Patents Examined by Liliana Di Nola-Baron
  • Polymer blends that swell in an acidic environment and deswell in a basic environment
    Patent number: 6537584
    Abstract: A polymer blend is prepared by dissolving chitosan and a second polymer in an acidic aqueous solution to form an aqueous polymer blend, dehydrating said aqueous polymer blend, and recovering said polymer blend. The second polymer may be selected from the group consisting of polyether glycols including polyethylene glycols; cellulose esters including cellulose acetate; poloxamers; polysaccharides including dextran and guar; polyvinylpyrrolidones; polyvinyl alcohols; and mixtures or copolymers thereof. These polymer blends swell in an acidic environment and deswell in a more neutral or basic environment. This technology is valuable for the dispensing of biologically active material or drugs into a surrounding environment, especially the environment as is found in the gastrointestinal tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: MacroMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaylen M. Zentner, Jong-Seok Bark, Feng Liu
  • Method for the prevention, inhibition, or treatment of vaginitis and/or bacterial vaginosis using polystyrene sulfonate
    Patent number: 6537538
    Abstract: A method for preventing, inhibiting, or treating vaginitis or bacterial vaginosis using polystyrene sulfonate is provided. The polystyrene sulfonate used in the present invention inhibits Trichomonas (a flagellate protozoon), Gardnerella, and other vaginitis/vaginosis-causing bacteria. The method of this invention generally comprises the application of an effective amount of an inhibitory agent into the vagina of a female in need of prevention, inhibition, and/or treatment of vaginitis and/or bacterial vaginosis. Preferably the polystyrene sulfonate in contained in an aqueous based composition, more preferably in an aqueous based composition buffered to a pH of about 3.5 to about 7.5, and even more preferably in an aqueous based composition buffered to a pH of about 3.5 to about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
    Inventors: Lourens Jan Dirk Zaneveld, Robert Anthony Anderson, Jr.
  • Method of prophylaxis for bovine mastitis
    Patent number: 6537577
    Abstract: A method is provided for treating bovine mastitis by applying a porous strippable polymer film containing a medicament to the udders of the bovine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Bio Medical Development Corporation
    Inventor: Gregg Andrew Siegel
  • Commode odor preventor
    Patent number: 6537536
    Abstract: An agent for preventing generation of noxious odors in a commode which provides an energy source for bacteria to the exclusion of sulfates for a period of time and comprises a mixture of one of calcium nitrate, CaN2O6, or calcium nitrate tetra hydrate, CaN2O6.4H2O, and ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3. A mixture is prepared using 200-1000 grams of calcium nitrate or 1.37(200-1000) grams of tetra hydrate and 1.25 to 12 grams of ammonium nitrate in de-ionized water having a ph of 5 to 9 to produce one liter of the mixture. A fragrance and a coloring agent may optionally be added. The resulting mixture is then mixed one-half ounce to one liter or one-half gallon of water. This will keep the commode fresh without change for a period of twenty-four to thirty-six hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Paul T. Kronberg, Brett M. Kronberg
  • Aqueous solven encapsulation method, apparatus and microcapsules
    Patent number: 6531156
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microcapsules comprising a wall and an aqueous core comprising various active agents, and prepared by the interfacial reaction in aqueous medium of Lewis acid and base wall-forming reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignees: Temple University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    Inventors: Fred M. Clark, Paul A. Offit, Tully J. Speaker
  • Materials eliminating cannabinoids and columns for the elimination of cannabinoids with the use of the same
    Patent number: 6531159
    Abstract: The present invention provides (1) a removal material for cannabinoids present in body fluids where at least one substance from amongst substances with functional groups capable of hydrogen bonding, substances with hydrophobic functional groups, substances having cationic functional groups and physiologically active substances, is immobilized on a water-insoluble carrier, and (2) a cannabinoid removal column characterized in that it incorporates an aforesaid material (1). In accordance with the present invention, cannabinoids present in, for example, the blood, can be selectively removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanae Masuko, Akira Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Moriyama, Ikuro Maruyama
  • Method for producing solid dosing forms
    Patent number: 6528089
