Patents Examined by A M Ford
  • Patent number: 7244232
    Abstract: A process for identifying and treating cells in a living organism. The cells are labeled, circulated within the organism, detected with an implanted detector, and then either isolated or ablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Biomed Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Connelly, Thomas H. Foster, Michael L. Weiner, Andrew W. Custer
  • Patent number: 7244552
    Abstract: Artificial dermis (1) obtained from plasma with platelets (2) and human fibroblasts. The plasma with platelets (2) is obtained from the fractionating of total blood (4) from the patient (8) by light centrifugation, and the human fibroblasts (3) from a skin biopsy (5). Clotting is obtained by adding calcium. This artificial dermis (1) provides for the rapid growth of the keratinocytes (6) seeded on its surface to build an artificial skin (7) which can easily be transplanted. Large areas of artificial dermis (1) are obtained from a small skin biopsy (5) and minimal quantities of plasma with platelets (2), which being enriched with cytokines and platelet growth factors, strengthens the proliferation of the cells seeded, both inside and on the surface. The artificial skin (7) obtained can be used to treat major burn treatments, chronic skin ulcers, etc., or be used, by employing genetically altered cells, as a vehicle for gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignees: Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (C.I.E.M.A.T.), Centro Comunitario de Transfusión de Asturias-Cruz Roja Espanola, Fundación Marcelino Botin
    Inventors: Jose Luis Jorcano Noval, Fernando Larcher Laguzzi, Alvaro Meana Infiesta, Sara Gomez Llanes, Marcela Del Rio Nechaevsky
  • Patent number: 7244424
    Abstract: The strain of micro-organism Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 is a novel anti-microbial and anti-oxidative probiotic. It has a high anti-microbial effect on Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and moderate activity against Helicobacter pylori strains. The strain of micro-organism possesses Mn-superoxide dismutase and both its lysates and intact cells have high anti-oxidative activity, increasing the glutathione red-ox ratio in blood sera and able to capture toxic hydroxyl radicals. The strain of micro-organism could be used as a probiotic for the production of functional food (yoghurt, cheese) and non-comestibles (tablets, capsules) for the prophylaxis of intestinal and uroinfections, both for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, caused by prolonged oxidative stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: University of Tartu
    Inventors: Marika Mikelsaar, Mihkel Zilmer, Tiiu Kullisaaar, Heidi Annuk, Epp Songisepp
  • Patent number: 7229826
    Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for the ex vivo formation of mammalian bone and subsequent uses of the bone. A critical and distinguishing feature of the present invention are defined tissue culture conditions and factors resulting in the formation of bone cell spheroids. The invention also provides for methods of implanting into subjects the ex vivo formed bone. Also described are methods for genetically altering the bone cell spheroids to affect bone formation, identification of candidate modulators of bone formation, and identification of genes involved in bone formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Sujata Kale, Michael W. Long
  • Patent number: 7220779
    Abstract: A pig growth enhancer, which comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one compound selected from 5-aminolevulinic acid, a derivative thereof and a salt thereof, and a method for enhancing pig growth, which comprises administering the growth enhancer to a pig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Oshida, Tohru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7214481
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods, compositions and kits for stabilizing a solubilized phenyl phosphate, preferably paranitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP), using charcoal. Also disclosed are methods, compositions and kits for recycling solubilized phenyl phosphate, preferably PNPP, that has an absorbance of less than 0.1 when measured at 405 nm due to non-enzymatic hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: BioFX Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Woerner
  • Patent number: 7204971
    Abstract: The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Sandhage
  • Patent number: 7203757
    Abstract: A protocol translation device realizes the merit of communications via the T/TCP protocol even if only one of devices in communication is compatible with T/TCP. The protocol translation device conducts protocol translation to relay communication packets sent and received between a TCP channel and a T/TCP channel, including a means for translating a T/TCP packet into a TCP packet by deleting a CC option and a CCnew option from the T/TCP packet, a means for translating a TCP packet into a T/TCP packet by adding CC, CCnew and/or CCecho options to the TCP packet and setting a CC value, and a means for assigning a value that is 16 bytes less than the maximum size of the packet to an MSS option for a communication device that communicates by the TCP protocol and instructing the communication device to transmit data with a packet that is 16 bytes or more smaller than the maximum size of the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 7198785
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the treatment of uremic toxins in vivo using uremic toxin-treating enzymes, and/or cells capable of producing uremic toxin-treating enzymes or otherwise reacting with uremic toxins. Non-limiting examples of cases where the treatment of uremic toxins is desired include renal disease or dysfunction, gout, subjects receiving chemotherapy, or the like. In one aspect, the treatment includes an oral delivery composition able to reduce the blood concentration of one or more non-protein nitrogen compounds in vivo. The composition, in some cases, may comprise one, two, or more uremic toxin-treating enzymes, such as urease, uricase or creatininase. The oral delivery composition may be able to deliver the uremic toxin-treating enzymes, substantially undigested, to the intestines, where the enzymes can interact with uremic toxins transported to the intestines from the bloodstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventors: Jill A. O'Loughlin, Jan Markus Bruder, Michael J. Lysaght
  • Patent number: 7198947
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for production of functional proteins including hormones by renal cells in a three dimensional co-culture process responsive to shear stress using a rotating wall vessel. Natural mixture of renal cells expresses the enzyme 1-a-hydroxylase which can be used to generate the active form of vitamin D: 1,25-diOH vitamin D3. The fibroblast cultures and co-culture of renal cortical cells express the gene for erythropoietin and secrete erythropoietin into the culture supernatant. Other shear stress response genes are also modulated by shear stress, such as toxin receptors megalin and cubulin (gp280). Also provided is a method of treating in-need individual with the functional proteins produced in a three dimensional co-culture process responsive to shear stress using a rotating wall vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Thomas John Goodwin, Timothy Grant Hammond, James Howard Kaysen
  • Patent number: 7189263
