[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 302-303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-62]
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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.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and is available for licensing in the U.S. (and in selected
foreign markets) in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve
expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research
and development.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information may be obtained by contacting Marlene
Shinn at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of
Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852-3804;
telephone: 301/496-7056 ext. 285; fax: 301/402-0220; e-mail:
ms482m@nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NIH announces the issuance of U.S.
Patent 5,958,778, entitled ``Container for Drying Biological Samples,
Method of Making Such Container, and Method of Using Same,'' developed
by Dr. Geoffrey L. Kidd of the National Eye Institute.
Problem Addressed by This Invention
Many compounds, such as drugs, growth factors, etc., must be kept
sterile and must be aliquotted for storage. Usually, these aliquots are
best stored lyophilized. Yet, researchers have never had a way to keep
aliquots sterile through the lyophilization process. Consequently, each
aliquot has had to be filter-sterilized when reconstituted for use.
This process has the disadvantages of consuming excessive filters,
syringes, sterile, receptacles, and time and results in serious loss of
precious sample due to absorption by the filters (especially with small
aliquots less than 1 ml). Alternatively, researchers have had to forgo
lyophilization and store their solutions in the less-stable frozen
form.
Solution Offered by This Invention
Sterile-lyophilization tubes having a 0.22 micron filter built into
the cap. This unique feature allows a sterile solution to remain
sterile throughout lyophilization, even after the vacuum is released
and air reenters the tube. Thus, a starting solution is simply filter-
sterilized while in a relatively large volume, using a single filter
and therefore suffering minimal loss and consuming little time. It is
then aliquotted into sterile-lyophilization tubes and lyophilized. The
tubes can then be transferred directly to the freezer, if desired. The
compound is reconstituted when needed, and may then be used immediately
without further filtration.
Potential Applications of This Invention
All researchers worldwide who utilize sterile, labile compounds
will have an interest in this product, including governmental,
university, institutional, and drug company laboratories. Most notably
in need are investigators involved in drug-testing, which is normally
done either in cell cultures, laboratory animals, or humans, and which
requires sterility of many aliquots of many drugs. Additionally, this
product will have a large market relating to basic research utilizing
microbial, plant, or animal cell or organ cultures, to which sterile
compounds such as growth factors are commonly added. Research in drugs,
growth factors, etc., is expanding ever more rapidly, and generally
requires a cell culture system in which to study such compounds. Most
of these compounds are quite expensive. Loss of potency during storage
and loss of material during filtration are widespread problems which
may be overcome with this invention. Therefore, there exists a
tremendous need, and immense market for, this sterile-lyophilization
vessel.
Stage of Development
Development is complete and invention has been successfully tested.
Prototypes are available.
[[Page 303]]
Dated: December 29, 1999.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 00-62 Filed 1-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M
