Patents Issued in May 20, 2008
  • Patent number: 7375148
    Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous styrene-butadiene polymer dispersion by free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture M comprising styrene, butadiene, and if desired up to 30% by weight, based on 100% by weight of monomers, of ethylenically unsaturated comonomers other than styrene and butadiene; in a polymerization vessel by a monomer feed technique in the presence of a regulator system containing, based on 100% by weight of monomers, from 0.02 to 0.5% by weight of at least one hydrocarbon HC having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, selected from compounds which on abstraction of a hydrogen atom form a pentadienyl radical or 1-phenylallyl radical, and ?-methylstyrene dimer, and from 0.3 to 2% by weight of an organic compound S containing at least one SH group wherein at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, in particular at least 80%, and with particular preference the entirety (or >95%) of hydrocarbon HC is included in the initial charge to the polymerization vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gaschler, Volker Schaedler, Lambertus Manders, Thomas Wirth, Hubertus Kroener
  • Patent number: 7375149
    Abstract: The invention describes novel mixtures comprising i) a processing stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxylamine stabilizers, nitrone stabilizers, benzofuran-2-one stabilizers and/or a compound of the formula I wherein R2 is C7-C30alkyl, R3 is C1-C30alkyl, and ii) an antistatic agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated amine and/or an ethoxylated amide, as stabilizers for protecting organic materials, in particular synthetic polymers, against oxidative, thermal or lightinduced degradation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.
    Inventors: Bruno Rotzinger, Kurt Hoffmann, Dietmar Mäder, Neil Dunski
  • Patent number: 7375150
    Abstract: An antistatic composition that is excellent in thermo stability, is free from the problem of bleeding-out, exhibits its effect independently of humidity, has immediate effectiveness, and also exhibits excellent and persistent antistatic properties, and a method for producing the composition are provided. The antistatic composition comprises a predetermined alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt, and resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sanko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Fujihana
  • Patent number: 7375151
    Abstract: A thermoplastic composition is provided, comprising (a) an acid copolymer, (b) a salt of a high molecular weight, monomeric organic acid; (c) a thermoplastic resin; (d) a cation source; and (e) optionally, a filler. Also provided are one-, two- and three-piece golf balls, and multi-layered golf balls comprising the composition of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Statz, John Chu Chen, John Francis Hagman
  • Patent number: 7375152
    Abstract: Non-stick coatings for use on a flexible substrate include a fluoropolymer, an acrylic polymer, and a polyol and/or diol. The ratio of acrylic polymer to polyol and/or diol is between about 90:10 and about 10:90 by weight, preferably about 50:50. The ratio of acrylic polymer and polyol or diol to fluoropolymer is preferably about 100:60 by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel Non-Stick Coatings
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bate
  • Patent number: 7375153
    Abstract: A golf ball including a solid core formed from a composition comprising a diene rubber, a metallic fatty acid salt present in an amount of from 6.3 parts to 7.5 parts, a cis-to-trans catalyst present in an amount of 2.35 parts or greater, and an organic peroxide present in an amount of 0.8 parts or less; and a cover; wherein the core has a coefficient of restitution of 0.810 or greater and a compression of 58 to 78.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Douglas S. Goguen, Michael J. Sullivan, David A. Bulpett, Murali Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7375154
    Abstract: This invention relates to a polyester/polyamide blend having an excellent gas barrier property. More particularly, the present invention relates to combinations of a polyethylene terephthalate polymer and a polyamide polymer having an excellent gas barrier property and short oxygen scavenging induction periods, where the polyamide polymer has a C:A terminal group concentration ratio of 2:1 or more and a C+A terminal group concentration of at least 0.17 meq/g of polyamide polymer, wherein C represents a cumulative total of a terminal carboxyl group concentration and a terminal hydrocarbyl group concentration expressed in meq/g of polyamide, and A represents a terminal amine group concentration expressed in meq/g of polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Steven Lee Stafford, Mark Edward Stewart, Benjamin Bradford Gamble
  • Patent number: 7375155
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a low dielectric loss tangent resin composition containing a crosslinking component having a weight average molecular weight of not more than 1,000 and a plurality of styrene groups and represented by the formula [1], wherein R is a hydrocarbon skeleton which may have a substituent, R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, m is an integer of 1-4 and n is an integer of 2 or more, and further containing at least one member selected from a high polymer having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 5,000 and a filler, which resin composition can give a cured product having a good flexibility, high tensile strength and low dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Amou, Shinji Yamada, Takao Ishikawa, Takao Miwa
