[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48394-48395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20559]


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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.

Microscopy Imaging System, Filter, and Method for Controlling the 
Illuminating Light Path of a Fluorescence Microscope

Bechara Kachar (NIDCD)
U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/463,318 filed 17 Apr 2003 
(DHHS Reference No. E-172-2003/0-US-01)
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected]


[[Page 48395]]


    The invention relates to an imaging system comprising a 
fluorescence microscope and an annular filter. The microscope has an 
associated light source for providing an illuminated light path to an 
objective of the microscope for illuminating a specimen positioned on 
the microscope stage. The annular filter is positioned at a back focal 
plane of the illuminating light path such that only hollow cone of 
steep angled excitation light is delivered to the specimen and 
excluding low angle and axial light rays from entering the objective. 
Excitation illumination of the specimen occurs only in a limited region 
of the specimen corresponding to the focal volume where the light rays 
of the hollow cone of illumination converge. This modified 
configuration of the microscope and aperture increases signal to noise 
ratio of the resulting fluorescent image by reducing out of focus light 
(i.e., scattered light). Photo-damage and photo-bleaching are also 
minimized.

Diffusion Tensor and q-Space MRI Specimen Characterization

Peter Basser (NICHD), Yaniv Assaf
DHHS Reference No. E-079-2003/0-US-01 filed 08 Jul 2003
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected]

    This new in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method, 
especially suited for the characterization of brain white matter, 
combines q-space and diffusion tensor imaging concepts: Diffusion 
within axons is modeled as hindered diffusion parallel to an axis of 
the axon and restricted diffusion perpendicular to the axis. Diffusion 
exterior to axons is modeled as hindered diffusion with differing 
diffusivities parallel and perpendicular to the nerve axis. Diffusion 
weighted magnetic resonance images are obtained from specimens at 
different q values (magnitude and direction). Parameters associated 
with tissue microstructure are then extracted, such as the intra and 
extra-axonal principal diffusivities and their corresponding principal 
directions, and the volume fractions of intra and extra-axonal space. 
Improved angular resolution of fiber tracts orientation can be obtained 
for tractography studies, and more microstructural information can be 
gleaned both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes than from conventional 
diffusion tensor MRI.

Method and System for Developing and Querying a Sequence Driven 
Contextual Knowledge Base

Michael Waters, James Selkirk, and Raymond Tennant (NIEHS)
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/452,384 filed 03 Jun 2003 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-026-2003/0-US-01)
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected]

    Available for licensing is a system of predictiive toxicology and 
pharmacology in the form of a multigenome/multispecies knowledge base 
incorporating gene and amino acid sequences, molecular expression data, 
gene/protein functional annotation, domain specific ontologies, and/or 
literature mapping. The present invention integrates large volumes of 
disparate information, such as genomic, proteomic, and/or toxicological 
knowledge in a framework that serves as a continually changing 
heuristic engine for predictive toxicology. The invention allows 
characterization of the effects of, for example, chemicals or stressors 
across species as a function of dose, time, and phenotype severity.
    This research is described, in part, in Waters et al., Environ. 
Health Perspect. 111 (1T): 15-18 (January 2003), and republished in 
Environ. Health Perspect. Toxicogenomics 111 (6): 811-824 (May 2003).

Pattern Recognition of Whole Cell Mass Spectra

Jon G. Wilkes (FDA), Alexandre Schvartsburg (NCTR)
DHHS Reference No. E-017-2003/0-US-01 filed 06 Jun 2003
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected]

    This invention analyzes mass spectra (MALDI, SELDI) from a 
plurality of microorganism sources and biological agents. The invention 
is useful for diagnosing disease, anticipating epidemic outbreaks, 
monitoring food supplies for contamination, regulating bioprocessing 
operations, and is especially useful for detecting agents of war. The 
invention dramatically improves spectral analysis through deconvolution 
of complex spectra by collapsing multiple peaks showing different 
molecular mass originating from the same molecular fragment into a 
single peak. The differences in molecular mass are apparent differences 
caused by different charge states of the fragment and/or different 
metal ion adducts of one or more of the charge states. The deconvoluted 
spectrum is compared to a library of mass spectra acquired from samples 
of known identity to unambiguously determine the identity of one or 
more components of the sample undergoing analysis.

Stem Cell Culture, Monitoring and Storage System

Rea Ravin (NINDS), James Sullivan (ORS), Ronald Mckay (NINDS).
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/334,565 filed 30 Dec 2002 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-171-2002/0-US-01)
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected]

    Available for licensing is a closed chamber that provides an 
environment for long-term culture of stem cells, stems cells of central 
nervous system (CNS) origin, embryonic stem cells, and other cells. The 
chamber is designed with top and bottom mounted cover slips that permit 
the observation of cells in culture under an optical microscope. This 
chamber has the ability to control volume and pressure of liquids and 
gases by an inlet tube and outlet tubes at two different vertical 
positions. The chamber also includes a ball joint assembly that allows 
for the manipulation of a glass microcapillary/microelectrode to come 
in close contact with the developing cells. This microcapillary/
microelectrode assembly can be used to either administer growth factors 
(e.g., monitoring growth factor levels such as BMP and CNTF) and also 
for electrical recording from the cells.

    Dated: August 4, 2003.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-20559 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P