    Abstract: Biocompatible bone graft material having a biocompatible, resorbable polymer and a biocompatible, resorbable inorganic material exhibiting macro, meso, and microporosities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Vita Special Purpose Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Erbe, Theodore D. Clineff, Charanpreet S. Bagga, Gina M. Nagvajara, Antony Koblish
  • Patent number: 7189544
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to enzymatic modification of lecithin and to hydrolyzed lecithin products obtained by such modification. One particular implementation provides methods for producing a hydrolyzed lecithin product containing hydrolyzed phospholipids, monoglycerides, and diglycerides. For example, such a method may include the steps of: (a) contacting a lecithin material, which includes a phospholipid component and a triglyceride component, in an aqueous or organic solvent medium, with a first enzyme effective to hydrolyze the phospholipid; and (b) subsequently contacting the product of step (a) with a second enzyme, effective to hydrolyze the triglyceride; under reaction conditions effective to inhibit esterification of the hydrolyzed phospholipid with released fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Heidi Schmitt, Marc Heirman
  • Patent number: 7184919
    Abstract: System and method for performing dynamic routing in a measurement system to perform a measurement task. The system includes a computer and one or more measurement devices. One or more topography descriptions (TD) representing connectivity between devices and/or device components in the measurement system are received and preprocessed to generate corresponding graphs. A routing expert receives and analyzes a routing specification indicating source and destination terminals in the measurement system. The system dynamically computes a plurality of routes from the source terminal to the destination terminal by traversing the graphs and selecting the plurality of routes based on a metric. The computed routes are stored in a run-time specification for use at runtime to perform the measurement task. At runtime, a route is selected from the plurality of routes, and the system configures the one or more measurement devices with the selected route for performing the measurement task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff A. Carbonell, Robert W. Thurman
  • Patent number: 7179624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new eco-friendly process for the preparation of chiral alcohols by asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones in water using soked phaseolus aureus L (green grams).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Pardhasaradhi Malladi, Kumaraswamy Gullapalli, Ramesh Sunkanapally, Chembumkulam Kamalakshyamma Snehalatha Nair, Arun Kanti Das
  • Patent number: 7169577
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for screening a single cell or a small group of cells for a desired biological activity. In particular, the present invention provides for delivering cell(s) to a plurality of cell isolation regions of a cell isolation device, transferring cell(s) to a plurality of wells of a cell expansion device and then detecting the potential desired biological activity of the cell(s). Each of the receptacles comprise a recess sized to isolate a single cell or small group of cells and each of the wells encompass a cavity that provides sufficient volume for cell proliferation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Evelyn Wang, Rocco Casagrande, Amar Kendale, Enoch Kim, Emanuele Ostuni, Olivier Schueller
  • Patent number: 7169578
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for screening a single cell or a small group of cells for a desired biological activity. In particular, the present invention provides for delivering cell(s) to a plurality of cell isolation regions of a cell isolation device, transferring the cell(s) to a plurality of wells of a cell expansion device and detecting the potential desired biological activity of the cell(s). Each of the cell isolation regions comprise a bioaffinity region capable of binding a single cell or a small group of cell(s). This binding of cell(s) may be accomplished through the use of bioaffinity ligands immobilized in the bioaffinity regions of the cell isolation regions. Preferably, the wells of the cell expansion device encompass a cavity that provides sufficient volume for cell proliferation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Evelyn Wang, Rocco Casagrande, Amar Kendale, Enoch Kim, Emanuele Ostuni, Olivier Schueller
  • Patent number: 7160676
    Abstract: This invention describes unique patterns of distribution of ganglioside GM1 in non-capacitated sperm and demonstrates that the pattern of distribution of GM1 undergoes changes that can be correlated with the process of capacitation and/or with acrosomal exocytosis. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a method for determining the ability of sperm to respond to capacitation and/or acrosomal exocytosis stimuli. The method comprises determination of distribution pattern for GM1. The method can be used for both diagnostic and predictive purposes when assessing male reproductive fitness, and can also be used to assess the effects on sperm of cryoprotective agents and protocols, and contraceptive agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Alexander J. Travis, Gregory S. Kopf
  • Patent number: 7157276
    Abstract: Methods for clarification of cell samples using centrifugation in combination with depth filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Biogen IDEC Inc.
    Inventor: Christine Y Pham
  • Patent number: 7153648
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of cell separation or isolation. In particular, the invention provides a method for separating cells, which method comprises: a) selectively staining cells to be separated with a dye so that there is a sufficient difference in a separable property of differentially stained cells; and b) separating said differentially stained cells via said separable property. Preferably, the separable property is dielectrophoretic property of the differentially stained cells and the differentially stained cells are separated or isolated via dielectrophoresis. Methods for separating various types of cells in blood samples are also provided. Centrifuge tubes useful in density gradient centrifugation and dielectrophoresis isolation devices useful for separating or isolating various types of cells are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: Capitalbio Corporation, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Gaoshan Jing, Jian Zhang, Jing Cheng
  • Patent number: 7153492
    Abstract: An effervescent solid composition of matter is provided, which comprises, as an active component, a substance selected from chitosan, its derivatives and salts thereof and a second component capable of releasing CO2 in an acidic environment. Also, methods for treatment of a mammal suffering from a dermal wound, or for prophylactic or wound-healing treatment of lactating animals prone to develop or suffering from mastitis, are provided. The methods comprise the steps of: a) admixing said effervescent solid composition of matter with an aqueous liquid to form a solution or suspension thereof; b) contacting said animals with said solution or suspension to provide such treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Medicarb AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Mathisen, Marcus Back, Åsa Hellman