Patents Examined by Ethan C. Whisenant
  • Method for detecting multiple predetermined compounds in a sample
    Patent number: 10732183
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for detecting the presence of a plurality of predetermined compounds in a sample using a plurality of tag moieties and at least one nanopore. This invention also provides methods for determining the quantity of each of a plurality of predetermined compounds in a sample using a plurality of tag moieties and at least one nanopore. This invention further provides methods for detecting interaction of at least two predetermined compounds using at least one tag moiety and at least one nanopore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Jingyue Ju, Shiv Kumar, Chuanjuan Tao, Sergey Kalachikov, James J. Russo
  • Methods for isolating nucleic acids from samples
    Patent number: 10724108
    Abstract: Techniques and methods are provided for isolating nucleic acids from a sample. The methods include adding a chelating agent to the sample to block nucleic acid binding sites on contaminants in the sample; heating the sample to remove hydrocarbons; and lysing the cells using freeze-thaw cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Aaron B. Regberg, Zarath M. Summers, A. Lucie N'Guessan, John B. Kirkpatrick, Steven L. D'Hondt
  • Probes and methods for measuring tandem repeats
    Patent number: 10718017
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nucleic acid probes and kits for determining the length of a region of tandem repeats in a subject's genome and methods of using the DNA probes for determining the length of a region of tandem repeats in a subject's genome. In some embodiments, the region of tandem repeats in telomeres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Wayne Frasch, Fusheng Xiong
  • Apparatus and method for picking biological sample
    Patent number: 10712356
    Abstract: A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL AUTOMATION LAB TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Peter Christey, Alexander Hallock
  • Nucleotide sequence exclusion enrichment by droplet sorting (NEEDLS)
    Patent number: 10704080
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method in which a targeted DNA molecule containing a DNA sequence of interest is enriched by a) general amplification of DNA molecules in a multiple of droplets each containing less than 0.5 target DNA molecule on average (404), b) specific detection of the target DNA molecule in each of the droplets (405), and c) physically selecting droplets containing target DNA molecules (406).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Samplix ApS
    Inventors: Marie Just Mikkelsen, Thomas Kvist
  • Multipart reagents having increased avidity for polymerase binding
    Patent number: 10704094
    Abstract: Multivalent binding compositions including a particle-nucleotide conjugate having a plurality of copies of a nucleotide attached to the particle are described. The multivalent binding compositions allow one to localize detectable signals to active regions of biochemical interaction, e.g., sites of protein-protein interaction, protein-nucleic acid interaction, nucleic acid hybridization, or enzymatic reaction, and can be used to identify sites of base incorporation in elongating nucleic acid chains during polymerase reactions and to provide improved base discrimination for sequencing and array based applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ELEMENT BIOSCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Sinan Arslan, Chunhong Zhou, Molly Min He, Matthew Kellinger, Adeline Huizhen Mah, Michael Previte, Lei Sun
  • Detection of target nucleic acids in a cellular sample
    Patent number: 10689687
    Abstract: Methods of assaying cells of a cellular sample for the presence of a target nucleic acid are provided. Aspects of the methods include evaluating a cellular sample that has been contacted with a nuclease inhibitor for the presence of a target nucleic acid. Also provided are devices and kits that find use in practicing the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Garry P. Nolan, Yury Goltsev, Quan Nguyen, Yunqing Ma, Chunfai Lai
  • Ligation assays in liquid phase
    Patent number: 10683534
    Abstract: Ligation assays in liquid phase for detecting nucleic acid sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: BioSpyder Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Stevens, Bruce Seligmann, Joanne M. Yeakley, Joel McComb
  • High resolution systems, kits, apparatus, and methods using lateral flow for high throughput microbiology applications
    Patent number: 10677793
    Abstract: A method for providing a lateral flow of liquid across a plurality of microwells of a microfabricated device. The microwells of the microfabricated device are covered by a membrane which includes a first portion disposed on one side of at least one microwell and a second portion on the other side of the at least one microwell. The first portion of the membrane is contacted with a liquid absorbable by the membrane such that the liquid is wicked by the membrane and laterally flows from the first portion to the second portion and across the at least one microwell. At least a portion of the liquid enters the at least one microwell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL AUTOMATION LAB TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Alexander Hallock
  • Square wave thermal cycling
    Patent number: 10669575
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for analysis of melting temperatures, and particularly to analysis of duplex nucleic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Adam Steel
  • Methods to determine conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir
    Patent number: 10663618
