Patents Examined by A M Ford
  • Artificial synapse chip
    Patent number: 7147865
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for administering a fluid to a neuronal site. The device comprises a reservoir, an aperture in fluid connection to the reservoir, and electrical means for moving to the fluid to or through the aperture. The electrical means may take the form of electroosmotic force, piezoelectric movement of a diaphragm or electrolysis of a solution. The electrical means may be external to the host, implanted in the host or may be photodiodes activated by light, particularly where the neuronal site is associated with the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University
    Inventors: Harvey A. Fishman, David Bloom, Stacey F. Bent, Mark C. Peterman, Jaan Noolandi, Neville Mehenti
  • Culture device and method for eukaryotic cell transfection
    Patent number: 7125709
    Abstract: A cell culture device for transfecting a eukaryotic cell is disclosed. The cell culture/transfection device may be a multiwell plate or slide which has been coated with a metal salt such as CaCl2. Methods of using the cell culture device to transfect mammalian cells and/or to monitor cell transfection are described. Kits are also described which include the cell transfection device, eukaryotic cells to be transformed and nucleic acid for transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Tanaka, Lei Yu, Shouping Ji
  • Methods and compositions for detection of microbial contaminants in peritoneal dialysis solutions
    Patent number: 7118857
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detection of microbial contaminants in peritoneal dialysis solutions are provided. The methods and compositions employ modified bioburden testing and the detection of peptidoglycan. A novel cause of aseptic peritonitis is provided—aseptic peritonitis associated with gram positive microbial contamination of a dialysis solution. Peptidoglycan is a major component of a gram positive bacterial cell wall and thus can serve as a marker for gram positive bacteria. In this regard, testing for peptidoglycans can be utilized to effectively prevent peritonitis in patients that use the peritoneal dialysis solutions, such as peritoneal dialysis solutions that contain a glucose polymer including an icodextrin and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Leo Martis, Mehul Patel, Joseph A. Giertych, James W. Mongoven, Jacqueline A. Kunzler, William F. Owen, Jr.
  • Bacterial strain for degradation of organic polymers
    Patent number: 7115411
    Abstract: A Gram-negative bacterial strain, Pseudomonas nitroreducens TX1 (BCRC910228) isolated from the surfactant-contaminated drainage sediment is described. This strain is shown to have the capacity in utilizing alkylphenol polyethoxylates as a sole source of carbon and energy to grow. Furthermore, it can be grown on a high concentration of alkylphenol polyethoxylates in an aqueous environment. This strain can be applied in the remediation of organic polymers-contaminated water and soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventor: Shir-Ly Huang
  • 3-dimensional klinostat for culture of cells
    Patent number: 7112441
    Abstract: In order to grow an object to be cultivated or grown, a growth object is encapsulated in a vessel, and the growth object is grown without substantial influence of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Uemura, Jun-Ichiro Gyotoku, Makoto Asashima
  • Material and methods for the production of sperm and analysis thereof
    Patent number: 7087371
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing viable sperm from neonatal mammalian testes which have been engrafted in mice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Ina Dobrinski, Stefan Schlatt, Ali Honaramooz, Hans Scholer
  • Method for purifying enzymes from clostridium histolyticum using multi-stage chromatography
    Patent number: 7083964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying at least one enzyme obtained in an excess fermentation of Clostridium histolyticum. It is provided for that the enzymes of the excess fermentation are separated by a multistage chromatography method by exclusively using chromatography materials on styrene/divinyl-benzene base and/or on base of in particular ceramic hydroxylapatite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Kurfürst, Stefan Schmidbauer
  • Method of forming vascularized kidney tissue
    Patent number: 7074552
    Abstract: A method for constructing a stable bioactive mammalian embryonic kidney is described herein. A kidney so constructed requires no artificial support, nor porous man made membranes or tubing to effectuate its biological function of filtering body fluids. A single donor embryonic kidney, or fragment thereof, can produce a great number of functional kidneys suitable for treating subjects with various kidney disorders. It is anticipated that said in vitro produced kidney would be less, or not at all, antigenic when transplanted into a subject, because of its embryonic character and artificial propagation in culture. This method of producing a functional organ can be useful in cloning other organ structures containing inducible epithelial tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sanjay Kumar Nigam, Jizeng Qiao, Hiroyuki Sakurai
  • Methods and means of histone methylation
    Patent number: 7074578
    Abstract: This invention relates to the methylation of histones, in particular to a previously uncharacterised group of histone H3 methylases which comprise a SET domain and which methylate either lysine 4 within the amino tail of histone H3 or within the histone H3 core. Methylation by these methylases, in particular trimethylation, is shown to be important for transcriptional activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Chroma Therapeutics LTD
    Inventors: Tony Kouzarides, Helena Santos-Rosa
  • Protein hydrolysates produced with the use of cod proteases
    Patent number: 7070953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for enzymatically obtaining protein hydrolysates for human consumption, animal feed and cosmetics. The process involves the use of a proteolytic composition derived from fish, such as Cod (Gadus morhua), to obtain hydrolysates which have a non-bitter taste and retain the flavor and aroma of the protein-containing material which is hydrolyzed: e.g. when hydrolyzing protein-containing material from marine organisms or parts thereof, such as fish, shrimp, lobster or other seafood according to the invention, a protein hydrolysate is produced that has a characteristic natural flavor of the organism Also provided are food products comprising the hydrolysates of the invention, such as soup, sauce, cheese, HVP, meat extract and flavoring agent, broth, paté, mousse, frying dough, orly dough, and pastries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nordur EHF
    Inventors: Jon Bragi Bjarnason, Bergur Benediktsson
  • Shaped microcomponent via reactive conversion of biologically-derived microtemplates
    Patent number: 7067104
    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: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Sandhage
  • Lipid structures and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7060292
    Abstract: This invention features in vitro methods of determining the rate and extent to which test compounds, such as drug candidates, enter, move within, and traverse lipid-associated barriers. This invention also features method that measure the accumulation, that is the partition coefficient, of test compounds in lipid structures relative to, e.g., an aqueous phase, as well as the rate of accumulation of test compounds in the lipid structures. In addition, the invention features lipid vesicles that contain fluorophores localized within the aqueous interior that can be employed in the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: GESynthesis, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Melchior, Anthony Carruthers
  • Method of producing 1,2-propanediol using
    Patent number: 7049109
    Abstract: A method of producing 1,2-propandiol is provided. The method includes incubating Klebsiella pneumoniae in a medium containing 10–30 g/L of a sugar carbon source excluding 6-deoxyhexose, in aerobic conditions; and separating 1,2-propandiol from the cultures. Using the method, 1,2-propandiol can be produced with a high yield by incubating Klebsiella pneumoniae in a medium containing a cheaper sugar carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: CJ Corp.
