[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29014-29015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12124]


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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, HHS.

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. 209 and 37 CFR part 404 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology descriptions follow.

A Novel Therapeutic Vector for Hemoglobin Disorders

    Description of Technology: Investigators at the National Heart, 
Lung, and Blood Institute have designed a novel lentiviral vector as a 
potential gene therapy for sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. The 
novel lentiviral vector encodes the beta-globin gene in a forward 
orientation and can produce 5-10 fold higher viral titer and 4-10 fold 
higher gene transfer efficiency to hematopoietic stem cells than 
reverse-oriented lentiviral vectors. In vivo studies conducted in 
rhesus macaques show beta-globin production after transplantation with 
this novel lentiviral vector. This technology could provide an 
alternative therapy for patients suffering from blood disorders 
associated with beta-globin gene mutations.
    Potential Commercial Applications: Gene therapy.
    Competitive Advantages:
     Increased viral titers
     Increased transduction efficiency
     Large scale vector production
    Development Stage:
     Early-stage
     In vitro data available
     In vivo data available (animal)
    Inventors: Naoya Uchida and John F. Tisdale (NHLBI).
    Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E-165-2014/0--U.S. 
Provisional Application No. 62/048,881 filed September 11, 2014.
    Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D.; 301-495-4507; 
[email protected].
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Heart, Lung and 
Blood Institute is seeking statements of capability or interest from 
parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, 
evaluate or commercialize this technology. For collaboration 
opportunities, please contact Denise Crooks at [email protected].

[[Page 29015]]

X-Clometer: Optimizing Portable Radiography

    Description of Technology: The technology offered for licensing and 
commercial development relates to a method and apparatus that can 
significantly improve the diagnostic performance of portable chest 
(CXR) and abdominal x-rays. This device quantifies angulation of a 
patient to provide for a better comparison of day-to-day improvement.
    The portable CXR is one of the most commonly requested diagnostic 
medical tests around the world. They are performed nearly daily on some 
of the sickest patients in hospitals. Paradoxically, it is well 
documented that portable radiography of the chest is inconsistent and 
often inadequate.
    An upright projection best evaluates effusions, rules out free air, 
or detects air-fluid levels. Optimally, the images are obtained at 
similar angles each day, even if not erect, to allow accurate 
comparisons and assessment of change. It is well documented that 
portable radiography of the chest is inconsistent and often inadequate. 
To achieve optimal quality of the exam the technologist attempts the 
most upright projection; balanced with patient condition and ability to 
achieve this often impossible task.
    Potential Commercial Applications: Portable chest and abdominal x-
rays performed at patient's hospital bedside.
    Competitive Advantages:
     Currently, there is no quantitative marker to indicate 
degree of the upright position. Prior markers with small ball bearings 
sinking to a small circle only indicate if the patient is supine or 
not. This technology introduces a simple dynamic marker that can 
quantify the angle at a glance for the radiologist to best compare 
patient condition over time. This device objectively quantifies 
cassette angle with a ball bearing in a cylindrical tube with markers 
to indicate upright position in degrees.
     The technology improves performance of CXR, allowing 
reliable comparisons of patient condition over time. Thus, better 
therapies can be planned and unnecessary CT (Computerized Tomography) 
can be prevented.
     The technology improves care for Intensive Care Unit 
patients, as developing effusion and the need for immediate drainage 
(as one of many examples) can be more effectively assessed with the 
present apparatus. A widespread use of the device will save lives 
through improved diagnosis and comparison of effusions.
    Development Stage:
     A performance of a visual prototype was demonstrated. The 
visual prototype was imaged at 5 selected angles with a chest phantom. 
Initial in-vitro results demonstrate that angles can be quantified to 
within 30 degrees.
     Improved prototypes with more accuracy are currently being 
manufactured for to patient use. In-vivo studies will soon be underway 
to validate clinical utility.
    Inventors: Les R. Folio (CC) and Lucas S. Folio
    Publications:

1. Wandtke JC. Bedside chest radiography. Radiology. 1994; 190:1-10. 
[PMID 8043058]
2. Pneumatikos I, Bouros D. Pleural effusions in critically ill 
patients. Respiration. 2008; 76(3):241-248. [PMID 18824883]
3. Mattison LE, et al. Pleural effusions in the medical ICU: 
Prevalence, causes, and clinical implications. Chest. 1997 
Apr;111(4):1018-1023. [PMID 9106583]
4. Fartoukh M, et al. Clinically documented pleural effusions in 
medical ICU patients: How useful is routine thoracentesis? Chest. 
2002 Jan;121(1):178-184. [PMID 11796448]
5. Bekemeyer WB, et al. Efficacy of chest radiography in a 
respiratory intensive care unit. A prospective study. Chest. 1985 
Nov; 88(5): 691-696. [PMID: 4053711]
6. Tocino I. Chest imaging in intensive care unit. Eur J Radiol 1996 
Aug;23(1):46-57. [PMID 8872073]

    Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-036-2011/0--U.S. Patent 
Application No. 14/005,024 filed September 13, 2013.
    Licensing Contact: Tedd Fenn; 424-297-0336; [email protected]
    Collaborative Research Opportunity: The NIH Clinical Center, 
Radiology and Imaging Sciences, is seeking statements of capability or 
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further 
develop, evaluate, or commercialize X-Clometer. Please contact Ken 
Rose, Ph.D. at 240-276-5509 or [email protected] for more information.

    Dated: May 14, 2015.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Acting Director, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of 
Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-12124 Filed 5-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P