Patents Issued in May 14, 2013
  • Patent number: 8440366
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane comprising an anion exchange membrane that contains a hydrocarbon-based anion exchange resin, wherein the water permeability at 25° C. is 1400 g m?2 hr?1 or greater, the anion exchange capacity is 0.2 to 5.0 mmol·g?1, the percentage of water content at 25° C. is 7% by weight or greater, and the thickness is 3 to 50 ?m. It is especially preferable as a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane when said anion exchange membrane is an ion exchange membrane with a 5 to 15 ?m-thick porous membrane substrate, wherein the voids in said porous membrane are filled with a hydrocarbon-based anion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Fukuta, Takenori Isomura, Hiroyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8440367
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell that is resistant to seal delamination is disclosed. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises, either individually or in combination, a solid electrically non -conductive frame, a seal structure comprising a material capable of preventing a transfer of charge across the seal during fuel cell operation, and a seal comprising a glass frit that is substantially free of oxides of lithium, sodium, or both lithium and sodium. Methods for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Edward Badding, Sasha Marjanovic
  • Patent number: 8440368
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stainless steel separator for a fuel cell and method of manufacture. The stainless steel separator includes a stainless steel sheet, a first coating layer comprising metal/metal nitride films (M/MNx) (0.5?x?1) on a surface of the stainless steel sheet, and a second coating layer comprising a metal oxynitride film (MOyNz) (0.05?y?2, 0.25?z?1.0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Hysco
    Inventors: Yoo Taek Jeon, Kyeong Woo Chung, Hyun Sik Myung, Yong Sik Yun, Jong In Park, Eun Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8440369
    Abstract: The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires. Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunming Niu, Calvin Y. H. Chow, Stephen A. Empedocles, J. Wallace Parce
  • Patent number: 8440370
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of manufacturing a reflection hologram. The method comprises the steps of placing a first pattern of activating material upon a layer of inactive holographic recording material to selectively activate the layer and exposing the layer to holographic recording process for producing a reflection hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Dublin Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Suzanne Martin, Izabela Naydenova, Vincent Toal
  • Patent number: 8440371
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising at least one array pattern region and at least one attenuation region. A plurality of imaging features in the at least one array pattern region and a plurality of assist features in the at least one attenuation region are substantially the same size as one another and are formed substantially on pitch. Methods of forming an imaging device and methods of forming a semiconductor device structure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Kaveri Jain, Lijing Gou, Zishu Zhang, Anton J. DeVilliers, Michael Hyatt, Jianming Zhou, Scott Light, Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 8440372
    Abstract: A single field photomask includes a first set of targets formed on a first side of the photomask, and a second set of targets formed on a second side of the photomask, opposite the first side. In operation, the photomask is to be applied to a wafer without any alignment marks. The photomask forms a first set of alignment marks in the wafer from the first set of targets, and the photomask further forms a second set of alignment marks in the wafer from the second set of targets. The first set of alignment marks is used to align to a first field mask and the second set of alignment marks is used to align to a second field mask to stitch an image of the first field mask to an image of the second field mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Lam
  • Patent number: 8440373
    Abstract: A mask blank substrate for a photomask is chucked on a mask stage of an exposure apparatus. A main surface, on the side where a thin film for a transfer pattern is to be formed, of the mask blank substrate has a flatness of 0.3 ?m or less in a 142 mm square area including its central portion and has a convex shape being relatively high at its central portion and relatively low at its peripheral portion. The difference upon fitting, to the main surface of the mask blank substrate, a virtual reference main surface, having a spherical shape in a 132 mm square area, of a virtual reference substrate is 40 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8440374
    Abstract: A colored curable composition with which a coating film having excellent uniformity and surface planarity can be formed even when the support (substrate) has irregularities, and which exhibits excellent developability, and which is capable of forming a high-resolution colored pattern, is provided. The colored curable composition includes: (A) a polymer that contains a structural unit having a carboxyl group bonded to a main chain thereof via a linking group containing an ester group; (B) a photopolymerization initiator; (C) a polymerizable compound; (D) a pigment; and (E) a dispersant containing a phosphoric acid group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8440375
    Abstract: An exposure method for exposing a bright-dark pattern onto each exposure region of a substrate via a projection optical system includes a position detection process for detecting positions of a plurality of microscopic regions in a unit exposure field of the substrate, a deformation calculation step of calculating a state of deformation in the unit exposure field based on information related to the positions of the plurality of microscopic regions obtained in the position detection step, and a shape modification step of modifying the shape of the bright-dark pattern to be exposed on the substrate based on the deformation state obtained in the deformation calculation step. The microscopic regions detected in the position detection step include a circuit pattern formed in the unit exposure field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Kiuchi, Naomasa Shiraishi, Hideya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8440376
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a deviation amount distribution of a two-dimensional shape parameter between a mask pattern formed on a mask and a desired mask pattern is acquired as a mask pattern map. Such that a deviation amount of the two-dimensional shape parameter between a pattern on substrate formed when the mask is subjected to exposure shot to form a pattern on a substrate and a desired pattern on substrate fits within a predetermined range, an exposure is determined for each position in the exposure shot in forming the pattern on substrate based on the mask pattern map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiya Kotani, Kazuya Fukuhara, Michiya Takimoto, Hidefumi Mukai, Soichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8440377
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a substrate, a photoconductive layer, an intermediate layer, and a surface layer sequentially formed. The intermediate layer contains silicon, carbon and hydrogen, and a distribution of a hydrogen ratio, which is a ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms to the number of silicon, carbon and hydrogen atoms, in the intermediate layer has a maximum region. A largest hydrogen atomic ratio in the intermediate layer is larger than a hydrogen atomic ratio in the surface layer, and the hydrogen atomic ratio in the surface layer is 0.30 to 0.45. A distribution of a carbon atomic ratio, which is a ratio of the number of carbon atoms to the number of silicon and carbon atoms, in the intermediate layer has a maximum and a minimum region. A carbon atomic ratio in the maximum region is 0.53 to 0.63, a carbon atomic ratio in the minimum region is 0.47 or more, and the maximum hydrogen region in the intermediate layer is partially superimposed on the minimum carbon region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohito Ozawa, Motoya Yamada, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Daisuke Tazawa
  • Patent number: 8440378
    Abstract: An electrostatic image developing toner includes a binding resin and a release agent, wherein an organic silicon compound including a siloxane bond is present in a domain of the release agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Takahashi, Shinya Nakashima, Shuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8440379
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to a liquid electrophotographic ink, comprising a carrier liquid, and a pigment-polymer blend composition dispersed in the carrier liquid, the pigment-polymer blend composition comprising a pigment and a polymer blend of three distinct polymers. The polymer blend can comprise a first polymer having a melt flow rate of about 20 to about 70 g/10 min and a Vicat softening point of about 60° C. to about 70° C., a second polymer having a melt flow rate of about 80 to about 120 g/10 min, and a third polymer having an acidity of about 160 to about 230 mg KOH/g and a melt flow rate of at least 500 g/10 min. The liquid electrophotographic ink is typically formulated for printing from a liquid electrophotographic printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stella Stolin Roditi, Albert Teishev, Keren Regev, Yael Warman
  • Patent number: 8440380
    Abstract: A toner containing core particles each containing at least a resin A having a polyester skeleton and a colorant; and vinyl resin fine particles each of which encapsulates a resin B having at least a polyester skeleton and an endothermic peak measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) at 40° C. to 110° C., wherein the vinyl resin fine particles are attached onto each of the core particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamamoto, Takuya Kadota, Yoshihiro Mikuriya, Tsuyoshi Nozaki, Yoshimichi Ishikawa, Kazuoki Fuwa, Tomohiro Fukao, Tomoharu Miki, Masayuki Hagi
  • Patent number: 8440381
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to compositions and methods for a liquid electrophotographic ink printing. The composition comprises a liquid vehicle; ink particles; and a charge director system, comprising i) a primary charge component, ii) a secondary charge component, and iii) an electrical stability additive; such that the charge director system provides the following ink conductivities: a high field conductivity of about 100 pS/cm to about 500 pS/cm, a low field conductivity of about 20 pS/cm to about 200 pS/cm, a direct charge conductivity less than about 30 pS/cm, and a particle conductivity of at least 100 pS/cm. Additionally, the liquid electrophotographic ink can be formulated for printing from a liquid electrophotographic printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ilanit Mor, Shahar Stein, Elliad Silcoff, Albert Teishev, Julia Kornilov
  • Patent number: 8440382
    Abstract: A method of stably producing a toner is provided. This method provides a long-term stabilization of material dispersion in a colorant-dispersed solution and inhibits segregation of the material and provides a more microfine and more uniform dispersion of the colorant in the toner, and moreover produces a toner that has a sharp toner particle diameter distribution. This method of producing toner has at least a colorant dispersion step of obtaining a colorant-dispersed solution by dispersing a pigment-containing colorant in a liquid mixture that contains the colorant and a dissolved resin solution or a polymerizable monomer, wherein the liquid mixture contains a nonionic surfactant and the nonionic surfactant has at least an oxyalkylene group and has a hydrophile-lipophile balance value (HLB value) of 9.0 or more and 17.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Isono, Katsuyuki Nonaka, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Akira Sugiyama, Yuhei Terui
  • Patent number: 8440383
    Abstract: Thermal imaging donors are useful for thermal transfer patterning of a metal layer and optionally, a corresponding proximate portion of an additional transfer layer onto a thermal imaging receiver. The compositions are useful for dry fabrication of electronic devices. Also provided are patterned multilayer compositions comprising one or more base film(s), and one or more patterned metal layers. These include electromagnetic interference shields and touchpad sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Richard Kevin Bailey, Graciela Beatriz Blanchet, Jonathan V. Caspar, John Catron, Jr., Reid John Chesterfield, Thomas C. Felder, Feng Gao, Lynda Kaye Johnson, Roupen Leon Keusseyan, Dalen E. Keys, Irina Malajovich, Jeffrey Scott Meth, Geoffrey Nunes, Gerard O'Neil, Rinaldo Soria Schiffino, Nancy G. Tassi
  • Patent number: 8440384
    Abstract: A compound has a partial structure shown by a following formula (1), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Rf represents a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, L represents an integer from 0 to 4, n represents an integer from 0 to 10, and m represents an integer from 1 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma Ebata, Tomoki Nagai
  • Patent number: 8440385
    Abstract: A positive resist composition including a base component (A?) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid and generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A?) including a resin component (A1) having a structural unit (a0-1) represented by general formula (a0-1), a structural unit (a0-2) which generates acid upon exposure and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, and R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hirano, Daiju Shiono, Masatoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 8440386
    Abstract: A pattern is formed by applying a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group, an acid generator, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, prebaking the composition to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation to define exposed and unexposed regions, baking, and developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer to form a negative pattern wherein the unexposed region of film is dissolved and the exposed region of film is not dissolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hatakeyama, Takeshi Nagata, Koji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8440387
    Abstract: A topcoat material for immersion lithography and a method of performing immersion lithography using the topcoat material. The topcoat material includes a mixture of a first polymer and a second polymer. The first and second polymers of the topcoat material, when the topcoat material is formed into a topcoat layer between an immersion fluid and a photoresist layer, disperse non-homogenously throughout the topcoat layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Allen, Phillip Brock, Daniel P. Sanders, Linda K. Sundberg
  • Patent number: 8440388
    Abstract: Silica dielectric films, whether nanoporous foamed silica dielectrics or nonporous silica dielectrics are readily damaged by fabrication methods and reagents that reduce or remove hydrophobic properties from the dielectric surface. The invention provides for methods of imparting hydrophobic properties to such damaged silica dielectric films present on a substrate. The invention also provides plasma-based methods for imparting hydrophobicity to both new and damaged silica dielectric films. Semiconductor devices prepared by the inventive processes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel P. Hacker, Michael Thomas, James S. Drage
  • Patent number: 8440389
    Abstract: Back end of line (BEOL) stripping solutions which can be used in a stripping process that replaces etching resist ashing process are provided. The stripping solutions are useful for fabricating circuits and/or forming electrodes on semiconductor devices for semiconductor integrated circuits with good efficiency and with low and acceptable metal etch rates. Methods for their use are similarly provided. The preferred stripping agents contain a polar aprotic solvent, water, an amine and a quaternary hydroxide that is not tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Further provided are integrated circuit devices and electronic interconnect structures prepared according to these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Dynaloy, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Dona Pollard, John M. Atkinson, Raymond Chan, Michael T. Phenis, Allison C. Rector, Donald Pfettscher
  • Patent number: 8440390
    Abstract: Method for preserving tissue including immersing the tissue in a solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight, a cooling step where the tissue is cooled to a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight and ?20° C., a storage step where the tissue is stored at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution and ?20° C., a rewarming step, where the tissue is warmed, and a washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Lifeline Scientific, Inc., Cell & Tissue Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelvin G. M. Brockbank
  • Patent number: 8440391
    Abstract: The invention disclosed in this patent document relates to transmembrane receptors, more particularly to a human G protein-coupled receptor for which the endogenous ligand is unknown (“orphan GPCR receptors”), and most particularly to mutated (non-endogenous) versions of the human GPCRs for evidence of constitutive activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Arena Phamaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruoping Chen, Chen W. Liaw, Kevin P. Lowitz, Derek T. Chalmers, Dominic P. Behan
  • Patent number: 8440392
    Abstract: A method of conducting a droplet-based enzymatic assay is provided. The method generally makes use of a droplet actuator. A droplet comprising an enzyme of interest is provided on the droplet actuator along with a droplet comprising a substrate which is potentially modified in the presence of the enzyme. The method involves executing droplet operations on the droplet actuator to combine the droplets, thereby yielding an assay droplet, and detecting modification of the substrate by the enzyme in the assay droplet on the droplet actuator. The enzyme of interest may, for example, be a potentially mutated or improperly folded enzyme exhibiting altered enzyme activity as compared to a corresponding normal enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsee K. Pamula, Allen Eckhardt, Jeremy Rouse, Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8440393
    Abstract: A gene profiling signature for ovarian tumor endothelial cells is disclosed herein. The gene signature can be used to diagnosis or prognosis an ovarian tumor, identify agents to treat an ovarian tumor, to predict the metastatic potential of an ovarian tumor and to determine the effectiveness of ovarian tumor treatments. Thus, methods are provided for identifying agents that can be used to treat ovarian cancer, for determining the effectiveness of an ovarian tumor treatment, or to diagnose or prognose an ovarian tumor. Methods of treatment are also disclosed which include administering a composition that includes a specific binding agent that specifically binds to one of the disclosed ovarian endothelial cell tumor-associated molecules and inhibits ovarian tumor in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center
    Inventors: Michael J. Birrer, Tomas A. Bonome, Anil Sood, Chunhua Lu
  • Patent number: 8440394
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and/or quantification of a Gram positive bacterial contaminant in a sample. In particular, the invention provides hemocyte-based preparations, methods of making such hemocyte-based preparations, and methods of using such hemocyte-based preparations for the detection and/or quantification of the Gram positive bacterial contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Wainwright, Foster T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8440395
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method of detecting colon disorders including inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, based on underexpression of Lipopolysaccharide Responsive Beige-like Anchor (LRBA). Advantageously, the invention may be used to test for inflammatory bowel disease using a blood sample from a subject before a more invasive test for colon disorders is employed. The invention also pertains to methods of treating a colon disorder in a subject in which the colon disorder is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: William G. Kerr, Joseph M. McKinley
  • Patent number: 8440396
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of tumor-derived or associated extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. Specifically, this invention enables the extraction of circulating RNA from plasma or serum and utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays for the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, premalignant, or malignant, in humans or other animals, which might be associated with that RNA. Further, this invention allows the qualitative or quantitative detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in the plasma or serum of humans or animals with or without any prior knowledge of the presence of cancer or premalignant tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OncoMedx, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Kopreski
  • Patent number: 8440397
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for acquiring nucleotide sequence information of target sequences using adaptors interspersed in target polynucleotides. The sequence information can be new, e.g. sequencing unknown nucleic acids, re-sequencing, or genotyping. The invention preferably includes methods for inserting a plurality of adaptors at spaced locations within a target polynucleotide or a fragment of a polynucleotide. Such adaptors may serve as platforms for interrogating adjacent sequences using various sequencing chemistries, such as those that identify nucleotides by primer extension, probe ligation, and the like. Encompassed in the invention are methods and compositions for the insertion of known adaptor sequences into target sequences, such that there is an interruption of contiguous target sequence with the adaptors. By sequencing both “upstream” and “downstream” of the adaptors, identification of entire target sequences may be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Callida Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Radoje Drmanac, Matthew J. Callow, Snezana Drmanac
  • Patent number: 8440398
    Abstract: A factor affecting sensitivities to anticancer agents is analyzed and the validity of the factor is demonstrated. The present invention provides a method for predicting sensitivities to 5-fluorouracil-based anticancer agents using the copy number of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene as an indicator. Also disclosed are a kit and primers for use in predicting sensitivities to 5-fluorouracil-based anticancer agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kobunai, Akio Ooyama
  • Patent number: 8440399
    Abstract: The present invention provides a family of dark quenchers, termed Black Hole Quenchers (“BHQs”), that are efficient quenchers of excited state energy but which are themselves substantially non-fluorescent. Also provided are methods of using the BHQs, probes incorporating the BHQs and methods of using the probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Biosearch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Cook, Matt Lyttle, Daren Dick
  • Patent number: 8440400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for efficiently amplifying a giant DNA. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for amplifying DNA in a cell, comprising amplifying the DNA as the target of amplification in the presence of DNAs selected from the following (i), (ii) and (iii): (i) DNA encoding a protein selected from the following 1), 2) and 3): 1) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence which has a deletion, substitution, insertion or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and 3) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence which has an identity of 90% or more to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (ii) DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and (iii) DNA hybridizing to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 under stringent conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Murakami, Naomi Sumida, Koji Yanai
  • Patent number: 8440401
    Abstract: single-stranded extension having a desired length and sequence composition. Methods for forming single-stranded extensions include: the use of a cassette containing at least one nicking site and at least one restriction site at a predetermined distance from each other and in a predetermined orientation; or primer-dependent amplification which introduces into a polynucleotide molecule, a modified nucleotide which is excised to create a nick using a nicking agent. The methods and compositions provided can be used to manipulate a DNA sequence including introducing site specific mutations into a polynucleotide molecule and for cloning any polynucleotide molecule or set of joined polynucleotide molecules in a recipient molecule such as a vector of choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Jurate Bitinaite
  • Patent number: 8440402
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for more effective treatment of patients susceptible to or diagnosed with tumors overexpressing HER2, as determined by a gene amplification assay, with a HER2 antibody. Such method comprises administering a cancer-treating dose of the HER2 antibody, preferably in addition to chemotherapeutic agents, to a subject in whose tumor cells her2 has been found to be amplified e.g., by fluorescent in situ hybridization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Mass
  • Patent number: 8440403
    Abstract: An apparatus for investigating a molecule comprising a channel provided in a substrate, a metallic moiety capable of plasmon resonance which is associated with the channel in a position suitable for the electromagnetic field produced by the metallic moiety to interact with a molecule passing therethrough, means to induce a molecule to pass through the channel, means to induce surface plasmon resonance in the metallic moiety; and means to detect interaction between the electromagnetic field produced by the metallic moiety and a molecule passing through the channel. Methods of investigating molecules are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Base4 Innovation Limited
    Inventor: Cameron Frayling
  • Patent number: 8440404
    Abstract: The present invention regards a variety of methods and compositions for obtaining epigenetic information, such as DNA methylation patterns, through the preparation, amplification and analysis of Methylome libraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Rubicon Genomics
    Inventors: Vladimir L. Makarov, Emmanuel Kamberov, Tong Sun, Jonathon H. Pinter, Brendan J. Tarrier, Eric E. Bruening, Takao Kurihara, Tim Tesmer, Joseph M'Mwirichia
  • Patent number: 8440405
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for detecting the presence or absence or amount of a target nucleic acid or at least one variant nucleotide in one or more target nucleic acids contained in a sample using appropriate primers. The invention is based on systems whereby there is extension-dependent degradation of the primers in the presence of the target, which degradation leads to a detectable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: 360 Genomics Limited
    Inventor: Guoliang Fu
  • Patent number: 8440406
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for increasing the annealing specificity of an amplification reaction using Iso-base Amplification Primers (“IAPs”). IAPs containing an iso-region are capable of regulating sequence-specific annealing thereby enhancing primer-template hybridization for sequence-specific amplification of nucleotides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Luminex Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Johnson, Kathleen Engelbrecht, Tiruvidaimarudur S. Ramasubramanian
  • Patent number: 8440407
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for cancer relapse prediction that provides higher resolution grading than Gleason score alone. In particular, the method provides for prediction of prostate cancer relapse that correlates gene expression of each individual signature gene and deriving a prostate cancer gene expression (GEX) score in the plurality of prostate cancer tissue samples; and correlating said GEX score with the clinical outcome for each prostate carcinoma tissue sample. A set of signature genes is provided that encompasses all or a sub-combination of GI_2094528, KIP2, NRG1, NBL1, Prostein, CCNE2, CDC6, FBP1, HOXC6, MKI67, MYBL2, PTTG1, RAMP, UBE2C, Wnt5A, MEMD, AZGP1, CCK, MLCK, PPAP2B, and PROK1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Chudin, Jean Lozach, Jian-Bing Fan, Marina Bibikova
  • Patent number: 8440408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to animal protein-free cell culture media comprising polyamines and a plant- and/or yeast-derived hydrolysate. The invention also relates to animal protein-free culturing processes, wherein cells can be cultivated, propagated and passaged without adding supplementary animal proteins in the culture medium. These processes are useful in cultivating cells, such as recombinant cells or cells infected with a virus, and for producing biological products by cell culture processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Leopold Grillberger, Manfred Reiter, Wolfgang Mundt, Friedrich Dorner
  • Patent number: 8440409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protein-based biomarker, Protein C Inhibitor (PCI) that is useful in qualifying prostate cancer status in a patient. In particular, the biomarker of this invention is useful to classify a subject sample as prostate cancer or non-prostate cancer. The biomarker can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Daniel W. Chan, Carolyn N. Rosenzwelg
  • Patent number: 8440410
    Abstract: Methods and reagents for classifying tumors and for identifying new tumor classes and subclasses. Methods for correlating tumor class or subclass with therapeutic regimen or outcome, for identifying appropriate (new or known) therapies for particular classes or subclasses, and for predicting outcomes based on class or subclass. New therapeutic agents and methods for the treatment of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Z. Ring, Douglas T. Ross, Robert S. Seitz
  • Patent number: 8440411
    Abstract: Methods of inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in a subject are disclosed. In particular examples, the method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition to a subject wherein the composition includes a specific binding agent that preferentially binds to one or more pathological angiogenesis marker proteins including Vscp, CD276, ETSvg4 (Pea3), CD137(4-1BB), MiRP2, Ubiquitin D (Fat10), Doppel (prion-PLP), Apelin, Plgf, Ptprn (IA-2), CD109, Ankylosis, and collagen VIII?1. In additional examples, methods to deliver a therapeutic agent to a brain or liver endothelial cell are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Brad St. Croix, Steven Seaman
  • Patent number: 8440412
    Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of an antigen and IgE binding to the antigen, a composition including an antigen and IgE binding to the antigen, and a method of using the complex or the composition to screen candidate therapeutics for TH-2 type diseases, for example in animal models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hyogo College of Medicine
    Inventors: Kenji Nakanishi, Tomohiro Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8440413
    Abstract: Disclosed is a screening method which can select a substance having an influence on the binding between thioredoxin and MIF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Redox Bioscience, Inc.
    Inventors: Junji Yodoi, Norihiko Kondo, Aoi Son, Noriko Kato, Tomijiro Hara, Tomohisa Horibe
  • Patent number: 8440414
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide meiosis-specific novel kinetochore protein Sgo1 (shugoshin) derived from fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and a homologue or paralogue thereof having a regulatory activity of chromosome segregation; and DNAs encoding them; as a factor ensuring the retention of unidirection and cohesion in sister centromere at meiosis I in cooperation with cohesin. To elucidate the proteins protecting Rec8 during anaphase, the present inventor screened in fission yeast genes for a gene that inhibits mitotic growth and prevents sister chromatid from the separation at anaphase, when co-expressed with Rec8. In this approach, meiosis-specific protein Sgo1 that protects (Shugo) centromeric Rec8 from the degradation at anaphase I was indentified. Further, a budding yeast Sgo1 homologue and a fission yeast mitotic paralogue Sgo2 were identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Science & Technology Agency
    Inventor: Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8440415
    Abstract: A method of detecting a proliferative disease, such as a disease associated with the abnormal expression of BORIS, in a mammal comprising testing for the expression of a BORIS isoform in the tissue of a mammal that does not express BORIS in the absence of disease, as well as a method of treating or preventing such a disease, isolated or purified BORIS isoform polypeptides and nucleic acids, and kits and arrays comprising same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Victor V. Lobanenkov, Elena Pugacheva, Dmitri Loukinov