Patents Examined by B. J. Forman
  • Patent number: 8278034
    Abstract: The invention provides microarrays comprising a plurality of frozen tissues and/or cell samples and methods of preparing and using the same. By using frozen samples, the microarrays provide optimal samples from which to detect the expression of both nucleic acids (e.g., mRNAs) and proteins in high throughput parallel analyses. The microarrays enable gene identification, molecular profiling, selection of promising drug targets, sorting and prioritizing of expressed sequence array data, and the identification of abnormal physiological processes associated with disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nuclea Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Muraca
  • Patent number: 7928208
    Abstract: A method of forming DNA nanotubes composed entirely or predominantly from DNA that, The methods of the present invention form single layer or multilayer template-synthesized nanotubes where the bulk of the tube is composed of DNA, and the layers are held together by hybridization of complementary DNA strands. The DNA molecules making up these tubes may be varied as desired, and the DNA is capable of being released from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Martin, Shifeng Hou
  • Patent number: 7906316
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a membrane layer having parallel pores extending through the membrane layer and incorporating therein probe molecules that bind with corresponding target molecules when present in the pores, electrodes, and an ionic solution in contact with the electrodes and the pores, wherein the electrodes are energized to induce an electrical current in the solution through the pores, wherein the electrical current induces an electrical parameter in the electrodes that is indicative of a through-pore electrical impedance of the pores, wherein the through-pore electrical impedance is increased when there is probe-to-target molecule binding in the pores relative to when there is an absence of such binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Stergios Papadakis
  • Patent number: 7888074
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a device for duplicating and characterizing nucleic acids almost simultaneously and with a high sample throughput rate. The device consists of a chamber body with a recess whose edge sealingly holds an optically transparent chip. Said chip holds nucleic acids in individual spots on a detection surface. The chamber body is placed on an optically transparent chamber support with a bearing surface, in such a way that a capillary gap, which can be filled with a liquid sample, is formed between the detection surface of the chip facing towards the chamber support and said chamber support. The chamber body is provided with an inlet and an outlet, which are spatially separate from each other, and has a space, which laterally encompasses the chip and which has a gas reservoir. The chamber support is provided with heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Clondiag Chip Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Ehricht, Thomas Ellinger, Jens Tuchscherer, Eugen Ermantraut, Siegfried Poser, Torsten Schulz
  • Patent number: 7871810
    Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning a multi-featured biological array relative to a signal acquisition device. Detection of the array's positional deviation may be achieved by a calibration beam reflected from the array surface and detected by a position sensitive detector (PSD). The PSD-measured positional deviation can be transformed and used in a control loop to correct for positional variations of the array. The calibration beam and PSD may also be used to detect the array or feature boundaries, thereby allowing lateral centering or positioning of the array relative to the signal acquisition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. Warren, Louis B. Hoff, Mark F. Oldham
  • Patent number: 7858364
    Abstract: The invention concerns a polymer synthesis apparatus (20) for building a polymer chain including a head assembly (21) having an array of nozzles (22) with each nozzle coupled to a reservoir (23) of liquid reagent (24), and a base assembly (25) having an array of reaction wells (26). A transport mechanism (27) aligns the reaction wells (26) and selected nozzles (22) for deposition of the liquid reagent (24) into selected reaction wells (26). A sliding seal (30) is positioned between the head assembly (21) and the base assembly (25) to form a common chamber (31) enclosing both the reaction well (26) and the nozzles (22) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Leland Junior Stanford University
    Inventor: Thomas M. Brennan
  • Patent number: 7838226
    Abstract: With an insulated gate field effect transistor in which deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes are immobilized on a gold electrode, extension reaction on the gold electrode is performed with DNA polymerase to directly measure an increased amount of a phosphate group caused by the extension reaction, that is, negative charge, by means of a current change between a source and a drain of the insulated gate field effect transistor. Thus, presence/absence of hybridization of target DNAs with the DNA probes, and presence/absence of the extension reaction are detected. Optimum immobilization density of the DNA probes on the gold electrode is set at 4×1012 molecules/cm2. To reduce surface potential fluctuation caused by external variation (influences of foreign substances), which is a problem when using the gold electrode in a solution, a high-frequency voltage equal to or above 1 kHz is applied between the gold electrode and a reference electrode by a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kamahori, Yu Ishige
  • Patent number: 7811809
    Abstract: The invention generally provides molecular biosensors. The molecular biosensors are useful in competition assays to detect the presence of a target molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Saint Louis University
    Inventors: Tomasz Heyduk, Ling Tian
  • Patent number: 7807372
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of screening sequence selectivity of oligonucleotide-binding molecules using a gold nanoparticle based colorimetric assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Chad A. Mirkin, Sarah J. Hurst, Min Su Han, Abigail K. R. Lytton-Jean
  • Patent number: 7807354
    Abstract: The present document relates to a system and method of commingling a low volume of a target solution with an array. For example, a quantity of the target solution and a quantity of an immiscible liquid may be introduced into a cavity having an array on an interior surface. The quantities of target solution and immiscible liquid do not fill the volume. Therefore, a gas is contained within the volume. The cavity is then agitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Myerson, Paige Lynette Anderson
  • Patent number: 7795009
    Abstract: The invention generally provides three-component molecular biosensors. The molecular biosensors are useful in several methods including in the identification and quantification of target molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Saint Louis University
    Inventor: Tomasz Heyduk
