Patents Examined by Lisa J. Hobbs
  • Protein having fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase activity, modified protein, and use of the protein or the modified protein
    Patent number: 8993255
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having a fructosyl amino acid oxidase activity which protein is useful for measurement of a glycosylated protein (particularly, glycosylated hemoglobin); a modified protein thereof; and use of the protein or the modified protein. The protein of the present invention is, for example, a fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase derived from Phaeosphaeria nodorum, the fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase having excellent thermal stability and substrate specificity and also having a small Km value to fructosyl valyl histidine. This allows a glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be stored in a long time and measurement accuracy of the glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Hirao, Masao Kitabayashi, Yoshiaki Nishiya, Hiroki Ishida, Yoji Hata
  • Seed testing apparatus for accelerated aging
    Patent number: 8966813
    Abstract: To provide an accelerated aging seed testing kit system, a single sheet of plastic or other suitable formable sheet material is pressed into the shape of a compartment base having recesses for mounting a seed holder. A seed holder that includes a seed support and a seed support holder is formed. The seed support holder is formed of a single sheet of plastic having radially extending tabs that fit into the recesses of the container to support the seed support above the bottom of the test kit. A bypass channel for addition of an aqueous solution used in the prescribed test condition is provided in the seed holder. A lid is formed out of one piece of plastic having a bendable tab to serve as a port and the openings and connecting points of the lid and seed holder are positioned so they can only fit together in one orientation having the port above the bypass channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kamterter II, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Petersen, John Alvin Eastin, Timothy Raymond Meyer
  • Identifying and measuring reticulocytes
    Patent number: 8964171
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying reticulocytes in a blood sample deposited on a substrate include: illuminating the sample with incident light at two different wavelengths, obtaining a two-dimensional image of the sample corresponding to a first one of the wavelengths, and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the sample corresponding to a second one of the wavelengths; analyzing the images to identify a set of representative red blood cells; determining an area of each of the red blood cells in the set; determining a color value of each of the red blood cells in the set; and, for each one of the red blood cells in the set, identifying the red blood cell as a reticulocyte if the area of the red blood cell exceeds an area cutoff value and the color value of the red blood cell is less than a color cutoff value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Hematology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Zahniser, Russell Zahniser
  • Acid ceramidase and mammalian cell survival
    Patent number: 8961962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of promoting the survival of cells by treating the cells with acid ceramidase. A kit for promoting ex vivo cell survival is also disclosed, as is a method of predicting in vitro fertilization outcome of a female subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
    Inventors: Edward H. Schuchman, Efrat Eliyahu, Nataly Shtraizent, Xingxuan He
  • Materials and methods for conjugating a water soluble fatty acid derivative to a protein
    Patent number: 8945897
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials and methods of conjugating a water soluble fatty acid derivative to a therapeutic protein comprising contacting the therapeutic protein with an activated water soluble fatty acid derivative under conditions that allow conjugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Juergen Siekmann, Richard Sheinecker, Hanspeter Rottensteiner, Peter Turecek
  • Method of measuring effects of components on cell reactive oxygen species production
    Patent number: 8927227
    Abstract: A method of determining the effects of a test component on intracellular ROS levels. The method can be used in marketing or in screening for useful components in reducing ROS levels in cells adversely affected by increased ROS generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Harsh M. Trivedi, Dandan Chen
  • Method for measuring animal ?-amylase
    Patent number: 8906641
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method capable of measuring a high concentration (up to 2500 U/L) of animal sample without dilutions, which is further capable of specifically measuring ?-amylase even in a sample comprising animal ?-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3). The present invention provides a method for specifically measuring ?-amylase contained in a non-human animal sample comprising ?-amylase and glucoamylase without diluting said sample, wherein measurement is carried out by using an oligosaccharide having a protected nonreducing terminus and a p-nitrophenyl group at the reducing terminus thereof, and pH of reaction is 6 or more, and less than 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Kageyama, Nobuhito Masuda, Kazuya Kawasaki, Satoru Toda
  • Polysilicate-polysilicone enzyme immobilization materials
    Patent number: 8895280
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to improvements in enzyme immobilization, particularly for use in the field of carbon dioxide capture and sequestering. It has been discovered that the utilization of sol-gel processes to immobilize enzymes in polysilicate-polysilicone copolymer coatings and particles, and the deposition of these coatings on solid state supports or use of suspensions of these particles, provides significant benefits for use in industrial applications involving enzymatic catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Akermin, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett M. Rambo, Tracy L. Bucholz, Dawn C. Powell, Luke E. Weber, Alexander J. Linder, Caroline M. H. Duesing, Aleksey Zaks
  • Method for determination of platelet function under flow conditions
    Patent number: 8895259
    Abstract: The invention lies in the area of platelet function diagnostics and relates to an in vitro method for the determination of platelet function under flow conditions. The method is particularly suitable for the determination of the effect of clopidogrel after oral intake and of other P2Y(12) antagonists with antithrombotic activity as well as the determination of P2Y(1) receptor antagonists with antithrombotic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Rechner
  • Method for in vitro assay of soluble fibrin by generating specific degradation products
    Patent number: 8883433
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assaying soluble fibrin in a sample, in which said sample is brought into the presence of a plasminogen activator with a high specificity for soluble fibrin (PA-Fb sp) and the soluble fibrin count in the sample is measured by measuring the difference between the count of fibrin degradation products obtained after degrading soluble fibrin with PA-Fb sp and the base count of fibrin degradation products determined before bringing the sample into the presence of PA-Fb sp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Societe Diagnostica-Stago, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris
    Inventors: Bibi Shah Soltan Mirshahi, Jeannette Soria
  • Treatment of pulmonary vascular remodeling with neprilysin
    Patent number: 8883144
    Abstract: The present invention relates to agonists of Neprilysin and their use in preventing and treating pulmonary vascular remodeling. Also described are diagnostic and screening applications stemming from the inventor's discovery that Neprilysin is expressed at reduced levels in disease tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Edward C. Dempsey
  • Detection of glutathionylated proteins
    Patent number: 8877447
    Abstract: The present invention, in some aspects, relates to systems and methods for determining oxidized proteins, including glutathionylated proteins such as S-glutathionylated proteins. The systems and methods of the invention can be used in vitro (e.g., in cell or tissue culture) or in vivo, for example, to diagnose a person having an oxidative stress condition. For instance, in some cases, the invention can be used to spatially determine the location and/or concentration of oxidized proteins within cells and/or tissues (e.g., through visual detection). In one set of embodiments, a glutathionylated or otherwise oxidized moiety on a protein may be reacted with a detection entity, which may be, for example, fluorescent, radioactive, electron-dense, able to bind to a signaling entity or a binding partner in order to produce a signal, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: The University of Vermont and State Agriculture College, Universiteit Maastricht
    Inventors: Yvonne M. Janssen-Heininger, Niki Reynaert
  • Recombinant surfactant protein D compositions and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 8865643
    Abstract: We describe an rspd(n/CRD) polypeptide, fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof for use in a method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disease. A method of treating an individual suffering from a disease or preventing the occurrence of a disease in an individual is also described, in which the method comprises administering to the individual a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an rspd (n/CRD) polypeptide, fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. Preferably, the rspd (n/CRD) polypeptide and nucleic acid comprise SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: Howard Clark, Palaniyar Nadesalingam, Kenneth B. Reld, Peter Strong
  • Method for measuring high density lipoprotein cholesterol
    Patent number: 8859221
    Abstract: An object to be attained by the present invention is to provide a method for conveniently, rapidly, and specifically measuring HDL-C in a specimen by use of inexpensive materials, and to provide a reagent kit for HDL-C detection and a dry analytical element for HDL-C detection. The present invention provides a method for measuring high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in a body fluid test sample, wherein cholesterol esterase derived from Schizophyllum commune or Pseudomonas sp. and cholesterol oxidase derived from Pseudomonas sp. are used to generate hydrogen peroxide from HDL-C, and thereby HDL-C is selectively measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Abe, Nobuhito Masuda, Hiroko Inomata
  • Composition containing statins and omega-3 fatty acids
    Patent number: 8853229
    Abstract: A combination is described comprising at least one omega-3 fatty acid, optionally esterified or salified, at least one statin, Coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, at least one policosanol, pantethine, selenium, and zinc. This combination is endowed with a synergistic effect and is useful in the treatment of disease forms due to insulin resistance and in cardiovascular diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Cavazza
  • Dietary supplement
    Patent number: 8846033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dietary supplement that promotes proper ingestion and proper digestion of animal and/or vegetable proteins. The supplement comprises an enzyme mixture containing amylase, lactase and bromelain in the following dosage by weight: 15 mg to 90 mg amylase, 18 mg to 90 mg lactase and 6 mg to 80 mg bromelain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ET & DS Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Christian Chossade
  • Polymer von Willebrand factor-conjugates
    Patent number: 8835388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proteinaceous construct (also designated as polymer-VWF-conjugate) comprising plasmatic and/or recombinant von Willebrand factor (VWF), said VWF being bound to at least one physiologically acceptable polymer molecule, as well as to a complex between said proteinaceous construct and at least one factor VIII (FVIII) protein. The physiologically acceptable polymer molecule can be, for instance, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysialic acid (PSA). Further the present invention relates to methods for prolonging the in vivo-half-life of VWF or FVIII in the blood of a mammal having a bleeding disorder associated with functional defects of or deficiencies of at least one of FVIII or VWF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Friedrich Scheiflinger, Peter Turecek, Jueren Siekmann
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 8835142
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Lectin pathway deficiency assay
    Patent number: 8835119
    Abstract: The invention refers to an in vitro method of functionally determining at physiological conditions deficiencies in the lectin pathway of the complement system, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a sample of mammalian blood, serum, plasma or another body fluid; (b) preventing in the sample the activation of the classical pathway by contacting the sample with an inhibitor of a molecule of the C1 complex of the complement system; (e) preventing in the sample the activation of the alternative pathway; (d) activating the lectin pathway in the sample; and (e) determining in the sample any activation of the autologous C5b-9 complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Euro Diagnostica AB
    Inventors: Johanna Roos, Mohamed R. Daha, Lee H. Bouwman, Cornelis Erik Hack
  • Derivatization of biomolecules by covalent coupling of non-cofactor compounds using methyltransferases
    Patent number: 8822146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a use of non-cofactor compounds, represented by formulas (I) or (II) wherein R and Z are independently selected from H, D, C1-C12-alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, phenyl or -LX, wherein X represents a functional group or a reporter group attached via a linker group L, and QH is selected from —SH, —SeH, —NHNH2 or —ONH2, for a targeted modification or derivatization of a biomolecule by covalent coupling to the biomolecule in the presence of a directing methyltransferase. Further development of the method of targeted modification and derivatization are the method for targeted labeling a biomolecule and method for detecting unmethylated target sites in a biomolecule comprising modification of the biomolecule according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Vilnius University
    Inventors: Saulius Klimasauskas, Zita Liutkeviciute, Edita Kriukiene