Abstract: A holder for an elongated medical body suitable for insertion into a patient during a surgical procedure is provided. The holder includes a first outer member having a first inner surface, and a first outer surface, and a second outer member having a second inner surface and a second outer surface. The holder also includes a core extending between the first and second outer members, and at least one holding member placed between the inner surfaces of the first and second outer members. The holding member or holding members are compressible for holding the elongated medical body in the holder.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid ligands to LL37, methods for producing said nucleic acid ligands, and methods for utilizing said nucleic acid ligands. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, this invention relates to nucleic acid ligands exhibiting high specific binding affinity to LL37 peptides, precursors and/or portions thereof. Further, the nucleic acid ligands may bind competitively with native ligands of LL37 and may also inhibit and/or interfere with LL37 function, such as by binding to LL37.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel functionalized biomolecules and methods for generating such biomolecules. Biomolecules may generally include nucleic acids, peptides, multicomponent molecular complexes and/or any other molecular products that may be produced by living organisms. The present invention is further directed to cells and/or organisms manipulated to produce such functionalized biomolecules. The cells contemplated by the present invention include both prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic cells. The functionalized biomolecules are produced via materials introduced into the cell using standard molecular biology techniques or are incorporated within the genomic nucleic acid of a cell by standard recombination techniques. Further contemplated is the use of such cells for sequestration of target molecules within the cells.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or any other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid in a bioreactor, a food or agricultural product, any fluid or matrix in the body of an animal, or any other fluid or matrix whose concentration of an analyte is under investigation. In one embodiment, the analyte sensing device includes a housing having an interior space. Contained within the housing and in the interior space is one or more analyte sensing component(s). The analyte sensing component, in one embodiment, includes one or more radiation converting element(s), for example, converting chromophores. The radiation converting element(s) are capable of converting or modifying radiation of one or more wavelengths into radiation of one or more different wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, device and method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. A thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand for use in the system, device and method is disclosed. The thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand is resistant to degradation at physiological temperatures and its use within the device provides a minimally invasive sensor for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix as are present in the body of an animal.

Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid (for example, a fluid sample) or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid or matrix in the body of an animal (for example, human), or any other suitable fluid or matrix in which it is desired to know the concentration of an analyte. In one embodiment, the invention is a system and/or device that includes one or more layers having a plurality of analyte-equivalents and mobile or fixed receptor molecules with specific binding sites for the analyte-equivalents and analytes under analysis (for example, glucose). The receptor molecules, when exposed to or in the presence of analyte (that resides, for example, in a fluid in an animal), bind with the analyte (or vice versa).

Abstract: This invention generally relates to devices and methods for optical coherence tomography (OCT), and also to devices and methods for spatially-localized OCT imaging. In one aspect, a spatially-localized OCT imaging system may include an OCT probe, a spatially-resolvable positioning device, a tracking system, and a data acquisition system. Some or all of the components may also be linked and/or otherwise combined.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, device and method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. A thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand for use in the system, device and method is disclosed. The thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand is resistant to degradation at physiological temperatures and its use within the device provides a minimally invasive sensor for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix as are present in the body of an animal.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel functionalized biomolecules and methods for generating such biomolecules. Biomolecules may generally include nucleic acids, peptides, multicomponent molecular complexes and/or any other molecular products that may be produced by living organisms. The present invention is further directed to cells and/or organisms manipulated to produce such functionalized biomolecules. The cells contemplated by the present invention include both prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic cells. The functionalized biomolecules are produced via materials introduced into the cell using standard molecular biology techniques or are incorporated within the genomic nucleic acid of a cell by standard recombination techniques. Further contemplated is the use of such cells for sequestration of target molecules within the cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid ligands to LL37, methods for producing said nucleic acid ligands, and methods for utilizing said nucleic acid ligands. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, this invention relates to nucleic acid ligands exhibiting high specific binding affinity to LL37 peptides, precursors and/or portions thereof. Further, the nucleic acid ligands may bind competitively with native ligands of LL37 and may also inhibit and/or interfere with LL37 function, such as by binding to LL37.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for molecular association, particularly to devices and methods for hybridization of nucleic acids utilizing temperature gradients and imaging thereof. In one aspect, a molecular hybridization system generally includes a substrate having a plurality of molecular probes attached thereto, the plurality of probes being generally present in multiple copies arranged in localized formations on the surface of the substrate. The molecular hybridization system further generally includes a chamber that encloses the plurality of molecular probes such that a fluid containing sample may be applied and kept in contact with the substrate having the probes thereon. The molecular hybridization system also includes a temperature affecting system that generally produces at least one desired temperature on the surface of the substrate and in the adjacent fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and devices for tissue collection and analysis, and particularly to methods and devices for collecting, preserving and analyzing biopsy samples. In one aspect, a method for collecting a tissue sample includes disposing a collection device proximate and/or within a tissue, such as of a body, drawing in at least a portion of the tissue into the collection device, adhering the at least a portion of the tissue to at least a portion of the collection device and separating the sample and collection device from the remainder of the tissue and/or body. In general, the method of adhering the tissue sample to the collection device may also preserve the tissue sample, such as, for example, by altering the temperature of the tissue sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for generating functional biomolecules, particularly to methods for generating multiple functional nucleic acids against multiple target molecules simultaneously. The present invention further relates to methods for generating functional biomolecules, particularly to functional nucleic acids, that bind with functional activity to another biomolecule, such as a receptor molecule. In one exemplary aspect of the invention, generation of functional biomolecules may be performed against multiple targets simultaneously within a single system, such as the generation of functional nucleic acid ligands within a single reaction volume. In general, a plurality of targets may be disposed within in a single reaction volume and a library of biomolecules, such as a nucleic acid library, may be applied to the reaction volume. The members of the library that do not bind to any of the plurality of targets under given conditions may then be partitioned, such as by washing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of generating amounts of selective nucleic acids. The present invention further relates to selective nucleic acids incorporated within non-coding nucleic acids, capable of binding to or altering a target molecule. Selective nucleic acids may generally refer to, but are not limited to, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), ribonucleic acids (RNAs), artificially modified nucleic acids, combinations or modifications thereof. Selective nucleic acids may also generally refer to, but are not limited to, nucleic acid aptamers, aptazymes, ribozymes, deoxyribozymes, nucleic acid probes, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs), short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), antisense nucleic acids, diagnostic probes or probe libraries, aptamer inhibitors, precursors of any of the above and/or combinations or modifications thereof. In one aspect, a method for generating amounts of selective nucleic acids includes incorporating a selective nucleic acid sequence into a carrier nucleic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids with biomimetic properties and methods for producing said nucleic acids. In particular, this invention relates to nucleic acids exhibiting biomimetic properties in relation to proteins such as growth factors, hormones and/or other cell signaling proteins. Biomimetic properties may generally be defined as interactive ability in the same and/or similar manner as another biological molecule. This may, for example, include interacting with a ligand-binding biomolecule, such as a cell signaling receptor, in a manner similar to a native ligand. In the case of a signaling receptor, such biomimetic nucleic acids may in general act as an agonist or an antagonist to the given receptor. They may further act in competition to a native ligand.