NEW PATENTS

This section contains abstracts of recently issued patents in the United States and published patent applications®led from over 90 countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and compiled in accordance with interestpro®les developed by the Editors.

Transfus. Sci. Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. III±VII, 1998# 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Pergamon Printed in Great BritainPII: S0955-3886(98)00051-4 0955-3886/98 $19.00 + 0.00

5661013

PAF SYNTHESIS MODULATORS

Rassing Birgitte Copenhagen, DENMARK assigned to

Novo Nordisk A/S

Compounds that selectively modulate the remodeling

pathway of platelet activating factor (PAF) are described.

Related pharmaceutical compositions and methods are

also disclosed. These compounds and pharmaceutical

compositions and methods are useful for reducing or

eliminating in¯ammation.

5663053

INHIBITION OF INFLAMMATORY LIPIDMEDIATORS

Winkler James David; Hickey Deirdre Mary Bernadette;

Chilton Floyd Harold Fort Washington, PA, UNITED

STATES assigned to SmithKline Beecham Corporation;

The Johns Hopkins University

PCT No. PCT/US93/01247 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 30, 1994

Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 30, 1994 PCT Filed Feb. 11, 1993

PCT Pub. No. WO93/16674 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 2, 1993.

Coenzyme A-independent transacylase is required for the

release of free arachidonic acid, and the production of

arachidonic acid metabolites and platelet activation factor.

Blocking of this enzyme inhibits the production of these

in¯ammatory mediators and will be of therapeutic utility

in a broad range of allergic and in¯ammatory diseases and

disorders. Compounds are described herein which inhibit

the action of CoA-IT and are therefore useful in the

treatment of disease states caused thereby.

5677189

METHOD FOR QUANTIFYINGSPHINGOSINE AND FOR DIAGNOSING

PLATELET ACTIVATION

Igarashi Yasuyuki; Yatomi Yutaka; Ohta Hideki; Hakomori

Sen-Itiroh Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES assigned to

Oncomembrane Inc

A method of detecting sphingosines and platelet activation

is disclosed.

5683768

PLASTIC FORMULATIONS FORPLATELET STORAGE CONTAINERS

AND THE LIKE

Shang Shaye-we; Ling Michael Tung-Kiung; Woo Lecon;

Cometa Christopher C Vernon Hills, IL, UNITED STATES

assigned to Baxter International Inc

The invention provides a ¯exible plastic formulation

capable of being RF sealed, extruded, cast or blow-molded,

gas, steam and radiation sterilized. The plastic formulation

of the invention comprises: a) from about 40 to about 90

percent by weight of a polyole®n polypropylene based

material; b) from about 3 to about 25 percent by weight

of a functionialized block copolymer, the functionalized

block copolymer consisting essentially of a central block

copolymer molecule including generally equal proportions

of ethylene and butylene units, and terminal blocks of

polystyrene; and c) from about 3 to about 20 percent

by weight a nylon. The plastic formulations of the

invention are useful in the manufacture of blood bags,

tubing and the like.

5686572

DOMAINS OF EXTRACELLULARREGION OF HUMAN PLATELET

DERIVED GROWTH FACTORRECEPTOR POLYPEPTIDES

Wolf David; Tomlinson James E; Fretto Larry J; Giese Neill

A; Escobedo Jaime A; Williams Lewis Thomas Palo Alto,

CA, UNITED STATES assigned to Cor Therapeutics Inc;

The Regents of the University of California

De®ned constructs of modi®ed human platelet-derived

growth factor receptor polypeptides are provided.

Extracellular region domain structures are identi®ed and

modi®cations and combinatorial rearrangements of the

receptor segments are provided. Both cell bound and

soluble forms of modi®ed segments are made available,

as are methods for assays using them, allowing for

screening of ligand analogues.