  • Patent number: 7375156
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire tread comprising 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing at least 5% by weight of natural rubber graft-copolymerized with an organic compound having an unsaturated bond andlor epoxidized natural rubber, and 5 to 150 parts by weight of carbon black and!or silica with a nitrogen-absorbing specific surface are of 100 to 300m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Yagi, Kiyoshige Muraoka
  • Patent number: 7375157
    Abstract: A polymer melt additive that is suitable for use as a processing aid in the extrusion of a non-fluorinated polymer. The polymer melt additive composition includes a fluoropolymer that has a long chain branching index (LCBI) of at least 0.2 and a zero shear rate viscosity at 265° C. of not more than 107 Pa's. The polymer melt additive may additionally include other compounds such as, polyoxyalkylene polymer or polycaprolactone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen E. Amos, Klaus Hintzer, Harald Kaspar, Claude Lavallée
  • Patent number: 7375158
    Abstract: A thermoconductive curable liquid polymer composition including (A) a curable liquid polymer, (B) a filler made from a thermally-elongatable shape-memory alloy, and (C) a thermoconductive filler other than (B). A semiconductor device having a semiconductor element glued or coated with the thermoconductive curable liquid polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Dow Corning Toray Silicone Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ishikawa, Katsutoshi Mine, Kimio Yamakawa, Kazumi Nakayoshi
  • Patent number: 7375159
    Abstract: Blends of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) homopolymer or copolymer with ABC triblock copolymers are useful for manufacturing parts which may be sheets, film, tubes, rods, centrifugal pump components and containers. The PVDF comprises a fraction of non-transferred chains of very high molar mass which are insoluble in the usual solvents for PVDF, such as DMF (dimethylformamide), DMSO (dimethyl sulphoxide) and NMP (N-methylpyrrolidone), the polymer fraction associated with these high-mass chains having a dynamic viscosity of greater than 50 kpoise at 230° C., and at a shear rate of 100 s1, and has spherulites with a size between 0.5 and 4?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Atofina
    Inventor: Thierry Pascal
  • Patent number: 7375160
    Abstract: A rubber-reinforced vinyl resin which is obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of a rubber-like copolymer comprising at least two members selected from (I) an ethylene-?-olefin based rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 15 or higher, (II) an ethylene-octene based rubber having a Mooney viscosity less than 15, and (III) an ethylene-octene based rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 15 or higher; a process for producing the resin; and a composition containing the rubber-reinforced vinyl resin. They are excellent in moldability and gives a molded articles which are excellent in appearance in terms of gloss, flow marks, weld appearance, color unevenness at welded portions, colorability and the like, and excellent in impact resistance, for example, impact resistance at low temperatures as well as in weatherability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Techno Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Isoda, Hironari Muraki, Tadashi Nagahara, Hiromi Tomono
  • Patent number: 7375161
    Abstract: A process for producing an emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises (co)polymerizing a main monomer in the presence of a protective colloid, the protective colloid being an acrylic copolymer comprising (A-1) at least one hydrophilic monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate and (B-1) an alkyl (meth)acrylate that is copolymerizable with the hydrophilic monomer (A-1) and whose alkyl group has 4 to 18 carbon atoms, or (A-2) a hydrophilic monomer being acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and (B-2) an alkyl (meth)acrylate that is copolymerizable with the hydrophilic monomer (A-2) and whose alkyl group has 4 to 9 carbon atoms; the hydrophilic monomer and the alkyl (meth)acrylate being copolymerized in a weight ratio in the range of 40-70:60-30; the acrylic copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 500 to 50000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyokuni Takashima
  • Patent number: 7375162
    Abstract: Filled propylene polymer compositions having significantly improved melt strength are provided. The compositions are blends of propylene polymer, mineral filler with an ethylene polymer component consisting of an ethylene plastomer and a silane-containing ethylene polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Strebel, Sameer D. Mehta, Jeffrey A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7375163
