Patents Examined by Peter F. Kulkosky
  • Patent number: 6214331
    Abstract: The invention is a process for the preparation of crosslinked water-swellable polymer particles. First, an aqueous polymer solution containing a water-soluble polymer having at least one functional group or charge, is combined with aqueous medium. The aqueous polymer solution is then mixed under moderate agitation with an oil medium and an emulsifier to form an emulsion of droplets of the water-soluble polymer. A crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the functional groups and/or charges in the water-soluble polymer is then added to the emulsion to form crosslinked water-swellable polymer particles. The invention also includes the particles formed by the process and aqueous dispersions containing the particles which are useful for administering to an individual. The particles of the invention are useful for implantation, soft tissue augmentation, and scaffolding to promote cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignees: C. R. Bard, Inc., Lehigh University
    Inventors: John W. Vanderhoff, Cheng Xun Lu, Clarence C. Lee, Chi-Chun Tsai
  • Patent number: 6214966
    Abstract: PEG and related polymer derivatives having weak, hydrolytically unstable linkages near the reactive end of the polymer are provided for conjugation to drugs, including proteins, enzymes, small molecules, and others. These derivatives provide a sufficient circulation period for a drug-PEG conjugate and then for hydrolytic breakdown of the conjugate and release of the bound molecule. In some cases, drugs that previously had reduced activity when permanently coupled to PEG can have therapeutically suitable activity when coupled to a degradable PEG in accordance with the invention. The PEG of the invention can be used to impart water solubility, size, slow rate of kidney clearance, and reduced immunogenicity to the conjugate. Controlled hydrolytic release of the bound molecule in the aqueous environment can then enhance the drug delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Shearwater Corporation
    Inventor: J. Milton Harris
  • Patent number: 6211250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a substantially homogenous liquid composition capable of percutaneous delivery of one or more physiologically active agents, the composition including a rate modulating polymer, a volatile solvent and at least one physiologically active agent, said rate modulating polymer being selected to enable modulation of the rate of delivery of said physiologically active agent. Methods of percutaneous delivery of active agents and of prophylactic or therapeutic antimicrobial, antifungal or antiviral treatment using the compositions of the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Soltec Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod Tomlinson, Greg Davey
  • Patent number: 6207717
    Abstract: Oil-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin E can be entrapped in the oil phase of an elastomeric silicone polyether. The vitamin entrapped oil phase can then be emulsified and stabilized without requiring the use of other surfactants. The vitamin entrapped oil phase and water-in-oil emulsions prepared from the vitamin entrapped oil phase are useful in water-based skin and cosmetic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Zuchen Lin, William James Schulz, Jr., Janet Mary Smith
  • Patent number: 6204271
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical analgesic composition comprise an opioid analgesic agent and moxonidine as a non-opioid agent with analgesic activity. Administration of an opioid analgesic agent and moxonidine as a non-opioid agent produces analgesia in the treatment of pain in mammals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay Pharmaceuticals GmbH
    Inventors: Carolyn A. Fairbanks, George L. Wilcox, Laura S. Stone, Kelley F. Kitto
  • Patent number: 6200596
    Abstract: Skin treatments which do not interfere with the ability of pressure-sensitive adhesives to adhere to skin are disclosed. The treatment compositions include an acrylate polymer dissolved in an emollient oil. Use of the treatment provides a method of protecting mammalian skin without interfering with the application of medical adhesive dressings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald H. Schwartzmiller, Neil A. Randen
  • Patent number: 6200589
    Abstract: An implantable biological device including a semipermeable membrane formed into a geometric shape capable of encapsulating biological cells and capable of immunoisolating the biological cells upon introduction into the body, the semipermeable membrane including an amphiphilic copolymer network having hydrophobic segments and hydrophilic segments, wherein the hydrophobic segments include polyolefins terminated with radicals selected from the group consisting of acryloyl groups, methacryloyl groups and mixtures thereof and wherein the hydrophilic segments include polyacrylates. Also provided is a method of encapsulating and immunoisolating cells using the semipermeable membrane and method of treating ailments using the implantable biological device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kennedy, Shahram Shamlou, Richard P. Levy
  • Patent number: 6200558
    Abstract: A polymeric composition capable of releasing nitric oxide under physiological conditions which includes a biopolymer, such as a peptide, polypeptide, protein, oligonucleotide or nucleic acid, to which is bound a nitric oxide-releasing N2O2− functional group; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polymeric composition; and methods of treating biological disorders in which dosage with nitric oxide is therapeutic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Joseph E. Saavedra, Larry K. Keefer, Peter P. Roller, Miki Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 6197290
    Abstract: Disclosed are cholesterol-depressant, coated or non-coated tablets for oral administration, which comprise an anion exchange resin of formula (I): wherein X represents a physiologically-acceptable counter ion; and p represents an average degree of polymerization, and is larger than 10,000, silicon dioxide and crystalline cellulose, but not containing water. The non-coated tablets are preferably coated with cellulosic substances. The tablets are easy to take, as being not bitter. The dose of the tablets can be decreased, since the tablets can contain a large amount of the active ingredient. The mixture comprising the constituent components can be directly tabletted in the absence of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Tatsuya Meno
  • Patent number: 6197289
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a biologically active agent from body fluid that includes an inlet for receiving body fluid, a substrate that includes the reaction product of a substantially water insoluble polymer and a polyalkylene imine, the polyalkylene imine being in a form capable of binding a biologically active agent in the body fluid, and an outlet through which the body fluid flows following contact with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Wirt, Lary M. Sirvio
