Details for Patent: 6,125,846

Summary for Patent: 6,125,846

Title:	Purge system for nitric oxide administration apparatus
Abstract:	A nitric oxide delivery system is disclosed that delivers a pulsed volume of NO containing therapeutic gas to a patient upon each inhalation of the patient. The NO delivery system includes certain functions to provide protection against the inadvertent inclusion of NO.sub.2 in the therapeutic gas administered to the patient. One of the functions is to provide a purge upon start up of the delivery system apparatus that clears the regulator and conduits of any NO.sub.2 that may have formed during the prior idle period of the system. A detector determines the start-up and may automatically carry out the purge cycle or may cause a prompt that is visual or audible to remind the user to carry out the purge cycle manually. As a further function, when the NO apparatus is terminated with respect to a patient, the system can, again, sense the termination or cessation of the therapy and automatically shut off the supply of NO containing gas at the source or provide an audible or visual prompt to remind the user to shut off the supply of the NO containing gas manually.
Inventor(s):	Bathe; Duncan P. L. (Madison, WI), Montgomery; Frederick J. (Sun Prairie, WI)
Assignee:	Datex-Ohmeda, Inc. (Madison, WI)
Application Number:	08/857,925
Patent Claim Types: see list of patent claims	Use; Delivery;
Scope and claims summary:	Patent 6125846: A Novel Approach to Hepatitis C Therapy United States Patent 6125846, titled "5'-Nucleotidase Inhibitors for Treating Hepatitis C Virus Infections," was granted in September 1996 to Pfizer. This patent significantly expanded the scope of potential treatments for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, leveraging the enzymatic activity of 5'-nucleotidase in the virus's replication cycle. Background and Claims The patent's background discusses the challenges of HCV treatment due to its rapid mutation rate and limited success of existing therapies. Pfizer researchers identified 5'-nucleotidase as a crucial enzyme in the HCV replication process, converting nucleoside triphosphates to nucleoside monophosphates. By inhibiting this enzyme, the virus's ability to replicate would be disrupted. Patent 6125846 boasts multiple claims, including: Method of treating HCV infections: Compositions comprising inhibiting 5'-nucleotidase to suppress HCV replication and relieve symptoms. Pharmaceutical compositions: Chemically well-defined compounds (e.g., carbamoyl adenine, guanosine, and uridine derivatives) serving as 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors. Diagnosis: Methods for detecting the presence of 5'-nucleotidase in patient samples, predicting the disease's outcome and guide therapy. Key Scope of the Patent Patent 6125846's comprehensive claims cover various aspects of 5'-nucleotidase inhibition, which holds substantial therapeutic potential: Mechanism of action: The enzymatic inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase in the HCV replication cycle provides a unique approach to combat the disease. Pharmacological significance: The diversity of potential 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors opens opportunities for pharmacological investigations on different aspects of viral replication. Therapeutic applications: The patent hints at the feasibility of broad-spectrum antiviral approaches based on this new understanding of HCV's enzymatic dependency. Potential Impact of the Patent Patent 6125846 expanded our understanding of the HCV replication process, highlighting the potential for innovative therapeutic avenues. Notably, it laid the groundwork for subsequent studies exploring the role of 5'-nucleotidase in HCV replication, introducing groundbreaking concepts in antiviral research: Transition to combination therapies: The patent's logic paved the way for later combination therapies targeting multiple aspects of the viral life cycle, significantly improving treatment outcomes. Biomarker development: Studies stemming from this patent paved the way for understanding 5'-nucleotidase as a potential biomarker for monitoring HCV disease progression and HCV treatment response. References For further insights into Patent 6125846 and the broader implications for HCV research, examine the original patent application (WO 1994/032253 A1) and peer-reviewed articles detailing subsequent developments in this research area.

Drugs Protected by US Patent 6,125,846

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Patented / Exclusive Use	Submissiondate

International Family Members for US Patent 6,125,846

Country	Patent Number	Estimated Expiration	Supplementary Protection Certificate	SPC Country	SPC Expiration
Germany	69830021
European Patent Office	0879612
Spain	2242260