[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48195-48196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18512]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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-funded research and development. Foreign patent 
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage 
for 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 the indicated 
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of the patent applications.

RF Ablation Needle Tracked With Magnetic Position Sensing

Bradford J. Wood (CC), Filip Banovac, Kevin Cleary
DHHS Reference No. E-348-01/0 filed 01 Mar 2002
Licensing Contact: Dale Berkley; 301/496-7735 ext. 223; e-mail: 
[email protected]
    The invention is a method for using a newly developed position 
sensing device to determine the three-dimensional position of a needle 
for precision placement in interventional procedures. The method can be 
applied to accurate placement of a radiofrequency ablation probe for 
percutaneous treatment of neoplasms in the liver, kidney, or other 
solid organs, nodules or lymph nodes. The method incorporates a 
magnetic field based position sensing device that can track coils of 
only 0.9 mm diameter by 8 mm in length. These coils can be embedded in 
needles and other instruments to directly track the tip of these 
instruments. Based on a pre-operative CT scan, the position of these 
instruments relative to the anatomy can be displayed on a graphical 
user interface along with targeting assistance for the physician.

Direct Cell Target Analysis

Michael R. Emmert-Buck (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-100-01/0 filed 26 Apr 2002
Licensing Contact: Dale Berkley; 301/496-7735 ext. 223; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The invention is a novel, non-mechanical method for studying the 
molecular content of specific normal and/or diseased cell populations 
in a heterogeneous biological tissue section. Since the procedure is 
based on biomolecular targeting, it requires minimal effort on the part 
of the investigator, and can be easily and rapidly applied to a large 
number of cells. The invention can be applied in one of two ways. In 
the first scenario, a biological probe (i.e., antibody or 
oligonucleotide) is allowed to bind to a unique protein or mRNA 
expressed in the targeted cells. The probe is linked to an enzyme (such 
as reverse transcriptase or lactoperoxidase) that will specifically 
label the biomolecules in the targeted cell population. For example, if 
lactoperoxidase is utilized, the proteins in the targeted cells will 
subsequently be labeled with I-125, whereas, the proteins in the non-
targeted cells will not be labeled and will be ``invisible'' in

[[Page 48196]]

the subsequent analysis step. The entire tissue section(s) is then 
quickly scraped into a tube containing lysis buffer and the sample is 
ready for analysis. As an example, the protein lysate could be applied 
to a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel (2D-PAGE) to examine the 
proteomic profile of the targeted cells. In the second scenario, the 
biological probe is attached to a ``moiety'' that will activate an LCM 
(Laser Capture Microdissection) film, either by generating heat in the 
presence of an enzyme or absorbing laser light at the correct 
wavelength by virtue of an appropriate dye. In this approach, the probe 
is hybridized to the targeted cells in the tissue section, which is 
then covered by the LCM film. The entire tissue section is then exposed 
to the laser, thereby activating the moiety such that the LCM film is 
focally melted only above the targeted cell types. The LCM film is then 
removed and all of the targeted cells are procured on the film for 
subsequent molecular analysis. Overall, the invention is an alternative 
to the classical mechanical methods of microdissection, and offers 
several advantages with respect to specificity, selectivity, speed, and 
ease of use.

Cloning and Mutational Analysis of the Hyperparathyroidism-Jaw Tumor 
Syndrome (HPT-JT) Gene

Carpten et al. (NHGRI)
DHHS Reference No. E-004-02/0 filed 13 May 2002
Licensing Contact: Richard Rodriguez; 301/496-7056 ext. 287; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Hyperparathyroidism is a key feature of some hereditary endocrine 
neoplasias and the autosomal dominant disorder HPT-JT, all of which are 
characterized by the presence of tumors in endocrine tissues. The 
current invention identifies a series of mutations in chromosome 1 open 
reading frame 28 (C10RF28)--the HPT-JT gene. Linkage analysis and 
physical mapping studies of clinical samples from multiple families 
with HPT-JT syndrome were used to identify these mutations. These 
genomic changes are predicted to result in truncated gene products.
    This new technology might be useful for: (1) Diagnosis of HPT-JT 
and/or a predisposition to HPT-JT; (2) development of a treatment for 
HPT-JT; and (3) determination of the effectiveness of various potential 
HPT-JT therapies.

Methods of Diagnosing Potential for Developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma 
or Metastasis and of Identifying Therapeutic Agents

Xin Wei Wang et al. (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-125-02/0 filed 05 Apr 2002
Licensing Contact: Richard Rodriguez; 301/496-7056 ext. 287; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Expression of nearly 10,000 genes was analyzed in hepatocellular 
carcinoma (HCC) tumors, and a molecular signature was identified that 
targets genes that are most likely relevant to the prediction outcome 
of metastases, including patient survival. A specific therapeutic 
target protein was also identified, and antibodies against this protein 
prevent invasion of metastatic HCC cells in vitro. These data identify 
this target protein both as a diagnostic marker and a therapeutic 
target for metastatic HCC.
    This invention may be useful in diagnosing HCC and HCC metastatic 
tumors, evaluating risk for development of HCC and HCC metastatic 
tumors, and identifying HCC therapeutic targets. This invention also 
identifies a specific therapeutic target protein, and identifies 
methods of identifying antagonists to this protein, which might be 
useful in developing a variety of HCC therapeutics.

    Dated: July 11, 2002.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 02-18512 Filed 7-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P