to compensate for time lost during the regulatory review process before a product, particularly pharmaceuticals and medical devices, can be marketed. Given that US Patent 8772416 relates to "Ink compositions containing isosorbide-capped amide gellant" and not a pharmaceutical or medical device, it is highly unlikely to have received any PTE.

• Continuation Applications: A continuation application is a new patent application with the same patent illustrations and written description as a parent application, but it pursues additional patent claims based on the same invention. It can be filed at any point while at least one patent application in the family is pending. The patent text for US8772416 lists US20130267624A1 as "Other versions". This is a publication of a continuation application.

• Divisional Applications: A divisional application also has the same disclosure and priority date as the parent, but it includes claims that were filed with—and restricted from—the parent application if the USPTO decided the parent included claims to multiple inventions. The patent text for US8772416 does not explicitly mention any divisional applications.

• Related Family Members: A patent family includes the original application and its descendants, such as continuation applications, continuation-in-part (CIP) filings, and divisional applications. Based on the "Other versions" listed on the Google Patents page for US8772416, US20130267624A1 is a related family member, specifically a published continuation application. Additionally, the priority claims section lists several foreign priority applications:

  • JP2013064060A (Priority date 2013-03-26)
  • CA2811555A (Priority date 2013-04-02)
  • KR1020130038629A (Priority date 2013-04-09)

To definitively confirm all continuation and divisional applications, as well as the exact PTA calculation and its impact, a direct search of the USPTO's Patent Center or Assignment Center for application US13/442,534 (the application number for US8772416) would be required. However, based on the provided information, the patent has a filing date of April 9, 2012, and an adjusted expiration date of August 3, 2032.

Defensive Disclosure Document: Enhancing the Prior Art Landscape for US Patent 8772416

Patent: US 8772416 B2, "Ink compositions containing isosorbide-capped amide gellant"
Assignee: Xerox Corp
Current Date: April 26, 2026

Purpose: This Defensive Disclosure document aims to broaden the public domain's knowledge base related to US Patent 8772416, specifically concerning ink compositions employing isosorbide-capped amide gellants and methods of using them. By thoroughly detailing derivative variations of the core inventive concepts, we intend to create robust prior art that would render future incremental improvements by competitors "obvious" or "non-novel" under 35 U.S.C. § 102 and § 103, thereby minimizing the potential for future patent infringement claims in related technological spaces. This document serves as a strategic defensive publication.

---

Derivation Framework and Derivative Variations

For each core claim identified in US Patent 8772416, the following derivative variations are presented, designed to expand the inventive concept along specific axes.

Core Claim Focus: Independent Claim 11 (Gellant Compound) and related aspects of the isosorbide-capped amide gellant.

Derivative 1: Isosorbide Analog-Capped Amide Gellants (Material & Component Substitution)

• Enabling Description: An ester-terminated polyamide gellant, structurally analogous to that described in US8772416, wherein the terminal isosorbide groups are substituted with other bio-based cyclic diols or polyols exhibiting differential hydroxyl group reactivity. Specifically, the end-caps are derived from isomannide or isoidide, which are diastereomers of isosorbide and possess similar fused tetrahydrofuran ring structures with distinct endo- and exo-hydroxyl group reactivities. The synthesis involves reacting the organoamide intermediate with isomannide or isoidide using a DCC (N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) coupling reaction, optionally catalyzed by DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine). This leverages the inherent differential reactivity of the isomannide or isoidide hydroxyl groups to selectively achieve mono-esterification per terminus, thereby minimizing undesired oligomerization or dimerization, similar to the benefits observed with isosorbide. The polyamide backbone (R1 and R2 groups) and the number of repeating units (n, from 0 to 20) are maintained within the ranges specified in US8772416. The resulting gellant maintains amphiphilic properties and phase-change characteristics comparable to the isosorbide-capped variant.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. This derivative combined with an open-source standard for bio-based polymer synthesis protocols (e.g., standard esterification routes in open chemical databases like PubChem, coupled with general green chemistry principles), specifically regarding the synthesis of ester linkages from diols.
  2. Combined with ASTM D6866 (Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis) to verify the bio-renewable content of the resulting gellant derived from isomannide or isoidide.
  3. Combined with OSI-approved open-source software libraries for molecular dynamics simulations (e.g., GROMACS, LAMMPS) to predict gellant aggregation and rheological properties based on the specific endo/exo-hydroxyl group conformations of the new end-cap structures.