5686583

SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AGAINSTACTIVATED PLATELETS, THE

PREPARATION THEREOF AND THE USETHEREOF IN DIAGNOSIS AND

THERAPY

Bosslet Klaus; Seemann Gerhard; Kehrel Beate Marburg,

GERMANY assigned to Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft

The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies and parts

thereof which bind preferentially to active human platelets,

to the nucleotide sequence and amino-acid sequence of the

heavy and light chain of MAb BW 2128 and to an antigen

associated with thrombospondin.

5690963FREEZE DRIED RED BLOOD CELLS

Spargo Barry J; Rudolph Alan S; Chang Byeong S; Groel

Thomas R Baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES assigned

to The United States of America as represented by the

Secretary of the Navy

A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization

of cells, speci®cally red blood cells and platelets, and

cell-like matter, which comprises the use of solution

including a carbohydrate, and biocompatible polymers

to permit reconstitution of transfusably useful cells

which are viable by the measure of ATP and 2,3 DPG.

5693049

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INVIVO BLOOD IRRADIATION

Mersch Steven HenryGermantown,OH, UNITED STATES

assigned to Point Source Inc

In vivo irradiation of blood is performed via catheters which

can also or alternately be used to introduce ¯uids into

blood vessels. The catheters include narrow tubular

portions which are at least partially inserted into blood

vessels. The narrow tubular portions utilize optical

material to carry light radiation into blood vessels for

irradiation of blood therein. In some embodiments, the

tubular portions of the catheters are made of optical

material to directly carry light radiation. The tubular

portions are then made to diffuse the light along at least

a portion of their lengths or to carry light to diffusing

and preferably radio-opaque tips from which the majority

of the light is diffused. In alternate embodiments, the

tubular portions include inner catheter tubes covered

with thin outer sleeves made of optical material and

tapered and/or otherwise adapted to diffuse light

radiation along their lengths, preferably primarily along

the portions of their lengths received within blood

vessels, or at their ends. Light radiation is coupled into

the catheters by optical couplers formed as portions of

the narrow tubular portions of the catheters, as portions

of hubs which receive the narrow tubular portions of the

catheters or as integral portions of catheters formed as

unitary structures. The catheters include luer ®ttings for

coupling ¯uid carrying tubes and light sources thereto,

and preferably include tapered luer ®ttings for the

optical couplers to facilitate connection of light sources,

such as lasers, to the optical couplers.

5693232

METHOD FOR COLLECTING A BLOODCOMPONENT CONCENTRATION

Brown Richard I; Smith Sidne; Cerny David; Foley John

Northbrook, IL, UNITED STATES assigned to Baxter

International Inc

A method separates blood by centrifugation in a rotating

chamber into a ®rst separated blood component, a residual

blood ¯uid, and an interface between the ®rst separated

blood component and the residual blood ¯uid. The

method withdraws the ®rst separated blood component

out of the rotating chamber through a ®rst outlet port,

and also withdraws the residual blood ¯uid out of the

rotating chamber through a second outlet port. During

the separating step, the method accumulates a second

separated blood component in the interface without

withdrawal from the rotating chamber by monitoring

the location of the interface within the rotating chamber

and maintaining the interface at a location spaced away

from ¯ow communication with both the ®rst and

second outlet pods. After a selected time period, the

method shifts the location of the interface within the

rotating chamber into ¯ow communication with a

selected outlet port and withdraws the second separated

blood component from the rotating chamber through

the selected outlet port.

5700634

COAGULATION ASSAYS ANDREAGENTS COMPRISING TANNIN ORPROPYL GALLATE AND A METAL ION

Speck Roy E Indianapolis, IN, UNITED STATES assigned

to Analytical Control Systems Inc

Novel assays and reagents for determining coagulative

properties of blood or plasma are disclosed, as are agents

and methods for stemming bleeding. Novel ellagic acid-

based activators consist essentially of aqueous solutions

of ellagic acid, phenol and suitable metal ions and give

de®ned values for a novel platelet assay also disclosed.

