Frank A Lucas
Accountancy at Bethel Blvd, Boca Raton, FL

6692702, Feb 17, 2004

Jul 7, 2000

09/611847

Alexander Burshteyn - Hialeah FL
John W. Joubran - Miami FL
Nazle Kuylen - Miami FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

G01N 134

422101, 422 8201, 422 8202, 436 63, 436178, 4353081, 2104161

A method for utilizing a filtration device for removing interferants from a sample containing cells in an automated apparatus is disclosed. The filtration device includes a microporous hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of pores sized to retain cells while allowing smaller diameter interferants to pass through the membrane. The apparatus also includes a means for of moving the sample from a sample container to and from the filtration device. The disclosed method utilizes a vacuum source to aspirate the sample into a lumen of the hollow fiber membrane so that the sample is retained in the lumen space until expelled into an analysis container or transported to an analyzer.

6692968, Feb 17, 2004

Sep 20, 2001

09/957234

Alexander Burshteyn - Hialeah FL
John W. Joubran - Escondido CA
Nazle Kuylen - Miami FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL
Carlos L. Aparicio - Miami FL
Michael L. Bell - Fullerton CA
Ravinder Gupta - Pembroke Pines FL
Maria Elena Insausti - Miami FL
Jack D. McNeal - Long Beach CA
Paul W. Price - Miami FL
Sandra Socarras - Miami FL

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

G01N 134

436 63, 210767, 422101, 4353081, 436178

A method for utilizing a filtration device for removing interferants from a test sample containing a mixture of a composition of interest and interferants in an automated apparatus is disclosed. The filtration device includes a microporous hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of pores sized to retain the composition of interest while allowing smaller diameter interferants to pass through the membrane.

5871946, Feb 16, 1999

May 18, 1995

8/444056

Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL
Gerald E. Jaffe - Pembroke Pines FL
Steven Bott - Pembroke Pines FL
James H. Carter - Plantation FL

Coulter Corporation - Miami FL

C12Q 134, C12Q 102

435 18

An assay compound or a salt thereof for assaying the activity of an enzyme inside a metabolically active whole cell is disclosed. The assay compound includes a leaving group and an indicator group. The leaving group is selected from the group comprising amino acids, peptides, saccharides, sulfates, phosphates, esters, phosphate esters, nucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, pyrimidines, purines, nucleosides, lipids and mixtures thereof. The indicator group is selected from compounds which have a first state when joined to the leaving group, and a second state when the leaving group is cleaved from the indicator group by the enzyme. Preferably, the indicator compounds are rhodamine 110, rhodol, and fluorescein and analogs of these compounds. A method of synthesizing the compound as well as methods of using these compounds to measure enzyme activity are also disclosed.

5968831, Oct 19, 1999

Oct 29, 1996

8/739362

Ravindra S. Shukla - Pembroke Pines FL
Harold R. Crews - Pembroke Pines FL
Adry Galiounghi - Miami FL
Eileen Landrum - Miami FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

G01N 3100, C12Q 100, C12Q 134, C12N 508

436 8

The invention provides a cell control product for use with a cytoenzymology assay to confirm enzymatic activity in devices employing electronic and/or optical means. The cell control product comprises a lyophilized mammalian cell which is capable of being rehydrated in water to exhibit cellular structure and cellular enzymatic activity so that said lyophilized cells can function effectively as a cytoenzymology cell control in an enzymatic analysis. The cellular structure of the cell control is capable of being authenticated by light scatter or microscopy analysis and the cellular enzymatic activity is capable of being authenticated by fluorescence analysis. The cell control exhibits a real time stability when stored at between 2 and 8. degree. C. for at least a two month period of time. Preferably the mammalian cell is an abnormal cell selected from Molt 4, CCRF-CEM and HL-60 cell lines.

7354773, Apr 8, 2008

May 14, 2003

10/437695

Oilda Rubio - Miami FL, US
Carlos Aparicio - Miami FL, US
John A. Maples - Miami FL, US
Julie Wilkinson - Fort Lauderdale FL, US
Cecilia Smith - Miami FL, US
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL, US

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Fullerton CA

G01N 1/18

436177, 435 2, 435 725, 435 405, 435366, 435372, 435398, 435400, 435401, 4352872, 435971, 436521, 436522, 436536, 436538, 436546, 436 17, 436 45, 436 47

A method and apparatus for preparing biological cell samples for intracellular analysis. The invention is based upon the recognition that many of the steps of the conventional methods for such sample preparation can be eliminated, leading to a process that readily lends itself to automation and the advantages associated therewith. The method of the invention comprises the steps of (a) cell-fixation, (b) permeabilization and (c) staining (or labeling) of intracellular molecules of interest by probes that are readily detectable by flow cytometric techniques, all without any intervening cell-washing (and re-suspension) steps. Rather, the single cell-washing step is effected after these three steps have been carried out. Preferably, the washing step is carried out by passing the fixed, permeabilized and stained cell sample through a semi-permeable membrane that serves to filter out (by transmission) interferants to waste while retaining the cells of interest.

