Patents by Inventor Christopher Black

Christopher Black 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: 20080153750
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, said method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Publication number: 20080010045
    Abstract: An NSET method and system for modeling the behavior of a visitor to an e-commerce location are disclosed. The method of one embodiment of this invention comprises the steps of: obtaining one or more visitor characteristic values; developing a model of the visitor's behavior according to a nonlinear state estimation technique (NSET); and estimating a set of visitor behavior characteristic to model the visitor's behavior using the developed model. The method further comprises predicting the visitor's future behavior at the e-commerce location based on the set of behavior characteristic values and known statistical behavior characteristic values. The method of this invention can further comprise measuring a set of actual behavior values for a visitor based on the visitor's actual behavior at an e-commerce location, and comparing the set of estimated behavior characteristic values and the set of actual behavior values with at least one similarity operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: SmartSignal Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Black, J. Hines
  • Patent number: 7273728
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, the method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: GE Healthcare AS
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Publication number: 20070148380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a paintball comprising a shell containing an inner filler composition. The shell comprises a mixture of gelatin and mineral oil; the inner filler composition comprises a mixture of starch, oil, an emulsifying agent and a spreading and surfacting agent. The shell further comprises a non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol, glycerine, and water. The inner filler composition may further comprise a pigment. The non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol may be sorbitol, the oil is Soya oil and the emulsifying agent is emulsifying wax. The spreading and surfacting agent may be Tween® 20 and the pigment may be TiO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Christopher Black
  • Publication number: 20060085850
    Abstract: A system and method for ensuring that machines having invalid or corrupt states are restricted from accessing host resources are provided. A quarantine agent (QA) located on a client machine acquires statements of health from a plurality of quarantine policy clients. The QA packages the statements and provides the package to a quarantine enforcement client (QEC). The QEC sends the package to a quarantine Health Certificate Server (HCS) with a request for a health certificate. If the client provided valid statements of health, the HCS grants the client health certificate that may be used in IPsec session negotiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Mayfield, Christopher Black, Jesper Johansson, Karthik Murthy, Brian Swander
  • Publication number: 20060035340
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, said method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Patent number: 6962803
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, said method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Amersham Health AS
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Patent number: 6927570
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quantitatively measuring samples whose amount or other characteristic quality is to be determined. The samples are arranged in a predefined pattern and are excited in a magnetic field. The magnetizations of the magnetic particles are thereby caused to oscillate at the excitation frequency in the manner of a dipole to create their own fields. These fields are inductively coupled to at least one substantially flat sensor such as sensing coils fabricated in a gradiometer configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Quantum Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bancroft Simmonds, Kurt Gordon Jensen, Jost Hermann Diederichs, Randall Christopher Black
  • Publication number: 20040150396
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quantitatively measuring combinations of magnetic particles combined with analytes whose amount or other characteristic quality is to be determined. The magnetic particles are complexed with the analytes to be determined and are excited in a magnetic field. The magnetizations of the magnetic particles are thereby caused to oscillate at the excitation frequency in the manner of a dipole to create their own fields. These fields are inductively coupled to at least one sensor such as sensing coils fabricated in a gradiometer configuration. The output signals from the sensing coils are appropriately amplified and processed to provide useful output indications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Bancroft Simmonds, Kurt Gordon Jensen, Jost Hermann Diederichs, Randall Christopher Black
  • Publication number: 20040097779
    Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory Mclntire, Robert Snow, Edward Bacon, Morten Eriksen, Auden Tornes, Geraldine Cooney, Virginia Ann Gates, Joel Cornacoff, Christopher Black
  • Publication number: 20040087775
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, said method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Patent number: 6689043
    Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Amersham PLC
    Inventors: Gregory McIntire, Robert Snow, Edward Bacon, Morten Eriksen, Auden Tornes, Geraldine Cooney, Christopher Black, Joel Cornacoff, Virginia Ann Gates
  • Patent number: 6689871