  • Patent number: 6197348
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a taste-masked pharmaceutical composition. In particular the invention relates to suspensions of microcapsules taste-masked as a function of a polymer coating and the pH of a suspending medium. Surprisingly, a polymer considered permeable maintains taste masking in this media whereas a polymer considered impervious by the industry does not. There is provided a taste masked oral pharmaceutical composition including: a pharmaceutically active ingredient having a pH-dependent solubility; a polymer encapsulating said pharmaceutically active ingredient, said polymer having a quaternary ammonium functionality; a suspending medium for suspending the encapsulated pharmaceutically active ingredient, said medium adjusted to a predetermined pH at which the pharmaceutically active ingredient remains substantially insoluble; and wherein the pharmaceutically active ingredient is taste masked by the combination of the polymer and suspending medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: F H Faulding & Co., Limited
    Inventors: Angelo Mario Morella, Ian Hamilton Pitman, Grant Wayne Heinicke
  • Patent number: 6193962
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel formulations comprising a medicament and an ion-exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: AstraZeneca UK Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Metcalf, Keith Purdy
  • Patent number: 6193961
    Abstract: A homogeneous terpolymer of random monomer distribution containing (a) from abut 32 to about 90% of an N-vinyl lactam, (b) from about 0.5 to about 20% of a mono- or di-functional polysiloxane and (c) from about 5 to about 48% of quaternized or non-quaternized dimethylaminoalkyl-acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide combined to form a 100% terpolymer having an excess of vinyl lactam moiety with respect to (c); which terpolymer is useful in a personal care applications, particularly as a hair fixative and conditioner where colorless and clear film forming properties of the terpolymer provides a superior silky, lustrous appearance to the hair without altering hair color or shade, particularly without alteration to dyed or bleached hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Kou-Chang Liu, Jenn S. Shih
  • Patent number: 6190673
    Abstract: The present invention relates to gel compositions comprising alkyl amides of tri-basic carboxylic acids and methods of making gel compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gerald John Guskey, David Frederick Swaile
  • Patent number: 6187343
    Abstract: The invention includes a compound formulated by means of an association of sustained liberation in granules that maintains the therapeutic action of 4-nitro-2-phenoxymethanesulfonanilide and with a decrease of the fluctuations of the plasmatic concentrations the invention also includes a proceeding to obtain the compound. The active agent is micronized together with a disintegrant and adhered by means of bonding polymers from a solution to neutral granules made of sugar, forming granules of fast, conventional or immediate action. A fraction of the granules adhered and coated with the active agent is incorporated to polymers from a solution that confer a prolonged and controlled action to the active agent and is associated or mixes to the remaining granules containing the active agent (granules of immediate action), to prepare and administer different doses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Oscar Gold
  • Patent number: 6180094
    Abstract: A medicament which comprises as an active ingredient a weakly basic anion exchange resin chelating with ferric ions, preferably a polyamine-type or an acrylic-type resin. The medicament has excellent adsorbability and selectivity to phosphate ions and efficiently adsorb phosphate ions in vivo, and accordingly, is useful for therapeutic and/or preventive treatment of hyperphosphatemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nikken Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sasaki, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 6180688
    Abstract: The invention relates to ion-releasing composite materials on the basis of polymerizable monomers. The material is characterized in that it contains one or more non-acid, non-ionic, hydrophilic crosslinker monomers, one or more non-acid, non-ionic, hydrophilic dilution monomers having a viscosity of ≦1 Pas and at least one ion-releasing filler. The materials are suitable in particular for use as dental materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ivoclar AG
    Inventors: Volker Rheinberger, Ulrich Salz, Andr{acute over (e)} Rumphorst, Kurt Grabher, Urs Karl Fischer, Norbert Moszner
  • Patent number: 6177088
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of nanospheres, having diameters of less than about 50 nm, and having probe ion cores surrounded by layers of surfactant and by a polymer shell. The surface of the shell is functionalized with acid compounds, at least one of which includes a spacer between the nanosphere surface and the acid functionality. In some alternative embodiments, the surface is also functionalized with long-chain ester and alcohol groups. The probe ion core improves the sensitivity and reproducibility of immunoassay procedures. The acid compounds on the surface minimize self-agglomeration of the nanospheres and improve the coupling of the nanosphere with antibodies. The ester and alcohol groups enhance the aqueous suspension characteristics and the shelf life of the nanospheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fayette Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Congyuan Guo, Rhys N. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6171618
    Abstract: A dosage form containing cetirizine as an immediate release component and pseudoephedrine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as a controlled release component. A portion of the pseudoephedrine can also be incorporated as an immediate release component. The dosage form is free of alcohols having a molecular weight lower than 100 and reactive derivatives thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Pfizer Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara A. Johnson, Richard W. Korsmeyer, Cynthia A. Oksanen
  • Patent number: 6171583
    Abstract: Complexes in powder form of iodine and a crosslinked polymer based on N-vinyl compounds are obtainable by dry heating of iodine and a polymer which is obtained by polymerization of monovinyl compounds (monomers A) whose vinyl group is bonded to a nitrogen atom of a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, in the presence of from 0.5 to 10% by weight, based on the monomers (A), of a compound (B) of the formula I; where A is —CH— or a nitrogen atom, and n is 2 or 3. The complexes are suitable for producing antidiarrheals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Breitenbach, Axel Sanner, Walter Denzinger, Siegfried Lang