    Abstract: A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect lipid, protein, and/or nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of the Thermotogales order; identifying the relative abundance of the different genera and/or species of the Thermotogales present in the sample to generate a taxonomy signature of the sample; and then using the taxonomy signature to determine conditions, such as temperature, of the hydrocarbon reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Zarath M. Summers, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Aaron B. Regberg
  • Oligonucleotide-based probes for detection of bacterial nucleases
    Patent number: 10653800
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., ribonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James O. McNamara, II, Katie R. Flenker, Lingyan Huang, Alexander R. Horswill, Mark A. Behlke, Frank J. Hernandez
  • Method for preparing DNA unit composition, and method for creating concatenated DNA
    Patent number: 10655133
    Abstract: Provided are: a method for preparing a DNA unit composition in which the mol number of a plurality of DNA units is more uniform, and a method for creating concatenated DNA. The method for preparing a DNA unit composition has: a step for preparing solutions which contain a plurality of DNA units to which an added sequence is linked, and preparing a solution for each type of DNA unit; and a step for, after preparing each of the solutions, measuring the concentration of the DNA unit in each of the solutions in a state where the added sequence is linked to the DNA unit, and on the basis of the results thereof, fractionating each of the solutions and making the mol number of the DNA unit in each of the solutions closer to being identical to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SYNPLOGEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuge, Mitsuhiro Itaya
  • Method for the detection of multiple target nucleic acids using clamping probes and detection probes
    Patent number: 10648019
    Abstract: Disclosed is a probe mixture for real-time detection of target nucleic acids comprising at least one detection probe and at least one clamping probe for inhibiting amplification of wild type genes or unwanted genes, a kit using the same and a method for real-time detection of target nucleic acids using the mixture and the kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: PANAGENE INC.
    Inventors: Goon Ho Joe, Yong Tae Kim, Sung Kee Kim, Jin Woo Kim, Jae Jin Choi, In Seong Wo, Ji Hye Yoon, Su Nam Kim, Jun Ho Park
  • Compositions and methods for selection of nucleic acids
    Patent number: 10640818
    Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing the complexity of a population of nucleic acids prior to performing an analysis of the nucleic acids, e.g., sequence analysis. The methods result in a subset of the initial population enriched for a target region, which is typically located within one or more target fragments. The methods are particularly useful for analyzing populations having a high degree of complexity, e.g., chromosomal-derived DNA, whole genomic DNA, or mRNA populations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Thang Tat Pham, Yu-Chih Tsai, Jonas Korlach, Tyson A. Clark, Stephen Turner
  • Systems and methods for isolating nucleic acids
    Patent number: 10640808
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for nucleic acid isolation. In particular, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for isolating low molecular weight circulating nucleic acids from bodily fluids (e.g., plasma).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Abbott Molecular Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Gundling, Robert Kowal, Edward Granados, Natalie Solomon, Wai-Bing Mak, Magdalena Szostak
  • Oligonucleotide-based probes and methods for detection of microbes
    Patent number: 10619219
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: James O. McNamara, Katie R. Flenker, Hyeon Kim, Alexander R. Horswill, Frank J. Hernandez, Mark Behlke, Lingyan Huang, Richard Owczarzy, Elliot Burghardt, Karen Clark
  • Tagging and assessing a target sequence
    Patent number: 10619163
    Abstract: Provided in certain aspects are methods for dynamically adding molecular indexes to nucleic acid, and optionally analyzing the tagged nucleic acid. Also provided in certain aspects are methods for producing a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule from two molecules. The first molecule typically is a single-stranded nucleic acid (ssNA) containing a target sequence with optional linked nucleic acid sequences. The second molecule typically is a ssNA containing a target binding sequence and a nucleic acid sequence “tag” that is not complementary to the target sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: RHODX, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Rodi
  • Methods and compositions for isolating small RNA
    Patent number: 10619150
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of methods and compositions for the isolation of small RNA molecules (100 nucleotides or fewer), such as microRNA and siRNA molecules. Such molecules are routinely lost in commonly used isolation procedures and therefore the present invention allows for a much higher level of enrichment or isolation of these small RNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Conrad
  • Reagents and methods for isothermal chain reaction
    Patent number: 10612077
    Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention disclosed herein relates to the isothermal amplification of probe linkage products to generate specific amplified signals. In some aspects, the invention provides methods, reagents, and kits for carrying out such amplification via the isothermal chain reaction (ICR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Ricardo Mancebo