Patents Assigned to BBI Bioseq, Inc.
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Publication number: 20050019814Abstract: Methods for cell lysis and purification of biological materials, involving subjecting a sample to high pressure. Also featured is an apparatus for practicing the methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2004Publication date: January 27, 2005Applicant: BBI BioSeq, Inc., a Massachusetts corporationInventors: James Laugharn, Robert Hess, Feng Tao
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Publication number: 20040151620Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −40° C. to about 95° C., or intermediate ranges). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, plant, animal, and human tissue, sputum, urine, feces, water, and ascites, the decontamination of military devices, food and beverage production, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: BBI BioSeq, Inc., a Massachusetts corporationInventors: James A. Laugharn, David W. Bradley, Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6753169Abstract: A method of hybridizing a first nucleic acid to a second nucleic acid at least partially complementary to the first nucleic acid by (1) providing a sample vessel and pressure controller for the vessel; and (2) contacting the first and second nucleic acids within the vessel at a pressure above ambient pressure that is effective to enhance hybridization of the first and second nucleic acids.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: BBI, BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Hess, James A. Laugharn, Jr., David J. Green
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Patent number: 6696019Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −40° C. to about 95° C., or intermediate ranges). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, plant, animal, and human tissue, sputum, urine, feces, water, and ascites, the decontamination of military devices, food and beverage production, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., David W. Bradley, Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6635469Abstract: The invention relates to (1) pressure-mediated dissociation of an analyte complexed with an endogenous binding partner to enable detection of a complex formed from the analyte and an exogenous binding factor, (2) pressure-mediated association of an analyte and an exogenous binding partner to enable more rapid and/or more sensitive detection of an analyte, and (3) pressure-mediated association and dissociation of biomolecular complexes to enable separation of one biomolecule from a complex mixture. Pressure can be used to improve assays by dissociating endogenous analyte complexes and improving assay speed and sensitivity by associating the analyte molecules with exogenously supplied binding partners. Pressure can also be used to improve the separation of compounds from contaminated mixtures.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1999Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: BBI Bioseq, Inc.Inventors: Gerald J. Litt, James A. Laugharn, David J. Green
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Patent number: 6569672Abstract: Methods and apparatus in which pressure provides precise control over the timing and preferably synchronization of chemical reactions, particularly enzymatic reactions.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Gustav H. Dreier, Edwin A. Rudd, David J. Green
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Patent number: 6448065Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that the sequence of monomers in a polymeric biomolecule can be determined in a self-contained, high pressure reaction and detection apparatus, without the need for fluid flow into or out from the apparatus. The pressure is used to control the activity of enzymes that digest the polymeric biomolecule to yield the individual monomers in the sequence in which they existed in the polymer. High pressures modulate enzyme kinetics by reversibly inhibiting those enzymatic processes which result in a higher average activation volume, when compared to the ground state, and reversibly accelerating those processes which have lower activation volumes than the ground state. Modulating the pressure allows the experimenter to precisely control the activity of the enzyme. Conditions can be found, for example, where the enzyme removes only one monomer (e.g., a nucleotide or amino acid) from the biomolecule before the pressure is again raised to a prohibitive level.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: BBI Bioseq. Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Robert A. Hess
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Publication number: 20020016450Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that hyperbaric, hydrostatic pressure reversibly alters the partitioning of biomolecules between certain adsorbed and solvated phases relative to partitioning at ambient pressure. The new methods and devices disclosed herein make use of this discovery for highly selective and efficient, low salt isolation and purification of nucleic acids from a broad range of sample types, including forensic samples, blood and other body fluids, and cultured cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: BBI BioSeq, Inc., a Masachusetts corporationInventors: James A. Laugharn, Robert A. Hess, Feng Tao
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Publication number: 20010055772Abstract: A method of hybridizing a first nucleic acid to a second nucleic acid at least partially complementary to the first nucleic acid by (1) providing a sample vessel and pressure controller for the vessel; and (2) contacting the first and second nucleic acids within the vessel at a pressure above ambient pressure that is effective to enhance hybridization of the first and second nucleic acids.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2001Publication date: December 27, 2001Applicant: BBI BioSeq, Inc., Massachusetts corporationInventors: Robert A. Hess, James A. Laugharn, David J. Green