    Abstract: Described are polymers and cement admixtures which reduce drop in fluidity with time. Said admixture comprises at least one polymer of the present invention and at least one polymer A. The polymer of the present invention comprises side chains of which at least 10 weight-% can be cleaved in alkaline medium. The polymer of the present invention is an acrylic polymer which comprises side chains connected to the backbone by ester linkages. These side chains may be alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, cycloalkyl or polyoxyalkylene groups. Polymer A is a cement dispersing agent. The combination of polymer A with the polymer of the present invention in a weight ratio of 0.1:10-10:1, and preferably 1:10-10:1 reduces the drop in fluidity with time of cementitious compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sika Technology AG
    Inventors: Irene Schober, Theodor A. Bürge, Ulf Velten, Jürg Widmer, Christian M. Bürge, Urs Mäder
  • Patent number: 7375164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to vulcanizing agent containing metal alkanedithiols for unsaturated rubbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann-Josef Weidenhaupt, Hartmuth Buding, Josef Hahn, Nicole Häp, Petra Pallogh, Nesibe Ucal, Uwe Zettl
  • Patent number: 7375165
    Abstract: The invention relates to thermoplastic compositions comprising a thermoplastic polyamide matrix and at least one additive which modifies the interaction between the matrix and an agent. The purpose of the invention is to provide an additive which modifies the interaction between a copolyamide-type thermoplastic copolyamide matrix and at least one agent. The aforementioned additive, which comprises at least one hyperbranched functionalised polymer, is not compatible with the matrix. Moreover, said additive can be used for the controlled modification of the interaction between the thermoplastic copolyamide and an internal or external chemical agent. Preferably, the composition does not contain hyperbranched polymers which produce therein a reduction in the molar mass of matrix M which is greater than or equal to 7% in relation to a sample composition which comprises matrix M but does not contain hyperbranched polymer additive(s). Said mass measurement is taken preferably using a determined protocol P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Rhodianyl
    Inventors: Jean-François Sassi, Franck Touraud, Natalia Scherbakoff, Christine Vidil, Christophe Paulo, Sandrine Rochat, Jean-Pierre Marchand, Bertrand Bordes
  • Patent number: 7375166
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a film or sheet comprises deforming a polymeric alloy at a temperature effective to impart to the deformed alloy a birefringence retardation of greater than or equal to about 750 nanometers. A method eliminating comets and veins in an optical film or sheet comprises annealing the film or sheet to a temperature greater than the lowest glass transition temperature of the polymeric resins contained in the alloy. A composition comprises a first polymeric resin in an amount of about 1 to about 99 wt %; and a second polymeric resin in an amount of about 1 to about 99 wt %, wherein the polymeric resins are blended with a deforming force effective to produce a polymeric alloy having a birefringence retardation of greater than or equal to about 750 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Safwat Tadros, Parminder Agarwal, Shreyas Chakravarti, Peter Vollenberg
  • Patent number: 7375167
    Abstract: A composition for forming an article having an improved resistance to hydrolysis is disclosed. The composition comprises a polyalkylene terephthalate and/or polyester thereof, a triglyceride, an epoxy component, and a plasticizer. The polyalkylene terephthalate has terminal carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups and internal ester linkages. The triglyceride has at least one acid component with 6 to 30 carbon atoms and at least one epoxy group for reacting with the carboxyl groups. The epoxy component has internal aromatic groups and at least one terminal epoxy group for reacting with the carboxyl groups. The plasticizer comprises an esterification product of a polyoxyalkylene glycol with 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an aliphatic carboxylic acid with 1 to 25 carbon atoms for improving melt flow properties and for reducing hydrolysis of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Kavilipalayam M. Natarajan, Stephen J. Hanley
  • Patent number: 7375168
    Abstract: Siliceous materials were prepared by adding one or more additives, including one or more water soluble polymers, and derivatives thereof, as well as trifunctional silanes, to sols containing tetraalkoxysilanes derived from polyols. The polymers facilitate phase separation of the growing silica gel matrix, leading to high surface area self-supporting silica gels with cure occurring at ambient temperatures. The materials also show a significant reduction in shrinkage properties and significant protein stabilization abilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Zheng Zhang, Yang Chen, Jorge Cruz-Aguado, Richard J. Hodgson, Dina Tleugabulova, John D. Brennan, Michael A. Brook
  • Patent number: 7375169
    Abstract: A method for polymerizing ethylene is provided. The method can include preparing a supported catalyst composition comprising the steps of: (a) dehydrating a chromium impregnated support; (b) at least partially dissolving a titanium-containing compound in one or more inert solvents to provide a solution comprising the titanium-containing compound; (c) contacting the dehydrated chromium impregnated support with the titanium-containing solution to provide a mixture comprising the solvent, titanium-containing compound and chromium impregnated support; (d) removing the solvent from the mixture; and (e) activating the product of step (d) at a temperature of at least 800° F. (427° C.) to provide a supported titanated chrome catalyst composition. The supported titanated chrome catalyst composition can be feed to a slurry reactor, and contacted with an optional co-catalyst, under polymerization conditions, with ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Smith, Stanley J. Katzen, Anthony N. Speca, Thomas W. Towles
