Patents by Inventor Robert J. Schwartz

Robert J. Schwartz 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).

  • Publication number: 20030074679
    Abstract: Growth is improved by utilizing growth enhancement potential methodology to administer a nucleic acid sequence, such as GHRH or an analog, to a female animal, preferably through a parenteral route of administration. Piglets born from sows injected with DNA encoding GHRH are larger, and effects are demonstrated in subsequent pregnancies without additional administration(s) of the vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Roy G. Smith, Douglas R. Kern, Robert H. Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20030068631
    Abstract: The invention concerns making and evaluating synthetic regulatory regions for controlling gene expression. The invention features a method for identifying transcription factor binding sites and a method for evaluating the regulatory functions of synthetic regulatory regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Eric M. Eastman, Xuyang Li, Jeff Nordstrom
  • Publication number: 20030055017
    Abstract: Vectors which establish controlled expression of recombinant GHRH genes within tissues at certain levels. The vector includes a 5′ flanking region which includes necessary sequences for expression of a nucleic acid cassette, a 3′ flanking region including a 3′ UTR and/or 3′ NCR, and a linker which connects the 5′ flanking region to a nucleic acid sequence. The linker has a position for inserting a nucleic acid cassette. The linker does not contain the coding sequence of a gene that the linker is naturally associated with. The 3′ flanking region is 3′ to the position for inserting the nucleic acid cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Baylor College of Medicine and GeneMedicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Xuyang Li, Eric M. Eastman
  • Patent number: 6423693
    Abstract: Vectors which establish controlled expression of recombinant GHRH genes within tissues at certain levels. The vector includes a 5′ flanking region which includes necessary sequences for expression of a nucleic acid cassette, a 3′ flanking region including a 3′UTR and/or 3′NCR, and a linker which connects the 5′ flanking region to a nucleic acid sequence. The linker has a position for inserting a nucleic acid cassette. The linker does not contain the coding sequence of a gene that the linker is naturally associated with. The 3′ flanking region is 3′ to the position for inserting the nucleic acid cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignees: Baylor College of Medicine, Valentis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Xuyang Li, Eric M. Eastman
  • Patent number: 6410228
    Abstract: The invention concerns making and evaluating synthetic regulatory regions for controlling gene expression. The invention features a method for identifying transcription factor binding sites and a method for evaluating the regulatory functions of synthetic regulatory regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignees: Baylor College of Medicine, Valentis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Eric M. Eastman, Xuyang Li, Jeff Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 6109591
    Abstract: A continuous flow type proportional flow control valve having a very wide controllable flow range and having a valve seat port design permitting a continuous, stable closed loop control to be achieved. The flow port design cooperates with a simple cylindrical flow passage of a movable valve element and provides the valve with a very wide flow control range and the ability to smoothly control the opening, modulation, and closing of the valve to eliminate undesirable hydraulic shock which is an undesirable characteristic of pulse operated flow control systems. The flow controlling seat has a flow controlling port therein that cooperates with the flow port of the closure to define an effective valve opening that is proportionally variable over a wide range of closure movement. The seat port is provided with an extremely narrow elongate slot section less than 1/50th of the maximum width of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: James D. Tuttle, Robert J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5925564
    Abstract: This invention relates to gene therapy by using vectors which encode stable MRNA and methods of using such vectors. In particular, this invention relates to vectors which establish controlled expression of recombinant genes within tissues at certain levels. The vector includes a 5' flanking region which includes necessary sequences for expression of a nucleic acid cassette, a 3' flanking region including a 3' UTR and/or 3' NCR which stabilizes mRNA expressed from the nucleic acid cassette, and a linker which connects the 5' flanking region to a nucleic acid sequence. The linker has a position for inserting a nucleic acid cassette. The linker does not contain the coding sequence of a gene that the linker is naturally associated with. The 3' flanking region is 3' to the position for inserting the nucleic acid cassette. The expression vectors of the present invention can also be regulated by a regulatory system and/or constructed with a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Franco J. DeMayo, Bert W. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 5756264
