Patents by Inventor Susan M. Atwood

Susan M. Atwood 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).

  • Amplification and detection of HIV-1 and/or HIV 2
    Patent number: 6001558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and test kits for the amplification and detection of nucleic acids from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and/or type 2. The methods use multiple primer sets to amplify all subtypes of HIV-1, including group M and group O isolates, and all subtypes of HIV-2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Backus, Susan M. Atwood, Ann E. Casey, Eric B. Rasmussen, Thomas J. Cummins
  • Nucleic acid material amplification and detection without washing
    Patent number: 5422271
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid material. The device and method use a label and signalling material responsive to the label to produce a detectable signal. A surprising result of the method and device is that at least one of the wash steps heretofore required has been eliminated without substantially adversely affecting the results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul H.-D. Chen, John B. Findlay, Susan M. Atwood, Lynn Bergmeyer
  • Diagnostic compositions, elements, methods and test kits for amplification and detection of retroviral DNA using primers having matched melting temperatures
    Patent number: 5403707
    Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of a target retroviral DNA (such as HIV-I DNA) can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of that target DNA and one or more additional target DNA's. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while all of the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes, all of which have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and within 15.degree. C. of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan M. Atwood, Thomas J. Cummins, John B. Findlay
  • Blood collection method
    Patent number: 5032288
    Abstract: A method of use is disclosed of a device that causes phase separation of whole blood, using much lower centrifugal forces. As a result, leukocytes are separated from blood cells having specific gravities of 1.09 g/ml or higher. The method preferably uses a separation chamber arranged so that its long dimension or axis is parallel, not perpendicular, to the spin axis, and a valve that allows automatic removal of the ligher phase(s).In one aspect, the method separates a lighter phase from a heavier phase, for example, lymphocytes from whole blood, using a centrifugal force of reduced amount. In another aspect, DNA is extracted readily from the separated lighter phase since it is less likely that the lighter phase will be contaminated by erythrocytes as occurs in conventional separation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Columbus, Susan M. Atwood, Deborah P. Freyler, Harvey J. Palmer