Users Guide

This is a Filemaker Pro database--the same database software commonly used on Mac and PC desktop computers. If you are familiar with Filemaker, you already know the basics.

Database Searching

• The database supports natural language-type searching--Search terms are all automatically ANDed together. Do not use Boolean queries involving input or "AND" or "OR"--these will be interpreted as search terms.
• All search terms are right truncated (retrieve all words starting with the word/string that you enter). An exception is the Accession Number fields which requires exact numerical input.
• Searchable terms are character strings delimitted by spaces or punctuation (except the hyphen).
• You can do all of your searching in the "Full Record" query field, but using specific fields allows more precise retrieval.
• Queries are interpreted exactly as input (No fuzzy logic or relevance ranking).
• The database is not case-sensitive. Use any combination of capital or small letters.

Database Behavior and Display Options

• Upon entry of a query, the Titles and Status of retrieved entries will be displayed in reverse chronological order (most recent listed first).
• Those with a password may then display the Full Record.

User Support

1. Call, Fax or E-mail if you have any problems or questions. We are generally available during normal working hours (Eastern U.S.) and usually check E-mail every few hours.
2. See our home page for full contact information or E-mail us at biotech@bioinfo.com.

The "FULL RECORD" field

1. This field contains all the fields (everything on the Full Record display). The large text fields (our Abstract and any patent abstract or other official records) are searchable only using this field.
2. You may use this field for all of your searching, but this may not be as precise as using specific fields! For example, Army will retrieve all Army entries along with cross-references and entries mentioning the Army; and HIV and exclusively will retrieve all retrieve all entries concerning HIV that are exclusively licensed along with other irrelevant records.
3. Example - Entry of "HIV vaccine trial CRADA" will retrieve CRADAs involving HIV vaccine clinical trials.

Subject field

1. All entries are indexed in-depth with keywords and controlled index terms. Use the Subject field to search this indexing.
2. See the Subject Index Users Guide and Microthesaurus, particularly the microthesaurus, for consistently used indexing terms and further information.
3. Generally, full words are used for indexing, while acronyms and abbreviations are included in the Abstract.
4. Entries are indexed in-depth using a faceted, polyhierarchical indexing scheme combining controlled vocabulary and keywords. [This subject indexing can easily and quickly be "seen" and understood by examining the Subject Index. This was published in the 1994 book version of this database that included over the 250+ page Subject index of with nearly 40,000 indexing terms. All subscribers receive a free copy of the book, primarily useful as a reference for use of the controlled subject indexing].
5. The Subject field is displayed along with the Full Record and is searchable in the "Full Record" field.

Status field

1. Entries are indexed with one of the following terms:

   Status Terms

   Invention

   . . . Patent

   . . . Application

   CRADA

   Licensed Invention

   . . . Licensed Patent

   . . . Licensed Application

   Exclusively Licensed Invention

   . . . Exclusively Licensed Patent

   . . . Exclusively Licensed Application

   Coassigned

   Information [for Agency info., contacts]

2. Use full word(s) or just the first 2 or more letters. For example, to search for exclusively licensed patents, you can just enter "ex pa" or "exclusively licensed patent".
3. The Status field is displayed along with the full record and is also searchable in the "Full Record" field.
4. Licenses are reported for each distinct patent property. Federal agencies/labs often report licenses granted in terms of the technologies licensed, often involving a package of related patent properties. The database includes cross references to other patent properties included in licensing packages.
5. "Exclusively Licensed" does not mean that an invention is not available for licensing - it just means that one or more licenses with exclusivity have been granted. This includes co-exclusive licensing (multiple, shared exclusive licenses) and exclusive licenses granted for specific fields of use.
6. Inventions that are coassigned to both a federal lab and another organization are indexed as "Coassigned". This includes about 10% or less of licenses reported.

Agency/Lab. field

1. Each entry is assigned codes for the agency and laboratory. These codes generally follow commonly used acronyms (e.g., the National Cancer Institute is indexed as NCI NIH PHS).
2. See the Hierarchical List and Alphabetical List of Agency/Lab. codes.
3. Abbreviated (or full) names and/or locations may be included in this field. These terms are used consistently for the same laboratory (e.g. Beltsville will retrieve entries known to originate from the USDA labs in Beltsville, MD). Abbreviations are often used for common terms (e.g., Lab., Labs., Res., Med., Inst., Nat., etc.).
4. This field is displayed along with the full record and is also searchable in the "Full Record" field.

Company/Org. field

1. Licensees, CRADA partners and other organizations are indexed in this field. Parent companies, strategic partners, sub-licensees, competitors and other organizations discussed in abstracts are also indexed in this field.
2. You can examine lists of licensees (Company/Org. entries from licensed invention entries) and CRADA partners (Company/Org. entries from CRADA entries).
3. The Company/Org. field is displayed along with the full record and is also searchable in the "Full Record" field.

Inventor field
1. The names of inventors and CRADA investigators are recorded in the format - last name, comma, space, first two initials, e.g., Rader, RA and Gallo, RC.
2. Inventors are displayed within the abstract and are also searchable in the "Full Record" field.
3. A list of all inventors is available. Caution, large file (130K).

Patent/CRADA Number field
1. For most reliable searching, use compacted character strings, e.g., 5454932 for 5,454,932 and 08238791 for 08/238,791, although you can input a number with commas.
2. For pending applications, the most recent patent application number known (not the original filing) is used. The standard convention (series number/application number) is used e.g., 08/238,791 for which you would use 08238791 to search the database.
3. Agency, laboratory or foreign patent application numbers may appear in the database if a U.S. patent/application number is not available.

Date field

1. Dates are in the format YYYYMMDD (e.g., 19950528 is May 28, 1995).
2. ENTER ALL 8 DIGITS! For example, use 19960000 for 1996.
3. You can select whether you want all dates on or after the date entered or all dates before the date entered, e.g., 19960000 with "On or After" selected will retrieve entries from 1996-present.
4. For patents, this is the date of issuance. For patent applications, this is the filing date for the application number provided (the latest known filing). For CRADAs, the approval or start date is used. Estimated dates are used where exact dates are not available.

Accession Number

1. This is a unique number assigned to each record. It has no inherent meaning.
2. USE NUMBERS ONLY! Avoid symbols and truncation! Do not include the single letter status codes (e.g., L, C) often appended after the accession number within some of the Abstracts ( e.g., use 972, not #972L)
3. This field is mostly useful for retrieving specific entries, especially for retrieving cross-referenced entries cited in Abstracts.

See also:

• Database Coverage and Contents

Further Background Information
• Directory Organization and Presentation
  
• About Federal Bio-Technology Transfer
• Coverage and Conventions
  
• Sources for Further Information
  
• Limitations