Patents Examined by Mark L. Shibuya
  • High sensitivity biomolecule detection with magnetic particles
    Patent number: 7504262
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of biomolecule detection. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions, methods and systems for the detection and manipulation of biomolecules using magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Inventor: John Fox
  • Epididymis-specific defensin for evaluating and regulating male fertility
    Patent number: 7494780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that an epididymis-specific defensin, EP2D, plays an important role in regulating sperm motility and therefore male fertility. Provided are methods for evaluating male fertility based on the level of EP2D bound to sperm, kits for evaluating male fertility, and methods for enhancing or suppressing fertility in a male by regulating the level of EP2D and the binding between sperm and EP2D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Hsiao Chang Chan, Chenxi Zhou, Chuen Pei Ng, Yiu Wa Chung
  • Electrochemiluminescence of rare earth metal chelates
    Patent number: 7494820
    Abstract: Luminescent chemical reagents that include complexes of rare earth metals with ligands such as aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds and semi-aromatic oxygen-containing compounds are used to detect small quantities of complex substances such as pharmaceuticals, metabolites, and microorganisms in complex sample mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bioveris Corporation
    Inventors: Hongjun Yang, Nicholas Cairns
  • Universal supports for oligonucleotide synthesis
    Patent number: 7491817
    Abstract: Universal supports for oligonucleotide synthesis include a support material represented by the following formula: In this formula, substituent A is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, or a polymeric or silica base material; substituent B is selected from acyl, aroyl, or a polymeric or silica base material; and substituent C is selected from a dimethoxytrityl group or a protecting group removable under acidic or neutral conditions. For the supports, one of substituents A or B constitutes the polymeric or silica base material. In use, an oligonucleotide is attached to the support at substituent C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Glen Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Azhayev, Maxim Antopolskii
  • Reduction of non-specific binding in assays
    Patent number: 7488608
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for reducing non-specific binding in a binding assay for the determination of an analyte in a sample where one of the reagents for conducting the binding assay comprises a solid support comprising a polysaccharide. The method comprises including in an assay medium for conducting the binding assay a soluble compound comprising a protein linked to a polysaccharide. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The methods include as reagents a solid support comprising a polysaccharide and a soluble compound comprising a protein linked to a polysaccharide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhu Teng, Jeffrey L. Moore, Alan R. Craig, Gary Hickey, Carsten Schelp, Tie Quan Wei
  • Protease inhibitor conjugates and antibodies useful in immunoassay
    Patent number: 7482437
    Abstract: Activated haptens useful for generating immunogens to HIV protease inhibitors, immunogens useful for producing antibodies to HIV protease inhibitors, and antibodies and labeled conjugates useful in immunoassays for the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir. The novel haptens feature an activated functionality at the central, non-terminal hydroxyl group. Also described are monoclonal antibodies specific for saquinavir having less than 10% cross-reactivity with lopinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, and indinavir, and a murine hybridoma producing said antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald F. Sigler, Raymond A. Hui, Ina Deras, Richard Terry Root, Mitali Ghoshal, Erasmus Huber, Herbert W. Von Der Eltz, Sigrun Metz, Peter Kern
  • Disease markers for early stage atherosclerosis
    Patent number: 7482174
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of diagnosing early stages of atherosclerosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Charles R. Kiefer, L. Michael Snyder, James B. McKenney, Jane F. Trainor
  • Anti-feline albumin antibodies
    Patent number: 7482128
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies that selectively bind albumin from animals. Also provided are methods using such antibodies for the detection of early renal disease in animals. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from an animal to be tested; (b) contacting the sample with an antibody having a greater avidity for feline albumin than for other proteins or components in the sample; (c) detecting the complex formed by the antibody and albumin; and (d) determining the amount of albumin in the sample from the amount of antibody-albumin complex detected. An amount of albumin in the range of from 10 ?g/ml to about 300 ?g/ml indicates the presence of early renal disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Heska Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne A. Jensen, Shirley Wu Hunter, Karen Sverlow, Janet S. Andrews
  • Determination of vitamin D metabolite and displacement from plasma or serum binding proteins
    Patent number: 7482162
    Abstract: We disclose methods for measuring vitamin D metabolite in plasma or serum samples. The methods comprise a step of adding to the plasma or serum samples a non-competitive displacement agent comprising 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt, 3-(acetonylbenzyl)-4-hydroxycoumarin and a water miscible solvent. The non-competitive displacement agent separates vitamin D metabolite from binding proteins in the sample, such that the displaced vitamin D metabolite is available for capture and detection in subsequent binding assays. Thus, our invention finds use in methods of separating and detecting vitamin D metabolites otherwise tightly bound to plasma or serum binding proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Immunodiagnostic Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: David Laurie, Alexander Kirkley Barnes, Michael James Gardner
  • Methods and apparatus for improved luminescence assays
    Patent number: 7462322
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a binding assay for an analyte of interest present in a sample based upon measurement of electrochemiluminescence at an electrode surface comprising a cell defining a sample containing volume intersecting with inlet and outlet means, an electrode having a substantially horizontally positioned surface exposed to and positioned below a portion of the sample containing volume, means for impressing electrochemical energy upon said electrode sufficient to generate luminescence, means for magnetically collecting particles along said surface and means for measuring the luminescence generated at said electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Bioveris Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Leland, Haresh P. Shah, John H. Kenten, Jack E. Goodman, George E. Lowke, Yuzaburo Namba, Gary F. Blackburn, Richard J. Massey
  • Amino polyols and amino sugars
    Patent number: 7462746
    Abstract: Synthetic methods provide for the simple, efficient preparation of amino polyols and derivatives. The methods include a three-component reaction of a carbohydrates with organoboron compounds and primary or secondary amine derivatives. The resulting amino polyols can be transformed into amino sugars. In one implementation, the amine moiety is protected, and an alkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety is cleaved to form the amino sugar. Amino polyols and amino sugars prepared according to the methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Nicos A. Petasis, Ilia A. Zavialov, Zubin D. Patel
  • Muscarinic receptor antagonists
    Patent number: 7456203
    Abstract: Disclosed are multibinding compounds which are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The multibinding compounds of this invention containing from 2 to 10 ligands covalently attached to one or more linkers. Each ligand is, independently of each other, a muscarinic receptor antagonist or an allosteric modulator provided that at least one of said ligand is a muscarinic receptor antagonist. The multibinding compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary incontinence, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Theravance, Inc.