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Publication number: 20010046676Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that the sequence of monomers in a polymeric biomolecule can be determined in a self-contained, high pressure reaction and detection apparatus, without the need for fluid flow into or out from the apparatus. The pressure is used to control the activity of enzymes that digest the polymeric biomolecule to yield the individual monomers in the sequence in which they existed in the polymer. High pressures modulate enzyme kinetics by reversibly inhibiting those enzymatic processes which result in a higher average activation volume, when compared to the ground state, and reversibly accelerating those processes which have lower activation volumes than the ground state. Modulating the pressure allows the experimenter to precisely control the activity of the enzyme. Conditions can be found, for example, where the enzyme removes only one monomer (e.g., a nucleotide or amino acid) from the biomolecule before the pressure is again raised to a prohibitive level.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Applicant: BBI BioSeq, Inc., Massachusetts corporationInventors: James A. Laugharn, Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6274726Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that hyperbaric, hydrostatic pressure reversibly alters the partitioning of biomolecules between certain adsorbed and solvated phases relative to partitioning at ambient pressure. The new methods and devices disclosed herein make use of this discovery for highly selective and efficient, low salt isolation and purification of nucleic acids from a broad range of sample types, including forensic samples, blood and other body fluids, and cultured cells. In one embodiment, the invention features a pressure-modulation apparatus. The apparatus includes an electrode array system having at least two (i.e., two, three, four, or more) electrodes; and a conduit interconnecting the electrodes. The conduit contains an electrically conductive fluid in contact with a phase positioned in a pressure chamber. The phase can be, for example, a binding medium or stationary phase.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: BBI Bioseq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Robert A. Hess, Feng Tao
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Patent number: 6270723Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −20° C. to about 95° C.). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, the decontamination of military devices, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: BBI Bioseq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., David W. Bradley, Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6258534Abstract: A method of hybridizing a first nucleic acid to a second nucleic acid at least partially complementary to the first nucleic acid by (1) providing a sample vessel and pressure controller for the vessel; and (2) contacting the first and second nucleic acids within the vessel at a pressure above ambient pressure that is effective to enhance hybridization of the first and second nucleic acids.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., David J. Green, Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6245506Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that the sequence of monomers in a polymeric biomolecule can be determined in a self-contained, high pressure reaction and detection apparatus, without the need for fluid flow into or out from the apparatus. The pressure is used to control the activity of enzymes that digest the polymeric biomolecule to yield the individual monomers in the sequence in which they existed in the polymer. High pressures modulate enzyme kinetics by reversibly inhibiting those enzymatic processes which result in a higher average activation volume, when compared to the ground state, and reversibly accelerating those processes which have lower activation volumes than the ground state. Modulating the pressure allows the experimenter to precisely control the activity of the enzyme. Conditions can be found, for example, where the enzyme removes only one monomer (e.g., a nucleotide or amino acid) from the biomolecule before the pressure is again raised to a prohibitive level.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1997Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: BBI Bioseq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Robert A. Hess
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Patent number: 6127534Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that pressure-induced changes in the free ion activity of a solution can be used to reversibly modulate the rate or the equilibrium position of chemical reactions, including catalytic reactions and associating/dissociating reactions. Pressure-induced changes in free-ion activity can also be used to improve separation processes.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Hess, James A. Laugharn, Jr.
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Patent number: 6120985Abstract: Methods for cell lysis and purification of biological materials, involving subjecting a sample maintained at a subzero temperature to high pressure, are disclosed. Apparatus for practicing the methods are also disclosed. The cell or cells that are lysed may be in suspension or part of a tissue. They are lysed by a method that includes: (i) providing a frozen cell or cells under atmospheric pressure; (ii) while maintaining the cell or cells at a subzero temperature, exposing the cell or cells to an elevated pressure in a pressure chamber, the elevated pressure being sufficient to thaw the frozen cell or cells at the subzero temperature; (iii) depressurizing the pressure chamber to freeze the cell or cells at the subzero temperature; and (iv) repeating the exposing and depressurizing steps until the cell or cells are lysed. This method can lyse a cell or cells with or without cell walls; such cells include, but are not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungal cells (e.g, yeast cells), plant cells (e.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Robert A. Hess, Feng Tao
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Patent number: 6111096Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that hyperbaric, hydrostatic pressure reversibly alters the partitioning of nucleic acids between certain adsorbed and solvated phases relative to partitioning at ambient pressure. The new methods and devices disclosed herein make use of this discovery for highly selective and efficient, low salt isolation and purification of nucleic acids from a broad range of sample types, including forensic samples, blood and other body fluids, and cultured cells.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: BBI BioSeq, Inc.Inventors: James A. Laugharn, Jr., Robert A. Hess, Feng Tao