Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Pohida
Thomas J. Pohida 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: 20210278328Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a fluorescence scanning system having a sample holder with a sample suspended within that is rotated by a centrifuge such that the sample is illuminated at various angles by an excitation beam by operation of a galvanometer and such that the sample emits a fluorescence emissions that is detected through a narrow window of exposure defined along the travel path of rotation taken by the sample holder when rotated by the centrifuge. A stationary fluorescence detector is in operative communication with the sample holder along the narrow window of exposure for detecting the fluorescence emissions emitted by the sample from the sample holder while also separating the excitation beam from the fluorescence emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human ServicInventors: Peter W. Schuck, John W. Kakareka, Thomas J. Pohida, George Patterson, Hauying Zhao
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Patent number: 10905094Abstract: The System for Continuous Observation of Rodents in Home-cage Environment (SCORHE) was developed to quantify activity levels and behavior patterns for mice housed within a home cage that, optional, may be disposed in a commercial ventilated cage rack. The SCORHE home-cage in-rack design provides daytime and night-time monitoring with the stability and consistency of the home-cage environment. The dual-video camera custom hardware design makes efficient use of space, does not require home-cage modification, and is animal facility user-friendly. In various embodiments, a software application integrates the two video streams to extract several mouse activity measures.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Ghadi Salem, John U. Dennis, James B. Mitchell, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 9670447Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of microstructured membranes, methods of fabricating microstructured membranes, bioreactors housing microstructured membranes, and methods of using bioreactors and microstructured membranes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of cellular tissues in an environment which more accurately resembles a native environment. In some more specific embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of tumor cells on a membrane having a microfabricated pattern which mimics a native vasculature system.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Chandan Das, Ashley A. Jaeger, Thomas J. Pohida, Michael M. Gottesman, Randall H. Pursley, Philip G. McQueen, Nicole Y. Morgan
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Publication number: 20160150758Abstract: The System for Continuous Observation of Rodents in Home-cage Environment (SCORHE) was developed to quantify activity levels and behavior patterns for mice housed within a home cage that, optional, may be disposed in a commercial ventilated cage rack. The SCORHE home-cage in-rack design provides daytime and night-time monitoring with the stability and consistency of the home-cage environment. The dual-video camera custom hardware design makes efficient use of space, does not require home-cage modification, and is animal facility user-friendly. In various embodiments, a software application integrates the two video streams to extract several mouse activity measures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Ghadi Salem, John U. Dennis, James B. Mitchell, Thomas J. Pohida
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Publication number: 20140212967Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of microstructured membranes, methods of fabricating microstructured membranes, bioreactors housing microstructured membranes, and methods of using bioreactors and microstructured membranes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of cellular tissues in an environment which more accurately resembles a native environment. In some more specific embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of tumor cells on a membrane having a microfabricated pattern which mimics a native vasculature system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human ServInventors: Chandan Das, Ashley A. Jaeger, Thomas J. Pohida, Michael M. Gottesman, Randall H. Pursley, Philip G. McQueen, Nicole Y. Morgan
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Patent number: 8597715Abstract: A method of removing a target from a biological sample which involves placing a transfer surface in contact with the biological sample, and then focally altering the transfer surface to allow selective separation of the target from the biological sample. In disclosed embodiments, the target is a cell or cellular component of a tissue section and the transfer surface is a film that can be focally altered to adhere the target to the transfer surface. Subsequent separation of the film from the tissue section selectively removes the adhered target from the tissue section. The transfer surface is activated from within the target to adhere the target to the transfer surface, for example by heating the target to adhere it to a thermoplastic transfer surface. Such in situ activation can be achieved by exposing the biological sample to an immunoreagent that specifically binds to the target (or a component of the target).Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Robert F. Bonner, Rodrigo Chuaqui, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 8460744Abstract: A device for performing target activated transfer that includes a mounting surface for mounting a tissue sample; and a light source positioned to substantially uniformly irradiate both stained and unstained regions of the tissue sample with light energy that activates the reagent to selectively adhere the stained regions to a transfer surface. Also described is an automated system for transferring tissue from a tissue sample to a transfer substrate. The system includes means for holding a tissue section that includes targets specifically stained with an absorptive stain thereby resulting in a stained tissue surface, and a flexible transfer film that includes a lower thermoplastic layer in sufficient thermal contact with the stained tissue surface; an irradiating assembly configured to provide a predetermined uniform light dose to the entire tissue section; and means for applying a constant pressure to the transfer film during irradiation.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Robert F. Bonner, Thomas J. Pohida, Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Rodrigo F. Chuaqui
