Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David W. Highet
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Patent number: 5858693Abstract: A phage-based antibiotic susceptibility test is carried out by maintaining a patient sample in a sealed sample well during addition of the phage and Luciferin substrate used in the test, in order to prevent contamination of the laboratory environment. The phage is adhered in dried form to a metal carrier disk which is retained beneath the cap of the sealed sample well by means of an external magnet, and is mixed with the patient sample by removing the external magnet and allowing the carrier disk to fall to the bottom of the sample well. The Luciferin substrate is adhered to the underside of the cap and is mixed with the patient sample by shaking or inverting the sealed sample well after the metal carrier disk has separated from the underside of the cap. A row of connected sample wells and caps may be employed to allow the same patient sample to be tested with multiple antibiotics.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Hugh V. Cottingham
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Patent number: 5853986Abstract: An improved method is described for increasing the rate and specificity of hybridization of target polynucleotide sequences with complementary probes. The method uses amphipathic hydrocarbon polymers (AHP), exemplified by polyvinyl sulfonic acid or polystyrene sulfonic acid, to effect the improved hybridization characteristics. The method may be used in solution phase, solid phase, or in situ hybridization formats.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1995Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Charles Robert Petrie, III, Lisa Marie Rutledge, Jerold Randall Morgan
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Patent number: 5840878Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle for delivery of particles to a sample of cells. The vehicle includes a barrier to retain the particles, which barrier is a dissolvable material. Once released into the sample, the particles are useful in methods to lyse or disrupt cells or in methods to separate cellular components from one another if the cells in the sample are already lysed or disrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Matthew P. Collis, Stephen H. Szczepanik
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Assay for chlamydia trachomatis by amplification and detection of chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid
Patent number: 5837469Abstract: A region of the Chlamydia trachomatis ltuB gene 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 thermophilic 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: November 4, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventor: James M. Harris -
Patent number: 5837695Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique fluorescently labeled Chlamydial antigen. This fluorescently labeled Chlamydial antigen is useful in immunoassay-type formatted systems for the detection of antibodies to Chlamydia or unlabeled Chlamydia antigens.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventor: J. Bruce Pitner
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Patent number: 5795748Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a homogeneous nucleic acid amplification and nucleic acid assay on a liquid biological sample comprises a sample well and an optical window element which is received in the sample well. Opposed, spaced-apart surfaces of the optical window element and sample well define a capillary chamber into which a liquid biological sample is drawn by capillary force. By spreading the liquid biological sample into a thin film within the capillary chamber, head space is eliminated, heat transfer to the sample is maximized, and a large optical target is achieved to facilitate the detection step of the assay. The disclosed apparatus is particularly suited for use with homogeneous nucleic acid amplification and fluorescence polarization assays, but can also be used in connection with other types of biological and chemical processes.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Hugh V. Cottingham
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Patent number: 5783148Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing a biological process and is particularly useful for processes which include amplicon decontamination and nucleic acid amplification steps. The apparatus includes a sample well for introduction and removal of a liquid biological sample, at least one reaction chamber containing dried reagents in fluid communication with the sample well, a pneumatic chamber in pneumatic communication with the reaction chamber and sample well, and a pneumatic port in the pneumatic chamber for connection of the apparatus to a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing means which causes the flow of the liquid sample within the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Hugh V. Cottingham, Allen Reichler, Peter Bourdelle
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Patent number: 5783439Abstract: A forced air heating apparatus for providing automatic cyclical heating and cooling of biological samples includes a housing and a heating chamber within the housing. The heating chamber supports a biological sample tray for supporting a plurality of sample containers. A heating device and an impeller are provided to heat the heating chamber and to direct heated air over the sample containers. The heating chamber is sealed to prevent escape of materials and includes a vent coupled to a filter to maintain ambient pressure in the heating chamber and trap particulate materials passing through the vent.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Allen Reichler, Raymond Cracauer
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Patent number: 5776694Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to diagnostic kits for selectively detecting a prokaryotic microorganism and a eukaryotic microorganism in a sample wherein the cells of such microorganisms are lysed by combining the sample with a lysis solution and contacting the nucleic acid released from the microorganisms with selective nucleic acid probes through hybridization techniques. The present invention can be used for detecting microorganisms associated with vaginal disorders, e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans. These kits may be used in a medical practitioner's private office or in a more structured clinical environment, such as a hospital, a commercial clinical microbiology laboratory or the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1997Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson CompanyInventors: Diana K. Sheiness, Trevor H. Adams, Michael R. Stamm, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Theresa B. Britschgi, Connie K. Dix
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Patent number: 5770373Abstract: The invention relates to methods and oligonucleotide probe compositions useful for determining antibiotic resistance in Mycobacteria. Included are methods for freeing intact precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells and for assaying the levels of pre-rRNA in the cells. Also claimed are methods useful in discovering new anti-mycobacterial therapeutic agents.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
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Patent number: 5763185Abstract: 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: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Matthew P. Collis, Michael C. Little, Oscar J. Llorin