classDiagram
    class AmideGellantIntermediate {
        +PolyamideBackbone
        +CarboxylicAcidTermini
    }
    class BioCyclicDiol {
        <<Isomannide/Isoidide>>
        +HydroxylGroup1 (endo-like)
        +HydroxylGroup2 (exo-like)
        +DifferentialReactivity
    }
    class DCC_Coupling_Reaction {
        +Esterification
        -DCHU_byproduct
        -Optional_DMAP_Catalyst
    }
    class BioCappedAmideGellant {
        +PolyamideBackbone
        +EsterLinkage1
        +BioCyclicDiolEndCap1
        +EsterLinkage2
        +BioCyclicDiolEndCap2
        +FreeHydroxylGroups
    }

    AmideGellantIntermediate "1" -- "1" DCC_Coupling_Reaction : reacts with
    BioCyclicDiol "2" -- "1" DCC_Coupling_Reaction : reacts with
    DCC_Coupling_Reaction "1" -- "1" BioCappedAmideGellant : produces

Core Claim Focus: Independent Claim 1 (Curable Solid Ink Composition) and Independent Claim 16 (Method of Ink Jet Printing)

Derivative 2: Ink with Alternative Bio-Derived Curable Waxes (Material & Component Substitution)

• Enabling Description: A curable solid ink composition as described in US8772416, wherein the curable wax component comprises an acrylated or methacrylated derivative of a fatty acid wax obtained from plant sources, specifically a functionalized derivative of hydrogenated castor oil (e.g., poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) acrylate) or carnauba wax. These waxes are functionalized via esterification of available hydroxyl groups or by epoxidation of residual unsaturations followed by ring-opening with acrylic or methacrylic acid. The resulting functionalized wax retains its solid phase at room temperature (e.g., melting point 40-80°C) and incorporates UV-curable functionality. The curable wax is present in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight of the total ink, maintaining the bio-renewable content and thermoreversible properties. The isosorbide-capped amide gellant, monomers (e.g., SR9003), optional colorant, and photoinitiator components remain as specified in the parent patent.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with an open-source database of natural waxes and their detailed chemical compositions (e.g., entries in PubChem or specialized bio-chemistry databases), providing starting material specifications and known functional groups.
  2. Combined with ISO 17088:2012 (Specifications for compostable plastics) and ASTM D6400 (Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted) to ensure and certify the biodegradability and compostability of the wax component after curing.
  3. Combined with Apache FOP (Formatting Objects Processor), an open-source print formatter, to simulate and model how varying ink rheology imparted by different bio-waxes affects print quality parameters across diverse porous and non-porous substrates.

flowchart TD
    A[Natural Plant Wax (e.g., Castor Oil, Carnauba)] --> B{Chemical Modification};
    B -- Hydroxylation/Esterification --> C[React with Acrylic/Methacrylic Acid];
    B -- Unsaturated/Epoxidation --> D[Epoxide Ring-Opening with Acrylic Acid];
    C --> E[Bio-Derived Curable Wax];
    D --> E;
    E --> F[Formulate Curable Solid Ink (with Isosorbide Gellant)];
    F --> G[Jetting & UV Curing];
    G --> H[Printed Image with Bio-Wax];

Derivative 3: Ink Jetting at Extreme Temperatures (Operational Parameter Expansion)

• Enabling Description: A method of ink jet printing an image wherein the curable solid ink, comprising the isosorbide-capped amide gellant, curable wax, one or more monomers, and a photoinitiator, is jetted at significantly elevated temperatures ranging from 120°C to 180°C. To achieve stable jetting at these temperatures while maintaining optimal viscosity (e.g., 5 to 15 cP, or even lower for specialized micro-jetting applications), the ink composition is adjusted to include a higher proportion of low-viscosity, high-boiling-point curable monomers (e.g., increased monomer content to 70-95% by weight, utilizing highly branched or ether-functionalized acrylates/methacrylates known for thermal stability, such as specific alkoxylated neopentyl glycol diacrylates or tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylates) and potentially a reduced curable wax content (e.g., 0.1-5% by weight). This enables printing on highly heat-absorbent substrates or within specialized industrial additive manufacturing processes where rapid thermal solidification upon contact is crucial. Curing is performed with high-intensity UV-LED systems (e.g., 1000-5000 mW/cm²) operating at wavelengths tailored for the selected photoinitiator and monomer system, ensuring rapid and complete polymerization at the elevated substrate temperatures.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with ASTM D445 (Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids) to standardize and certify viscosity measurements of the ink formulations at these extreme jetting temperatures.
  2. Combined with the G-code standard for additive manufacturing (e.g., RepRap firmware's G-code extensions) to implement precise deposition control, layer formation, and temperature management for high-temperature 3D printing applications.
  3. Combined with IEC 62471 (Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems) to ensure operator safety and system compliance when utilizing high-intensity UV-LED curing systems in industrial environments.

