Ning Wei

US Patent:

6673447, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Jan 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/053068

Inventors:

Ning Wei - Roswell GA
Robert John Lyng - Alpharetta GA
Monica Graciela Varriale - Woodstock GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D02G 300

US Classification:

428375, 428221, 428357, 428373, 210193, 2105001, 1621642, 1621643

Abstract:

A hydrophobic polymer fiber having a cationically charged coating thereon, in which the coating includes a functionalized cationic polymer, such as an epichlorohydrin-functionalized polyamine or an epichlorohydrin-functionalized polyamido-amine, which has been crosslinked by heat. The present invention also provides a fibrous filter which includes hydrophobic polymer fibers having the foregoing cationically charged coating thereon. The present invention further provides a method of preparing a fibrous filter. The method involves providing a fibrous filter comprised of hydrophobic polymer fibers; treating the fibrous filter with an aqueous solution of a functionalized cationic polymer crosslinkable by heat under conditions sufficient to substantially coat the fibers with the functionalized cationic polymer, wherein the solution includes the functionalized cationic polymer, a poly(vinyl alcohol), a polar solvent for the poly(vinyl alcohol), and water; and treating the resulting coated fibrous filter with heat at a temperature and for a time sufficient to crosslink the functionalized cationic polymer present on the hydrophobic polymer fibers. The present invention additionally provides a method of preparing a fibrous filter. The method includes providing a fibrous filter comprised of hydrophobic polymer fibers; passing a solution of a functionalized cationic polymer crosslinkable by heat through the fibrous filter under conditions sufficient to substantially coat the fibers with the functionalized cationic polymer, wherein the solution includes the functionalized cationic polymer, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and water; and treating the resulting coated fibrous filter with heat at a temperature and for a time sufficient to crosslink the functionalized cationic polymer present on the hydrophobic polymer fibers.

US Patent:

7247500, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Dec 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/325614

Inventors:

Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US
Yanbin Huang - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N 33/543

US Classification:

436518, 436524, 436531

Abstract:

A membrane-based assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. The device utilizes a chromatographic zone on which is disposed a plurality of microporous particles. The chromatographic zone can effectively reduce the “hook effect” in a simple, efficient, and relatively inexpensive manner. In particular, the plurality of microporous particles allows larger-sized analyte/probe complexes to reach the detection zone before the uncomplexed analyte. Because the uncomplexed analyte is substantially inhibited from competing with the complexes for the binding sites at the detection zone, the incidence of “false negatives” may be limited, even at relatively high analyte concentrations.

US Patent:

7279136, Oct 9, 2007

Filed:

Dec 13, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/301631

Inventors:

James M. Takeuchi - Roswell GA, US
Xuedong Song - Roswell GA, US
Kaiyuan Yang - Cumming GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US
Shawn R. Feaster - Duluth GA, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 31/22
G01N 15/06
G01N 33/53
G01N 33/566
G01N 31/00
B01L 3/00
B32B 5/02
C12Q 1/00
C12M 1/36
C12M 1/34
C12M 3/00

US Classification:

422100, 422 55, 422 56, 422 57, 422 61, 422 681, 422101, 435 4, 435 71, 4352864, 4352865, 4352871, 4352872, 4352877, 4352879, 4352885, 4352887, 436501, 436518, 436 17, 436 18, 436825

Abstract:

A diagnostic method and associated test kit for detecting an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. A sample membrane is utilized having a collection region and a detection region, the collection region having a known saturation volume for the intended test sample. A barrier is defined between the collection region and the detection region. The collection region is saturated with the test sample having a volume of less than about 100 microliters so that a known volume of the test sample is contained in the collection region. The barrier is removed from between the collection region and detection region of the membrane and a diluent is supplied to the collection region of the membrane to facilitate flow of the test sample from the collection region to the detection region of the membrane.

US Patent:

7282349, Oct 16, 2007

Filed:

Dec 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/737574

Inventors:

Jason Lye - Atlanta GA, US
John Gavin MacDonald - Decatur GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

C12Q 1/22

US Classification:

435 31, 8400, 436 1

Abstract:

Solvatochromic dyes are used herein to indicate the presence of bacteria by incorporating them into various substrates such as films, woven and nonwoven fabrics, paper towels, coform and airlaid materials and bonded carded webs. These dyes change color in response to a change in polarity of the environment. Since water is a polar solvent and most bacteria are made from non-polar substances, the presence of bacteria changes the polarity of the environment, triggering a change visible by the unaided eye. A lateral flow device incorporating solvatochromic dyes and a method of detecting bacteria are also included.

