Patents Examined by Lora M. Green
  • Patent number: 5820808
    Abstract: A method for forming an injection molded component from a host polymer (18) uses a very small quantity of an additive (32) that is efficiently driven to the surface of the component during the injection molding process. The additive exists in the host polymer at a very low concentration in the bulk, much lower than would be necessary to achieve the modification in a homogeneous blend. The additive is an insoluble liquid in the host polymer under the temperature and pressure conditions of injection molding. The additive is driven to the flow front surface (22) during injection molding and then translated to the surface (24) of the component by fountain flow and is distributed on the surface in a thin layer, producing the desired surface modification, without altering the properties of the bulk polymer, and eliminating post processing steps from the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Henk van Oene, Deborah F. Mielewski, Kevin R. J. Ellwood
  • Patent number: 5814460
    Abstract: The invention allows the generation and screening of a large population of peptides for the presence of peptides which bind a particular macromolecule or macromolecular complex with high affinity, and further allows the favored net synthesis of analyzable quantities of such peptides, by using is the "trap" a macromolecule or macromolecular complex for which binding of the peptide is desired. The starting mixture is preferably spiked with a peptide having some affinity for the target macromolecule so that mutation of the spike or "lead" peptide is favored. The development of improved binding peptides through scrambling may be dynamically monitored by initially binding the target with an insolubilized ligand, and then looking for an increase in the concentration of the target in the soluble phase as a result of the displacement of the reference ligand by scrambled peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Diatide, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane L. Venton, Anton J. Hopfinger, Guy Lebreton
  • Patent number: 5814470
    Abstract: Sets and libraries of sets of polypeptides that are related in sequence to melittin are disclosed that have antimicrobial, hemolytic and hydrolytically catalytic activities, as are processes for making and using the same. A contemplated set is a mixture of equimolar amounts of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, and more preferably SEQ ID NO:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
    Inventors: Sylvie Blondelle, Richard A. Houghten, Enrique Perez-Paya
  • Patent number: 5811526
    Abstract: A time-resolving luminescence binding assay involves a metal-labelled binding partner comprising a luminescent transition metal complex covalently attached to a binding partner such as an antigen or antibody. Ruthenim, iridium, osmium, and chromium luminescent complexes are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Alusuisse Holdings A.G.
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Davidson
  • Patent number: 5811241
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of synthesizing N-substituted 1,4-piperazines and N-substituted 1,4-piperazinediones. The invention also provides a method for synthesing combinatorial libraries of piperazine derivatives which can be assayed for biological activity in pre-specified ligand binding or enzymatic activity screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Cortech, Inc.
    Inventors: Val S. Goodfellow, Donald A. McLeod, James Ivan Gerrity, Christopher P. Laudeman, Michael R. Burkard
  • Patent number: 5811311
    Abstract: Compositions are disclosed comprising (a) a metal chelate wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of europium, terbium, dysprosium, samarium osmium and ruthenium in at least a hexacoordinated state and (b) a compound having a double bond substituted with two aryl groups, an oxygen atom and an atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen wherein one of the aryl groups is electron donating with respect to the other. Such composition is preferably incorporated in a latex particulate material. Methods and kits are also disclosed for determining an analyte in a medium suspected of containing the analyte. The methods and kits employ as one component a composition as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Dade Behring Marburg GmbH
    Inventors: Sharat Singh, Edwin F. Ullman
  • Patent number: 5807534
    Abstract: A method for in-vivo targeting a functional moiety in a patient by administering a targeting moiety coupled to an affinity component, wherein the targeting moiety has affinity for binding sites in a target area, and administering a binding partner to the affinity component coupled to a functional moiety to localize the functional moiety in the target area. Preferably the targeting moiety is an antibody and the functional moiety is a radiometal when performing in vivo imaging or therapy. The affinity component may be a novel methotrexate analog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Nicholas Pomato, Richard P. McCabe, Gregory Alan Hawkins, Reinhard Bredehorst, Chong-Ho Kim, Carl-Wilhelm Ernst Vogel
  • Patent number: 5807683
    Abstract: Kit, and method for its use and construction, which includes a first plurality of vessels containing different polysubunits, each constructed from a known number of subunits. Each subunit is joined by one or more bonds and each subunit and bond can be the same or different. Each of the different polysubunits has a different sequence of subunits but has the same known subunit at one terminus. Each vessel contains polysubunits which have a different known subunit at one terminus. The kit further includes a second plurality of vessels which includes different polysubunits, each constructed from the known number minus one subunit, as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: CombiChem, Inc.
