Heather Dawn Webb

US Patent:

20110091903, Apr 21, 2011

Filed:

Nov 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/743518

Inventors:

G. Marco Bommarito - Stillwater MN, US
Sridhar V. Dasaratha - Bangalore, IN
Brinda B. Lakshmi - Woodbury MN, US
Joseph J. Stoffel - Hastings MN, US
Joseph P. Hensler - Woodbury MN, US
Triet M. Lu - Woodbury MN, US
Patrick A. Mach - Shorewood MN, US
Chunmei Guo - Woodbury MN, US
Mara S. Reif-Wenner - Red Wing MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/53

US Classification:

435 72, 436501

Abstract:

The invention relates to methods of analyzing a sample for a bacterium of interest. In particular, the methods involve an initial capture process that includes the use of one or more antibodies having antigenic specificities for one or more distinct analytes characteristic of the specific bacterium. After initial capture of a specific bacterium, techniques of analyzing involve colorimetric techniques, particularly using colorimetric sensors that include polydiacetylene (PDA) materials.

US Patent:

20110177523, Jul 21, 2011

Filed:

Feb 19, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/867317

Inventors:

G. Marco Bommarito - Stillwater MN, US
Joseph J. Stoffel - Hastings MN, US
Sridhar V. Dasaratha - Bangalore, IN
Jason W. Bjork - Newport MN, US
Patrick A. Mach - Shorewood MN, US
Mara S. Reif-Wenner - Red Wing MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/53

US Classification:

435 71

Abstract:

The invention relates to methods of capturing bacterial whole cells that includes the use of one or more antibodies having antigenic specificities for one or more distinct analytes characteristic of the specific bacterium, followed by analyzing the target whole cells using a direct or indirect ATP assay.

US Patent:

20110195442, Aug 11, 2011

Filed:

Oct 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/123824

Inventors:

Sailaja Chandrapati - Woodbury MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US
Ai-Ping Wei - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

C12Q 1/37

US Classification:

435 23

Abstract:

A sterility indicating composition comprising a plurality of sterilization process resistant spores which contain an active protease during germination and initial outgrowth of the spores; and a germination medium comprising at least one labeled protease substrate and at least one nutrient for germination of the spores; wherein the medium is essentially free of a) any active protease other than the active protease contained by the plurality of spores and b) any protease substrate other than the at least one labeled protease substrate, other than any protease substrate originating from the plurality of spores, and other than any protease substrate which does not compete with the labeled protease substrate for the active protease; and wherein the at least one labeled protease substrate comprises a peptide which can be cleaved by the active protease and which is labeled with one or more dye groups, at least one of which undergoes a detectable change when the peptide is cleaved by the active protease, and wherein the labeled protease substrate is stable at least at a temperature for incubating the spores, a sterilization process indicator comprising the composition, and a method of determining the effectiveness of a sterilization process using the composition and indicator are disclosed.

US Patent:

20110200992, Aug 18, 2011

Filed:

Oct 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/123974

Inventors:

Sailaja Chandrapati - Woodbury MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US
Kurt J. Halverson - Lake Elmo MN, US

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 61

Abstract:

A sterility indicating composition comprising a plurality of sterilization process resistant spores; a germination medium comprising a sub-lethal amount of at least one cell-permeant nucleic acid-interacting fluorescent dye and at least one nutrient for germination of the spores; wherein the at least one cell-permeant fluorescent dye can interact with nucleic acids present in and produced by the plurality of spores during germination or during germination and outgrowth of the spores to produce an increase in fluorescence intensity, indicating that viable spores are present, and wherein the cell-permeant fluorescent dye is sufficiently stable at least at a temperature for incubating the spores to produce the increase in fluorescence intensity, a sterilization process indicator comprising the composition, and a method of determining the effectiveness of a sterilization process using the composition and indicator are disclosed.

US Patent:

20120168337, Jul 5, 2012

Filed:

Dec 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/334730

Inventors:

Kevin D. Landgrebe - Woodbury MN, US
Susan K. Reed - North Oaks MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

B65B 55/02
B65D 65/22

US Classification:

2064841, 53425

Abstract:

A method of sterilizing an article is provided. The method includes providing sterilization wrap system with which to wrap the article to be sterilized. The sterilization wrap system comprises a plurality of wrap units configured in a stack, at least one wrap unit in the stack being detachably attached to at least one other wrap unit in the stack.

US Patent:

20130168441, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Nov 19, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/681056

Inventors:

Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US
Bernard A. Gonzalez - St. Paul MN, US
Timothy J. Nies - Stillwater MN, US
Peter J. Molitor - St. Paul MN, US
Patricia S. Columbus-Powers - St. Paul MN, US
Michael J. Fletcher - White Bear MN, US

Assignee:

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - ST. PAUL MN

International Classification:

B65D 25/14
B31B 7/00

US Classification:

22911727, 493100

Abstract:

A foldable shell having a plurality of panels and at least one flap is provided. The shell has a substantially planar unfolded state and a first folded state that defines a container suitable to hold an object to be sterilized. Optionally, the foldable shell may have a liner attached thereto. A method of folding a foldable shell and a liner to prepare an object for sterilization is also provided. The method results in the formation of the container while simultaneously enfolding the liner around an object disposed on the foldable shell.

US Patent:

20130210048, Aug 15, 2013

Filed:

Oct 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/825143

Inventors:

Sailaja Chandrapati - Woodbury MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US
Jeffrey C. Pederson - Minneapolis MN, US
Brian J. Engel - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - ST. PAUL MN

International Classification:

C12Q 1/22
C12Q 1/04

US Classification:

435 18, 435 34, 435 31

Abstract:

A method of detecting a biological activity is provided. The method includes contacting; in a liquid medium selected to facilitate a predetermined biological activity; a sample, an indicator reagent, and a substrate that receives and concentrates a biological derivative of the indicator reagent. The method further includes observing a portion of the substrate to detect the biological derivative. The method can be used to detect the presence or absence of a target cell.

US Patent:

20130210067, Aug 15, 2013

Filed:

Oct 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/825881

Inventors:

Sailaja Chandrapati - Woodbury MN, US
Heather M. Webb - Woodbury MN, US
Jeffrey C. Pederson - Minneapolis MN, US
Kurt J. Halverson - Lake Elmo MN, US
Brian R. Engel - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/64

US Classification:

435 34, 4352887

Abstract:

The present invention provides method of detecting a predetermined biological activity. The method includes using an aqueous mixture comprising a first indicator reagent with a first absorption spectrum and a second indicator reagent. The second indicator reagent is converted by the predetermined biological activity to a second biological derivative with a second emission spectrum. The first absorbance spectrum includes detectable absorbance in at least a portion of wavelengths present in the second emission spectrum. The first indicator reagent is received and concentrated from an aqueous liquid by a substrate, facilitating the detection of the second biological derivative.