    Abstract: This invention relates to gene therapy by using vectors which encode stable MRNA and methods of using such vectors. In particular, this invention relates to vectors which establish controlled expression of recombinant genes within tissues at certain levels. The vector includes a 5' flanking region which includes necessary sequences for expression of a nucleic acid cassette, a 3' flanking region including a 3' UTR and/or 3' NCR which stabilizes mRNA expressed from the nucleic acid cassette, and a linker which connects the 5' flanking region to a nucleic acid sequence. The linker has a position for inserting a nucleic acid cassette. The linker does not contain the coding sequence of a gene that the linker is naturally associated with. The 3' flanking region is 3' to the position for inserting the nucleic acid cassette. The expression vectors of the present invention can also be regulated by a regulatory system and/or constructed with a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Franco J. DeMayo, Bert W. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 5374544
    Abstract: A mutated skeletal actin promoter which differs from the naturally occurring DNA sequence by nucleotide substitution has been found to increase gene expression. The mutation sites are specific to the cis-acting regions of the gene. Double mutations created a strong promoter. Transformed myogenic cells had ten times the transcriptional activity over the wild type. The mutated skeletal actin promoter can be used to overly express polypeptides, particularly in myogenic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, King L. Chow
  • Patent number: 5298422
    Abstract: The present invention includes a Myogenic vector system (MVS) for the expression of a nucleic acid sequence in myogenic tissue. The MVS contains a promoter, a cassette with the sequence of interest, a 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) and contiguous noncoding region (NCR). Further enhancements can include the addition of a leader sequence, intron sequence, initiation codon and specificThis invention was partially supported by a grant from the United States government under HL-38401 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Franco J. DeMayo, Bert W. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 4909320
    Abstract: A detonation assembly for an explosive wellhead severing system which employs a battery pack lowerable through a drill string to engage and power the detonation assembly positioned within the well bore. The lowerable unit includes a biased shutter which seals the contacts from discharge of the battery pack by the surrounding fluids. The shuttered unit is lowered into contact with the receiving unit to arm the detonation assembly. Until the power unit is lowered into engagement, the severing system is not armed. In case of malfunction or misfire, the power unit can be retrieved to disarm the detonator assembly. The entire assembly is housed within the drill string to isolate the critical elements from the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Drilex Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Hebert, Robert J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4801923
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for converting a digital TACAN output into an analog potentiometer input suitable for an analog navigation computer. The apparatus includes an input register for temporarily storing a digital TACAN output signal. A nines complement generation circuit is utilized to generate the nines complement of the digital TACAN output signal and the nines complement is temporarily stored in a second register. The data in each register is then utilized to control one of two identical resistive circuits which are coupled to a common output node so that the total resistance in both circuits is always equal to a selected total resistance. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of optically coupled solid state relays are utilized to control the resistive circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace & Defense Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Schwartz, Frederick G. Reinagel
  • Patent number: 4634863
    Abstract: For use in a well logging tool which responds to randomly spaced pulses of different amplitudes, a pulse processing circuit featuring reduced dead-time is incorporated. Typically, it can be used with either a gamma ray or neutron detector. The circuit enables mixed amplitude pulses with irregular spacing to be processed with relatively different rise and fall times. The circuit processes the trailing or following portion of a pulse differently from the leading or rising portion to enable a separate following second pulse to be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 4100319
    Abstract: A process is described for the intermittent autogenous bonding of a continuous filament web wherein the filaments have a low degree of crystallinity. In one embodiment, the process involves passing the web directly through a nip formed by a smooth hard surfaced roll and a roll containing raised points on its surface with both rolls being maintained at a temperature near the softening point of the filaments. The speed of the web through the nip, the roll size and the configuration of the raised points are coordinated such that the surface temperature of the web is not substantially increased before maximum pressure has been developed in the nip, but then is rapidly raised to a point where surface fusion is effected before a significant increase in filament crystallinity occurs. Webs prepared as illustrated possess a desirable combination of surface abrasion resistance and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Schwartz