Patents Assigned to Luminex Corporation
  • APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAGNETIC MIXING
    Publication number: 20190093061
    Abstract: Methods and systems for magnetic mixing. Particular embodiments relate to applying a magnetic field to move a magnetically responsive component in a chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Doug WHITMAN, James HEISLER, Colin BOZARTH, Germaine SIEW, Charles COLLINS, Eric SMITH
  • Solid support assay systems and methods utilizing non-standard bases
    Patent number: 10240189
    Abstract: Solid support assays using non-standard bases are described. A capture oligonucleotide comprising a molecular recognition sequence is attached to a solid support and hybridized with a target. In some instances, the molecular recognition sequence includes one or more non-standard bases and hybridizes to a complementary tagging sequence of the target oligonucleotide. In other instances, incorporation of a non-standard base (e.g., via PCR or ligation) is used in the assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jennifer K. Grenier, David J. Marshall, James R. Prudent, Craig S. Richmond, Eric B. Roesch, Christopher W. Scherrer, Christopher B. Sherrill, Jerod L. Ptacin
  • METHODS FOR GENERATING STABILIZED LYOPHILIZED MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20190071712
    Abstract: Lyophilized biological reagents, such as enzymes (e.g., PCR reagents) and antibodies, are provided that include a wax component. Thus, in some aspects, a method is provided for storing a biological reagent comprising formulating the reagent into a lyophilized composition including a wax component. Methods for using such lyophilized reagents are likewise provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott JOHNSON, Jen DILLMAN
  • Instrument for cassette for sample preparation
    Patent number: 10214767
    Abstract: A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and direction system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Jia Chang Yu, Jesus Ching, Phillip You Fai Lee, David Hsiang Hu
  • Apparatus and methods for magnetic mixing
    Patent number: 10179899
    Abstract: Methods and systems for magnetic mixing. Particular embodiments relate to applying a magnetic field to move a magnetically responsive component in a chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Doug Whitman, James Heisler, Colin Bozarth, Germaine Siew, Charles Collins, Eric Smith
  • CLEAVABLE HAIRPIN PRIMERS
    Publication number: 20180355415
    Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs and methods that provide superior prevention of primer-dimers and other artifacts of false priming events are disclosed. In particular, there is disclosed a hairpin primer having a target-specific primer region, wherein the target-specific region comprises a target-binding dependent cleavage sequence; a first stem forming region 5? of the target-specific primer region; and a second stem forming region 3? of the target-specific primer region, wherein the second stem forming region is complementary to the first stem forming region. Methods of using the hairpin primer to amplify a target nucleic acid are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin KOCHANCZYK, Doug WHITMAN
  • INSTRUMENT FOR CASSETTE FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION
    Publication number: 20180346965
    Abstract: A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and direction system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Jia Chang YU, Jesus CHING, Phillip You Fai LEE, David Hsiang HU
  • Methods for generating stabilized lyophilized materials
    Patent number: 10144954
    Abstract: Lyophilized biological reagents, such as enzymes (e.g., PCR reagents) and antibodies, are provided that include a wax component. Thus, in some aspects, a method is provided for storing a biological reagent comprising formulating the reagent into a lyophilized composition including a wax component. Methods for using such lyophilized reagents are likewise provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Johnson, Jen Dillman
  • APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED SAMPLE PREPARATION, REACTION AND DETECTION
    Publication number: 20180318838
    Abstract: Cartridges for the isolation of a biological sample and downstream biological assays on the sample are provided, as are methods for using such cartridges. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sample is isolated from a biological sample and the nucleic acid sample is amplified, for example by the polymerase chain reaction. The cartridges provided herein can also be used for the isolation of non-nucleic acid samples, for example proteins, and to perform downstream reactions on the proteins, for example, binding assays. Instruments for carrying out the downstream biological assays and for detecting the results of the assays are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dylan Hilmer BIRD, Jesus CHING, Bruce A. JOHNSON, Keith E. MORAVICK, Bruce RICHARDSON
  • Methods and systems for image data processing
    Patent number: 10108844
    Abstract: Methods, storage mediums, and systems for image data processing are provided. Embodiments for the methods, storage mediums, and systems include configurations to perform one or more of the following steps: background signal measurement, particle identification using classification dye emission and cluster rejection, inter-image alignment, inter-image particle correlation, fluorescence integration of reporter emission, and image plane normalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Luminex Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne D. Roth
  • Diagnostic cartridges having flexible seals
    Patent number: 10092906
    Abstract: Disclosed are cartridges and modules that may be utilized in diagnostic systems and methods. The cartridge includes a flexible seal that caps the cartridge. The flexible seal has an opening for a pipette tip, and the flexible seal is configured to create a sealed environment when a pipette tip is positioned in the opening of the flexible seal and when the pipette tip is moved in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tom Westberg, Bruce Richardson, Ryan Griswold, Chris Lewis
  • PROBES FOR IMPROVED MELT DISCRIMINATION AND MULTIPLEXING IN NUCLEIC ACID ASSAYS
    Publication number: 20180245139
