Patents Examined by Lora M. Green
  • Patent number: 5672475
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting or quantitating each of a plurality of substances or at least one substance and an internal reference material or control material in a test sample using at least two different luminescent labelled conjugates. Each luminescent labelled conjugate being characterized in being activated to emit light under different process conditions. The invention also provides for test kits containing at least two different luminescent labelled conjugates for detecting or quantitating presence or absence of at least two substances or at least one substance an internal reference material or control material in a test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Chiron Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Lee, Howard H. Weetall, Joseph E. Connolly
  • Patent number: 5665556
    Abstract: Methods for detecting and isolating acrosome-reacted sperm and complement receptor-bearing oocytes using the complement component C3, fragments, or variants thereof, antibodies to a complement receptor, or antibodies to C3, are disclosed. These methods have application in the assessment of fertility, in the preparation of sperm or oocytes for in vitro fertilization or for gamete intrafallopian tube transfer, in promoting or inhibiting fertilization in vitro and in vivo, and in diagnosing and treating infertility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Inventors: Deborah J. Anderson, Peter M. Johnson, Richard M. Jack
  • Patent number: 5663046
    Abstract: Directly dividing the contents of each sub-pool into the sub-pools for the next step in the synthetic scheme for producing a combinatorial library reduces the standard deviation, .sigma., relative to the standard deviation of the split synthesis method for producing such libraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Pharmacopeia, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baldwin, Eric G. Horlbeck
  • Patent number: 5659012
    Abstract: Novel assays for identifying agents which alter the effect of erythropoietin on proliferation of erythroid cells and agents identified thereby. Novel peptide comprising the erythropoietin receptor binding site for SH-PTP1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Ursula Klingmuller, Stephen Michnick, Benjamin G. Neel, Ulrike Lorenz, Harvey F. Lodish
  • Patent number: 5658739
    Abstract: The binding sites of binding proteins and their binding partners are characterized, at the individual amino acid level, by a combination of tritium exchange labeling and sequential degradation and analysis of tritiated fragments under slowed exchange conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Virgil L. Woods, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5656434
    Abstract: The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize a specific structural portion of cardiac glycoside.The monoclonal antibodies of the present invention recognize an integrated structure in the steroid structure of cardiac glycoside or its aglycon comprising: a D-ring bonded in the cis-configuration with respect a C-ring; a methyl group bonded in the .beta.-configuration at the C13 position; a hydroxyl group bonded in the .beta.-configuration at the C14 position; and, an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated lactone group bonded in the .beta.-configuration at the C17 position. This structure is common to cardiac glycoside substances that inhibit potassium ion concentration antagonist type Na.sup.+,K.sup.+ -ATPase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Yoshitake Terano, Hiroshi Nakazato
  • Patent number: 5654159
    Abstract: An assay for photometrically detecting and/or quantitating the presence of an analyte in a sample in which the signal generated by a label associated with the analyte is photometrically detected in the presence of a suspended solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Dade International Inc.
    Inventors: William Jeffrey Allard, David Michael Obzansky, Hemant Chunilal Vaidya
  • Patent number: 5650495
    Abstract: An isolated protein having the amino terminal sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 and having a molecular weight of about 200 KDa is described. This animal brain-derived protein binds to OSF-1 (HBGF-8), which is a heparin-binding growth factor that has neuronal differentiation-enhancing activity, and a proliferative action on osteoblasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Japan Limited
    Inventors: Michio Kimura, Kazuyuki Doi
  • Patent number: 5648223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of enriching breast tumor cells from a patient's body fluids. In particular, it relates to the use of a cell-trap centrifugation tube containing a specific density gradient solution adjusted to a specific density to enrich for breast tumor cells from a cell mixture. The tube allows the desired cell population to be collected by decantation after centrifugation to minimize cell loss and maximize efficiency. In addition, the method can be further simplified by density-adjusted cell sorting which uses cell type-specific binding agents such as antibodies and lectins linked to carrier particles to impart a different density to the non-tumor or tumor cell populations allowing the breast tumor cells to be separated from the non-tumor cells in a more convenient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Activated Cell Therapy, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Van Vlasselaer
  • Patent number: 5645996
    Abstract: Sets and libraries of sets of polypeptides that are related in sequence to melittin are disclosed that have antimicrobial, hemolytic and hydrolyrically catalytic activities, as are processes for making and using the same. A contemplated set is a mixture of equimolar amounts of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, and more preferably SEQ ID NO:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies
    Inventors: Sylvie Blondelle, Richard A. Houghten, Enrique Perez-Paya
  • Patent number: 5646004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of enriching fetal cells from maternal body fluids. In particular, it relates to the use of a cell-trap centrifugation tube containing a gradient solution adjusted to a specific density to enrich for fetal nucleated red blood cells from maternal blood. The tube allows the desired cell population to be collected by decantation after centrifugation to minimize cell loss and maximize efficiency. In addition, the method can be further simplified by density-adjusted cell sorting which uses cell type-specific binding agents such as antibodies and lectins linked to carrier particles to impart a different density to undesired cell populations allowing the fetal cells to be separated during centrifugation in a more convenient manner. The rapid fetal cell enrichment method described herein has a wide range of applications, including but not limited to, gender determination and prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases without the use of invasive procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Activated Cell Therapy, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Van Vlasselaer
