Patents Examined by Ralph Gitomer
  • Patent number: 9902989
    Abstract: Presented herein are methods and compositions for the detection of specific beta-lactamases, including class A serine carbapenemases, metallo-beta-lactamases, AmpC beta-lactamases, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). The methods presented herein include methods that permit the detection of the presence of specific beta-lactamases in bacterial samples within as few as 2 to 10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Mei Yang-Woytowitz, Charles Yu, Timothy Wiles
  • Patent number: 9869617
    Abstract: Methods, kits, and systems for clarifying obfuscating pigments in histology samples such as an automated method of treating a histology sample with a clarifying reagent so that the clarifying reagent, contacts the sample and the pigments within the sample are decolorized , thus alleviating staining obfuscations associated with pigments. Decolorizing the pigments within the sample enables the histology sample to be interpretable by a qualified reader. An antigen retrieval step is performed after the clarification step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Patricia Carrigan, James Grille, Greg Martin, Mark Robida, Patrick C. Roche
  • Patent number: 9857353
    Abstract: A kit for separating a sample comprising one or more biological analytes of interest using a multi-phase system comprising: a) two or more phase components selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant, and combinations thereof; b) optionally a tag molecule capable of binding the one or more biological analytes of interest; and c) instructions for: (i) combining the two or more phase-separated solutions with a common solvent to create a multi-phase system; (ii) optionally, combining the biological analyte of interest and tag molecule, and (iii) separating the biological analyte of interest from the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Charles R. Mace, Ashok A. Kumar, Dyann F. Wirth, George M. Whitesides
  • Patent number: 9856605
    Abstract: In some variations, a process is provided for producing a pulp product at a biorefinery site, comprising: converting a woody cellulosic material to a first pulp stream; converting a non-woody cellulosic material to a second pulp stream; blending the second pulp stream into the first pulp stream; and recovering or further processing the blended pulp stream as a pulp product. Biorefinery site infrastructure may be shared between the woody and non-woody lines. Also, the process may include process integration of mass and/or energy between the woody and non-woody lines. The process may be a retrofit addition to a pulp plant, or a greenfield biorefinery site. The non-woody line also can generate fermentable sugars, for fermentation to ethanol (or other products). Through allocation of carbon credits from the ethanol to the pulp, the final pulp product life-cycle profile can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: API Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Theodora Retsina
  • Patent number: 9833000
    Abstract: Provided are liquid compositions comprising inactive biopesticide precursors comprising a glucosinolate concentrate, a plant material comprising a myrosinase enzyme complex, and a water soluble polyol. Further provided are methods of making and using such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MPT Mustard Products & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Hetherington, James Robinson
  • Patent number: 9817001
    Abstract: Disclosed is a personalized diagnostic and treatment solution for cardiovascular disease. The invention comprises methods for devising a personalized treatment plan for a patient via the use of an extended CVD risk assessment panel measuring markers of cholesterol absorption and production and HDL subfractions. This solution provides a more complete risk assessment of an individual than merely measuring traditional CVD risk markers alone, and enables the healthcare practitioner to optimize therapy for patients with or without established CVD. This solution presents the advantages of greater accuracy, savings in time and cost over existing testing and treatment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BOSTON HEART DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bela F. Asztalos, Ernst J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9809837
    Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating the suitability of a duodenal fluid sample collected from an animal as a sample for detecting pancreatic fluid-derived components. The method includes: (a) mixing a duodenal fluid sample with a chymotrypsin-specific substrate and measuring an amount of degradation the chymotrypsin-specific substrate by of the duodenal fluid sample, (b) mixing the duodenal fluid sample with a pepsin-specific substrate and measuring an amount of degradation of the pepsin-specific substrate by the duodenal fluid sample, and (c) evaluating that the duodenal fluid sample is suitable as a sample for detecting pancreatic fluid-derived components if the amount of degradation of the chymotrypsin-specific substrate by the duodenal fluid sample is higher than a prescribed threshold value and the amount of degradation of the pepsin-specific substrate by the duodenal fluid sample is lower than a prescribed threshold value, as being suitable as a sample for detecting pancreatic fluid-derived components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Asakura, Tomonori Nagaoka, Nao Shimada
  • Patent number: 9796908
    Abstract: A nutrient composition for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is described. The nutrient composition comprises a source of phosphorus (P) and a source of nitrogen (N), wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen (P/N) is greater than 1.5, and the nitrogen concentration is at least 0.1 m M and less than 1.7 m M. A process for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is also described. The process involves contacting the nutrient composition of the invention with the carbonaceous material for a period of time to biogenically produce methane and subsequently collecting methane from the carbonaceous material. The process may further comprise contacting the carbonaceous material with a second nutrient composition, wherein the second nutrient composition has a P/N molar ratio greater than the P/N molar ratio of the former nutrient composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION
    Inventors: Philip Hendry, David Midgley
  • Patent number: 9795579
    Abstract: A method of promoting a desired oral microbiota in a subject to treat an allergy related respiratory condition, the method including providing an edible composition including an amino acid containing ingredient comprising L-arginine wherein the composition is provided contained and at least partially dissolved within an oral cavity of the subject for a period of at least from about 10 seconds to about an hour on a daily basis of at least two consecutive days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KNOZE JR. CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsheng Han
  • Patent number: 9795707
    Abstract: Embodiments of the technology may involve a method of processing the human donor tissue for administration to a recipient. This method may include the step of contacting the human donor tissue with a backing layer, where the human donor tissue and the backing layer contain a saline solution. This saline solution may include a solvent and a disassociated salt. The method may further include evaporating a portion of the solvent from a surface of the backing layer. The evaporation of the solvent may move a portion of the disassociated salt from the donor tissue to the backing layer. This process may then result in a tissue that is mostly dry and free of salt crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AlloSource
    Inventors: Adrian C. Samaniego, Matthew Southard
  • Patent number: 9790534
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: bioMerieux, Inc.