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Publication number: 20100216166Abstract: A device for performing target activated transfer that includes a mounting surface for mounting a tissue sample; and a light source positioned to substantially uniformly irradiate both stained and unstained regions of the tissue sample with light energy that activates the reagent to selectively adhere the stained regions to a transfer surface. Also described is an automated system for transferring tissue from a tissue sample to a transfer substrate. The system includes means for holding a tissue section that includes targets specifically stained with an absorptive stain thereby resulting in a stained tissue surface, and a flexible transfer film that includes a lower thermoplastic layer in sufficient thermal contact with the stained tissue surface; an irradiating assembly configured to provide a predetermined uniform light dose to the entire tissue section; and means for applying a constant pressure to the transfer film during irradiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Robert F. Bonner, Thomas J. Pohida, Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Rodrigo F. Chuaqui
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Publication number: 20100190177Abstract: A method of removing a target from a biological sample which involves placing a transfer surface in contact with the biological sample, and then focally altering the transfer surface to allow selective separation of the target from the biological sample. In disclosed embodiments, the target is a cell or cellular component of a tissue section and the transfer surface is a film that can be focally altered to adhere the target to the transfer surface. Subsequent separation of the film from the tissue section selectively removes the adhered target from the tissue section. The transfer surface is activated from within the target to adhere the target to the transfer surface, for example by heating the target to adhere it to a thermoplastic transfer surface. Such in situ activation can be achieved by exposing the biological sample to an immunoreagent that specifically binds to the target (or a component of the target).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Robert F. Bonner, Rodrigo Chuaqui, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 7709047Abstract: A method of removing a target from a biological sample which involves placing a transfer surface in contact with the biological sample, and then focally altering the transfer surface to allow selective separation of the target from the biological sample. In disclosed embodiments, the target is a cell or cellular component of a tissue section and the transfer surface is a film that can be focally altered to adhere the target to the transfer surface. Subsequent separation of the film from the tissue section selectively removes the adhered target from the tissue section. The transfer surface is activated from within the target to adhere the target to the transfer surface, for example by heating the target to adhere it to a thermoplastic transfer surface. Such in situ activation can be achieved by exposing the biological sample to an immunoreagent that specifically binds to the target (or a component of the target).Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Robert F. Bonner, Rodrigo Chuaqui, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 7695752Abstract: A device for performing target activated transfer that includes a mounting surface for mounting a tissue sample; and a light source positioned to substantially uniformly irradiate both stained and unstained regions of the tissue sample with light energy that activates the reagent to selectively adhere the stained regions to a transfer surface. Also described is an automated system for transferring tissue from a tissue sample to a transfer substrate. The system includes means for holding a tissue section that includes targets specifically stained with an absorptive stain thereby resulting in a stained tissue surface, and a flexible transfer film that includes a lower thermoplastic layer in sufficient thermal contact with the stained tissue surface; an irradiating assembly configured to provide a predetermined uniform light dose to the entire tissue section; and means for applying a constant pressure to the transfer film during irradiation.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Robert F. Bonner, Thomas J. Pohida, Michael R. Emmert-Buck, Michael Anthony Tangrea, Rodrigo F. Chuaqui
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Patent number: 6897038Abstract: Laser capture microdissection occurs where the transfer polymer film is placed on a substrate overlying visualized and selected cellular material from a sample for extraction. The transfer polymer film is focally activated (melted) with a pulse brief enough to allow the melted volume to be confined to that polymer directly irradiated. This invention uses brief pulses to reduce the thermal diffusion into surrounding non-irradiated polymer, preventing it from being heated hot enough to melt while providing sufficient heat by direct absorption in the small focal volume directly irradiated by the focused laser beam. This method can be used both in previously disclosed contact LCM, non contact LCM, using either condenser-side (or beam passes through polymer before tissue) or epi-irradiation (or laser passes through tissue before polymer). It can be used in configuration in which laser passes through tissue before polymer with and without an additional rigid substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Robert F. Bonner, Seth R. Goldstein, Paul D. Smith, Thomas J. Pohida
