Patents by Inventor Michael J. Conrad

Michael J. Conrad has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7411673
    Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer having an excitation double monochromator, a coaxial excitation/emission light transfer module, and an emission double monochromator. Each monochromator includes a pair of holographic concave gratings mounted to precisely select a desired band of wavelengths from incoming broadband light without using other optical elements, such as mirrors. Selected excitation light is directed into a sample well by a light transfer module that includes a coaxial excitation mirror positioned to direct excitation light directly to the bottom of a well of a multi-well plate. Fluorescence emission light that exits the well opening is collected by a relatively large coaxial emission mirror. The collected emission light is wavelength selected by the emission double monochromator. Selected emission light is detected by a photodetector module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Gould, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 7352459
    Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer system may be implemented in scanning fluorescence polarization detection applications. A wavelength and area scanning fluorescence spectrophotometer system may include a light source, an excitation double monochromator, an excitation/emission light transfer module, an emission double monochromator, a high speed timer-counter circuit board, a precision positioning apparatus for positioning a sample relative to the focal plane of the excitation light, and polarizing filters at the excitation side and the emission side. The system may be operative to analyze more than one fluorescent compound in the sample; additionally or alternatively, the system enables analysis of samples from selected ones of a plurality of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Gould, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 7317111
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel fluorescent compounds and covalent attachment chemistries which facilitate the use of these compounds as labels for ultrasensitive and quantitative fluorescent detection of low levels of biomolecules. In a preferred embodiment, the fluorescent labels of this invention are novel derivatives of the hydroxy-pyrene trisulphonic and disulphonic acids which may be used in any assay in which radioisotopes, colored dyes or other fluorescent molecules are currently used. Thus, for example, any assay using labeled antibodies, proteins, oligonucleotides or lipids, including fluorescent cell sorting, fluorescence microscopy (including dark-field microscopy), fluorescence polarization assays, ligand, receptor binding assays, receptor activation assays and diagnostic assays can benefit from use of the compounds disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aries Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ram Bhatt, Michael J. Conrad, Azzouz Bencheikh, Yifeng Xiong
  • Patent number: 6949632
    Abstract: The subject invention provides compounds useful as fluorogenic substrates for the hydrolytic enzymes. Upon hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable group, a halo-pyrene substituted molecule is developed which is highly fluorescent, water soluble and exhibits several desirable characteristics, including a large Stokes' shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Conrad, Liyan He
  • Patent number: 6892236
    Abstract: A system and method for automated reporting of performance of computer system components uses a plurality of reporting clients for tracking system performance data and one or more reporting servers for automatically generating performance reports based on the performance data collected by the reporting clients. To provide extensibility, a plug-in module is provided for each of the reporting clients. The plug-in module registers performance metrics for a system component with the reporting client, tracks the performance metrics, and passes data on the performance metrics to the reporting client for reporting to the reporting server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Conrad, Diana A. Carutasu, John L. Miller, Sarat C. Manni
  • Publication number: 20040106806
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel fluorescent compounds and covalent attachment chemistries which facilitate the use of these compounds as labels for ultrasensitive and quantitative flourescent detection of low levels of biomolecules. In a preferred embodiment, the flourescent labels of this invention are novel derivatives of the hydroxy-pyrene trisulphonic and disulphonic acids which may be used in any assay in which radioisotopes, colored dyes or other fluorescent molecules are currently used. Thus, for example, any assay using labeled antibodies, proteins, oligonucleotides or lipids, including fluorescent cell sorting, fluorescence microscopy (including dark-field microscopy), fluorescence polarization assays, ligand, receptor binding assays, receptor activation assays and diagnostic assays can benefit from use of the compounds disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Ram Bhatt, Michael J. Conrad, Azzouz Bencheikh, Yifeng Xiong
  • Publication number: 20040046956
    Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer having an excitation double monochromator, a coaxial excitation/emission light transfer module, and an emission double monochromator. Each monochromator includes a pair of holographic concave gratings mounted to precisely select a desired band of wavelengths from incoming broadband light without using other optical elements, such as mirrors. Selected excitation light is directed into a sample well by a light transfer module that includes a coaxial excitation mirror positioned to direct excitation light directly to the bottom of a well of a multi-well plate. Fluorescence emission light that exits the well opening is collected by a relatively large coaxial emission mirror. The collected emission light is wavelength selected by the emission double monochromator. Selected emission light is detected by a photodetector module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Gould, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 6654119
    Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer having an excitation double monochromator, a coaxial excitation/emission light transfer module, and an emission double monochromator. Each monochromator includes a pair of holographic concave gratings mounted to precisely select a desired band of wavelengths from incoming broadband light without using other optical elements, such as mirrors. Selected excitation light is directed into a sample well by a light transfer module that includes a coaxial excitation mirror positioned to direct excitation light directly to the bottom of a well of a multi-well plate. Fluorescence emission light that exits the well opening is collected by a relatively large coaxial emission mirror. The collected emission light is wavelength selected by the emission double monochromator. Selected emission light is detected by a photodetector module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Gould, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 6635435