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 5804390
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for identifying compounds which bind to a specific target molecule. The process includes the steps of a) generating a first two-dimensional .sup.15 N/.sup.1 H NMR correlation spectrum of a .sup.15 N-labeled target molecule; b) exposing the labeled target molecule to one or a mixture of chemical compounds; c) generating a second two-dimensional .sup.15 N/.sup.1 H NMR correlation spectrum of the labeled target molecule that has been exposed to one or a mixture of compounds in step (b); and d) comparing said first and second two-dimensional .sup.15 N/.sup.1 H NMR correlation spectra to determine differences between said first and said second spectra, the differences identifying the presence of one or more compounds that are ligands which have bound to the target molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Stephen W. Fesik, Philip J. Hajduk
  • Patent number: 5795727
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for autoclustering N-dimensional datastreams. The invention has particular utility in analyzing multi-parameter data from a flow cytometer, and more particularly has utility in analyzing data from whole blood cells tagged with fluorescently labelled CD3, CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies to which a known number of fluorescent microbeads has been added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Pierre Bierre, Ronald A. Mickaels
  • Patent number: 5789172
    Abstract: Encoded combinatorial chemistry is provided, where sequential synthetic schemes are recorded using organic molecules, which define choice of reactant, and stage, as the same or different bit of information. Various products can be produced in the multi-stage synthesis, such as oligomers and synthetic non-repetitive organic molecules. Conveniently, nested families of compounds can be employed as identifiers, where number and/or position of a substituent define the choice. Alternatively, detectable functionalities may be employed, such as radioisotopes, fluorescers, halogens, and the like, where presence and ratios of two different groups can be used to define stage or choice. Particularly, pluralities of identifiers may be used to provide a binary or higher code, so as to define a plurality of choices with only a few detachable tags. The particles may be screened for a characteristic of interest, particularly binding affinity, where the products may be detached from the particle or retained on the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignees: Trustees of the Columbia University in the City of New York, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Inventors: W. Clark Still, Michael H. Wigler, Michael H. J. Ohlmeyer, Lawrence W. Dillard, John C. Reader
  • Patent number: 5780221
    Abstract: A method of identifying macromolecules (peptides, oligonucleotides, sugars and macromolecular complexes, such as RNA-protein complexes, protein-lipid complexes), which are not of the natural handedness (not of the chirality as they occur in nature or as a wild type molecule) and which are ligands for other chiral macromolecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Antonius Nicolass Maria Schumacher, Peter S. Kim
  • Patent number: 5780241
    Abstract: Compositions comprising novel chemical libraries are prepared. The compositions of the present invention are useful as antibacterial and other pharmaceutical agents and as intermediates for preparation other pharmaceutical agents. In addition, compounds of the present invention are useful as research reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Dan Cook
  • Patent number: 5773227
    Abstract: This invention describes bifunctional polysaccharides conjugated to both a chelating group suitable for the selective complexation of metal cations, and a targeting peptide specific for a cellular substructure. These bifunctional polysaccharides are primarily useful for the regulation, detection and quantification of metal ion levels, such as Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, or Li.sup.+, in specific cellular structures. Localization within the cellular structure is accomplished by the targeting peptide, whereupon the large, water-soluble polysaccharide prevents diffusion of the chelating group from the targeted site. When the target cell structure is the nucleus of a fertilized egg cell, the polysaccharide-chelator conjugate remains sequestered within the nucleus until the breakdown of the nuclear envelope, whereupon the reagent becomes sequestered into both daughter nuclei. This means of tracking daughter cells is practical even through several cell divisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Molecular Probes, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kuhn, Tobias Meyer, Nancy L. Allbritton
  • Patent number: 5772963
