Dr. Joseph Kennedy, UA distinguished professor of polymer science and chemistry, and attorney Ray Weber, will receive the Ohio Patent Legacy Award for 2011 from the Ohio Academy of Science and Intellectual Property Law Section of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Kennedy's selection was based on U.S. Patent Re. 34,640 (Thermoplastic Elastomers of Isobutylene and Process of Preparation), awarded to him and Dr. Judith Puskas, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Dr. G. Kaszas; and W. Hager. The researchers used living cationic polymerization to create a revolutionary new thermoplastic elastomer based on isobutylene and styrene.This elastomer was successfully commercialized as the polymer coating for Boston Scientific’s most popular drug-eluting coronary stent.
Kennedy’s recognition also was based on his entire collection of 103 patents. He will accept his award April 16 at Otterbein University.
Media contact: Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@.uakron.edu.