    Abstract: The subject invention provides compounds useful as fluorogenic substrates. Upon hydrolysis of a hydrolyzable group, a halo-pyrene substituted molecule is developed which is highly fluorescent, water soluble and exhibits several desirable characteristics, including a large Stokers' shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Conrad, Liyan He
  • Publication number: 20030049714
    Abstract: The subject invention provides compounds useful as fluorogenic substrates for the hydrolytic enzymes. Upon hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable group, a halo-pyrene substituted molecule is developed which is highly fluorescent, water soluble and exhibits several desirable characteristics, including a large Stokes' shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Michael J. Conrad, Liyan He
  • Publication number: 20020109841
    Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer system may be implemented in scanning fluorescence polarization detection applications. A wavelength and area scanning fluorescence spectrophotometer system may include a light source, an excitation double monochromator, an excitation/emission light transfer module, an emission double monochromator, a high speed timer-counter circuit board, a precision positioning apparatus for positioning a sample relative to the focal plane of the excitation light, and polarizing filters at the excitation side and the emission side. The system may be operative to analyze more than one fluorescent compound in the sample; additionally or alternatively, the system enables analysis of samples from selected ones of a plurality of samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Gene Gould, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 6268132
    Abstract: Structural analogs of the six non-fluorescentN-nucleosides commonly found in RNA and DNA, which are inherently fluorescent under physiological conditions, are identified and methods for their preparation provided. Such analogs may be incorporated into DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides via either enzymatic or chemical synthesis to produce fluorescent oligonucleotides having prescribed sequences. Such analogous sequences may be identical to, or the analogous complement of, template or target DNA or RNA sequences to which the fluorescent oligonucleotides can be hybridized. Methods of preparing either RNA or DNA oligonucleotide probes of the invention, intermediates used in such methods, and methods of using the probes of the invention in oligonucleotide amplification, detection, identification, and/or hybridization assays are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5874552
    Abstract: Phosphoramidites of the formula ##STR1## where R is a base-labile protecting group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
    Inventors: David S. Jones, John P. Hachmann, Michael J. Conrad, Stephen Coutts, Douglas Alan Livingston
  • Patent number: 5786512
    Abstract: Phosphoramidites of the formula ##STR1## where R is a base-labile protecting group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: LaJolla Pharmaceutical Company
    Inventors: David S. Jones, John P. Hachmann, Michael J. Conrad, Stephen Coutts, Douglas Alan Livingston
  • Patent number: 5763167
    Abstract: Structural analogs of the six non-fluorescent N-nucleosides commonly found in RNA and DNA, which are inherently fluorescent under physiological conditions, are identified and methods for their preparation provided. Such analogs may be incorporated into DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides via either enzymatic or chemical synthesis to produce fluorescent oligonucleotides having prescribed sequences. Such analogous sequences may be identical to, or the analogous complement of, template or target DNA or RNA sequences to which the fluorescent oligonucleotides can be hybridized. Methods of preparing either RNA or DNA oligonucleotide probes of the invention, intermediates used in such methods, and methods of using the probes of the invention in oligonucleotide amplification, detection, identification, and/or hybridization assays are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Chromagen
    Inventor: Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5728525
    Abstract: Structural analogs of the six non-fluorescent N-nucleosides commonly found in RNA and DNA, which are inherently fluorescent under physiological conditions, are identified and methods for their preparation provided. Such analogs may be incorporated into DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides via either enzymatic or chemical synthesis to produce fluorescent oligonucleotides having prescribed sequences. Such analogous sequences may be identical to, or the analogous complement of, template or target DNA or RNA sequences to which the fluorescent oligonucleotides can be hybridized. Methods of preparing either RNA or DNA oligonucleotide probes of the invention, intermediates used in such methods, and methods of using the probes of the invention in oligonucleotide amplification, detection, identification, and/or hybridization assays are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Chromagen, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5726329
    Abstract: Phosphoramidites of the formula ##STR1## where R is a base-labile protecting group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
    Inventors: David S. Jones, John P. Hachmann, Michael J. Conrad, Stephen Coutts, Douglas Alan Livingston
  • Patent number: 5652099
    Abstract: Structural analogs of the six non-fluorescent N-nucleosides commonly found in RNA and DNA, which are inherently fluorescent under physiological conditions, are identified and methods for their preparation provided. Such analogs may be incorporated into DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides via either enzymatic or chemical synthesis to produce fluorescent oligonucleotides having prescribed sequences. Such analogous sequences may be identical to, or the analogous complement of, template or target DNA or RNA sequences to which the fluorescent oligonucleotides can be hybridized. Methods of preparing either RNA or DNA oligonucleotide probes of the invention, intermediates used in such methods, and methods of using the probes of the invention in oligonucleotide amplication, detection, identification, and/or hybridization assays are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5418150
    Abstract: A method of cleaving substrate DNA with a restriction enzyme, wherein the substrate DNA is resistant to cleavage by the restriction enzyme, is disclosed. The method comprises co-incubating the substrate DNA and the restriction enzyme with an activating DNA sequence. The activating sequence comprises an oligonucleotide comprised of the restriction enzyme recognition site and cleavage permissible flanking sequences joined directly to both the 5' and 3' ends of the recognition site. Exemplary restriction enzymes which may be used in practicing the present invention include Nae I, BspM I, Hpa II, Nar I, and Sac II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael D. Topal, Michael J. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5391785
    Abstract: Phosphoramidites of the formula ##STR1## where R is a base-labile protecting group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: La Jolla Pharmaceutial Company
    Inventors: David S. Jones, John P. Hachmann, Michael J. Conrad, Stephen Coutts, Douglas A. Livingston