Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David W. Highet
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Patent number: 6920405Abstract: A desired Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL), a desired Key Defect Rate (KDR), a desired power of a sampling plan for items that are manufactured and a desired false alarm rate for the sampling plan are input into a computer. The computer calculates a required sample size to provide the desired AQL, the desired KDR, the desired power of the sampling plan for the items that are manufactured and the desired false alarm rate for the sampling plan. Thus, each of the individual parameters may be independently specified based on the items that are manufactured, desired AQLs, KDRs, power and false alarm rates. Reliance on ANSI/ASQ Z1.9 tables which might best fit a user's desired parameters can be reduced and preferably eliminated. In addition to calculating the required sample size, a decision rule critical value also may be calculated based upon the required sample size to provide the desired AQL, the desired KDR, the desired power and the desired false alarm rate for the sampling plan.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: David E. Lawrence
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Patent number: 6433160Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition which is useful for the reversible binding of a nucleic acid molecule. The composition, which may be packaged in a kit, includes a paramagnetic particle in an acidic solution.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Matthew P. Collis
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Patent number: 6399309Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a hmw gene cluster target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: James Price
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Patent number: 6379888Abstract: Signal primers are employed for detection of nucleic acid target sequences by fluorescence quenching mechanisms. The signal primer comprises a first and a second oligonucleotide and is partially single-stranded and partially double-stranded. In the presence of target, the second oligonucleotide of the signal primer is displaced from the first and a conformational change in a reporter probe occurs which changes the distance between the members of a donor/quencher dye pair linked to the reporter probe. The change in proximity between the dyes causes an increase or a decrease in fluorescence quenching, which is detected as an indication of the presence of the target sequence.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James G. Nadeau, C. Preston Linn, J. Bruce Pitner, Cheryl H. Dean, G. Terrance Walker
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Patent number: 6379892Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Chlamydia pneumonia target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Katherine Kacena
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Patent number: 6372445Abstract: The inventors herein disclose new heterobifunctional chromophores that are capable of coupling with two distinct moieties. One moiety may be either a signal-enhancing agent or a blocking agent. The second moiety may be one member of a specific binding pair. The invention is based in part on the surprising result that when a chromophore is used as a “cross-linker” between a signal-enhancing agent and a member of a binding pair (essentially being buried between the two), the signal of the chromophore is not quenched. This arrangement, wherein the chromophore acts simultaneously as a cross-linker and a detectable compound, provides significant advantages over previously known compounds since the chromophore is sterically hindered from interacting non-specifically with substances present in the test systems. Moreover, the chromophore can be used as a cross-linker with little or no loss of detectable signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Kenneth A. Davis, Barnaby Abrams, James A. Bishop
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Patent number: 6350619Abstract: This invention describes methods and kits for determining instrument linearity of a flow cytometer and is particularly useful as a control particle for use in conjunction with absolute cell counting methods. The particle used in the practice of this invention comprises a small fluorescent bead.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1994Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Virendra O. Shah
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Patent number: 6316200Abstract: The invention employs an unlabeled signal primer comprising a 5′ adapter sequence for detection of nucleic acid target sequences. The detection system further comprises a reporter probe, the 3′ end of which hybridizes to the complement of the 5′ adapter sequence of the signal primer to produce a 5′ overhang. Polymerase is used to fill in the overhang and synthesize the complement of the 5′ overhang of the reporter probe. Synthesis of the reporter probe complement is detected, either directly or indirectly, as an indication of the presence of the target.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2000Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James G. Nadeau, Tobin J. Hellyer
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Patent number: 6287791Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method for the multi-parameter analysis of cells from peripheral blood or bone marrow. The method uses a nucleic acid dye, at least two fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibodies and at least two light scatter parameters to differentiate and discriminate between and among different cells in the blood or bone marrow.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1994Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Leon W M M Terstappen, Chia-Huei Chen
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Patent number: 6277582Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a P1 target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James A. Price, Jr., Tobin J. Hellyer, Stefanie M. Finn
