Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP intellectual property counsel Larry DeMeo and patent specialist Laura Couch recently assisted pro bono client Ismael Voltaire, a scientist at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, in obtaining a patent through the Cardozo Law School’s Patent Diversity Program.

Voltaire invented an Aptamer Based Portable Diagnostic Medical Device And Methods Of Use, which addresses a need for a portable medical device capable of providing contemporaneous and on-the-site medical assessment of bodily fluids to ascertain health status and to render an early and accurate diagnosis, in circumstances when access to advanced laboratory equipment is impossible or impractical. His invention addresses this need with a cuff-like medical device that may analyze and report the amount and concentration of various biomarkers in a patient's bodily fluids, samples of which may be extracted in the field and analyzed on the spot using the device.

The Patent Diversity Project at Cardozo Law School is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting inclusivity and diversity within the patent law landscape. Through the pro bono representation of DeMeo and Couch on this patent, as well as the ongoing pro bono partnership of intellectual property partner Yisun Song, the firm is proud to be a part of the initiative, supporting underrepresented inventors and contributing to the advancement of diversity and equity in the legal profession.