sequenceDiagram
    participant InkReservoir as Ink Reservoir
    participant PrintHead as Print Head (Heated)
    participant Substrate as Substrate (Pre-heated/Ambient)
    participant UVLEDSystem as UV-LED Curing System

    InkReservoir->>PrintHead: Heat Ink (120-180°C), Maintain 5-15 cP
    PrintHead->>Substrate: Jet Ink Droplets
    Note over Substrate: Rapid Gelling/Solidification on Contact
    Substrate->>UVLEDSystem: Move Printed Substrate
    UVLEDSystem->>Substrate: High-Intensity UV Cure
    Note over Substrate: Robust Cured Image at High Temperature

Derivative 4: Nanoscale Printing and Microfabrication (Operational Parameter Expansion)

• Enabling Description: A method for micro- and nano-fabrication employing the curable solid ink of US8772416, specifically adapted for deposition via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing or aerosol jet printing. The ink formulation is precisely tuned for nanoscale resolution: the isosorbide-capped amide gellant concentration is typically reduced (e.g., 1-5% by weight) to prevent premature nozzle clogging in sub-micron apertures, and the monomer blend consists primarily of low molecular weight, low surface tension monomers (e.g., tripropylene glycol diacrylate, isodecyl acrylate, or specific highly reactive oligomers) optimized for picoliter to femtoliter droplet generation and feature sizes down to tens of nanometers. The ink is jetted onto a micro- or nano-patterned substrate (e.g., silicon wafers, flexible polymer films), and subsequent localized UV curing (e.g., using focused laser UV light, multi-photon polymerization, or mask-less lithography) is employed for precise polymerization. This enables the creation of intricate 3D microstructures, functional conductive or dielectric coatings for MEMS devices, flexible electronics, or advanced optical components.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with the IPC-7351 standard (Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard) for defining component footprints and interconnection patterns in microelectronic applications, facilitating precise ink deposition.
  2. Combined with OpenFOAM, an open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, to model the fluid dynamics of the ink within micro-nozzles and during droplet formation, optimizing print head geometries and jetting parameters for nanoscale precision.
  3. Combined with GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) or other open-source imaging software (e.g., ImageJ with specialized plugins) for high-resolution image preparation, grayscale printing, and rasterization tailored for generating intricate nanoscale patterns.

graph TD
    A[Ink Formulation (Low Gellant, Low MW Monomers)] --> B[EHD/Aerosol Jet Head (Nano-Nozzles)];
    B --> C[Micro/Nano-Patterned Substrate];
    C --> D[Localized UV Curing (e.g., Focused Laser)];
    D --> E[Cured Nanoscale Structure/Component];
    E --> F[Application: MEMS, Flexible Electronics, Optics];

Derivative 5: 3D Bioprinting Scaffolds with Functionalized Gellant (Cross-Domain Application)

