Patents by Inventor Grace L. Picciolo

Grace L. Picciolo 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: 5294541
    Abstract: A chemiluminescence method for continuously monitoring in real time the generation of oxidative products such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide from in vitro cell-biomaterial interactions using cell lines such as Human Leukemic cells (HL-60); tumor cell line hybridomas; cells lacking the respiratory burst such as Chronic Granulomatous Disease cells as controls; Monocytic cell lines; Primary Human cells such as monocytes, pmns, fibroblasts, endothelial cells; and whole and isolated blood cells. The oxidative products have the potential for the degradation of the biomaterial and thus this information can be used to aid in predicting the functional lifetime of the biomaterial when it is used to fabricate an implanted medical device. Further, this method may be used to determine the amount of activation of biological cells which is inferred from the amount of oxidative products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: David S. Kaplan, Grace L. Picciolo, Edward P. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4777133
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and a process for quantitation of Toxoplasma gondii and Treponema pallidum antibody titer in a biological sample by immunofluorescent photometric microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Grace L. Picciolo, David S. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 4622291
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and a process for quantitation of end point in the formation of fluorescent reaction product in microfluorophotometry. The process comprises:(a) incorporating a protective agent in a suitable mounting medium in an amount sufficient to reduce fading of fluorescent reaction product less than 25% of initial fluorescent intensity;(b) calibrating photometer used in said microscopy with a stable emitter; and(c) recording the intensity of fluorescence of said fluorescent reaction product by means for measuring light intensity.The invention also includes a device for calibration of the photometer and a kit comprising separate containers for suitable mounting medium, buffer, suitable immunofluorescent reagents, fading retardant means, a photometer calibrating device and the like and optional instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Grace L. Picciolo, David S. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 4385113
    Abstract: A bioluminescent assay for ATP in water borne bacteria is made by adding nitric acid to a water sample with concentrated bacteria to rupture the bacterial cells. The sample is diluted with sterile, deionized water, then mixed with a luciferase-luciferin mixture and the resulting light output of the bioluminescent reaction is measured and correlated with bacteria present. A standard and a blank also are processed so that the light output can be correlated to bacteria in the sample and system "noise" can be substracted from the readings.A chemiluminescent assay for iron porphyrins in water borne bacteria is made by adding luminol reagent to a water sample with concentrated bacteria and measuring the resulting light output of the chemiluminescent reaction. The light output is correlated with bacteria present. A standard and a blank are also processed so that the light output can be correlated to bacteria in the sample and system "noise" can be subtracted from the readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Emmett W. Chappelle, Grace L. Picciolo, Richard R. Thomas, Eldon L. Jeffers, Jody W. Deming
  • Patent number: 4132599
    Abstract: Method for the quick determination of the susceptibilities of various unidentified bacteria contained in an aqueous physiological fluid sample, particularly urine, to one or more antibiotics. A bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is carried out after the elimination of non-bacterial ATP to determine whether an infection exists. If an infection does exist, a portion of the sample is further processed, including subjecting parts of the portion to one or more antibiotics. Growth of the bacteria in the parts are determined, again by an ATP assay, to determine whether the unidentified bacteria in the sample are susceptible to the antibiotic or antibiotics under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Grace L. Picciolo, Emmett W. Chappelle, Jody W. Deming, Christian G. Shrock, Hillar Vellend, Michael J. Barza, Louis Weinstein
  • Patent number: 4014745
    Abstract: The susceptibility of bacteria, particularly those derived from body fluids, to antimicrobial agents is determined in terms of an ATP index measured by culturing a bacterium in a growth medium, assaying the amount of ATP in a sample of the cultured bacterium by measuring the amount of luminescent light emitted when the bacterial ATP is reacted with a luciferase-luciferin mixture, subjecting the sample of the cultured bacterium to an antibiotic agent and assaying the amount of bacterial adenosine triphosphate after treatment with the antibiotic by measuring the luminescent light resulting from the reaction, whereby the ATP index is determined from the values obtained from the assay procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Emmett W. Chappelle, Grace L. Picciolo, Hillar Vellend, Stephanie A. Tuttle, Michael J. Barza, Louis Weinstein
  • Patent number: 3971703
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for determining bacterial levels, especially in samples of aqueous physiological fluids, which method depends on the quantitative determination of bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the presence of non-bacterial ATP. The bacterial ATP is released by cell rupture and is measured by an enzymatic bioluminescent assay. A concentration technique is included to make the method more sensitive. It is particularly useful where the fluid to be measured contains an unknown or low bacteria count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Grace L. Picciolo, Emmett W. Chappelle