Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Mercolino

Thomas J. Mercolino 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: 20140272973
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nucleic-acid based product authentication and identification by determining authentication codes comprising target nucleic acids using oligonucleotide probes associated with samples. The presence of the authentication code is determined using detection methods, such as flow cytometric methods, capable of particle discrimination based on the light scattering or fluorescence properties of the particle. Target-correlated fluorescence signal, originating from a target nucleic acid hybridized to labeled complementary oligonucleotides is determined as an indicator of the presence of the authentication code. In some embodiments, an intercalating dye is used to determine the presence of target nucleotide/oligonucleotide heterodimers and identify an authentication code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CertiRx Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Amy McPherson, James Garber Rudulph, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140119615
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, reagents, and apparatus for authenticating and identifying products. Methods of the disclosure are easy to implement but difficult to replicate, simulate, alter, transpose, or tamper with. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of authenticating products using a product authentication code defined by a frequency array of a population of entities, and an item identifier defined by the specific manifestation of the product authentication code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Authentiform, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Darrell Jerome Freeman, Jr., Robert Brooks Stephenson, Hersh Ashok Tapadia
  • Publication number: 20130244894
    Abstract: This invention relates to a nucleic-acid based product authentication by determining authentication codes comprising target nucleic acids using oligonucleotide probes immobilized on particulate and non-particulate substrates. The presence of the authentication code is determined using detection methods, such as flow cytometric methods, capable of particle discrimination based on the light scattering or fluorescence properties of the particle, or by spatial resolution of oligonucleotides immobilized at specific loci on a substrate. Target-correlated fluorescence signal, originating from a target nucleic acid hybridized to substrate-immobilized oligonucleotide is determined as an indicator of the presence of the authentication code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: AUTHENTIFORM TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Patent number: 8458475
    Abstract: The present invention relates to both systems and methods for product authentication. A system used herein, for example, comprises a population of entities which comprises at least two distinct clusters of entities having detectable counts or relative counts of entities per cluster; a measurement system capable of measuring a signature array of said population of entities; and a means for analyzing said signature array. The methods involve the systems of the invention for authenticating a given product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Authentiform Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Publication number: 20120273564
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reagents, and apparatus for authenticating and identifying products. Methods of the invention are easy to implement but difficult to replicate, simulate, alter, transpose, or tamper with. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a product authentication code defined by a frequency array of a population of entities, and an item identifier defined by the specific manifestation of the product authentication code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: THOMAS J. MERCOLINO, HERSH ASHOK TAPADIA, AMY L. MCPHERSON, DARRELL J. FREEMAN, JR.
  • Patent number: 8247018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method for quality control of surface coated objects used independently or in conjunction with product authentication; methods for assuring proper product handling; methods for assuring that product contents' match product's label, comprising the use of microparticulate taggants having different detectable physical properties, wherein each combination of properties is used as an encoding bit to create codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Authentiform Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Patent number: 8220716
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reagents, and apparatus for authenticating products. Methods of the invention are easy to implement but difficult to replicate, simulate, alter, transpose, or tamper with. In particular, the present invention relates to a product authentication code defined by a signature array of a population of entities, and its use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Authentiform Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Publication number: 20110189777
    Abstract: The present invention describes diagnostic calibration methods and related compositions for flow cytometry instruments using synthetic control particles as an internal reference standard. The invention provides synthetic control beads which substantially reduce the drawbacks of conventional control beads. Synthetic beads coated with C3, C4 or CR1 and a non-specific spacer protein such as ovalbumin provide a control bead without the positive reactivity seen in conventional BSA controls. The present invention further provides a buffer system containing non-specific blockers and assay performance enhancers that do not interfere with analyte detection. The invention provides advantageous improvements over prior instrument calibration procedures, and provides control beads that enable consistent, reproducible data for diagnostic assays using flow cytometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CYPRESS BIOSCIENCE, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel F. GRAZIANO, Albert D. DONNENBERG, Thomas J. MERCOLINO
  • Publication number: 20110190920
