Patents by Inventor Merlin D. Breen

Merlin D. Breen 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: 6017550
    Abstract: The use of fiber to control infantile colic and diarrhea and adult constipation and diarrhea is well accepted. This invention is specifically directed to liquid nutritional formulas which contain hydrolyzed protein and/or amino acids and dietary fiber. This invention overcomes the problems of product physical stability and high viscosities through the use of soluble/non-fermentable fibers in combination with a blend of insoluble/non-fermentable and soluble/fermentable fibers. The invention is also directed to the use of physiologically effective levels of fibers in nutritional products that use hydrolyzed protein and/or free amino acids for the source of amino nitrogen to treat colic, diarrhea, short gut syndrome and other gastrointestinal maladies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: David F. Berk, Merlin D. Breen, James N. Chmura, Todd A. Huston, William T. Malone, Karin M. Ostrom
  • Patent number: 5340603
    Abstract: A hypercaloric formula providing nutritional support for human infants having chronic lung disease, said formula having a caloric density of at least 800 kcalories per liter of formula and wherein not less than 56% of the total calories in said formula is derived from fat; not more than 15% of total calories is derived from a high quality protein source; and from about 20-27% of total calories is from a carbohydrate source; said formula having a calcium to phosphorous ratio in the range of 1.4 to 2.2, and having an m-inositol concentration of at least 50 milligrams per liter of formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Michael J. Neylan, Karin M. Ostrom, Helen R. Churella, Merlin D. Breen, John D. Benson