The widow of another co-inventor has had her name added to the list of inventors. Can I do this?
I am sorry for your loss.
To answer your question, no, you do not have any rights to this patent. The reason is that all of the inventors, Timothy F. Elsmore, Dennis L. Reeves, Kathryn P. Winter, and Karl E. Friedl have assigned the rights in their invention to the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command. Their phone number is 301-619-7293.
I'm so sorry for your loss. In addition to patent law considerations, to figure all of this out you would also need to consult with an attorney in the state that has jurisdiction over your husband's death (California?) Patent rights may pass to you (or someone else) based on your husband's will or state law, or maybe the terms of a trust, depending on all of the facts and circumstances.
You need a consultation with a good "intellectual property" attorney. You can search the internet for one in your area or you can contact the local bar association for a referral to one. This question cannot be answered without a review of all the relevant documents, particularly the "co holder" agreement and designation by the US Patent Office. The fact that another widow got her name added may or may not have bearing on your situation.
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