Patents by Inventor Erich Hoffmann

Erich Hoffmann 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).

  • Patent number: 9804479
    Abstract: An image capturing system includes an electronic device that may capture an image. A vessel is provided and the vessel may be carried. A mounting unit is removably coupled to the vessel. The electronic device is removably coupled to the mounting unit. Thus, the electronic device may capture an image of a user when the user holds the vessel. Thus, the user does not have to set the vessel down to capture the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20170184946
    Abstract: An image capturing system includes an electronic device that may capture an image. A vessel is provided and the vessel may be carried. A mounting unit is removably coupled to the vessel. The electronic device is removably coupled to the mounting unit. Thus, the electronic device may capture an image of a user when the user holds the vessel. Thus, the user does not have to set the vessel down to capture the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9499850
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 9238825
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: MedImmune, LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Patent number: 9072701
    Abstract: A vaccine composition and method which is effective in preventing or ameliorating Avian Influenza Virus infection is set forth herein. The vaccine contains at least two inactivated strains of avian influenza virus, wherein the combined hemagglutinin (HA) total is at least about 200 HA/dose of the vaccine composition, and wherein each of the strains presents at least about 128 HA/dose, and further wherein one of the strains has the same HA subtype as that of a challenge virus, and wherein at least one of the strains has a different NA subtype than the challenge virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Scott L. Krauss, Mahesh Kumar, Richard J. Webby, Robert G. Webster
  • Publication number: 20140134208
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: MEDIMMUNE, LLC
    Inventors: Erich HOFFMANN, Hong JIN, George KEMBLE, Zhongying CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140030702
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 8574592
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 8574591
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Medimmune, LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Publication number: 20130017216
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Publication number: 20120288521
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: MEDIMMUNE, LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Patent number: 8309099
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8296455
    Abstract: A personal computer's (PC) microprocessor is used to provide both the physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) processing functions required to implement a wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter. This technique uses the polling mechanism associated with the power save (PS) functionality of WLAN protocol to relieve networking stress on the host processing system. It does this while maintaining networking integrity and packet delivery. The WLAN protocol polling mechanism is used to briefly inhibit the transfer of packets from the WLAN access point (AP) during peak periods of network traffic and/or host processor loading. Because the modulation, demodulation, and MAC functions, typically implemented in dedicated hardware on existing adapters are implemented in software running on the host PC microprocessor, other host system processes and applications can interfere with these time critical functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
    Inventors: Richard Douglas Schultz, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8293247
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 8114415
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Medimmune, LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, Bin Lu, Gregory Duke, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Publication number: 20110250232
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: St Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 7972843
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20110104202
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 7929409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting and authenticating wirelessly transmitted digital information using numerous techniques. The apparatus may be a wireless orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system, a base station, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a transmitter, a receiver and/or an integrated circuit (IC). The wireless OFDM communication system includes a transmitter which steganographically embeds digital information in an OFDM communication signal and wirelessly transmits the OFDM communication signal. The system further includes a receiver which receives the OFDM communication signal and extracts the steganographically embedded digital information from the received OFDM communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhakar R. Chitrapu, John David Kaewell, Jr., Robert Lind Olesen, Sung-Hyuk Shin, John Erich Hoffmann, Richard Dan Herschaft
  • Patent number: 7871626
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr S. Lipatov, Richard J. Webby, Elena A. Govorkova, Robert G. Webster