• Enabling Description: A curable bio-ink composition for 3D bioprinting, specifically designed for creating biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering. The core component is an isosorbide-capped amide gellant, wherein the free hydroxyl groups of the isosorbide end-caps are further functionalized with biocompatible moieties, such as cell-adhesion peptides (e.g., RGD sequences), growth factors, or biodegradable linkers (e.g., caprolactone). The polyamide backbone (R1, R2, n) is selected to enhance biocompatibility and biodegradability. The bio-ink further comprises biocompatible curable monomers (e.g., polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA), gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), or hyaluronic acid acrylate), a photoinitiator suitable for low-intensity UV or visible light curing (e.g., Irgacure 2959, LAP (lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate), or riboflavin for cell viability), and optionally live cells. The gellant provides a thermally-driven, reversible gel phase, allowing the bio-ink to be jetted or extruded as a liquid at elevated temperatures (e.g., 30-45°C) and rapidly solidify into a stable hydrogel scaffold upon cooling or mild UV exposure, maintaining structural integrity during printing.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard for medical image data (e.g., MRI, CT scans) to generate precise 3D scaffold geometries that conform to patient-specific anatomical requirements.
  2. Combined with BioJS (an open-source JavaScript library for biological data visualization) or other open-source bioinformatics tools to design, analyze, and simulate peptide sequences for gellant functionalization to optimize cell interaction.
  3. Combined with OpenSCAD, an open-source solid 3D CAD modeller, for designing intricate and reproducible 3D bioprinting scaffold architectures, including porous structures and complex geometries suitable for tissue regeneration.

flowchart LR
    A[Isosorbide-Capped Amide Gellant (Biocompatible, Functionalized)] --> B{Bio-Ink Formulation};
    C[Biocompatible Curable Monomers] --> B;
    D[Low-Intensity/Visible Light Photoinitiator] --> B;
    E[Live Cells (Optional)] --> B;
    B --> F[3D Bioprinter (Extrusion/DLP)];
    F --> G[Layer-by-Layer Deposition];
    G --> H[Low-Energy UV/Visible Light Curing];
    H --> I[3D Bioprinted Scaffold/Tissue Construct];

Derivative 6: Agricultural Seed Coating & Encapsulation (Cross-Domain Application)

• Enabling Description: A curable coating composition adapted for agricultural seed treatment and delivery, incorporating the isosorbide-capped amide gellant of US8772416. The gellant provides structural integrity, adhesion to the seed surface, and controlled-release properties to the coating. The composition includes biodegradable curable waxes (e.g., functionalized polylactic acid wax, or acrylated derivatives of plant oils like soybean oil), UV-curable monomers (e.g., bio-based acrylates derived from lactic acid or other bio-esters), a photoinitiator, and active agricultural agents (e.g., slow-release fertilizers, systemic fungicides, insecticides, or plant growth regulators) acting as the "colorant" or functional payload. The method involves jetting this curable coating onto individual seeds or clusters of seeds in a targeted imagewise pattern. Subsequent UV radiation cures the coating, forming a durable, weather-resistant, yet biodegradable protective layer that precisely encapsulates the active agents for controlled release upon germination or soil interaction.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with OpenHAB (open-source home automation software) adapted for precision agriculture, to monitor environmental conditions (e.g., soil moisture, temperature, pH) and correlate them with empirical data to predict optimal timing for seed coating degradation and active agent release.
  2. Combined with Open-source standards for drone-based agricultural mapping (e.g., output formats from Pix4D Mapper or Agisoft Metashape) to precisely map and track the distribution of coated seeds across fields, enabling correlation with crop yield and health data.
  3. Combined with Ag-Data-Cube, an open-source platform for agricultural data management and analysis, to track and manage comprehensive data associated with specific seed coating formulations, application rates, and their performance metrics over crop cycles.

graph LR
    A[Seed Substrate] --> B{Curable Coating Formulation};
    B --> C[Isosorbide-Capped Gellant];
    B --> D[Biodegradable Curable Wax];
    B --> E[Bio-Based Monomers];
    B --> F[Photoinitiator];
    B --> G[Agricultural Active Agents (e.g., Nutrients, Pesticides)];
    B --> H[Jetting Application (Precision Seed Coater)];
    H --> I[UV Curing];
    I --> J[Coated Seed (Functionalized & Protected)];

Derivative 7: AI-Driven Ink Formulation Optimization (Integration with Emerging Tech)