US Patent:

7618810, Nov 17, 2009

Filed:

Dec 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/300650

Inventors:

Kaiyuan Yang - Cumming GA, US
Shawn R. Feaster - Duluth GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US
Rosann M. Kaylor - Cumming GA, US
Chibueze O. Chidebelu-Eze - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01N 15/06
G01N 33/53
G01N 31/00
G01N 33/543
B01L 3/00
B01L 3/02
B01L 11/00
C12Q 1/00
C12M 1/36
C12M 1/34
C12M 3/00

US Classification:

4352865, 422 55, 422 56, 422 57, 422 61, 422 681, 422100, 422101, 435 4, 435 71, 4352864, 4352871, 4352872, 4352877, 4352879, 4352885, 4352887, 436501, 436518, 436 17, 436 18, 436825

Abstract:

A diagnostic method and associated test kit for detecting an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. The kit includes a housing, and a membrane disposed within the housing having a detection region and a collection region. A blood sample meter is provided having a first end for absorption of a blood sample, a filtering section adjacent to the first end that filters red blood cell components from the blood sample, and a storage section adjacent to the filtering section that receives plasma or serum from the filtering section. An opening in the housing is sized for insertion of the sample meter into the housing such that the storage section of the sample meter is disposed in fluid communication with the collection region of the membrane. The plasma or serum is transferred from the storage section of the sample meter to the collection region of the membrane for subsequent migration to the detection region.

US Patent:

7632653, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Nov 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/286342

Inventors:

Xuedong Song - Roswell GA, US
Rosann Kaylor - Cumming GA, US
Michael Knotts - Roswell GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N 33/533

US Classification:

435 792, 435 3, 435 793, 435 794, 422 56, 422 8207, 422 8208, 436800

Abstract:

A membrane-based assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. The device utilizes time-resolved fluorescence to detect the signals generated by excited fluorescent labels. Because the labels can have relatively long emission lifetime, short-lived background interference can be practically eliminated through delayed fluorescence detection. In addition, the resulting fluorescent reader can have a simple and inexpensive design. For instance, in one embodiment, the reader can utilize a silicon photodiode and a pulsed light-emitting diode (LED) to accurately excite labels and detect fluorescence on a membrane-based assay device without requiring the use of expensive components, such as monochromators or narrow emission band width optical filters.

US Patent:

7651841, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Apr 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132421

Inventors:

Xuedong Song - Roswell GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US
Curt Sayre - Atlanta GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
C12M 1/34
C12M 3/00
G01N 33/00
C12Q 1/50
G01N 33/543
G01N 33/566
G01N 21/77
G01N 33/546
G01N 31/22

US Classification:

435 71, 435 6, 4352871, 4352872, 435 792, 435 17, 436518, 436169, 436501, 436533, 436534, 422 56, 422 57

Abstract:

A flow-through assay for detecting the quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample is provided. The flow-through assay contains a porous membrane that is in fluid communication with probe conjugates that contain a specific binding member and a detectable probe. The porous membrane also defines a detection zone and a calibration zone. The calibration zone contains a polyelectrolyte substantially non-diffusively immobilized on the porous membrane. The polyelectrolyte is capable of generating a detectable calibration signal that can be readily compared (visually, quantitatively, and the like) to a detection signal to determine the amount of analyte in the test sample.

US Patent:

7651989, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Aug 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/651421

Inventors:

John Gavin MacDonald - Decatur GA, US
Yanbin Huang - Roswell GA, US
Kaiyuan Yang - Cumming GA, US
Jaeho Kim - Roswell GA, US
Ning Wei - Roswell GA, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61K 7/00

US Classification:

510130, 510158, 510169, 510481, 510488, 510491, 510508

Abstract:

There is provided a color change composition that remains stable in a single phase and that contains an indicator that produces an observable color change after a period of time to show that sufficient cleaning has been done or to indicate the thoroughness of the cleaning. This use indicating color change is useful for, for example, in soap for teaching children to wash their hands for a sufficient period of time. This composition may be added to many different base materials to indicate time of use or as a way to introduce enjoyment to the activity.