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of purifying diphtheria toxin comprising (1) fermenting a microorganism strain capable of producing diphtheria toxin using glucose as a carbon source, the method comprising adding glucose to a growing culture whereby the addition of glucose maintains microorganism growth effective to support diphtheria toxin production; and (2) purifying the diphtheria toxin from the culture by contacting a toxin containing preparation derived therefrom with an ion exchange matrix, eluting a fraction containing the toxin, applying the eluate to a hydrophobic matrix, and eluting a fraction containing the toxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Amersham Health AS
    Inventors: Henry Wolfe, Fahar Merchant, Rosemina Merchant, Christopher Black, Harry Storflor, Geir Stokke, Halldis Hellebust
  • Patent number: 6632176
    Abstract: Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of a surface of the container is roughened, shaped or otherwise treated so that it is no longer smooth. The surface treatment may enhance the ultrasound visibility of the source and/or reduce the tendency of the source to migrate once implanted in a patient's body. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Amersham PLC
    Inventors: Gregory McIntire, Robert Snow, Edward Bacon, Morten Eriksen, Auden Tornes, Geraldine Cooney, Virginia Ann Gates, Joel Cornacoff, Christopher Black
  • Publication number: 20030162960
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds exemplified by pyrrolic nitrogens used as anion and neutral species recognition elements with an aromatic core as a signal group. Described are methods for the synthesis of various pyrrole aryl compounds as well as various applications for these compounds. Methods of use include the binding and detection of specific analytes in a mixture and, in some examples, the separation of the analyte from the mixture. Additional methods of use include the transport of therapeutic agents and the sensing of components, degradants, and impurities in foodstuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan Sessler, Bruno Andrioletti, Andrew Try, Christopher Black
  • Patent number: 6597176
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quantitatively determining amounts and identities of substances whithin patterns of magnetic particles, such as within lateral flow membranes, microfludic systems, and the like. Magnetic particles are complexed with substances to be determined and are excited in an oscillating magnetic field. The magnetizations of the magnetic particles are thereby caused to oscillate at the excitation frequency to create their own fields. These fields are inductively coupled to at least one sensor such as sensing coils fabricated in a gradiometer configuration. The output signals from the sensing coils are appropriately amplified and processed to provide useful output indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Quantum Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bancroft Simmonds, Kurt Gordon Jensen, Jost Hermann Diederichs, Randall Christopher Black
  • Patent number: 6483303
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quantitatively measuring groups of magnetic particles. The particles are complexed with substances to be determined and are excited in a magnetic field. The magnetizations of the magnetic particles are thereby caused to oscillate at the excitation frequency in the manner of a dipole to create their own fields. These fields are inductively coupled to at least one sensor such as sensing coils fabricated in a gradiometer configuration. The output signals from the sensing coils are appropriately amplified and processed to provide useful output indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Quantum Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bancroft Simmonds, Kurt Gordon Jensen, Jost Hermann Diederichs, Randall Christopher Black
  • Patent number: 6482949
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds exemplified by pyrrolic nitrogens used as anion and neutral species recognition elements with an aromatic core as a signal group. Described are methods for the synthesis of various pyrrole aryl compounds as well as various applications for these compounds. Methods of use include the binding and detection of specific analytes in a mixture and, in some examples, the separation of the analyte from the mixture. Additional methods of use include the transport of therapeutic agents and the sensing of components, degradants, and impurities in foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventors: Jonathan Sessler, Bruno Andrioletti, Andrew Carl Try, Christopher Black
  • Patent number: 6437563
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quantitatively measuring combinations of magnetic particles combined with analytes whose amount or other characteristic quality is to be determined. The magnetic particles are complexed with the analytes to be determined and are excited in a magnetic field. The magnetizations of the magnetic particles are thereby caused to oscillate at the excitation frequency in the manner of a dipole to create their own fields. These fields are inductively coupled to at least one sensor such as sensing coils fabricated in a gradiometer configuration. The output signals from the sensing coils are appropriately amplified and processed to provide useful output indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Quantum Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bancroft Simmonds, Kurt Gordon Jensen, Jost Hermann Diederichs, Randall Christopher Black
  • Patent number: 6423296
    Abstract: The invention relates to MR contrast media containing composite nanoparticles, preferably comprising a superparamagnetic iron oxide core provided with a coating comprising an oxidatively cleaved starch coating optionally together with a functionalized polyalkyleneoxide which serves to prolong blood residence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Amersham Health AS
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gunther, Kenneth Kellar, Dennis Kiyoshi Fujii, Vinay Desai, Christopher Black, Marshall Beeber, Jennifer Wellons, Anne Kjersti Fahlvik, Jasbir Singh, Edward Richard Bacon, Gregory Lynn McIntire, Robert Alan Snow, Brian Weekley, Torgrim Engell, Michel Gacek, David Lee Ladd, Anne Naevestad, George Na, Barbara Yuan, Jack Stevens