Patents by Inventor Frederick Grinnell

Frederick Grinnell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for diagnosing non-healing ulcers
    Patent number: 5270168
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the diagnosis of non-healing ulcers in humans. Provided are methods for detecting the presence of non-healing ulcers by assaying for certain cell adhesion-related proteins or their degradation products in ulcer exudate. The methods of the present invention are useful as an initial, quick and inexpensive screening process for a condition which is often misdiagnosed. It has been discovered that in non-healing ulcers there appear to be proteases which degrade cell adhesion-related proteins, e.g., fibronectin and vitronectin. Protein separation techniques, such as electrophoresis, may be used in combination with immunoassay techniques to isolate and identify these degradation products, as well as the cell adhesion-related proteins themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Frederick Grinnell
  • Peptide inhibitors of wound contraction
    Patent number: 4957902
    Abstract: The present invention involves the inhibition of wound contraction by polypeptides having an amino acid sequence which is similar or identical to certain amino acid sequences of type (I) collagen. A variety of peptides are disclosed which are clinically useful as inhibitors of wound contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Board of Regents, the University of Texas System
    Inventor: Frederick Grinnell