Patents by Inventor Erica M. Phillips
Erica M. Phillips 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).
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Patent number: 8619257Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of bacterial HAI. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods include utilization of recombinant bacteriophage to deliver to pathogenic bacteria a translatable genetic sequence encoding an optically detectable marker or an enzyme capable of producing an optically detectable marker. Upon detection of the optical signal produced by the marker, medical personnel may be alerted to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at the site of inquiry. Any bacterial causative agent of HAI may be detected according to disclosed methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2007Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Kimberley-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Edward Plowman, Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Daniel Baird, Mike Rainone, Talbot Presley
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Patent number: 8280471Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site. Disclosed devices may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of a hospital acquired infection, thereby providing for earlier intervention. Disclosed methods utilize optical fibers to deliver an excitation signal to an area in which pathogenic bacteria may exist. In the presence of the excitation signal, bacterial pathogens may autofluoresce with a unique spectral signature. Upon generation of a fluorescent emission, an optically detectable emission signal may be transmitted to a detection/analysis device. Analysis of the characteristics of the emission signal produced in response to the excitation signal may be used to determine the presence or concentration of pathogens at the site of inquiry, following which real time information may be transmitted to medical personnel via a wireless transmission system.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Mike Rainone, Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Shawn R. Feaster, Daniel Baird, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Patent number: 8247220Abstract: A clinical testing assay device that can differentiate bacterial from viral infections is described. The assay device has a sample contact zone with an absorbent pad on which a test sample is deposited and a detection zone with a colorant indicator that is sensitive to bacteria cells. The colorant indicator changes color when exposed to a bacteria sample. The color change signal can manifest relatively quickly, usually within a few minutes, and with an intensity correlative to the concentration of bacteria in a test sample. A method of use is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Stephanie M. Martin, John G. MacDonald, Erica M. Phillips
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Publication number: 20120143024Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of bacterial HAI. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods include utilization of recombinant bacteriophage to deliver to pathogenic bacteria a translatable genetic sequence encoding an optically detectable marker or an enzyme capable of producing an optically detectable marker. Upon detection of the optical signal produced by the marker, medical personnel may be alerted to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at the site of inquiry. Any bacterial causative agent of HAI may be detected according to disclosed methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2007Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Daniel Baird, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Publication number: 20120143027Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of hospital acquired infections. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to changes in the local environment due to the presence of a pathogen at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods utilize ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs) to detect changes in ionic concentration at the site due to the presence of a pathogen, for instance at a surgical site. When a pathogen is present, the local ionic concentration, and hence the electrical characteristics of an ISFET may change, causing a detectable signal from the ISFET. An ISFET may be associated with a biological material such as an enzyme or a specific binding partner for an expression product of a pathogen to improve detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Daniel Baird, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Patent number: 8180421Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of hospital acquired infections. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential infection site or for periodic in vitro monitoring of tissue or fluid from a patient and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of a pathogen at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods utilize fluorophore pairs that optically interact with one another according to Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) mechanism. One member of the pair or a cofactor that interacts with an enzyme to form a member of the pair may be tethered to a device by a substrate that is specific for an enzyme expressed by a targeted pathogen. Upon interaction of the enzyme with the substrate, an optically detectable signal may be altered or initiated, detection of which may then provide information as to the existence of the pathogen at the site.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Daniel Baird, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Patent number: 7745158Abstract: Methods and devices for the detection of proteins secreted by the hyphal growth form of Candida species are disclosed. The disclosed devices may constitute a method for the diagnosis of acute or chronic infections, including candidiasis, caused by microorganisms of the species Candida, such as C. albicans, for example. The devices of the present invention incorporate antibodies specific to secreted aspartyl protease proteins whose expression is upregulated upon the conversion of the Candida species from the commensal to the pathogenic form. The antibodies may be used in assays to allow the diagnosis of candidal infections and disease conditions. Either monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal antibodies may be used, and in the case of the monoclonals, the specific epitopes of the SAP protein may be detected as well as the SAP protein itself.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Enrico L. DiGiammarino, Kevin P. McGrath
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Publication number: 20090197296Abstract: A clinical testing assay device that can differentiate bacterial from viral infections is described. The assay device has a sample contact zone with an absorbent pad on which a test sample is deposited and a detection zone with a colorant indicator that is sensitive to bacteria cells. The colorant indicator changes color when exposed to a bacteria sample. The color change signal can manifest relatively quickly, usually within a few minutes, and with an intensity correlative to the concentration of bacteria in a test sample. A method of use is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Stephanie M. Martin, John G. MacDonald, Erica M. Phillips
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Publication number: 20090156943Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site. Disclosed devices may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of a hospital acquired infection, thereby providing for earlier intervention and improved recovery rates from bacterial infection. Disclosed methods utilize optical fibers to deliver an excitation signal to an area in which pathogenic bacteria may exist. In the presence of the excitation signal, bacterial pathogens may autofluoresce with a unique spectral signature. Upon generation of a fluorescent emission, an optically detectable emission signal may be transmitted to a detection/analysis device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Kimberly-Clark World Inc.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Daniel Baird, Richard Hantke, Shawn R. Feaster, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Publication number: 20090155770Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential infection site. Disclosed devices may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of a pathogen at an early stage of a hospital acquired infection, thereby providing for earlier intervention and improved recovery rates from bacterial infection. Disclosed methods utilize implantable devices for location at an in vivo site. The implantable device is held in conjunction with an optical fiber that detects and transmits an optically detectable signal generated in the presence of a pathogen. Upon generation of the emission, the optically detectable emission signal may be transmitted to a portable detection/analysis device. Analysis of the characteristics of the emission signal produced may be used to determine the presence or concentration of pathogens at the site of inquiry, following which real time information may be transmitted to medical personnel, for instance via a wireless transmission system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Tameka Brown, Akosua Atta-Mensah, Daniel Baird, Richard Hantke, Tod Hoover Shultz, Erica M. Phillips, Shawn R. Feaster, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Publication number: 20090156942Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of hospital acquired infections. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential infection site or for periodic in vitro monitoring of tissue or fluid from a patient and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of a pathogen at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods utilize fluorophore pairs that optically interact with one another according to Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) mechanism. One member of the pair or a cofactor that interacts with an enzyme to form a member of the pair may be tethered to a device by a substrate that is specific for an enzyme expressed by a targeted pathogen. Upon interaction of the enzyme with the substrate, an optically detectable signal may be altered or initiated, detection of which may then provide information as to the existence of the pathogen at the site.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, Richard Hantke, Daniel Baird, Mike Rainone, Thomas Edward Plowman, Talbot Presley
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Publication number: 20090142275Abstract: A wound suture containing a solvatochromatic indicator that undergoes a color change in the presence of bacteria often associated with surgical site infection is provided. Such a color change provides a “real time” indication of the onset of infection, which may alert medical staff to apply an appropriate antimicrobial treatment (e.g., antibiotic) to the patient (e.g., human or animal) before a more serious infection occurs. The patient may also be able to accurately monitor the condition of a wound after discharge from the hospital. Further, the lack of a color change may provide the medical staff or patient with the assurance that the area is generally free of infection and clean.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Erica M. Phillips, J. Gavin MacDonald, Stephanie M. Martin