  • Patent number: 5643731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using a pair of leucine zipper peptides for in vitro diagnosis, in particular, for the immunochemical detection and determination of an analyte in a biological liquid. In one method, the first leucine zipper peptide is immobilized by attaching it to a solid support, the second leucine zipper peptide is coupled to a specific binding partner for the analyte, the two peptides are brought into contact, the sample of the biological liquid is brought into contact with the immobilized first peptide and the specific binding partner for the analyte, and the amount of analyte bound to the binding partner is determined. The leucine zipper peptides are preferably v-fos and c-jun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Bosslet, Peter Hermentin, Hans Harald Sedlacek, Bernhard Auerbach, Peter Pfleiderer, Rolf Muller
  • Patent number: 5641635
    Abstract: A dry, removable analytical element can be used to detect chemiluminescent signals produced from the reaction of peroxidase and a chemiluminescent detection system. The analytical element contains at least two layers, the outer layer being non-tacky and water-soluble or water-permeable, and used to contact a gel plate or transblotting membrane in which multiple analytes are located. The resulting signal can be recorded using a photosensitive element. Test kits include the various packaged components needed to use the analytical element for analyte detection. Within the element are critical amounts of oxidase and an oxidase substrate for highly sensitive analyte detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Emmons, John Charles Mauck, Paul James Heaney, Dietmar Karl Freund, David Brewer LaTart, Richard George Chubet, Douglas Lincoln Vizard
  • Patent number: 5635360
    Abstract: Human restrictin proteins and nucleic acid sequences encoding them are provided. Antibodies which recognize human restrictin in human brain are disclosed. In the human brain, restrictin occurs as two major polypeptides of 180 and 160 kD located in fiber tracts. These polypeptides are similar to those seen in rat brain. Surprisingly, restrictin has also been found in the peripheral nerves of rats and humans The antibodies also detect a 170 kD polypeptide in MATRIGEL, an extracellular matrix product of rat EHS sarcoma cells widely used as a tissue culture substrate. Monoclonal antibodies to human restrictin and assays using the human restrictin protein, antibodies and DNA sequences are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Reid, Rhonda L. Ackley, John J. Hemperly
  • Patent number: 5631169
    Abstract: A fluorometric luminescence immunoassay method includes forming a sample by exposing a first immune reaction reactant to a second immune reaction reactant capable of reacting with the first reactant, one of the first and second immune reaction reactants being labelled with a photoluminescent energy transfer donor and the other being labelled with a photoluminescent energy transfer acceptor complementary to the photoluminescent donor. At least the photoluminescent donor has the property of photoluminescence, and the photoluminescent donor and acceptor are chosen so that when the first immune reaction reactant reacts with the second immune reaction reactant, the donor and the acceptor are capable of interacting to produce a detectable luminescence lifetime change. The sample is excited with radiation, and the resulting emission is detected. The apparent luminescent lifetime is then calculated to determine the presence of a reaction product of the first and second immune reaction reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignees: Joseph R. Lakowicz, Richard Thompson
    Inventors: Joseph R. Lakowicz, Badri P. Maliwal, Richard Thompson, Alvydas Ozinskas
  • Patent number: 5627080
    Abstract: Methods for modulating the rates and dose responses of immunoassays through the incorporation of one or more detergents into the immunoassay reaction are disclosed. The methods are particularly suitable for automated immunoassay formats, especially with formats that use analyte-biotin bidentate reagents. The methods may be used to facilitate the detection of any desired, preselected pharmacological agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Cheng, Julie S. Kim, Chan S. Oh
  • Patent number: 5620859
    Abstract: A process to aid in the diagnosis of silicone related disease in which a correlation between silicone related disease and the presence of antibodies that bind to partially polymerized acrylamide is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
    Inventors: Robert F. Garry, Scott A. Tenenbaum, Douglas R. Plymale
  • Patent number: 5620861
    Abstract: A method of assaying bone collagen degradation activity in a human subject. In the method, a human urine sample is reacted with an antibody which (i) is capable of reacting immunospecifically with pyridinium crosslinks selected from the group consisting of native free pyridinoline and native free deoxypyridinoline, and (ii) has a ratio of reactivity toward the selected pyridinium crosslinks and urinary pyridinium peptides larger than 1,000 daltons in molecular weight, of greater than about 5:1. An immunocomplex forms between the antibody reagent and the selected pyridinium crosslinks which are present in the sample, and the amount of immunocomplex is measured. Also disclosed are antibody reagents and kits which can be used in the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Metra Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary J. Cerelli, Hsin-Shan J. Ju, Robert F. Zuk
  • Patent number: 5614370
    Abstract: The invention is an assay, including a series of peptides, which allow screening for inhibitors of C5a binding targeted to the subsite on the C5a receptor occupied by the C-terminus of C5a. These peptides allow compound testing efforts to be targeted to this same subsite so that C5a agonists and antagonists can be identified. These peptides have much greater affinity (Ki<10 nM) than does the natural C-terminus of C5a (Ki=300 .mu.M) and have been labeled to allow for detection of molecules which inhibit binding of these peptides at this receptor subsite. The invention is useful to develop agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists of C5a, and the invention includes compounds identified according to the method of this invention and methods of their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Zenon Konteatis, Salvatore J. Siciliano, Martin S. Springer
  • Patent number: 5607864
    Abstract: Fluorescent latices, well suited for a wide variety of analytical techniques, comprise polymer particles having at least one hydrophobic fluorochrome encapsulated therein, notably at least one condensed polyaromatic compound or derivative thereof, or a tetraphenylporphine and/or organometallic complex thereof, and have a detection threshold for fluorescence which is less than or equal to 10.sup.-12 mol of particles per liter of latex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Societe Prolabo
    Inventors: Frederic Ricchiero, Joel Richard, Sophie Vaslin