67 FR 141 pgs. 48195-48196 - Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 141Pages: 48195 - 48196
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-18512 Filed 7-22-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Health and Human Services Department
Sub Agency: National Institutes of Health
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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.
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: berkleyd@od.nih.gov
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: berkleyd@od.nih.gov
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 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: rodrigur@od.nih.gov
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: rodrigur@od.nih.gov
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