    Abstract: Solid dosage forms are obtained by mixing at least one polymeric binder, at least one active ingredient, and, where appropriate, conventional additives to form a plastic mixture, and shaping, using as polymeric binder a copolymer of an N-vinyllactam and a copolymerizable monomer having a hydrophobic radical. Dosage forms which show slow release of the active ingredient are obtained in a simple and low-cost manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Kothrade, Helmut Meffert, Gunther Berndl, Andreas Ernst, Axel Sanner
  • Highly flexible starch-based films
    Patent number: 6528088
    Abstract: Film-forming compositions are disclosed that can comprise, on a dry solids basis, 25 to 75 percent by weight of certain starch derivatives and 25 to 75% primary external plasticizer. The starch derivatives can be chemically modified starches that range in molecular weight from 100,000 to 2,000,000. The high levels of plasticizer in the films give excellent film flexibility and integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: A. E. Staley Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: G. M. Gilleland, J. L. Turner, P. A. Patton, M. D. Harrison
  • Dual iron containing nutritional supplement
    Patent number: 6521247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nutritional supplement which comprises two different iron compounds, namely a rapidly dissolving iron compound and a slowly dissolving iron compound. The tablet is particularly contemplated for administration to women as a prenatal supplement, during pregnancy, and during lactation. Methods of alleviating iron deficiency and diseases and disorders associated therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Warner Chilcott Laboratories Ireland Limited
    Inventor: Tina deVries
  • Tissue products containing antiviral agents which are mild to the skin
    Patent number: 6517849
    Abstract: This application relates to antiviral tissue paper comprising pyrrolidone carboxylic acid as an antiviral agent. When added to tissue paper pyrrolidone carboxylic acid has the ability to kill certain strains of viruses which come into contact with the tissue. In addition to its antiviral efficacy, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid tends to be mild to the skin thus mitigating the potential for skin irritation. Furthermore, upon transfer to the skin, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid assists in retention of the natural moisture of the skin while continuing to kill deleterious viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey Eugene Seger, Kimberly Ann Biedermann, Kamilah Apewaiye Gbadamosi, Stephen Robert Kelly, Paul Thomas Weisman
  • Agent and method for permanent waving
    Patent number: 6506373
    Abstract: The oxidative hair treatment composition is made by mixing several components immediately prior to application on the hair. One component contains dehydroascorbic acid, its derivatives or salts or their mixture, is anhydrous or contains up to 10% by weight of water, and is a powder, granulate or tablet or micro-encapsulated or a suspension and another component is an aqueous, alcoholic or aqueous alcoholic preparation. In order to avoid an unpleasant mercaptan odor and provide a uniform treatment the method for permanently waving hair includes putting the hair into the desired form, treating it with a keratin-reducing agent, and then rinsing it, after which it is treated oxidatively with the above-described oxidative treatment composition and rinsed once again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Wella Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Beate Dannecker, Dirk Lauscher, Birgit Schreiber
  • Biocompatible carrier containing actinomycin D and a method of forming the same
    Patent number: 6503954
    Abstract: A biocompatible carrier and a composition for forming the carrier are disclosed. The carrier is made from an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer which can serve as a reservoir, allowing for the local delivery and sustained release of actinomycin D. The carrier can be formed from the ethylene vinyl alcohol, copolymer, a dimethylsulfoxide solvent, and actinomycin D. Alternatively, the carrier can be formed from an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a dimethylsulfoxide solvent, actinornycin D, and a wetting fluid. The carrier can serve as a coating for a prosthesis, for example a stent. The composition is applied to a surface of the prosthesis and essentially all of the dimethylsulfoxide solvent or dimethylsulfoxide solvent/wetting fluid is removed or allowed to evaporate to form the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinayak D. Bhat, Syed F. A. Hossainy, Daryush Mirzaee, Evgenia Mandrusov, Deborra Sanders-Millare, Judy A. Guruwaiya
  • Chlorhexidine formulations, new chlorhexidine salts, solutions containing these and their use
    Patent number: 6500466
    Abstract: Powdered mixtures of chlorhexidine base with selected sugar acids or lactones from the group gluconic acid or gluconolactone, lactobionic acid (I), D-galactono-&ggr;-lactone (II), L-mannono-&ggr;-lactone (III), D-(−)-gulono-&ggr;-lactone (IV), D-(+)-galacturonic acid (V) and &agr;-D-heptaglucono-&ggr;-lactone (VI). The formulations have extraordinary storage stability. New chlorhexidine salts with sugar acid anions based on (I) to (VI) and aqueous solutions of these are also described. The formulations, solutions and pure salts are used as disinfectants and to prepare disinfectants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Peter Werle, Friedhelm Merz, Judith N. Jørgensen, Martin Trageser