    Abstract: An analytic instrument utilizing a Control Arena Network (CANBUS) and nodal architecture in the instrument with functions and logic distributed throughout the Nodes. A system controller is connected on the one hand to an operator input device for controlling the instrument, and on the other hand to a plurality of nodes via a CAN scrambler. Each nodes has a CAN microcontroller and related circuitry for performing autonomously a variety of functions of the instrument. The system controller and nodes communicate using CAN interface devices over the CANBUS, passing instructions, commands and data therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Luigi Cantatore, Jeff Busch, Maurice J. Epstein, Edward J. Hetherington
  • Patent number: 5770380
    Abstract: A synthetic antibody mimic comprising multiple peptide loops built on an organic or molecular scaffold. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, a calixarene unit comprises the organic scaffold to which is attached a plurality of peptide loops. The antibody mimics allow for the generation of large libraries of artificial antibodies that can be screened for binding to target antigens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh
    Inventors: Andrew D. Hamilton, Yoshitomo Hamuro
  • Patent number: 5770459
    Abstract: What is described are methods and apparatus for performing a binding assay for an analyte of interest present in a sample. The methods include the steps of: forming a composition containing said sample, an assay-performance-substance which contains a component linked to a label compound capable of chemiluminescing when triggered, and a plurality of coated magnetic particles capable of specifically binding with the analyte and/or said assay-performance-substance; incubating said composition to form a complex which includes a particle and said labeled component; magnetically collecting said complex at the surface of an electrode; inducing said label to luminesce by contacting it with a trigger, said trigger being formed in-situ by conversion of a precursor molecule upon introduction of electrochemical energy; and measuring the emitted luminescence to measure the presence of the analyte of interest in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: IGEN International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Massey, Gary F. Blackburn, Elizabeth W. Wilkins, Jonathan K. Leland
  • Patent number: 5763189
    Abstract: Particles comprising an energy donor as a first component and a fluorescent dye as a second component positioned in said particles at an energy exchanging distance from one another, wherein the two components have a Stokes shift of greater than or equal to 50 nm, said particle having bound on its surface, a protein, polypeptide, nucleic acid, nucleotide or protein containing ligand analogue are disclosed and claimed. In addition, novel fluorescent dyes are described which exhibit intramolecular energy transfer for use to label various molecules, proteins, polypeptides, nucleotides and nucleic acids or to incorporate into particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Biosite Diagnostics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Buechler, J. Barry Noar, Lema Tadesse
  • Patent number: 5763193
    Abstract: Linear C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl peralkylated oligopeptide sets of molecules are disclosed, as are their methods of synthesis and use in acceptor binding assays. Each molecule or chain of a set contains the same number of two to about ten substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 -alkyl peralkylated amino acid residues, and the member chains of a set are present in equimolar amounts. The chains of a set contain one or more predetermined peralkylated amino acid residues at one or more predetermined positions of the peralkylated oligopeptide chain. The set contains equimolar amounts of at least six different peralkylated amino acid residues at one or more of the same predetermined positions of the peralkylated oligopeptide chain. Libraries of such sets, processes for their use and solid support-linked peralkylated sets are also contemplated, as are specific permethylated oligopeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
    Inventors: Richard A. Houghten, John M. Ostresh, Sylvie Blondelle
  • Patent number: 5759785
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of determining the antagonist and agonist activity of a compound for steroid hormone receptors. The present invention also provides a method of determining antagonist activity of a compound for a hormone receptor by inducing the conformational change in the receptor. In addition, the present invention provides a novel method of determining the level of agonist activity of a compound for steroid hormone receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Ming-Jer Tsai, Bert W. O'Malley, Sophia Yang Tsai, George Francis Allan