Surfacine Development Co. LLC, of Boston, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,126,931. The patent covers permanent antimicrobial coating technology.

Synthetic Blood International Inc., of Costa Mesa, Calif., said it received a U.S. patent that covers perfluorocarbons used in Fluorovent, a blood substitute, and Oxycyte, a liquid ventilation product.

Targeted Genetics Corp., of Seattle, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,174,527 titled "Methods and Compositions for Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Defects in Lipoprotein Metabolism." It covers gene therapy for hypercholesterolemia.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,162,613. It covers a method of designing novel chemical inhibitors of protein kinases.