Inventive coagulation reagents including propyl gallate

or tannin are also disclosed, as are aPTT reagents having

sensitivity to heparin and Factor de®ciencies far superior

to prior aPTT reagents. Disclosed heparin-sensitive

reagents include dextran sulfate. Also disclosed is

applicant's discovery that reagents including hydroxy-

substituted compounds and metal ions, heretofore known

to activate Hagemann Factor, also cause platelets to

release Platelet Factor 3, and a series of platelet-sensitive

tests found to be enabled by this discovery. These platelet-

sensitive tests include assays for platelet activity,

systemic lupus, platelet reserve, which can signify type

II lipoprotein defects, and for Platelet Factor 4. Disclosed

methods and materials for stemming bleeding center

around applicant's discovery that bleeding from bleeding

sites can be stopped up to six time faster by applying

to the site a hemostatic agent including effective amounts

of hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound and metal

ion.

IV Transfus. Sci. Vol. 19, No. 2

5700823

TREATMENT OF PLATELET DERIVEDGROWTH FACTOR RELATED

DISORDERS SUCH AS CANCERS

Assigned to Sugen Inc; Biosignal L T DYissum Research

Development Company Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften

Method for treating a patient in¯icted with a cell

proliferation disorder, such as a cancer, characterized by

inappropriate PDGF-R activity. The method involves

the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically

effective amount of a composition described in

application.

5722946

EXTRACORPOREAL BLOODPROCESSING METHODS AND

APPARATUS

Mudloff Frederick S; Murray Richard E; Menhennett

Thomas L Louisville, CO, UNITED STATES assigned to

Cobe Laboratories Inc

An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed

which includes a variety of novel components and

which may be operated in accordance with a variety of

novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes

a graphical operator interface which directs the operator

through various aspects of the apheresis procedure.

Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features

relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood

processing channel and removing the same after

completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system

also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a

blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis

system in preparation for the procedure. In addition,

the system includes a variety of features enhancing the

performance of the apheresis system, including the

interrelationship between the blood processing vessel

and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of

high packing factors for the procedure.

5723285

ASSEMBLY FOR DETECTINGBLOOD-BORNE PARASITES AND

MEASURING BLOOD SAMPLEPARAMETERS IN A CENTRIFUGED

SAMPLE OF BLOOD

Levine Robert A; Wardlaw Stephen C Guilford, CT,

UNITED STATES

Centrifuged anticoagulated blood samples are analyzed

under magni®cation in a centrifuge tube containing a

layer-elongating insert, which tube is placed on a

calibrated slide. The slide includes a slot in which the

tube is placed. A calibrated scale is disposed adjacent

to the slot for use in measuring various blood sample

parameters, such as hematocrit, platelet count, and the

like. Anemia and/or low platelet counts are indicative of

potentially serious complications of malaria. Their

detection will prompt a physician to consider the likli-

hood of serious illness due to malaria. The presence or

absence of blood-borne parasites can also be determined

using the procedures of this invention. Thus the device

allows a blood sample to be analyzed for malarial para-

sites, and also allows measurement of hematicrit and

platelet counts. The scale can be presented in a normal

image when a simple lens magni®cation, such as a

magnifying glass, is used to view the tube and slide; and

can also be presented in mirror image when compound

lens magni®cation, such as a microscope, is used to

view the tube and slide.

5725511

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORPREVENTION OF BLOOD-TYPE

MISMATCHES

Urrutia Sharon A Louisville, CO, UNITED STATES

Method and apparatus for preventing mismatching of

blood types between a blood bag and a patient. A ®rst

connector has a con®guration coding corresponding to

the blood type of the blood in the bag, and has means

for piercing and providing access to the bag. Blood

tubing ¯uidly connects the blood bag to the patient and

has a second connector with con®guration coding

corresponding to the blood type of the patient. The

®rst and second connection must have matching

con®gurations in order to sealably connect and deliver

blood to the patient, thereby preventing mismatches.