• Enabling Description: An ink jet printing system employing a curable solid ink containing the isosorbide-capped amide gellant, where an AI-driven optimization module dynamically adjusts the precise proportions of ink components (curable wax, monomers, gellant, photoinitiator, optional non-curable components, colorant) in real-time or prior to a print job. This module utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms (e.g., reinforcement learning, Bayesian optimization, or neural networks) trained on extensive empirical data correlating ink composition, environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), substrate characteristics, printer performance (jetting frequency, drop volume), and desired print quality metrics (adhesion, scratch resistance, gloss uniformity, color accuracy, rheological stability, cure speed). Based on these inputs, the AI autonomously recommends and controls the mixing ratios from modular ink reservoirs, thereby ensuring optimal print performance, reduced material waste, and extended printhead lifespan. The system can predict the exact gellant concentration required to maintain the desired rheological profile at varying jetting temperatures, building upon the rheology data exemplified in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with TensorFlow or PyTorch (open-source machine learning libraries) for developing, training, and deploying the AI optimization algorithms that analyze complex ink chemistry and print dynamics.
  2. Combined with MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), an open-source lightweight messaging protocol, for robust, real-time data exchange between IoT sensors embedded in the printer, ink reservoirs, and the AI optimization module for continuous feedback loops.
  3. Combined with OpenCV (open-source computer vision library) for real-time, in-line print quality inspection, allowing the AI system to receive immediate visual feedback for iterative optimization and defect correction.

graph TD
    A[Input: Print Job Requirements (Substrate, Quality, Speed)] --> B{AI Optimization Module};
    C[Real-time Sensor Data (Ambient Temp/Humidity, Ink Viscosity/Temp)] --> B;
    B -- Optimized Ink Composition Ratios --> D[Automated Ink Mixing & Dispensing Unit];
    D -- Formulated Ink --> E[Ink Jet Print Head];
    E --> F[Print Substrate];
    F --> G[UV Curing System (Adjustable Intensity)];
    G --> H[Output: Cured Image];
    H -- Quality Feedback (e.g., Vision System) --> C;

Derivative 8: IoT Sensors for Real-time Ink State Monitoring (Integration with Emerging Tech)

• Enabling Description: A curable solid ink cartridge designed for ink jet printing systems, containing the isosorbide-capped amide gellant ink, wherein the cartridge is equipped with integrated, low-power IoT sensors. These sensors continuously monitor critical physical and chemical parameters of the ink, including real-time viscosity (e.g., using micro-resonators), temperature, localized UV reactivity index (e.g., by initiating a minute, localized polymerization event and measuring reaction kinetics), and pigment dispersion stability (e.g., via optical scattering). Data from these sensors is processed locally via edge computing and transmitted wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, or Wi-Fi) to a central printer controller or cloud-based platform. This real-time monitoring enables predictive maintenance, dynamic adjustment of print parameters (e.g., jetting waveform, heater temperatures), alerts for impending ink degradation, and automated reordering. The gellant's phase-change behavior (gelling/melting profile, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) is specifically tracked to ensure consistent thermal stability and optimal jetting performance.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with Apache Kafka (open-source distributed streaming platform) for scalable ingestion and processing of high-volume, real-time sensor data streams emanating from multiple ink cartridges and printing devices.
  2. Combined with Grafana (open-source data visualization and monitoring tool) for creating interactive dashboards and alert systems, providing operators and maintenance personnel with clear, real-time insights into ink status and system health.
  3. Combined with The Open Group Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) standards for ensuring semantic interoperability and standardized data formats for sensor observations, enabling seamless integration with diverse IoT ecosystems.

sequenceDiagram
    participant InkCartridgeIoT as Ink Cartridge (with IoT Sensors)
    participant EdgeGateway as Edge Gateway
    participant CloudPlatform as Cloud Platform (Data Analytics & AI)
    participant PrinterController as Printer Controller
    participant OperatorInterface as Operator Interface

    InkCartridgeIoT->>EdgeGateway: Transmit Sensor Data (Viscosity, Temp, Reactivity, Dispersion)
    EdgeGateway->>CloudPlatform: Forward Aggregated Data (via MQTT/HTTP)
    CloudPlatform->>CloudPlatform: Analyze, Predict, Identify Anomalies
    CloudPlatform->>PrinterController: Send Optimized Print Parameters / Alerts
    PrinterController->>InkCartridgeIoT: Adjust Heater Power / Jetting Settings
    CloudPlatform->>OperatorInterface: Display Dashboard / Send Critical Alerts
    OperatorInterface->>PrinterController: Manual Intervention / Acknowledge Alerts

Derivative 9: Temporary, Degradable Curable Ink (The "Inverse" or Failure Mode)