  • Topical composition containing human epidermal growth factor
    Patent number: 6491904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a topical composition containing human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having a viscosity of 4-10 cps at 37° C, 60 rpm as the base for topical formulation to improve the wound healing ability of hEGF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Yeob Lee, Jin Seok Kang, Jeom Soon Shim, Seung Wook Lim, Seung Hee Han, Byoung Kwang Lee, Young Hyo Yu, Jong Keun Chung
  • Solid oral dosage forms of valsartan
    Patent number: 6485745
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with solid oral dosage forms of comprising a) an active agent selected from valsartan and optionally HCTZ , and b) Pharmaceutically acceptable additives suitable for the preparation of solid oral dosage forms by compression methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Wagner, Yoshimitsu Katakuse, Takashi Taike, Fujiki Yamato, Manfred Kohlmeyer
  • Resorbable calcium phosphate-based bio-compound particles and the manufacturing procedure thereof
    Patent number: 6485751
    Abstract: This specification discloses resorbable calcium phosphate-based bio-compound particles and the manufacturing method thereof. Through the manufacturing process control, collagen has sufficient time to reconstruct and forms a network structure, which then combines with calcium phosphate-based ceramic powders that are controlled to have diameters ≦5 &mgr;m so as to provide a bio-compound acceptable by humans and having a similar structure and constituents to the bony tissues. There is no need for a second operation when such material is used in medical practice and the bony tissues can undergo fast and effective bone-genesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Yng-Jiin Wang
  • Inorganic composite powder and cosmetic comprising the same
    Patent number: 6482419
    Abstract: An inorganic composite powder is formed of a scaled substrate, and at least three inorganic oxide layers having different refractive indexes respectively and sequentially laminated in an order of high refractive index to low refractive index from a surface of the scaled substrate to an utmost outer layer. A refractive index of an inorganic oxide used for forming the utmost outer layer is 1.73 or less, and a difference in the refractive indexes between the utmost layer and a layer adjacent thereto is 0.6 or less. Alternatively, the thickness of at least one of a second or higher inorganic oxide layer is within ±20% of a value d given by an equation: d=(&lgr;×X/4)/n, wherein &lgr; indicates a wavelength of visual light, X indicates an odd integer, and n indicates the refractive index of the inorganic oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Catalysts & Chemicals Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Miyazaki, Hirokazu Tanaka
  • Vaginal pH buffering for preventing miscarriage and premature labor, by treating or preventing bacterial vaginosis
    Patent number: 6479045
    Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions and methods for preventing miscarriage and premature labor, and for treating and preventing Bacterial Vaginosis using a pH-buffering polymer. The present invention further concerns formulating such a composition or method in such a way as to provide therapeutically sufficient levels of the composition to a patient in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Columbia Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Bologna, Howard L. Levine
  • Three-dimensional polymer matrices
    Patent number: 6471993
    Abstract: Matrices that include a macrostructure having a semi-solid network and voids, and a microstructure having voids, in which the microstructure is located within the semi-solid network are disclosed. Methods for preparing these matrices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Venkatram R. Shastri, Ivan Martin, Robert S. Langer, Joachim Seidel
  • Method for converting sparingly water-soluble medical substance to amorphous state
    Patent number: 6462093
    Abstract: A process for producing a solid dispersion of a sparingly water-soluble medical substance which comprises subjecting the sparingly water-soluble medical substance, an amorphous state-inducing agent and an amorphous state-stabilizing agent to heat treatment or mechanochemical treatment; and a process for producing a solid dispersion of a sparingly water-soluble medical substance which comprises high-frequency heating the sparingly water-soluble medical substance and an amorphous state-stabilizing agent. These processes make it possible to make sparingly water-soluble medical substance amorphous at a temperature lower than those employed in the conventional methods. The solid dispersions of the armorphous sparingly water-soluble medical substances thus obtained have an improved mucosal or rectal absorption rate, which makes it possible to elevate their bioavailability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Misao Miyamoto, Toshihisa Oda