[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47843-47844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16137]



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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 an agency 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.

Spatially Selective Fixed-Optics Multicolor Fluorescence Detection 
System for Microfluidic Device

Nicole Y. Morgan, Paul D. Smith, Edward Wellner (ORS).
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/693,780 filed 27 Jun 2005 (HHS 
Reference No. E-223-2005/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected].

    Available for licensing and commercial development is a new scheme 
for sensitive spatially resolved and spectrally resolved laser-induced 
fluorescence detection from multiple microfluidic channels. The 
prototype instrument has been developed and is versatile in that it 
contains only fixed optical parts and has simultaneous five-color 
detection from eight microchannels in a plastic microchip for DNA 
analysis. The detection scheme could be applied to fluorescence 
detection for any microchip-based analysis in a transparent substrate. 
The economies of parallel detection and the importance of spatial 
selectivity would make this method most useful for polymeric substrates 
with multiple microchannels. Free space laser excitation incident off-
axis (about 60 degrees to normal on the chip) is used to minimize the 
coupling of laser light into the detection optical fiber. The emitted 
fluorescence is detected with an optical fiber-ball lens combination, 
one for each microchannel. The spatial selectivity is achieved by using 
a high refractive index 2 mm ball lens and a small-diameter (200 um) 
.22 NA optical fiber positioned to obtain focused light from the 
channel. There are no moving parts so this configuration is both more 
robust and more versatile than a scanning system. Furthermore, the 
detection optics can be freely positioned near the channel, placing 
minimal constraints on channel layout and design. After the emitted 
fluorescence is coupled into the fiber, the light is passed through a 
long pass filter (here, 510AELP, Omega Optics), and then spectrally 
dispersed using a compact imaging spectrograph (FICS, Oriel). The 
resulting spectra are imaged using a cooled monochrome CCD (Qimaging 
Retiga EXl) at 10 frames per second. This setup allows simultaneous 
detection of multiple dyes. The laser excitation is split into multiple 
spots with two cylindrical lenses and an array of spherical plano-
convex lenses. The spacing of the plano-convex lenses is chosen such 
that the laser spots coincide with the microchannels in the chip. At 
each excitation spot, a ball lens and optical fiber is positioned 
underneath the microchannel. The other ends of the optical fiber are 
formed into a 1-D array and directed onto the slit of an imaging 
spectrograph.
    In addition to licensing, the technology may be available for 
further development through collaborative research opportunities with 
the inventors.

Cell-Nanofiber Composite Based Engineered Cartilage

Wan-Ju Li and Rocky S. Tuan (NIAMS).
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/690,998 filed 15 Jun 2005 (HHS 
Reference No. E-116-2005/0-US-01).
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected].

    Available for licensing and commercial development is a tissue-
engineered cartilage derived from a cellular composite made from a 
biodegradable, biocompatible polymeric nanofibrous matrix having 
dispersed chondrocytes or adult mesenchymal stem cells. More 
particularly, tissue-engineered cartilage can be prepared where the 
cartilage has a biodegradable and biocompatible nanofibrous polymer 
matrix prepared by electrospinning and a plurality of chondocytes or 
mesenchymal stem cells dispersed in the pores of the matrix. The 
tissue-engineered cartilage possesses compressive strength properties 
similar to natural cartilage.
    The electrospinning process is a simple, economical means to 
produce biomaterial matrices or scaffolds of ultra-fine fibers derived 
from a variety of biodegradable polymers (Li WJ, et al. J Biomed Mater 
Res 2002; 60:613-21). Nanofibrous scaffolds (NFSs) formed by 
electrospinning, by virtue of structural similarity to natural 
extracellular matrix (ECM), may represent promising structures for 
tissue engineering applications. Electrospun three-dimensional NFSs are 
characterized by high porosity with a wide distribution of pore 
diameter, high-surface area to volume ratio and morphological 
similarities to natural collagen fibrils (Li WJ, et al. J Biomed Mater 
Res 2002; 60:613-21). These physical characteristics promote favorable 
biological responses of seeded cells in vitro and in vivo, including 
enhanced cell attachment, proliferation, maintenance of the 
chondrocytic phenotype (Li WJ, et al. J Biomed Mater Res 2003; 67A: 
1105-14), and support of chondrogenic differentiation (Li WJ, et al. 
Biomaterials 2005; 26:599-609) as well as other connective tissue 
linage differentiation (Li WJ, et al. Biomaterials 2005; 26:5158-5166). 
The invention based on cell-nanofiber composite represents a candidate 
engineered tissue for cell-based approaches to cartilage repair.
    In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further 
development through collaborative research opportunities with the 
inventors.

Method and Device for Catheter-Based Repair of Cardiac Valves

Robert J. Lederman (NHLBI).
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/426,984 filed 15 Nov 2002 (HHS 
Reference No. E-010-2003/0-US-01); International Patent Application 
PCT/US03/36617 filed 14 Nov 2003 (HHS Reference No. E-010-2003/0-PCT-
02); U.S. Patent Application No. 11/127,112 filed 12 May 2005 (HHS 
Reference No. E-010-2003/0-US-03).
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected].

    The invention provides a system and method for catheter-based 
repair of cardiac valves. The technique may permit non-surgical repair 
of regurgitant valves using percutaneous catheters in awake patients. 
The intervention is intended to discontinue/lessen regurgitation of the 
mitral valve and should provide a viable alternative to

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the conventional treatment with vasodilator medications and open heart 
surgery. The technology involves re-apposing of mitral valve leaflets 
by percutaneous annuloplasty delivering circumferential tensioning 
devices. Under appropriate imaging guidance (such as fluoroscopic MRI) 
a circumferential device trajectory is navigated through anatomic 
(coronary sinus) and non-anatomic spaces to deliver a circumferential 
tensioning device. Provided are also designs of various catheters, 
systems that would be necessary to perform the repair of cardiac 
valves. Imaging methods, like fluoroscopic (real time MRI), could be 
used to assist the operator for placement and orientation purposes.
    In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further 
development through collaborative research opportunities with the 
inventors.

Variable Curve Catheter

Robert J. Lederman, Parag Karmarkar (NHLBI).
U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/426,542 filed 15 Nov 2002 (HHS 
Reference No. E-035-2003/0-US-01); International Patent Application 
PCT/US03/36210 filed 14 Nov 2003 (HHS Reference No. E-035-2003/0-PCT-
02).
Licensing Contact: Michael Shmilovich; 301/435-5019; 
[email protected].

    The invention provides a deflectable tip guiding device, such as a 
catheter, that enables the operator to vary the radius of curvature of 
the tip of the catheter. This is a novel variation on the classic 
``fixed fulcrum,'' tip deflectors used in minimally invasive procedures 
in open surgical treatments. The described device permits a more 
comprehensive ability to navigate complex geometric pathways in 
patient's body and enables better access to target structures (e.g., to 
all endomyocardial walls from a transaortic approach). The guiding 
device can be made compatible with imaging methods like MRI. The 
described technology can be used as a platform for a variety of 
interventional devices for delivery of drugs, cells, energy, or sutures 
through complex trajectories of the body.
    In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further 
development through collaborative research opportunities with the 
inventors.

    Dated: August 5, 2005.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 05-16137 Filed 8-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P