    Inventors: James Aggen, John H. Griffin, Mathai Mammen, Daniel Marquess, Edmund J. Moran, David Oare
  • Antibody specific to central nervous system tau protein
    Patent number: 7442516
    Abstract: The present invention provides an antibody which specifically recognizes a CNS tau protein but not a peripheral tau protein. More specifically, the present invention provides an antibody obtainable by using a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a connective portion between the amino acid sequence encoded by Exon 4 of a gene encoding a tau protein and the amino acid sequence encoded by Exon 5 thereof as an epitope specific to the isoform of tau protein predominantly existing in central nervous tissues. The present invention further provides a method of detecting Alzheimer's disease and a reagent kit using the antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Kagaku Iatron, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideto Ohno, Koichi Ishiguro, Masaki Imagawa
  • Modulators of retinol-retinol binding protein (RBP)-transthyretin (TTR) complex formation
    Patent number: 7432307
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions for the detection of transthyretin (TTR), retinol binding protein (RBP) and retinol complex formation. The methods and compositions described herein also provide for the screening of modulators of retinol-RBP-TTR complex formation. Furthermore, the methods and compositions provide for therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of age-related macular degeneration and/or dystrophies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Mata, Kenneth Widder, Jay Lichter
  • Systems and methods for the generation of crystalline polymorphs
    Patent number: 7429238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating polymorphs of compounds. In particular, the present invention provides high throughput systems and methods for generating and identifying new crystalline polymorphs that find use as improved drugs, pigments, explosives, nonlinear optical crystals, solid-state reactive compounds, and other polymorphic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Adam J. Matzger, Meidong Lang, Kibum Kim
  • Methods and arrays for detecting biological molecules
    Patent number: 7429466
    Abstract: Arrays and methods for detecting one or more biological molecules, where the methods generally comprise the steps of: providing a first support immobilized with one or more reagents; providing a second support immobilized with one or more of ligands; contacting the reagents immobilized to the first support with the ligands immobilized on the second support whereby one or more of the reagents bind to one or more of the ligands; and separating the first support from the second support so that one or more of the bound reagents remain bound to one or more ligands on the second support after separation. In one preferred method, proteins are immobilized on a support with adequate strength so that the proteins can be dissociated from the support under certain conditions, such as after binding with other proteins immobilized on another support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hypromatrix, Inc
    Inventor: Yingjian Wang
  • ?2-adrenergic receptor agonists
    Patent number: 7427639
    Abstract: Disclosed are multibinding compounds which are ?2 adrenergic receptor agonists and are useful in the treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis. They are also useful in the treatment of nervous system injury and premature labor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Theravance, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund J. Moran, Seok-Ki Choi
  • Uropathogenic D-serine detoxification operon
    Patent number: 7422871
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of detecting uropathogenic E. coli genes that are differentially expressed in response to D-serine. Also disclosed are methods of characterizing bacterial isolates from clinical samples based on the ability to metabolize D-serine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rodney A. Welch, Paula L. Roesch
  • Epitopes formed by non-covalent association of conjugates
    Patent number: 7413538
    Abstract: A composition for interacting with a ligand, which composition comprises a non-covalent association of a plurality of distinct conjugates, each conjugate comprising a head group and a tail group, wherein the tail groups of the conjugates form a hydrophobic aggregation and the conjugates are movable within the association so that, in the presence of a ligand, at least two of the head groups are appropriately positioned to form an epitope capable of interacting with the ligand more strongly than each of head groups individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mozaic Discovery Limited
    Inventors: Roger New, Istvan Toth
  • Methods and compositions for interaction trap assays
    Patent number: 7393318
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for interaction trap assays for detecting protein-protein, protein-DNA, or protein-RNA interactions. The methods and compositions of the invention may also be used to identify agents which may agonize or antagonize a protein-protein, protein-DNA, or protein-RNA interaction. In certain embodiments, the interaction trap system of the invention is useful for screening libraries with greater than 107 members. In other embodiments, the interaction trap system of the invention is used in conjunction with flow cytometry. The invention further provides a means for simultaneously screening a target protein or nucleic acid sequence for the ability to interact with two or more test proteins or nucleic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: J. Keith Joung, Jeffrey Miller, Carl O. Pabo