Patents by Inventor Sheila Collins

Sheila Collins 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).

  • Method of improving ß-adrenergic receptor function
    Publication number: 20110312947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of a hyperinsulinemic patient to the anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects of a ? adrenergic receptor (?AR) agonist. The method comprises administering to the patient the ?AR agonist and an agent that reduces plasma insulin levels and thereby increases the sensitivity of the patient to the effects of the ?AR agonist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Duke University
    Inventors: Richard S. Surwit, Sheila A. Collins
  • Method of improving beta-adrenergic receptor function
    Publication number: 20070129339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of a hyperinsulinemic patient to the anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects of a ? adrenergic receptor (? AR) agonist. The method comprises administering to the patient the ? AR agonist and an agent that reduces plasma insulin levels and thereby increases the sensitivity of the patient to the effects of the ? AR agonist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Richard Surwit, Sheila Collins
  • Method of improving beta-adrenergic receptor function
    Publication number: 20050203070
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of a hyperinsulinemic patient to the anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects of a ? adrenergic receptor (?AR) agonist. The method comprises administering to the patient the ?AR agonist and an agent that reduces plasma insulin levels and thereby increases the sensitivity of the patient to the effects of the ?AR agonist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Richard Surwit, Sheila Collins
  • Programmable medicine dispenser
    Patent number: 6834775
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing system for dispensing medicine carriers, wherein each medicine carrier contains medicine which is to be dispensed at an appropriate time of the day and week for that carrier, having a housing. The housing has a patient accessible medicine retrieval compartment. The medicine carriers are placed within tubes located within a housing by a pharmacist, who may access the tubes through a pharmacist access panel. Actuator motors allows the carriers to be moved to the medicine retrieval compartment at the appropriate time of the day and week, as specified by the programming of the pharmacist. Once in the retrieval compartment, the patient can remove carrier and ingest the medicine contained therein. If the medicine carrier is not removed from the retrieval compartment by the patient within a predetermined time, the medicine carrier is moved to a storage compartment which is not accessible by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Sheila Collins
  • Method of improving beta-adrenergic receptor function
    Publication number: 20030220329
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of a hyperinsulinemic patient to the anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects of a &bgr; adrenergic receptor (&bgr;AR) agonist. The method comprises administering to the patient the &bgr;AR agonist and an agent that reduces plasma insulin levels and thereby increases the sensitivity of the patient to the effects of the &bgr;AR agonist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Richard S. Surwit, Sheila A. Collins
  • Respiration uncoupling protein
    Publication number: 20030119775
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a protein linked to cell respiration, thermogenesis, obesity and hyperinsulinemia and, in particular, to a protein designated uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) and to nucleic acid sequences encoding same. The invention also relates to diagnostic methodologies based, for example, on a determination of levels of UCP2 expression. Further, the invention relates to therapies involving modulating UCP2 expression and/or activity. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of screening compounds for their suitability for use in such therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Richard S. Surwit, Sheila A. Collins, Craig H. Warden, Michael F. Seldin, Daniel Ricquier, Frederic Bouillaud