• Enabling Description: A temporary curable solid ink composition for applications requiring controlled degradation or temporary imaging, employing an isosorbide-capped amide gellant. The gellant's inherent bio-renewable nature is augmented by incorporating monomers and curable waxes specifically chosen for their environmental degradability or photosensitive lability. For instance, the monomers could feature hydrolyzable ester or amide linkages, or photosensitive o-nitrobenzyl esters or acetals within their structure. The photoinitiator system is designed for rapid depletion or degradation post-curing, preventing long-term photostability. This ink, once jetted and cured, exhibits initial mechanical robustness (e.g., MEK rub resistance for a specified duration) but progressively loses integrity, fades, or becomes soluble upon exposure to specific external stimuli (e.g., ambient UV light, elevated humidity, enzymatic activity, or a mild chemical solvent wash). The degradation products are designed to be non-toxic and environmentally benign, making it suitable for disposable signage, temporary security markings, or eco-friendly packaging.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with Open-source spectrophotometry software (e.g., Specview or ImageJ with color analysis plugins) for quantitative monitoring of the degradation rate, color fading, and changes in optical density over time and under various environmental conditions.
  2. Combined with ASTM D6400 (Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities) and ISO 17088 (Specifications for compostable plastics) to certify the compostability and biodegradability of the cured ink film after its temporary lifespan.
  3. Combined with the GNU Scientific Library (GSL), an open-source numerical library, to model the complex reaction kinetics of the degradable components within the ink under various environmental stressors (e.g., UV irradiance, moisture levels) to predict degradation timelines.

stateDiagram-v2
    state "Liquid Ink (Jetting)" as LiquidInk
    state "Solid Ink (Post-Jetting, Pre-Cure)" as SolidInk
    state "Cured Image (Initial Stability)" as CuredStable
    state "Degrading Image (Stimuli-Activated/Time-Dependent)" as DegradingImage
    state "Degraded Components (Non-Toxic)" as DegradedOutput

    LiquidInk --> SolidInk: Cooling (Isosorbide Gellant Action)
    SolidInk --> CuredStable: UV Curing (Rapid, Photoinitiator)
    CuredStable --> DegradingImage: Environmental Stimuli (UV, Humidity, Solvent)
    CuredStable --> DegradingImage: Time (Inherent Component Degradation)
    DegradingImage --> DegradedOutput: Complete Degradation

Derivative 10: Low-Power Curing Curable Ink System (The "Inverse" or Failure Mode - Energy Efficiency)

• Enabling Description: A method of ink jet printing an image utilizing a curable solid ink, comprising the isosorbide-capped amide gellant, optimized for extremely low-energy UV-LED curing. The ink composition is engineered to feature highly reactive, multi-functional monomers (e.g., fast-curing urethane acrylates or highly functionalized acrylic oligomers designed for high crosslinking density) and a highly efficient photoinitiator system (e.g., synergistic blends of Type I and Type II photoinitiators, or novel initiators with high molar absorptivity at specific UV-LED wavelengths, such as 385 nm or 395 nm). The method involves jetting the ink at standard temperatures (70-100°C), followed by immediate exposure to a low-power UV-LED array (e.g., radiant power output < 100 mW/cm² or even < 50 mW/cm²) operating at a specific, narrow wavelength, while moving at relatively high speeds. The gellant ensures rapid gelling post-jetting, providing sufficient green strength before the low-power cure. This system achieves complete cure with minimal energy input, extending battery life in portable printers, reducing operational costs, and minimizing heat impact on sensitive substrates.
• Combination Prior Art Scenarios:
  1. Combined with Open Source Hardware (OSHWA) certified designs for low-power UV-LED arrays or specialized UV-LED driver electronics, enabling the integration of energy-efficient curing solutions into novel printer architectures.
  2. Combined with Energy Star program specifications for ink jet printers to provide a recognized framework for quantifying, certifying, and communicating the energy efficiency of the low-power curing system.
  3. Combined with Zephyr Project (an open-source RTOS for constrained devices) to manage power consumption, process sensor data, and control the low-power UV-LED curing parameters on embedded systems within compact or portable ink jet printing devices.

flowchart TD
    A[Ink Formulation (High Reactivity Monomers, Efficient PI)] --> B[Ink Jetting (Standard Temp, e.g., 90°C)];
    B --> C[Print Substrate];
    C --> D[Low-Power UV-LED Curing (<100 mW/cm², Specific λ)];
    D --> E[Cured Image (Energy Efficient)];
    E --> F[Application: Portable Devices, Sensitive Substrates];