Patents by Inventor Michael I. Schaffer

Michael I. Schaffer 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: 10539580
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for detecting the presence and/or amount of one or more analytes, including analytes such as drugs of abuse, are provided. The compositions include two or more analytes associated with a solid phase, e.g., a particle or a multiwell plate. The compositions and methods also allow the simultaneous, tandem, or serial determination of the presence and/or amount of two or more analytes of interest in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 9261522
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer, Elvan Loni, Gary Neil Stowe
  • Publication number: 20150293132
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer, Elvan Loni, Gary Neil Stowe
  • Patent number: 8986939
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer, Elvan Loni, Gary Neil Stowe
  • Publication number: 20150064719
    Abstract: Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer, Elvan Loni, Gary Neil Stowe
  • Publication number: 20140004534
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for detecting the presence and/or amount of one or more analytes, including analytes such as drugs of abuse in a hair wash sample are provided. The compositions include two or more analytes associated with a solid phase, e.g., a particle or a multiwell plate. The compositions and methods also allow the simultaneous, tandem, or serial determination of the presence and/or amount of two or more analytes of interest in a hair wash sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8435747
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8329417
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20120094309
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: PSYCHEMEDICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8084215
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Psychemedics Corporation
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20110118138
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for detecting the presence and/or amount of one or more analytes, including analytes such as drugs of abuse, are provided. The compositions include two or more analytes associated with a solid phase, e.g., a particle or a multiwell plate. The compositions and methods also allow the simultaneous, tandem, or serial determination of the presence and/or amount of two or more analytes of interest in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20110104714
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammad Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20090269791
    Abstract: Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: PSYCHEMEDICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Virginia Hill, Mohammed Atefi, Michael I. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 6303384
    Abstract: This invention relates to a reagent and use of that reagent for detecting adulterants in aqueous samples, particularly in biological specimens such as urine samples using a diazo dye precursor such as N,N diethyl-1,4-phenylene diamine and a reagent such as creatinine to stabilize a colored intermediate formed by the reaction of the diamine with nitrite ions for a period sufficient to allow that color to be recorded and compared with a separate peak formed by a halogen-based oxidizing agent which may be present in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan P. Mills, John A. Novinski, Michael I. Schaffer