    Inventors: John Walsh, Jones Hyman, Thurman Thorpe, Bradford Clay, Christopher Ronsick
  • Patent number: 9790542
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide for a device that collects vesicles and vesicle-like materials from biological fluids. Such devices include at least one sample loading region; at least one corresponding vesicle-capture material, wherein said vesicle-capture material includes glass-like materials; and at least one corresponding sample receiving region, wherein passage of the biological fluid from the sample loading region through the vesicle-capture material and into the sample receiving region results in the capture of vesicles. Additional embodiments provide for a method of isolating vesicles and vesicle-like materials from biological fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY AMERICA, LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9788538
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for the stabilization of glucose, lactate and homocysteine in blood after collection, to a use of the provided compositions and a method for the stabilization of glucose, lactate and homocysteine in blood after collection, as well as optionally the in vitro determination of glucose, lactate and homocysteine in blood, and a blood collection device provided for said use and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Petra Weser-Bissé
  • Patent number: 9783829
    Abstract: A nutrient combination for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is described. The nutrient combination comprises a source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N2). The nutrient combination is preferably substantially fee of gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous NOx and/or SOx. In various embodiments the nutrient combination may comprise a two-phase mixture of a solution of the soluble source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N2). A process for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is also described. The process involves dispersing the nutrient combination of the invention throughout the carbonaceous material for a period of time to biogenically produce methane and subsequently collecting methane from the carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION
    Inventors: Philip Hendry, David Midgley
  • Patent number: 9786406
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition having an interior hydrophobic space encapsulated by at least one non-derivatized cellulose molecular layer surrounded by a hydrophilic medium. The invention also provides methods for making an oil-in-water dispersion or water-in-oil dispersion by mixing a hydrophilic medium, a hydrophobic composition and non-derivatized cellulose solution in an ionic liquid or pure non-derivatized cellulose hydrogel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Dmitry Rein, Yachin Cohen
  • Patent number: 9777265
    Abstract: A method for accelerating the migration of cells by applying a time-varying magnetic field to induce eddy currents that promote electrotaxis (galvanotaxis) of cells. The method of the present invention accelerates the healing of wounds by electrotaxis of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: OHIO STATE INNOVATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Vish Subramaniam, Joseph West, Emily Alkandry, Sashwati Roy, Chandan Sen, Piya Ghatak
  • Patent number: 9775887
    Abstract: Disclosed is a formulation of the following enzymes: Beta Glucanase, Chymotrypsin, Phytase, Lactase, and Invertase, which has been found to be effective in treating salicylate intolerant people, and causing a significant improvement in a wide variety of pathologies and symptoms, including, but not limited to: stuttering, migraines, ADHD, behavioral deficits, Tourettes disease, seizures, autism (ASD), atrial fibrillation, anxiety, depression, joint pain, cognitive and perceptual disorders, respiratory difficulties and non-diabetic neuropathy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Thea Fournier
  • Patent number: 9777310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of infectious diseases. The invention specifically relates to the diagnostic test for acute bacterial pharyngitis. The test is used in screening for Group A Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus by the identifying the presence of leukocyte esterase in the throat. The Leukocyte Esterase Throat Swab Test is compared to the Rapid Step Test for efficiency in terms of fast delivery of results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Kumara Venkatanarayana Nibhanipudi
  • Patent number: 9775865
    Abstract: Systems, kits and methods are provided, which analyze the large intestine content and utilize acoustic signals detected during delivery of water into the large intestine and drained large intestine contents to derive large intestine characteristics such as microbiotal analysis. Systems may include a water delivery unit including a water supply and a nozzle connected thereto, configured to introduce water controllably into a patient's large intestine, and an analysis unit that provides information about the drained contents using optical examination or biological assays. The information may be related to acoustic analysis of signals from acoustic sensors that are attachable to a patient's abdomen. A variety of sensor configurations, positioning options, analysis strategies and large intestine characteristics are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HYGIEACARE, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavriel David Meron, Mordechai Yehuda Frisch
  • Patent number: 9770545
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting a double volume of red blood cells using a spinning membrane separator is provided by which a first quantity of whole blood is withdrawn from a donor; a first quantity of whole blood is flowed to the spinning membrane separator; where it is separated into a first quantity of red blood cells and a first quantity of plasma. The first quantity of red blood cells and the first quantity of plasma are then flowed to respective collection containers, and at least a portion of the first quantity of plasma is returned to the donor. A second quantity of whole blood withdrawn from the donor, and then separated into a second quantity of red blood cells and a second quantity of plasma using the spinning membrane separator. The second quantity of red blood cells and the second quantity of plasma are then flowed to the respective collection containers, and at least a portion of the second quantity of plasma is returned to the donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kusters, Kyungyoon Min, Christopher Wegener, William H. Cork