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reagents, and apparatus for authenticating products. Methods of the invention are easy to implement but difficult to replicate, simulate, alter, transpose, or tamper with. In particular, the present invention relates to a product authentication code defined by a signature array of a population of entities, and its use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Patent number: 7874489
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reagents, and apparatus for authenticating products. Methods of the invention are easy to implement but difficult to replicate, simulate, alter, transpose, or tamper with. In particular, the present invention relates to a product authentication code defined by a signature array of a population of entities, and its use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: AuthentiForm Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Patent number: 6955889
    Abstract: Simultaneous forward and reverse blood group testing is described using both a visual detection system and a fluorescent based labeling and detection system. Forward and reverse tests could be performed separately, but A and B agglutinates can be detected and discriminated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Kathleen J. Reis
  • Patent number: 6350619
    Abstract: This invention describes methods and kits for determining instrument linearity of a flow cytometer and is particularly useful as a control particle for use in conjunction with absolute cell counting methods. The particle used in the practice of this invention comprises a small fluorescent bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Virendra O. Shah
  • Patent number: 5627037
    Abstract: This invention comprises a one step method for the detection and enumeration of absolute counts of one or more cell populations in a blood sample. The method employs a reagent comprising a mixture of one or more cell markers, a fluorescent microparticle and a fixative. The reagent may be combined with unlysed whole blood and analyzed by means of flow cytometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Anthony J. Ward, Thomas J. Mercolino, Diether J. Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 5593848
    Abstract: An improved assay of target components in a sample utilizes specific gravity-altering particles which are attached to the target components by specific antibodies. The attached specific gravity-altering particles are preferably liposomes which will buoy or sink the targets to a common level in the specimen sample when the latter has been centrifuged in a transparent tube. The liposomes can provide an accentuated and more pronounced indication of the presence of the targets in the sample due to their ability to contain many multiples of fluorescent or non-fluorescent dye molecules with minimal steric interference with the attached antibodies' binding ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Levine, Stephen C. Wardlaw, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Judith Britz, Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Patent number: 5460979
    Abstract: A patient's health is diagnosed by centrifuging blood samples in a transparent tube, which tube contains one or more groups of particles such as lyposomes or plastic beads of different densities for each group. Each group of density-defined particles carries antigens or antibodies which are specific to a complement antigen or antibody which may be in the blood sample being tested, and which are indicative of the patient's health. A label-tagged antibody which is specific to all bound antibody/antigen couples is added to the blood sample so as to form labelled antibody+antigen-antibody complexes (AAAC) in the blood sample. Upon centrifugation, the complexed particles will settle out in different areas in the tube according to the respective density of the particles, and the degree of label emission of the particle layers can enable qualitative or quantitative analyses of the blood sample to be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Levine, Stephen C. Wardlaw, Leon W. M. M. Terstappen, Thomas J. Mercolino, Diether J. Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 5369036
    Abstract: A process for assaying at least one analyte uses a tracer which includes multiple detectable substances. A tracer composition includes at least one ligand labeled with a particulate label, the particulate label containing at least one detectable substance. Two or more detectable substances in the assay may be in the same particulate label or in different particulate labels conjugated to different ligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Mercolino, Joanne H. Hasskamp, Edward C. McFarland
  • Patent number: 5342790
    Abstract: A patient's health is diagnosed by centrifuging blood samples in a transparent tube, which tube contains one or more groups of particles such as lyposomes or plastic beads of different densities for each group. Each group of density-defined particles carries antigens or antibodies which are specific to a complement antigen or antibody which may be in the blood sample being tested, and which are indicative of the patient's health. A label-tagged antibody which is specific to all bound antibody/antigen couples is added to the blood sample so as to form labeled antibody+antigen-antibody complexes (AAAC) in the blood sample. Upon centrifugation, the complexed particles will settle out in different areas in the tube according to the respective density of the particles, and the degree of label emission of the particle layers can enable qualitative or quantitative analyses of the blood sample to be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Levine, Stephen C. Wardlaw, Leon W. M. M. Terstappen, Thomas J. Mercolino, Diether J. Recktenwald
  • Patent number: 4978625
    Abstract: In a method for fluorescence immunoassay of an analyte, an antianalyte attached to the surface of a solid support is contacted with the analyte and a tracer which includes a substantially water insoluble fluorescent dye occluded in the nonaqueous portion of a sac. After binding reactions involving the antianalyte, analyte and tracer, the solid support is separated, excitation light is applied and fluorescence from dye in intact sacs bound to the solid support is measured and compared to fluorescence measured when known quantities of analyte are assayed. The invention includes a kit of materials useful in performing an immunoassay in accordance with the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Daniel B. Wagner, Glenn P. Vonk, Thomas J. Mercolino