  • Patent number: 7375170
    Abstract: Since the majority of conventional organic/inorganic composite materials are obtained by mechanical blending of a silsesquioxane and an organic polymer or other means, it was extremely difficult to control the structure of the composite as a molecular agglomerate. In order to solve such a problem, the invention is to provide a silicon compound represented by Formula (1). This novel silicon compound has a living radical polymerization initiating ability for addition polymerizable monomers of a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Oikawa, Mikio Yamahiro, Koji Ohguma, Nobumasa Ootake, Kenichi Watanabe, Kohji Ohno, Yoshinobu Tsujii, Takeshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7375171
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a fluorine-containing elastomer in a high productivity comparable to that of non-iodine transfer polymerization process by carrying out an iodine transfer polymerization at high pressure. The present invention also provides a fluorine-containing elastomer prepared by this process, and fluorine-containing molded articles. The process is a batch copolymerization process conducted under conditions that the reduced temperature of the critical constant is at least 0.95 and the reduced pressure of the critical constant is at least 0.80 wherein the reduced temperature and the reduced pressure are calculated using the Peng-Robinson formula from the critical temperature, the critical pressure and the composition ratio of each of the monomers in the gaseous phase in a reaction vessel, in which ethylenically unsaturated compounds containing at least one fluoroolefine are copolymerized in the presence of a compound having the formula: Rf1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Nishimura, Masaki Irie, Sadashige Irie, Manabu Fujisawa, Satoshi Tokuno, Mitsuru Kishine
  • Patent number: 7375172
    Abstract: A composition suitable for use as a planarizing underlayer in a multilayer lithographic process is disclosed. The inventive composition comprises a polymer containing heterocyclic aromatic moieties. In another aspect, the composition further comprises an acid generator. In yet another aspect, the composition further comprises a crosslinker. The inventive compositions provide planarizing underlayers having outstanding optical, mechanical and etch selectivity properties. The present invention also encompasses lithographic structures containing the underlayers prepared from the compositions of the present invention, methods of making such lithographic structures, and methods of using such lithographic structures to pattern underlying material layers on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wu-Song S. Huang, Karen Temple, Pushkara R. Varanasi
  • Patent number: 7375173
    Abstract: The invention relates to cationic water-soluble polyelectrolytes, especially terpolymers, which are obtained by polymerising monomers of (meth)acrylamide, a quaternised (meth)acrylamide derivative, a (meth)acrylic acid derivative and/or hydrolysis-stable cationic monomers. The composition of the polyelectrolytes is characterised by a toxicity index formula Fi=(QTP?2QME)/10?1 wherein QTP represents the total cationic charge of the polymer and QME represents the charge part of the ester type monomer. The invention also relates to the production and use of said polyelectrolytes and water-in-water polymer dispersions which contain said polyelectrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Norbert Steiner, Gregor Herth, Werner Fischer, Horst Redlof
  • Patent number: 7375174
    Abstract: An acrylic composition includes the reaction product of an acrylic polymer, a carboxylic acid compound, and an alkyl carbamate. The acrylic polymer includes the reaction product of a functionalized monomer, a first compound reactive with the functionalized monomer to form a functionalized intermediate, and a highly branched, polyfunctional core molecule reactive with the functionalized intermediate. The first compound includes vinyl functionality reactive with the functionalized monomer and epoxy functionality. The carboxylic acid compound has carboxylic acid functionality that is reactive with the acrylic polymer. The alkyl carbamate is reactive with the hydroxyl-functional acrylic polymer to form the acrylic composition. The acrylic composition is highly-branched and, when used in coating compositions in combination with a suitable cross-linking agent, enhances recoat adhesion and produces cured films that have optimum scratch, mar, and chip performance, and acid etch resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Ramesh, Marvin L. Green
  • Patent number: 7375175
    Abstract: A dispersion of polymer particles, the particle containing, on average, one or more living radicals each, the radicals not being chemically protected. Further disclosed is a free radical polymerization process resulting in a dispersion containing polymer particles having on average one or more living radicals. The process involves carefully regulating the polymerization conditions to produce small size particles under monomer-starved conditions containing, on average, more than one living radical in every particle. These living polymer radicals can be further reacted to form polymers with a controlled architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Yadunandan Dar, Smita Shah
  • Patent number: 7375176
    Abstract: A rigid, rod liquid crystal polymer includes a poly(phenylene sulfonic acid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventors: Morton H. Litt, Sergio Granados-Focil
  • Patent number: 7375177
    Abstract: A polymer comprising at least one structural unit derived from a dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1 is an aromatic divalent functionality having 6 to 60 carbons, R2 can be the same or different at each occurrence and is independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a nitro functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons and “n” is an integer having a value 0 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nagarajan Arumugam, Radhakrishna Arakali Srinivasarao, Jan Pleun Lens, Tilak Raj, Binod Sahoo, Subash Scindia
  • Patent number: 7375178
    Abstract: High refractive index, melt processable polyphosphonates and methods for preparing the same are provided. These polymers are particularly useful for optical and ophthalmic parts, such as lenses. A method of preparing optical and ophthalmic lenses by injection molding the polymers of the present invention into the form of the optical or ophthalmic lenses is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Hosadurga K. Shobha, Venkat Sekharipuram, James E. McGrath, Atul Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 7375179
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Audrey Goddard, Paul J. Godowski, Austin L. Gurney, Victoria Smith, Colin K. Watanabe, William I. Wood
  • Patent number: 7375180
    Abstract: Methods of eliciting a TLR8-mediated cellular response are disclosed. Such methods include administration of either a TLR8 agonist or a TLR8 antagonist to an IRM-responsive cell so that the IRM compound affects at least one TLR8-mediate cellular signaling pathway. In some cases, the method may provide prophylactic or therapeutic treatment for a condition treatable by modulating a TLR8-mediated cellular pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Keith B. Gorden, Xiaohong Qiu, John P. Vasilakos
  • Patent number: 7375181
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of purifying glycopeptides that are substituted with one or more substituents each comprising one or more phosphono groups that are useful as antibacterial agents. The methods include contacting a solution of the glycopeptide derivatives with a polystyrene-containing resin, eluting the resin with an aqueous solution, and isolating the purified glycopeptide derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Theravance, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Schmidt, Jr., Jeanmarie Donovan Sganga
  • Patent number: 7375182
    Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: ZymoGenetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa Gilbert, Charles E. Hart, Paul O. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 7375183
    Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of a differentiation antigen termed mesothelin which is associated with mesotheliomas and ovarian cancers. Mesothelin is about 69 kD in its full-length form. The invention includes uses for the amino acid and nucleic acid sequences for mesothelin, recombinant cells expressing it, methods for targeting and/or inhibiting the growth of cells bearing mesothelin, methods for detecting the antigen and its expression level as an indication of the presence of tumor cells, and kits for such detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Ira Pastan, Kai Chang
  • Patent number: 7375184
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Audrey Goddard, Paul J. Godowski, Austin L. Gurney, Timothy A. Stewart, William I. Wood
  • Patent number: 7375185
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cDNA, protein sequence, and genomic structure of the human cardiac isoform of myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK), and describes mutations in the cMLCK gene that are associated with cardiac dysfunction. Methods are provided for identifying individuals who can harbor mutations in the cMLCK gene, or carry alleles that can predisposed them to cardiac dysfunction. Disclosed also is a significant role for cMLCK in modulating cardiac contractility. The cMLCK protein is shown herein to reduce the amplitude of stretch activation and increase the tension production, a property of muscle which has heretofore had an unknown role in cardiac contraction. Moreover, the cMLCK protein is shown to be regionally distributed in the heart, thereby having differential effects on contractility and stretch activation. Methods herein are provided to exploit this effect of cMLCK, to treat individuals who have or are prone to cardiac dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Neal D. Epstein, Shahin Hassanzadeh, Steven Winitsky, Julien S. Davis
  • Patent number: 7375186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having an A chain of a ricin-like toxin, a B chain of a ricin-like toxin and a heterologous linker amino acid sequence, linking the A and B chains. The linker sequence contains a cleavage recognition site for a disease specific protease such as a cancer, fungal, viral or parasitic protease. The invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein and to expression vectors incorporating the nucleic acid molecule. Also provided is a method of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cancer cells, cells infected with a virus, a fungus, or parasite; or parasites utilizing the nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating human cancer, viral infection, fungal infection, or parasitic infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Twinstrand Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventor: Thor Borgford