  • Patent number: 7785863
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for catalyzing a reaction on a substrate (24) comprising, a light source (12), a micromirror (16) positioned to redirect light (14) from the light source (12) toward a substrate (24) wherein the redirected light (14) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24), is disclosed. A computer (18) is connected to, and controls, the positioning of mirrors within the micromirror (16) to specifically redirect light to specific portions of a substrate. The substrate (24) can be placed in a reaction chamber (50), wherein the light (14) that is redirected by the micromirror (16) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Roche Nimblegen, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold R. Garner
  • Patent number: 7785862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film coated array and the process of fabricating and using the array including methods of etching, depositing a thin film coating, preparing and using the thin film coated array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: 454 Life Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Jong-Bum Kim, Steven Martin Lefkowitz, John Nobile
  • Patent number: 7785864
    Abstract: Provided are a bio-molecules detecting apparatus using electromagnetic induction and a detecting method using the same. An exemplary apparatus includes: a cantilever of which one end is fixed and the other end is set up to be movable; a first metal formed on a plane of the cantilever and receiving a signal; a bio chip formed in the first metal and having probe biomolecules for searching particular information on a sample to be analyzed; an electromagnetic inductor configured to form a magnetic field; a signal source for applying the signal to the first metal; and a detector for measuring signal values of the first metal before and after the biomolecule is coupled with the sample. The apparatus detects the bio-couple by converting a change in mechanical properties before and after the bio-coupling based on electromagnetic induction to detect a bio-couple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-ho Kang, Sung-hee Lee, Young-il Kim, Moon-chul Lee, Tae-sik Park
  • Patent number: 7759063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article comprising a nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite in selective communication with at least one of a plurality of material phases; the selective communication being the result of an affinity of functional groups present in the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite for the at least one of the plurality of material phases; the material phases being at least a part of a substrate; the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite comprising at least one of i) a nucleic acid disposed on a functionalized carbon nanotube; ii) a functionalized nucleic acid disposed on a carbon nanotube; and iii) a functionalized nucleic acid disposed on a functionalized carbon nanotube to form a nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer N. Cha, Christine M. Micheel
  • Patent number: 7745203
    Abstract: A base sequence detection apparatus is provided with a channel formed on a base sequence detection chip. Working electrodes are formed along the channel and include a probe immobilized thereon, counter electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the channel and, reference electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the channel. An introduction port introduces solution or air from the upstream side of the channel, a delivery port delivers the solution or air in the channel, and the sample is injected into the channel through a sample injection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Sadato Hongo, Minoru Ishikawa, Takiji Ishimura, Shigeru Wakayama, Shinji Yanaga, Kenji Oki, Jun Okada
  • Patent number: 7732136
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for amplifying target nucleic acids, reaction cartridges for use in the device, and modes of use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Pall Genesystems
    Inventor: Gabriel Festoc
  • Patent number: 7732140
    Abstract: A method for direct electrical detection of proteins, peptides and the like, and their interactions includes an electrode arrangement, a current/voltage provider, and a circuit analyzer. The electrode arrangement has an interdigitated electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. Coupled to the electrode arrangement is a signal generator adapted to provide a signal (e.g., an alternating current or voltage) having a selected range of frequencies. The analyzer is coupled to the electrode arrangement and is operative to analyze an electrical parameter of the circuit as the signal is applied. An analytic method includes measuring changes in one or more parameters of the circuit over the range of frequencies. By such measurement, the device can determine whether a target moiety has been bound by a probe attached to the electrode(s). The device can also specifically identify the intermolecular system detected, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Oregon Health & Sciences University
    Inventors: Arthur A. Vandenbark, Rajendra Solanki
  • Patent number: 7731904
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a plurality of liquid discharge sections. Each liquid discharge section includes a reservoir, a nozzle that discharges a solution supplied from the reservoir, and discharge energy generating means that generates energy to discharge the solution from the nozzle. The number of the liquid discharge sections corresponds to the number of probe types to be formed. The nozzles are two-dimensionally arranged. Using this liquid discharging device, probe liquids are discharged from the corresponding reservoirs onto a solid-phase substrate to form a predetermined two-dimensional probe array of high-purity probes on the substrate. This process exhibits high reproducibility and processability, and the resulting probe array has high array density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Okamoto, Nobuko Yamamoto, Hidenori Watanabe, Tomohiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7713692
    Abstract: A system used to detect and assay genes by using a nucleic-acid probe substrate is disclosed, which can be used in highly general-purpose genetic chips usable for various purposes, and has a temperature control means enabling control of temperature of the whole genetic chip in a high reproducibility and uniformity, and further even satisfies low-cost performance. A method for detecting and assaying gene nucleic acids by using such a system is also disclosed. A heat-conductive material made up using a material having good thermal conductivity, having a shape having general-purpose properties, is used as the temperature control means, and is disposed in such a form that it covers substantially the whole substrate face or stands in contact therewith, on the back of the substrate, or on the side facing the surface to which the detecting single-stranded nucleic acid fragments have been immobilized. This makes it possible to improve the diffusion of heat in the in-plane direction of the whole substrate face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawaguchi