[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32014-32016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14897]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    The inventions listed below are owned by agencies of the U.S. 
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally [[Page 32015]] funded research and development. Foreign 
patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market 
coverage for U.S. companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to John Fahner-
Vihtelic, Technology Licensing Specialist, Office of Technology 
Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, 
Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804 (telephone 301/496-7735 ext 
285; fax 301/402-0220). A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will 
be required to receive copies of the patent applications.

Production and Use of Anti-Dorsalizing Morphogenetic Protein

Moos, M., Jr., Krinks, M., Wang, S. (FDA)
Filed 8 Nov 94
Serial No. 08/335,583.

    In recent years, a number of members of the TGF- 
superfamily have been discovered which serve as growth factors in the 
development of bone, or participate in a variety of developmental 
processes. This case discloses a novel member of the TGF- 
superfamily, designated Anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein-1, or 
ADMP-1. ADMP-1 is most closely related to human bone morphogenetic 
protein-3, and counters dorsalizing influences during development. 
ADMP-1 can be used as a pharmaceutical to treat inappropriate 
proliferation of neural crest derivative tissues, such as 
neuroblastomas, as well as a probe for finding and cloning other ADMPs. 
The case claims isolated ADMP-1, pharmaceutical preparations employing 
ADMP-1, diagnosis of genetic lesions involving this protein, and 
methods of treatment of conditions involving inappropriate 
proliferation of tissues by administering ADMP-l. [portfolio: Cancer--
Research Reagents]

Improvements in the Ability of Neural Networks, Particularly Dystal, To 
Distinguish Among Small Differences in Similar Inputs

Alkon, D.L., Vogl, T.P. (NINDS)
Filed 14 Nov 94
Serial No. 08/331,554.

    This application describes a powerful associative learning neural 
network system and improvements designed to enhance decision making. 
This invention consists of a basic architectural unit of certain inputs 
and outputs. Interposed between inputs and outputs are ``patches'' or 
storage areas of dynamic interaction between conditioned and 
unconditioned signals. The patches process information to achieve 
associative learning locally under rules designed for application-
related goals of the system. This technology far exceeds the power and 
utility of previous neural networks with features such as: rapid 
incremental learning without supervision, self organizing and 
insensitive to global parameters, and associates extremely noisy and 
heterogeneous patterns. The utility of this technology has been proven 
with complex experimental applications. [portfolio: Devices/
Instrumentation--Software, artificial intelligence]

Fluorescent and NMR Sensitive Intracellular pH Indicators

London, R.E. Levy, L.A., Murphy, E., Gabel, S. (NIEHS)
Filed 11 Oct 94
Serial No. 08/320,986.

    This invention discloses compositions and methods useful for 
measuring pH. Specifically, this invention teaches the measurement of 
intracellular pH and a new class of fluorescent and fluorinated (NMR 
sensitive) aromatic compounds. These compounds have excitation 
wavelengths in the ultraviolet or visible portions of the 
electromagnetic spectrum. In addition to being useful for pH 
indicators, fluorine containing analogs of these compounds have shown 
utility for NMR spectroscopic determinations. The present invention 
overcomes the disadvantages of pk values that are not matched to the 
cytosol, leaking, and binding to cellular protein, found in current 
fluorescent intracellular pH probes. [portfolio: Internal Medicine--
Diagnostics, imaging, agents]

Method and System for Doppler Ultrasound Measurement of Blood Flow

Adam, D.R., Kempner, K.M., Vivino, M.A., Tucker, E.E., Jones, M. (DCRT)
Filed 24 Sep 94
Serial No. 08/300,718
    This invention discloses a system and method for providing Doppler 
flow velocity data that is corrected for misalignment between the flow 
direction within a vessel and the beam orientation of the ultrasound 
probe. A conventional ultrasonic Doppler color mapping system was 
adapted to include an apparatus to measure and record the free space 
position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe. A set of 2D image 
planes, which need not be parallel, is acquired. A structural 
representation derived from the acquired data is used to determine the 
flow direction for the imaged vessel. This apparatus and method has 
advantages over other systems because it offers the ability to measure 
flow distributions with a hand-manipulated probe. [portfolio: Devices/
Instrumentation--Diagnostics, imaging, ultrasound]

Method and System for Multidimensional Localization and Rapid Magnetic 
Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging
Posse, S., Le Bihan, D. (CC)
Filed 15 Aug 94
Serial No. 08/290,348 (CIP of 08/224,942).

    A newly developed method and system for multidimensional 
localization and rapid magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging allows 
for quicker, more accurate imaging of metabolites in biologic tissue. 
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques have long been used to 
obtain spectroscopic information about substances in order to reveal 
the substance's chemical composition. More recently, spectroscopic 
imaging techniques have been developed that combine magnetic resonance 
imaging (MRI) with NMR spectroscopic techniques, thus providing a 
spacial image of the chemical composition; however, previously 
available techniques for making such measurements have been hampered by 
limitations in prelocalization of samples due to long echo times as 
well as long data acquisition times. Most of these systems often 
generate spectral as well as spacial data due to the long echo times, 
and their localization techniques are not applicable to acquiring 
multiple-volume data from nuclei that have short T2 relaxation times. 
This new system circumvents these limitations by applying pulse 
sequence to a conventional MRI apparatus, which allows the rapid 
acquisition of data for generating spectroscopic images and greatly 
shortens the echo time. Spatial prelocalization of a volume of interest 
is achieved by providing a presuppression sequence before a stimulated 
echo (STE) sequence and a suppression sequence before the interval of 
the STE sequence. [portfolio: Devices/Instrumentation--Diagnostics, 
imaging apparatus, MRI]

Method and System For MRI Detection of Abnormal Blood Flow

Moonen, C.T., Duyn, J., van Gelderen, P. (NCRR)

Filed 5 Aug 94

Serial No. 08/286,783.

    The present invention disclosure describes a magnetic resonance 
imaging system and method for detecting blood flow abnormalities. This 
is [[Page 32016]] accomplished by determining the time delay for the 
arrival of a bolus of MR contrast agent into a localized region of 
tissue. This arrival is observed in a series of magnetic resonance 
signals obtained subsequent to the bolus injection. A rapid series of 
imaging pulse sequences acquires the time development of the signal 
from the localized regions within the imaged field of view of the body. 
The arrival time for the bolus into a given localized region is 
determined from the acquired time data, and the relative arrival time 
among regions in the imaged field of view indicated whether there is 
decreased blood flow to certain areas. This method and system has the 
potential to replace some of the invasive procedures now in use to 
determine blood flow through certain body tissues. [portfolio: Devices/
Instrumentation--Diagnostics, imaging, methods]

DNA Sequence Which Acts as a Chromatin Insulator Element To Protect 
Expressed Genes From Cis-Acting Regulatory Sequences

Chung, J., Felsenfeld, G. (NIDDK)
Filed 29 Jul 94
Serial No. 08/283,125 (CIP of 08/045,266).

    Novel method of insulating functional DNA domains introduced into 
higher leukaryotic cells from the effects of the cell's cisacting 
regulatory elements. The invention represents the first pure insulator 
to be demonstrated to function in human cells. The element promises to 
be a useful tool in gene therapy, gene transfer techniques, and studies 
involving gene regulation and other gene expression technologies. 
[portfolio: Cancer--Therapeutics, gene therapy]

Spectroscopic Imaging Device Employing Quality Spectral Filters

Lewis, E.N., Levin, I.W., Treado, P.J. (NIDDK)
Serial No. 08/236,655
Patent Issued 27 Dec 94
U.S. Patent No. 5,377,003.

    This novel imaging device, which integrates both light microscopy 
and spectroscopy, allows for the cost-effective development of high-
resolution spatial, chemical, and spectral images. It provides a rapid 
means for examining and collecting large format images from vibrational 
and visible spectra in a three-dimensional sample. It is superior to 
current equipment because it has no moving parts. This device may be 
used as a tool for the characterization of polymers and semiconductors 
and has potential as a diagnostic tool for clinical analysis of 
histologic materials. [portfolio: Devices/Instrumentation--Diagnostics, 
imaging, spectroscopy]

Method To Enhance the Sensitivity of MRI for Magnetic Susceptibility 
Effects

Moonen, C.T. (NCRR)
Filed 13 Aug 93
Serial No. 08/106,372 (CIP of 07/841,994).

    A novel fast-imaging method resulting in enhanced sensitivity to 
T2* changes was developed. This new technique is unlike other methods 
in that it is based on gradient-recalled echoes of spins whose 
excitation and echo formation are separated by one or more TR period. 
It does not require chemical shift refocusing and, thus, results in 
increased T2* sensitivity. The new method improves the ability of 
functional MRI based on T2* effects. [portfolio: Devices/
Instrumentation--Diagnostics, imaging methods]

    Dated: June 8, 1995.
Barbara M. McGarey, J.D.
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 95-14897 Filed 6-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P