5976822, Nov 2, 1999

Aug 20, 1997

8/915414

Eileen Landrum - Miami FL
Adry Galiounghi - Miami Lakes FL
Nancy Garcia - Miami FL
Ursino Del Valle - Hialeah FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

C12Q 137, C12Q 100

435 23

The ability to determine the stage or pathway of cysteine proteases in a single cell assay has long been desired as a material event in apoptosis. The present invention relates to a method and assay reagents for determining enzyme activity and relating said activity to the apoptotic pathway. In addition, the method find utility in distinguishing apoptotic activity from necrotic activity.

2004013, Jul 8, 2004

Dec 19, 2003

10/741396

Alexander Burshteyn - Pembroke Pines FL, US
John Joubran - Escondido CA, US
Nazle Kuylen - Miami FL, US
Frank Lucas - Boca Raton FL, US

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

G01N033/48

436/063000

A method for utilizing a filtration device for removing interferants from a sample containing cells in an automated apparatus is disclosed. The filtration device includes a microporous hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of pores sized to retain cells while allowing smaller diameter interferants to pass through the membrane. The apparatus also includes a means for of moving the sample from a sample container to and from the filtration device. The disclosed method utilizes a vacuum source to aspirate the sample into a lumen of the hollow fiber membrane so that the sample is retained in the lumen space until expelled into an analysis container or transported to an analyzer.

2004013, Jul 8, 2004

Dec 19, 2003

10/741395

Alexander Burshteyn - Pembroke Pines FL, US
John Joubran - Escondido CA, US
Nazle Kuylen - Miami FL, US
Frank Lucas - Boca Raton FL, US
Carlos Aparicio - Miami FL, US
Michael Bell - Fullerton CA, US
Ravinder Gupta - Pembroke Pines FL, US
Maria Insausti - Miami FL, US
Jack McNeal - Long Beach CA, US
Paul Price - Miami FL, US
Sandra Socarras - Miami FL, US

Coulter International Corp. - Miami FL

G01N001/18

436/178000

A method for utilizing a filtration device for removing interferants from a test sample containing a mixture of a composition of interest and interferants in an automated apparatus is disclosed. The filtration device includes a microporous hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of pores sized to retain the composition of interest while allowing smaller diameter interferants to pass through the membrane.

5776720, Jul 7, 1998

May 18, 1995

8/443776

Gerald E. Jaffe - Pembroke Pines FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL
James H. Carter - Plantation FL

Coulter Corporation - Miami FL

C12Q 100, C12Q 102

435 29

An assay compound or a salt thereof for assaying the activity of an enzyme inside a metabolically active whole cell is disclosed. The assay compound includes a leaving group and an indicator group. The leaving group is selected from the group comprising amino acids, peptides, saccharides, sulfates, phosphates, esters, phosphate esters, nucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, pyrimidines, purines, nucleosides, lipids and mixtures thereof. The indicator group is selected from compounds which have a first state when joined to the leaving group, and a second state when the leaving group is cleaved from the indicator group by the enzyme. Preferably, the indicator compounds are rhodamine 110, rhodol, and fluorescein and analogs of these compounds. A method of synthesizing the compound as well as methods of using these compounds to measure enzyme activity are also disclosed.

5849513, Dec 15, 1998

Jul 31, 1997

8/904400

Gerald E. Jaffe - Pembroke Pines FL
Frank J. Lucas - Boca Raton FL
James H. Carter - Plantation FL

Coulter Corporation - Miami FL

C12Q 100, C12Q 102

435 29

An assay compound or a salt thereof for assaying the activity of an enzyme inside a metabolically active whole cell is disclosed. The assay compound includes a leaving group and an indicator group. The leaving group is selected from the group comprising amino acids, peptides, saccharides, sulfates, phosphates, esters, phosphate esters, nucleotides, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, pyrimidines, purines, nucleosides, lipids and mixtures thereof. The indicator group is selected from compounds which have a first state when joined to the leaving group, and a second state when the leaving group is cleaved from the indicator group by the enzyme. Preferably, the indicator compounds are rhodamine 110, rhodol, and fluorescein and analogs of these compounds. A method of synthesizing the compound as well as methods of using these compounds to measure enzyme activity are also disclosed.