    Inventors: Young Hoon Park, Jin Su Chung, Kwang Myung Cho, Seong Uk Kang, Hye Won Um
  • Cell-cultivating device
    Patent number: 7033823
    Abstract: The present invention claims and discloses a novel apparatus and method for efficiently cultivating cells with minimal mortality in order to harvest a maximum amount of cellular products generated by the cultivated cells. More particularly, the present invention teaches a method and a device for plating cells and causing maximum adherence of cells of interest. Furthermore, the present invention also teaches a growth substrate means that is capable of providing the largest surface area for cell adhesion and functions as an oxygenator, a depth filter and a static mixer to maximize the production of cellular products by intermittently and periodically provide sufficient oxygen and nutrients to the cells without causing cell death.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Cesco Bioengineering, Inc.
    Inventor: King-Ming Chang
  • Pyrazolotriazines as CRF antagonists
    Patent number: 7026317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pyrazolotriazines according to formula (I) and stereoisomers, isomers and salts thereof wherein R1-R5 are selected from certain alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl species as defined in the specification wherein all of the compounds are useful as CRF antagonists and are thus useful in the treatment of neurological disorders as well as a multitude of other CRF associated diseases or conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Gilligan, Richard G. Wilde
  • Cloud-point extraction of enzymes and polypeptides from a fermentation broth using a non-ionic surfactant
    Patent number: 7019120
    Abstract: A method of extracting a polypeptide of interest from a fermentation broth comprising: i) adjusting the pH close to pI of the polypeptide of interest; ii) adding a non-ionic surfactant with a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of 12 or lower; iii) cooling the mixture for solubilization and incubating at above cloud point for extraction; iv) phase separating at below cloud point to obtain liquid-liquid-solid fractions; and v) recovering the surfactant-rich top phase containing the polypeptide of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Prashant Iyer, Kishore Rane, Kevin S. Wenger, Fahd Azzabi
  • Micro-organisms with glycosylation modulating action of intestinal cell surface
    Patent number: 7008785
    Abstract: The invention concerns micro-organism strains, in particular of lactic acid bacteria, having a glycosylation modulating effect of intestinal cell surface. The invention also concerns a method for selecting micro-organism strains, in particular of lactic acid bacteria, which consists in measuring the average fluorescence intensity variation of HT29-MTX cells incubated in the presence of a lectin coupled with a fluorochrome after being in contact with the supernatant of the strain concerned. Said lactic acid bacteria strains can be used, optionally in the form of their active fraction, for preparing food compositions or medicines or food supplements, modulating glycosylation of glycoproteins of intestinal epithelial cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Compagnie Gervais Danone
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Antoine, Miguel Freitas, Chantal Cayuela, Germain Trugnan
  • Charcoal stabilization of phenyl phosphates
    Patent number: 7001717
    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: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: BioFX Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Woerner
  • Artificial synapse chip interface for electronic prosthetic retina
    Patent number: 7001608
    Abstract: The invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for directing the growth of a cell process to form an artificial synapse. The devices are called artificial synapse chips. The artificial synapse comprises a nanofabricated aperture (about 50–100 nm in size) that connects the cell process to a chemical or electrical means of neuronal excitation. Such an aperture width mimics the length scales of a natural synapse and thus emphasizes the localized spatial relationship between a neuron and a stimulation source. The invention further provides devices and methods for regenerating a nerve fiber into an electrode. The invention thus provides a regeneration electrode that uses a novel neural interface for stimulation and that uses novel surface methods for directing neuronal growth making possible in vivo connection of the devices to neural circuitry in a retina and other anatomical locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Lealand Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Harvey A. Fishman, Mark Blumenkranz, Stacey F. Bent, David M. Bloom, Mark C. Peterman
  • Schwann cells originating in myeloid interstitial cells
    Patent number: 6989271
    Abstract: There is provided a method of inducing bone marrow stromal cells to differentiate into bone marrow stromal cell-derived Schwann cells in vitro, comprising the steps of: collecting bone marrow stromal cells from bone marrow and culturing the cells in a standard essential culture medium supplemented with a serum; adding a reducing agent to the culture medium and further culturing the cells; adding a differentiation inducing agent to the culture medium and further culturing the cells; and adding a cyclic AMP-augmenting agent or a cyclic AMP analogue and/or a glial cell differentiation and survival stimulating factor to the culture medium, and further culturing the cells to obtain the bone marrow stromal cell-derived Schwann cells. There are also provided bone marrow stromal cell-derived Schwann cells obtained thereby and a pharmaceutical composition for neural regeneration that comprises them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sanbio, Inc.
    Inventors: Mari Dezawa, Hajime Sawada, Masahiko Takano