  • Patent number: 7375187
    Abstract: The present invention provides the enzyme and enzymatic procedures for cleaving the ? secretase cleavage site of the APP protein and associated nucleic acids, peptides, vectors, cells and cell isolates and assays. The invention further provides a modified APP protein and associated nucleic acids, peptides, vectors, cells, and cell isolates, and assays that are particularly useful for identifying candidate therapeutics for treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Gurney, Michael J. Bienkowaki, Robert L. Heinrikson, Luis A. Parodi, Riqiang Yan
  • Patent number: 7375188
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing Protein A without contamination of the Protein A by animal products. The invention also relates to a vegetarian fermentation media in which Staphylococcus aureus is grown to produce a vegetarian Protein A. The invention further relates to a vegetarian Protein A and the use of a vegetarian Protein A in therapeutic and prophylactic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Leary, Daniel Lafoe
  • Patent number: 7375189
    Abstract: Although it is known that adiponectin, which is adipose-specific protein, has effects of suppressing the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle, an effect against arteriosclerosis, an effect of inhibiting the activation of monocytes and macrophages and an anti-inflammatory effect, its action on hepatic stellate cells has never been known hitherto. The present invention has elucidated that adiponectin inhibits the actions of TGFB and PDGF on hepatic stellate cells and thereby exerts effects of suppressing hepatic fibrosis and promoting the proliferation of normal hepatocytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sankyo Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuzawa, Tohru Funahashi, Shinji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7375190
    Abstract: This invention provides recombinant protein comprising formula as follows: A-B wherein A is polypeptide containing glutamine-rich domain comprising 8-200 glutamine residues and B is color-alteration enzyme modulated by the domain. This invention also provides an expressing vector and a cell produced therefrom. This invention further provides a method and a kit for screening a therapeutic agent for a neurodegenerative disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: National Yang-Ming University
    Inventors: Tzu-Hao Cheng, Chia-Rung Liu
  • Patent number: 7375191
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Lipid Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Bellotti, H. Bryan Brewer, Jr., Hassibullah Akeefe, Adam Paul Conner, Timothy Jon Perlman
  • Patent number: 7375192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and related molecules that specifically bind to CK-B4. Such antibodies have uses, for example, in the prevention and treatment of cancer as well as immune system diseases and disorders including cancers, as well as immune system diseases and disorders including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, immunodeficiencies, infections, HIV, arthritis, allergy, psoriasis, dermatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding anti-CK-B4 antibodies, vectors and host cells containing these nucleic acids, and methods for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Rosen, Steven M. Ruben
  • Patent number: 7375193
    Abstract: Humanized and variant anti-VEGF antibodies and various uses therefor are disclosed. The anti-VEGF antibodies have strong binding affinities for VEGF; inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro; and inhibit tumor growth in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Baca, James A. Wells, Leonard G. Presta, Henry B. Lowman, Yvonne Man-Yee Chen
  • Patent number: 7375194
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the generation and characterization of anti-huntingtin antibodies binding an epitope on the Huntington's disease protein. The invention further relates to the use of such anti-huntingtin antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of Huntington's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ali Khoshnan, Jan Ko, Paul H. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7375195
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Audrey Goddard, Paul J. Godowski, Austin L. Gurney, Victoria Smith, Colin K. Watanabe, William I. Wood
  • Patent number: 7375196
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Audrey Goddard, Paul J. Godowski, Austin L. Gurney, Victoria Smith, William I. Wood
  • Patent number: 7375197
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for preparing an active exoglucanase in a heterologous host of eukaryotic origin. The method includes mutagenesis to reduce glycosylation of the exoglucanase when expressed in a heterologous host. It is further disclosed a method to produce variant cellobiohydrolase that is stable at high temperature through mutagenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: MidWest Research Institute
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Stephen R. Decker, Suzanne Mc Carter, John O. Baker, Raphael Nieves, Michael E. Himmel, Todd B. Vinzant