Patents by Inventor Robert F. Zuk
Robert F. Zuk 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).
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Publication number: 20240159782Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20240044886Abstract: The present invention is directed to biochemical assay methods, which re-use a hapten-immobilized test probe and reagents for quantitating an analyte or measuring kinetic binding in different samples, anywhere from about 3 to 20 times, while maintaining acceptable assay performance. The methods use a conjugate solution either comprising (i) an anti-hapten antibody and a capture antibody against an analyte, or (ii) an anti-hapten antibody and streptavidin, in each cycle and regenerate the hapten-coated test probe by dipping the test probe in an acidic solution having pH about 1-4, optionally further dipping in a DMSO solution, after the completion of each cycle of reaction. The robustness of the hapten-immobilized solid phase allows utilization of denaturation reagents for efficient elution of the immune complexes after each cycle without compromising the binding activity of the hapten on the solid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2020Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Robert F. ZUK, Pu LI, Jackie Shek Kei CHAN, Indrani CHAKRABORTY
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Patent number: 11879901Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2023Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: ACCESS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20230184792Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20230104035Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of measuring the dissociation rate of the binding of an antibody to an antigen. The method has two phases: a first phase of binding and a second phase of dissociation. The first phase of the assay has a probe coated with an antigen, or protein G, or an anti-human IgG Fc antibody. The probe is immersed in a sample solution containing an antibody, followed by a wash sequence, then the probe is transferred to a reagent with a biotinylated antigen. After an incubation, the antibody bound on the probe binds to the biotinylated antigen to form an immune complex. Fluorescent signal is produced by immersing the probe in a reagent having a fluorescent tagged streptavidin. The last step of the first phase is a measurement of fluorescent on the probe tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Mohsen Karbaschi, Heng Wu, Haode Chen
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Patent number: 11598784Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20220107330Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Hong TAN, Ming XIA, Yushan TAN, Jun CHEN, Erhua CAO, Genqian LI, Robert F. ZUK
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Publication number: 20220018833Abstract: The present invention is directed immunoassay methods, which re-use a hapten-immobilized test probe and reagents for quantitating an analyte in different samples, anywhere from about 3 to 20 times, while maintaining acceptable clinical assay performance. The methods use a dual antibody conjugate solution comprising an anti-hapten antibody and a capture antibody against the analyte in each cycle. After the completion of each cycle of reaction, the test probe is dipped in an acidic solution having pH about 1-4, to elute the immunocomplex formed on the probe and to regenerate the hapten-immobilized probe. The robustness of the hapten-coated solid phase allows utilization of multiple denaturation reagents for efficient elution of the immune complexes after each cycle without compromising the binding activity of the hapten on the solid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Qing Xia, Jenchieh Wu
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Patent number: 11199555Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20210041428Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for increasing sensitivities of immunoassays. The invention utilizes an acid elution condition that preferentially elute specifically bound immune complexes over non-specifically bound complexes from a solid phase, and designs immunoassay protocols that improve the ratio of specific binding to non-specific binding and thereby improving assay sensitivity. The protocol determines the signal of the labeled immunocomplexes eluted from a solid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Hong Tan, Qing Xia, Pu Li, Haode Chen, Heng Wu
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Publication number: 20200333337Abstract: The present invention is directed an immunoassay method, which re-uses an antibody-immobilized test probe and reagents for quantitating an analyte in different samples, anywhere from about 3 to 20 times, while maintaining acceptable clinical assay performance. The method regenerates the test probe by dipping the test probe in an acidic solution having pH about 1-4, after the completion of each cycle of reaction. The present invention is also directed to a unitized cartridge (a strip) for an immunoassay test. Each unitized cartridge contains all necessary reagents can be used for 3-20 cycles to measure 3-20 different samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Qing Xia
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Patent number: 10809251Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for increasing sensitivities of immunoassays. The invention utilizes an acid elution condition that preferentially elute specifically bound immune complexes over non-specifically bound complexes from a solid phase, and designs immunoassay protocols that improve the ratio of specific binding to non-specific binding and thereby improving assay sensitivity. The protocol determines the signal of the labeled immunocomplexes eluted from a solid phase.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: ACCESS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Hong Tan, Qing Xia, Pu Li, Haode Chen, Heng Wu
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Patent number: 10718764Abstract: The present invention is directed to a luminescent immunoassay method for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample with high sensitivity. The invention provides a unique combination of (i) using a probe having a small sensing surface area for binding analyte molecules, (ii) using a high molecular weight branched polymer conjugated with multiple binding molecules and multiple luminescent labels, and (iii) cycling the probe having immunocomplex formed back to the reagent vessel and amplification vessel 1-10 times and repeating the reaction with the reagent and the amplification polymer, to improve the sensitivity of detection level. For each cycling, the luminescent signal is increased significantly over the noise. The present invention is also directed to an electrochemiluminescent detection system for measuring a chemiluminescent signal on a probe tip.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Hong Tan
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Patent number: 10451616Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantitating an analyte having a wide range concentration in a single assay without having to dilute the sample and repeating the assay. The key feature of the invention is having two cycles of events including sample binding to probe, binding reactions, and detection. After the first cycle of binding and detecting, the probe is dipped into the same sample vessel to bind additional analyte in the sample vessel at a condition that is more favorable to binding than the condition in the first cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.Inventor: Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20190285658Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Hong TAN, Ming XIA, Yushan TAN, Jun CHEN, Erhua CAO, Genqian LI, Robert F. ZUK
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Publication number: 20190250154Abstract: The present invention is directed an immunoassay method using an interference detection system. The assay re-uses an antibody-immobilized test probe and reagents for quantitating an analyte in different samples, from about 3 to 20 times, while maintaining acceptable clinical assay performance. The method regenerates the test probe with an acidic solution after completion of each cycle of reactions. The present invention is also directed to a unitized cartridge (a strip) for an immunoassay test. Each unitized cartridge contains all necessary reagents and can be used for 3-20 cycles to measure 3-20 different samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Qing Xia
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Patent number: 10379116Abstract: This invention relates to a detection system for measuring a fluorescent signal in a fluorescent assay. The system comprises a probe having a small sensing surface bound with a fluorescent label, and a light source and a detector both mounted at the proximal side of the sensing surface of the substrate. The invention also relates to a method for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample using a probe tip having a small surface area (?5 mm) and a high molecular weight polymer (?1 MD) having multiple binding molecules and multiple fluorescent labels. The binding reaction is accelerated by flowing the reaction solutions laterally and moving the probe tip up and down in the reaction vessels. The invention furthers relates to a fluorescent labeling composition comprising a cross-linked FICOLLĀ® molecule having a plurality of binding molecules and a plurality of fluorescent labels.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.Inventors: Hong Tan, Robert F. Zuk, Yushan Tan, Erhua Cao, Min Xia, Jun Chen
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Patent number: 10345319Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Access Medical Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20180306829Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Hong TAN, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian LI, Robert F. Zuk
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Publication number: 20180180606Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for increasing sensitivities of immunoassays. The invention utilizes an acid elution condition that preferentially elute specifically bound immune complexes over non-specifically bound complexes from a solid phase, and designs immunoassay protocols that improve the ratio of specific binding to non-specific binding and thereby improving assay sensitivity. The protocol determines the signal of the labeled immunocomplexes eluted from a solid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Robert F. Zuk, Hong Tan, Qing Xia, Pu Li, Haode Chen, Heng Wu