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Patent number: 5725831Abstract: An apparatus for containing a liquid biological sample and for performing a biological process thereon comprises a sample area for receiving the sample, at least one reaction area in fluid communication with the sample area, a pneumatic area in pneumatic communication with the reaction area and the sample area, and a pneumatic port in the pneumatic area for connection of the apparatus to a pneumatic aspiration/dispensing pipette. The pneumatic aspiration/dispensing pipette provides for controlled flow of the liquid biological sample between the sample area and the reaction area. To reduce evaporative loss of the sample from the apparatus, a sample tower is provided in fluid communication with the sample area. A similar tower may be provided at the pneumatic port to reduce evaporative loss through the pneumatic area.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1995Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Allen S. Reichler, Peter A. Bourdelle, Raymond F. Cracauer
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Patent number: 5726021Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for rapidly freeing precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells. The methods and compositions further result in detectable levels of ribosomal RNA precursors that are not degraded.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
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Patent number: 5712095Abstract: The invention relates to methods and oligonucleotide probe compositions useful for determining antibiotic resistance in Mycobacteria. Included are methods for freeing intact precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells and for assaying the levels of pre-rRNA in the cells. Also claimed are methods useful in discovering new anti-mycobacterial therapeutic agents.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
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Patent number: 5707860Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle for delivery of particles to a sample of cells. The vehicle includes a barrier to retain the particles, which barrier in one embodiment is a frangible, dissolvable or meltable material. Once released into the sample, the particles are useful in methods to lyse or disrupt cells or in methods to separate cellular components from one another if the cells in the sample are already lysed or disrupted.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1996Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Matthew P. Collis, Allen S. Reichler
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Patent number: 5700636Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to methods for selectively detecting a prokaryotic microorganism and a eukaryotic microorganism in a single complex biological sample wherein the cells of such microorganisms are lysed by combining the sample with a lysis solution and contacting the nucleic acid released from the microorganisms with selective nucleic acid probes through hybridization techniques. Further provided are methods which permit the detection of a Gram-positive bacterium with at least one other microorganism selected from the group consisting of yeast, protozoa, mycoplasma and Gram-negative bacteria in a single complex biological sample. In other aspects of the invention, the methods disclosed permit the detection of microorganisms associated with vaginal disorders.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Diana K. Sheiness, Trevor H. Adams, Michael R. Stamm, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Theresa B. Britschgi, Connie K. Dix
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Patent number: 5674997Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon-containing material which exhibits sufficient hydrophilicity and sufficient electropositivity to bind DNA from a suspension containing DNA and permit elution of the DNA from the material. Generally, the hydrophilic and electropositive characteristics are expressed at the surface of the silicon-containing material. Preferred silicon-containing materials of the present invention include boron silicate, aluminum silicate, phosphosilicate, silica carbonyl, silica sulfonyl and silica phosphonyl. The silicon-containing materials of the present invention are particularly useful in processes for purification of DNA from other cellular components. In these processes, a suspension of cellular components is placed in contact with the silicon-containing material, the silicon-containing material is washed to remove all cellular components other than DNA which are bound to the material, and the bound DNA is eluted from the material.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1995Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Daniel Lee Woodard, Adriann Jeanelle Howard, James Arthur Down
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Patent number: 5668265Abstract: The present invention relates to bi-directional nucleic acid ligand compounds wherein at least two oligonucleotides of opposite sequence polarity are linked to a connecting compound at their same respective terminii; either the 5' terminii or the 3 ' terminii. These compounds are useful for binding protein or small molecule targets and thus may be used as diagnostic or therapeutic agents.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1996Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James G. Nadeau, Mary Lee Ciolkowski, Erwin A. Vogler
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Patent number: 5667976Abstract: Compositions and methods for covalently immobilizing an oligonucleotide onto a polymer-coated solid support or similar structure are provided. Specifically, the polymer-coated support, such as a bead, possesses a large number of activatable moieties, preferably primary and secondary amines. An oligonucleotide is activated with a monofunctional or multifunctional reagent, preferably the homotrifunctional reagent cyanuric chloride. The resultant covalently immobilized oligonucleotides on the support serve as nucleic acid probes, and hybridization assays can be conducted wherein specific target nucleic acids are detected in complex biological samples. The beads or similar structures can be employed free in solution, such as in a microtiter well format; in a flow-through format, such as in a column; or in a dipstick. Additionally, dichlorotriazine oligonucleotides and processes for activating oligonucleotides by treatment with cyanuric chloride and derivatives are included in the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1996Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Van Ness, Charles R. Petrie, John C. Tabone, Nicolaas M.J. Vermeulen, Michael W. Reed
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Patent number: 5658738Abstract: The present invention relates to bi-directional nucleic acid ligand compounds wherein at least two oligonucleotides of opposite sequence polarity are linked to a connecting compound at their same respective terminii; either the 5' terminii or the 3' terminii. These compounds are useful for binding protein or small molecule targets and thus may be used as diagnostic or therapeutic agents.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Becton Dickinson and CompanyInventors: James G. Nadeau, Mary Lee Ciolkowski, Erwin A. Vogler