Optionally, another pair of con®guration coded

connectors may also be provided to sealably connect the

intravenous needle in the arm of the patient. These two

pairs of con®guration coded connectors may be used

separately or together to guard against blood type

mismatches.

5726745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORPREPARING A BLOOD SAMPLE FORANALYSIS OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS

Chelveder Jean-Claude Vitteaux, FRANCE assigned to

Hycel Groupe Lisabio

A process and apparatus for preparing blood for analysis of

white blood cells involves: preparing a mixture made up

of blood and a lysing agent, emitting luminous radiation

in the direction of the mixture, receiving the light

emitted through the mixture, comparing the quantity of

light received at a pre-determined threshold, the process

New Patents V

of erythrolysis, being complete when the quantity of

light corresponds to the threshold and, neutralizing

the action of the lysing agent when erythrolysis is

completed by the addition of an appropriate reagent.

5728306

LEUKODEPLETION FILTER ANDMETHOD FOR FILTERING

LEUKOCYTES FROM FRESHLY DRAWNBLOOD

Breillatt Julian P; Pokropinski Sharon L Mundelein, IL,

UNITED STATES assigned to Baxter International Inc

A leukodepletion ®lter is provided including glass ®ber

®lter pads and non-woven polyester ®ber ®lter pads

sealed within a ®lter housing. The ®lter is designed such

that a ¯uid, such as whole blood, packed red blood cells,

platelets or plasma, is conducted through the glass ®ber

®lter pads before the non-woven polyester ®ber ®lter

pads. A method is further provided for leukodepleting a

body ¯uid by ®ltering the body ¯uid through glass ®ber

®lter pads and also ®ltering the body ¯uid through

non-woven polyester ®ber ®lter pads. After ®ltering, the

body ¯uid is collected.

5728583

DETERMINATION OF ABNORMALPART OF BLOOD FUNCTIONS

Kawakami Keiko; Harada Yoshiyuki; Sakon Tadashi;

Kishida Yutaka; Ikeda Yasuo Kawasaki, JAPAN assigned

to Jeol Ltd

A method and apparatus for determining an abnormal

component of blood functions is described. A whole

blood sample is cycled as a laminar ¯ow through a ¯ow

cell having a measuring element prepared by plating the

surface of a plate-shaped quartz oscillator with a protein

layer. The amount of adhesion of the blood component

on the protein layer is determined on the basis of

the change in resonance frequency of the measuring

element. The measured value is compared with a

standard value of adhesion for blood from a healthy

individual.

5728709

ALKYL AND ARALKYL-SUBSTITUTEDPYRROLOCARBAZOLE DERIVATIVES

THAT STIMULATE PLATELETPRODUCTION

Ikuina Yoji; Murakata Chikara; Saitoh Yutaka; Shiotsu

Yukimasa; Iida Takako; Tamaoki Tatsuya; Yamashita

Kinya; Akinaga Shiro Shizuoka, JAPAN assigned to

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co Ltd

PCT No. PCT/JP96/00557 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 8, 1996

Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 8, 1996 PCT Filed Mar. 7, 1996

PCT Pub. No. WO96/28447 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 19,

1996. Described herein is a pyrrolocarbazole derivative

and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having

the following formula (I): (*See Patent for Chemical

Structure*) (I) wherein R1 is lower alkyl or aralkyl; R2 is

hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl,

lower alkenyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl;

R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 may be the same or different, and are

hydrogen, halogen, nitro, substituted or unsubstituted

lower alkanoyl, NR9R10, or OR11; R8 is hydrogen or

is combined with R3 to form -CONR12-; and when

R1 is benzyl; R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are not

simultaneously hydrogen. A compound of the present

invention stimulates platelet production and is useful

for treatment of thrombocytopenia.

VI Transfus. Sci. Vol. 19, No. 2

New Patents VII