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Patent number: 6265224Abstract: The present invention relates to methods in which ion exchange resins are used to reduce the amount of substances which interfere with nucleic acid hybridization in samples. The methods also stabilize the samples. Kits containing the ion exchange resins render the methods convenient to use.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1999Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Matthew P. Collis, Anne B. Brown, Oscar J. Llorin, Thomas L. Fort
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Patent number: 6261785Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a pertussis toxin promoter target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Bordetella pertussis target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Janet L. Wood, Tobin J. Hellyer
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Patent number: 6261784Abstract: Detector nucleic acids are employed for detection of nucleic acid target sequences by fluorescence quenching mechanisms. The detector nucleic acid comprises at least two oligonucleotides and is partially single-stranded and partially double-stranded. One of the two dyes of a donor/acceptor dye pair is linked to the first oligonucleotide and the other is linked to a second oligonucleotide such that they are in close spatial proximity when the first and second oligonucleotides are base-paired and donor fluorescence is quenched. A single second oligonucleotide may be hybridized to the first oligonucleotide or multiple second oligonucleotides may be hybridized to the first oligonucleotide and to each other, forming a junction structure comprising multiple donor/acceptor dye pairs. The detector oligonucleotide retains its partially single-stranded and partially double-stranded conformation in the absence of target.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James G. Nadeau, Helen V. Hsieh, J. Bruce Pitner, C. Preston Linn
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Patent number: 6251609Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a mip gene sequence are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Legionella pneumophila target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Thomas L. Brink, Tobin J. Hellyer
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Patent number: 6241980Abstract: The present invention relates to methods in which ion exchange resins are used to reduce the amount of substances which interfere with nucleic acid hybridization in samples. The methods also stabilize the samples. Kits containing the ion exchange resins render the methods convenient to use.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1997Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Matthew P. Collis, Anne B. Brown, Oscar J. Llorin, Thomas L. Fort
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Patent number: 6218125Abstract: A region of the Chlamydia trachomatis cryptic plasmid has been identified which is useful for performing amplification assays to determine specifically whether C. trachomatis is present in the sample being tested. Oligonucleotides useful for performing thermal Strand Displacement Assay (tSDA) reactions on this gene are disclosed. The disclosed oligonucleotides can be used in an assay which is specific for all strains of C. trachomatis and which does not show crossreactivity with the genomes of other microorganisms or with human DNA.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Paul A. Foxall, Dolores M. Berger
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Patent number: 6216049Abstract: A computerized method and apparatus are disclosed for analyzing numerical data pertaining to a sample assay comprising at least one biological or chemical sample. The data include a set of data pertaining to each respective sample, with each set of data including a plurality of values each representing a condition of the sample at a given time. The method and apparatus assign a respective numerical value to each of the data values, mathematically combine the numerical values to generate a total value, compare the total value to a threshold value, and control the system to indicate whether the sample has a predetermined characteristic based on a result of the comparison. Prior to calculation of the sample value, filtering, normalizing and other correcting operations can be performed on the data to correct anomalous values in the data which could adversely affect the accuracy of the results.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Harry Yang, Daniel L. Schwarz, Christopher M. Embres, Richard L. Moore, Perry D. Haaland, Paula V. Johnson
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Patent number: 6210881Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing the amount of substances inhibitory to nucleic acid hybridization in samples. The method is practiced prior to release of target nucleic acid from cells of interest and involves contacting the sample with an agent which solubilizes the inhibitory substances and does not effectuate release of nucleic acids from cells in the sample, and then the cells from the agent.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1998Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Michael C. Little, Oscar J. Llorin, Matthew P. Collis
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Patent number: 6207818Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive stains of Escherichia coli (EIEC) target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Shigella and EIEC target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Tobin J. Hellyer, Ray A. McMillian
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Patent number: 6197514Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a Yersinia enterocolitica target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of Y. enterocolitica target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Qimin You, Thomas L. Fort