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Publication number: 20040085443Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing regions of interest for objects comprising biological material. A region of interest can be denoted for a physical object and information indicating the region of interest can be stored in a computer-readable medium for later retrieval. Subsequently, when the object is retrieved, the information indicating the region of interest can be used to generate information specifying a physical location within the region of interest. An operation can then be performed on the physical location within the region of interest. Reference pints within the object can assist in regeneration of the region of interest, and the reference points can be arranged in such a fashion that processing can take rotation of the object into account. The invention includes various features advantageous for constructing tissue microarrays.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Olli P Kallioniemi, Thomas J Pohida, John Karareka, Ghadi Hamdi Salem
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Publication number: 20030215936Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a high-throughput, large-scale molecular profiling of tissue specimens by retrieving a donor tissue specimen from an array of donor specimens, placing a sample of the donor specimen in an assigned location in a recipient array, providing substantial copies of the array, performing a different biological analysis of each copy, and storing the results of the analysis. The results may be compared to determine if there are correlations or discrepancies between the results of different biological analyses at each assigned location, and also compared to clinical information about the human patient from which the tissue was obtained. The results of similar analyses on corresponding sections of the array can be used as quality control devices, for example by subjecting the arrays to a single simultaneous investigative procedure. Uniform interpretation of the arrays can be obtained, and compared to interpretations of different observers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Inventors: Olli Kallioniemi, Guido Sauter, Stephen B. Leighton, Juha Kononen, Thomas J. Pohida, John William Karareka, Ghadi Hamdi Salem
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Publication number: 20030008322Abstract: Laser capture microdissection occurs where the transfer polymer film is placed on a substrate overlying visualized and selected cellular material from a sample for extraction. The transfer polymer film is focally activated (melted) with a pulse brief enough to allow the melted volume to be confined to that polymer directly irradiated. This invention uses brief pulses to reduce the thermal diffusion into surrounding non-irradiated polymer, preventing it from being heated hot enough to melt while providing sufficient heat by direct absorption in the small focal volume directly irradiated by the focused laser beam. This method can be used both in previously disclosed contact LCM, non contact LCM, using either condenser-side (or beam passes through polymer before tissue) or epi-irradiation (or laser passes through tissue before polymer). It can be used in configuration in which laser passes through tissue before polymer with and without an additional rigid substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Dept. of Health & Human Services, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH Ofc. OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERInventors: Robert F. Bonner, Seth R. Goldstein, Paul D. Smith, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 6420132Abstract: Laser capture microdissection occurs where the transfer polymer film is placed on a substrate overlying visualized and selected cellular material from a sample for extraction. The transfer polymer film is focally activated (melted) with a pulse brief enough to allow the melted volume to be confined to that polymer directly irradiated. This invention uses brief pulses to reduce the thermal diffusion into surrounding non-irradiated polymer, preventing it from being heated hot enough to melt while providing sufficient heat by direct absorption in the small focal volume directly irradiated by the focused laser beam. This method can be used both in previously disclosed contact LCM, non contact LCM, using either condenser-side (or beam passes through polymer before tissue) or epi-irradiation (or laser passes through tissue before polymer). It can be used in configuration in which laser passes through tissue before polymer with and without an additional rigid substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: Robert F. Bonner, Seth R. Goldstein, Paul D. Smith, Thomas J. Pohida
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Patent number: 5502386Abstract: An EPR imager and spectrometer includes pulse generating system for generating broadband pulses having an RF carrier frequency that is not highly absorbed by biological samples. The pulse generating system includes up and down chirp convertors for frequency modulating a carrier frequency pulse and compressing the frequency modulated pulse to form a broadband excitation pulse of high energy. Such a machine could form the basis of a clinical imaging device capable of high sensitivity to free radical species in human patients.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human ServicesInventors: John Bourg, James Mitchell, Mark Mirotznik, Bradley Roth, Sankaran Subramanian, Murali Cherukuri, Paul G. Zablocky, Thomas J. Pohida, Paul D. Smith, Walter S. Friauf, Rolf G. Tschudin