Patents by Inventor Carl R. Merril

Carl R. Merril has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20010043917
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Publication number: 20010043924
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods which enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects. The HDS normally reduces the number of bacteriophage in an animal, which decreases the efficiency of the bacteriophage in killing the host bacteria present during an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes by physico-chemical alteration of the bacteriophage surface proteins, so that the altered bacteriophage remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the unmodified bacteriophage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Carlton, Carl R. Merril, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Publication number: 20010026795
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Patent number: 5861504
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymorphic markers (two tetranucleotide, one dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms, 27 markers characterized by primer pairs 1A-27A, and eleven markers characterized by primer pairs 1B-11B that are useful for human individualization. Applications are in forensic medicine and for paternity and prenatal screening as well as genetic mapping. These markers are characterized by sets of oligonucleotide primers according to the invention useful in PCR amplification and DNA segment resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5844097
    Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Monoclonetics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Cameron, Sr., Carl R. Merril, Guy Joseph Creed, Dale VanderPutten
  • Patent number: 5817797
    Abstract: The invention provides a process wherein a biotinylated oligonucleotide primer and an oligonucleotide primer which has not undergone biotinylation are used when amplifying a DNA sequence to facilitate separation of the DNA strands following the polymerase chain reaction process. The biotinylation/PCR product is then exposed to a support which will selectively bind the biotinylated strand to allow selective elution of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Lloyd G. Mitchell, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5811093
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging of a bacteriophage, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignees: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Patent number: 5766892
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignees: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Patent number: 5721100
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymorphic markers (two tetranucleotide and one dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms) that are useful for human individualization. Applications are in forensic medicine and for paternity and prenatal screening as well as genetic mapping. These markers are characterized by sets of oligonucleotide primers according to the invention useful in PCR amplification and DNA segment resolution. The invention further relates to an assay for measuring the subtle differences in genetic material regarding an added or omitted set of dinucleotide or tetranucleotide repeat polymorphisms which comprises obtaining an amount of nucleotide segments effective for testing, amplifying the segments by the PCR procedure using at least one primer nucleotide sequence according to the present invention, resolving the amplified segments using gel electrophoresis, and comparing the resolved segments by autoradiography to observe the differences in migration patterns due to structural differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5688501
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignees: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Patent number: 5660812
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignees: Exponential Biotherapies, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Richard M. Carlton, Sankar L. Adhya
  • Patent number: 5583201
    Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignees: Monoclonetics International, Inc., United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Bruce M. Cameron, Sr., Carl R. Merril, Guy J. Creed, Dale VanderPutten
  • Patent number: 5468610
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymorphic markers (two tetranucleotide and one dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms) that are useful for human individualization. Applications are in forensic medicine and for paternity and prenatal screening as well as genetic mapping. These markers are characterized by sets of oligonucleotide primers according to the invention useful in PCR amplification and DNA segment resolution. The invention further relates to an assay for measuring the subtle differences in genetic material regarding an added or omitted set of dinucleotide or tetranucleotide repeat polymorphisms which comprises obtaining an amount of nucleotide segments effective for testing, amplifying the segments by the PCR procedure using at least one primer nucleotide sequence according to the present invention, resolving the amplified segments using gel electrophoresis, and comparing the resolved segments by autoradiography to observe the differences in migration patterns due to structural differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5429947
    Abstract: A method for detecting elevated levels of the middle isoform of .alpha.-2 haptoglobin, .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin in bodily fluids of subjects with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia as compared with the .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin level in normal subjects. Fibrinogen fragments corresponding to proteins 127 and 128 are also found in elevated levels in such subjects. Elevated levels of specific haptoglobin proteins serve as a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventors: Carl R. Merril, Ginger Johnson, Hossein A. Ghanbari
  • Patent number: 5378602
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymorphic markers (two tetranucleotide, one dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms and 27 markers characterized by primer pairs 1A-27A) that are useful for human individualization. Applications are in forensic medicine and for paternity and prenatal screening as well as genetic mapping. These markers are characterized by sets of oligonucleotide primers according to the invention useful in PCR amplification and DNA segment resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Michael H. Polymeropoulos, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5369004
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymorphic markers (two tetranucleotide, one dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms, 27 markers characterized by primer pairs 1A-27A, and five markers characterized by primer pairs 1B-5B that are useful for human individualization. Applications are in forensic medicine and for paternity and prenatal screening as well as genetic mapping. These markers are characterized by sets of oligonucleotide primers according to the invention useful in PCR amplification and DNA segment resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 5364793
    Abstract: Methods of diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, including diagnosing and monitoring chronic back and cervical pain are disclosed. The methods involve subjecting a body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having chronic lumbar or cervical pain and peripheral nerve damage to two-dimensional electrophoresis or an immunoassay and measuring relative amounts of protein or proteins which increase or decrease in concentration as compared to a standard control. A preferred method employs an Apo-E variant as a marker of peripheral nerve damage. Also disclosed are kits for use with the diagnostic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignees: Monoclonetics International, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Bruce M. Cameron, Sr., Carl R. Merril, Guy J. Creed, Dale VanderPutten
  • Patent number: 5292665
    Abstract: A polyacrylamide gel comprising acrylamide and diacrylylpiperazine. A method for providing a polyacrylamide gel comprising employing a catalyst system which comprises dimethylpiperazine, sodium thiosulfate or a mixture thereof and ammonium or potassium persulfate. The use of the gel as the matrix in a silver staining procedure for the detection of biomaterials, provides for the obtainment of reduced background staining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Denis F. Hochstrasser, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 4940659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a screening assay for determining the amount of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD-1) in extra-cellular body fluids, for use in determining Trisomy 21 Down syndrome in a fetus. The assay can be done by any of a number of well known techniques including Radioimmunoassay, an Enzyme Linked Immunoassay, or a luminescence assay, single or tandem antibody type, carried out in solid or liquid phase. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies can be used. In the preferred embodiment, the assay is used to determine SOD-1 levels in amniotic fluid. A level above a threshold indicates a high probability of Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome for the fetus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Monoclonetics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Warrington, Abbas A. Khan, Carl R. Merril
  • Patent number: 4892814
    Abstract: A method for distinguishing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from other causes of human dementia by analyzing the cerebrospinal fluid of patients for proteins 130 and 131. The presence of these proteins indicates the presence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Michael G. Harrington, Carl R. Merril, David M. Asher, D. Carleton Gajdusek