Patents by Inventor Theresa B. Britschgi

Theresa B. Britschgi 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).

  • Diagnostic kits useful for selectively detecting microorganisms in samples
    Patent number: 5776694
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to diagnostic kits for selectively detecting a prokaryotic microorganism and a eukaryotic microorganism in a sample wherein the cells of such microorganisms are lysed by combining the sample with a lysis solution and contacting the nucleic acid released from the microorganisms with selective nucleic acid probes through hybridization techniques. The present invention can be used for detecting microorganisms associated with vaginal disorders, e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans. These kits may be used in a medical practitioner's private office or in a more structured clinical environment, such as a hospital, a commercial clinical microbiology laboratory or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson Company
    Inventors: Diana K. Sheiness, Trevor H. Adams, Michael R. Stamm, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Theresa B. Britschgi, Connie K. Dix
  • Rapid and sensitive detection of antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria using oligonucleotide probe specific for ribosomal RNA precursors
    Patent number: 5770373
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and oligonucleotide probe compositions useful for determining antibiotic resistance in Mycobacteria. Included are methods for freeing intact precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells and for assaying the levels of pre-rRNA in the cells. Also claimed are methods useful in discovering new anti-mycobacterial therapeutic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
  • Rapid and sensitive detection of antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria using oligonucleotide probes specific for ribosomal RNA precursors
    Patent number: 5726021
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for rapidly freeing precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells. The methods and compositions further result in detectable levels of ribosomal RNA precursors that are not degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
  • Rapid and sensitive detection of antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria using oligonucleotide probes specific for ribosomal RNA precursors
    Patent number: 5712095
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and oligonucleotide probe compositions useful for determining antibiotic resistance in Mycobacteria. Included are methods for freeing intact precursor ribosomal RNA from mycobacterial cells and for assaying the levels of pre-rRNA in the cells. Also claimed are methods useful in discovering new anti-mycobacterial therapeutic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Theresa B. Britschgi, Gerard A. Cangelosi
  • Methods for selectively detecting microorganisms associated with vaginal infections in complex biological samples
    Patent number: 5700636
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to methods for selectively detecting a prokaryotic microorganism and a eukaryotic microorganism in a single complex biological sample wherein the cells of such microorganisms are lysed by combining the sample with a lysis solution and contacting the nucleic acid released from the microorganisms with selective nucleic acid probes through hybridization techniques. Further provided are methods which permit the detection of a Gram-positive bacterium with at least one other microorganism selected from the group consisting of yeast, protozoa, mycoplasma and Gram-negative bacteria in a single complex biological sample. In other aspects of the invention, the methods disclosed permit the detection of microorganisms associated with vaginal disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Diana K. Sheiness, Trevor H. Adams, Michael R. Stamm, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Theresa B. Britschgi, Connie K. Dix
  • Nucleic acid probes useful for detecting microorganisms associated with vaginal infections
    Patent number: 5654418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid probes useful for the detection of microorganisms associated with vaginal disorders, for example Gardenerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Diana K. Sheiness, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Theresa B. Britschgi