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids are provided. In certain embodiments, methods involve the use of cleavable probes that comprise a ribonucleotide position that is susceptible to endoribonuclease (e.g., RNase H) cleavage in the presence of target nucleic acid molecules. Probes of the embodiments may also comprise non-natural nucleotide linked to a reporter and/or quenching moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott C. JOHNSON, Nicolas ARAB, Doug WHITMAN
  • HYDROLYSIS PROBES
    Publication number: 20180237832
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids are provided. In one embodiment, a sample is contacted with a primer complementary to a first region of a target nucleic acid and a probe complementary to a second region of the target nucleic acid downstream of the first region under conditions suitable for hybridization of the target nucleic acid with the primer and the probe. The probe in this embodiment comprises a fluorophore and is attached to a solid support. The hybridized probe is cleaved with a nucleic acid polymerase having exonuclease activity to release the reporter from the solid support. The presence of the target nucleic acid is then detected and optionally quantified by detecting a decrease in signal from the reporter on the solid support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian SCHRADER, Douglas F. WHITMAN
  • Instrument for cassette for sample preparation
    Patent number: 10047391
    Abstract: A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Jia Chang Yu, Jesus Ching, Phillip You Fai Lee, David Hsiang Hu
  • REAL-TIME TRACKING AND CORRELATION OF MICROSPHERES
    Publication number: 20180225832
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for tracking and correlating particles include an optical detector that captures a first and a second image of the particles. A video detector is used to capture a plurality of video frames of the particles. The video detector captures the video frames of the particles at a rate faster than the rate at which images are captured by the optical detector to track the movement of particles. A first image position of a particle in the first image of the particles is identified, and then the first image position of the particle is correlated to a second image position of the particle in the second image using the plurality of video frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam SCHILFFARTH, Matthew FISHER
  • Apparatus and methods for integrated sample preparation, reaction and detection
    Patent number: 10040071
    Abstract: Cartridges for the isolation of a biological sample and downstream biological assays on the sample are provided, as are methods for using such cartridges. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sample is isolated from a biological sample and the nucleic acid sample is amplified, for example by the polymerase chain reaction. The cartridges provided herein can also be used for the isolation of non-nucleic acid samples, for example proteins, and to perform downstream reactions on the proteins, for example, binding assays. Instruments for carrying out the downstream biological assays and for detecting the results of the assays are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dylan Hilmer Bird, Jesus Ching, Bruce A. Johnson, Keith E. Moravick, Bruce Richardson
  • Cleavable hairpin primers
    Patent number: 10011861
    Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs and methods that provide superior prevention of primer-dimers and other artifacts of false priming events are disclosed. In particular, there is disclosed a hairpin primer having a target-specific primer region, wherein the target-specific region comprises a target-binding dependent cleavage sequence; a first stem forming region 5? of the target-specific primer region; and a second stem forming region 3? of the target-specific primer region, wherein the second stem forming region is complementary to the first stem forming region. Methods of using the hairpin primer to amplify a target nucleic acid are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Kochanczyk, Doug Whitman
  • Apparatus, system, and method for image normalization using a gaussian residual of fit selection criteria
    Patent number: 9984279
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for image normalization using a Gaussian residual of fit selection criteria. The method may include acquiring a two-dimensional image of a plurality of particles, where the plurality of particles comprises a plurality of calibration particles, and identifying a calibration particle by correlating a portion of the image corresponding to the calibration particle to a mathematical model (e.g. Gaussian fit). The measured intensity of the calibration particle may then be used to normalize the intensity of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Luminex Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Fisher, Nicolas Arab
  • Probes for improved melt discrimination and multiplexing in nucleic acid assays
    Patent number: 9982291
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids are provided. In certain embodiments, methods involve the use of cleavable probes that comprise a ribonucleotide position that is susceptible to endoribonuclease (e.g., RNase H) cleavage in the presence of target nucleic acid molecules. Probes of the embodiments may also comprise non-natural nucleotide linked to a reporter and/or quenching moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott C. Johnson, Nicolas Arab, Doug Whitman
  • Hydrolysis probes
    Patent number: 9970050
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids are provided. In one embodiment, a sample is contacted with a primer complementary to a first region of a target nucleic acid and a probe complementary to a second region of the target nucleic acid downstream of the first region under conditions suitable for hybridization of the target nucleic acid with the primer and the probe. The probe in this embodiment comprises a fluorophore and is attached to a solid support. The hybridized probe is cleaved with a nucleic acid polymerase having exonuclease activity to release the reporter from the solid support. The presence of the target nucleic acid is then detected and optionally quantified by detecting a decrease in signal from the reporter on the solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Schrader, Douglas F. Whitman