Patents Examined by Frank W Lu
  • Patent number: 8569019
    Abstract: An automated process for isolating and amplifying a target nucleic acid in a self-contained analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelly G. Ammann, Ralph E. Burns, Ernest V. Hansberry, Glenn A. Horner, Cheryl A. Jakub, John E. Kling, Donald J. Nieglos, Robert E. Schneider, Robert J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8546131
    Abstract: A method and a device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid, which enable simple and precise visual detection of a nucleic acid amplified by an nucleic acid amplification method, without necessity of special devices are provided. The method for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample comprises: contacting a sample with a dye to react with each other; and observing a substance produced by the reaction with visible light, and evaluating the presence or absence of a nucleic acid by eye. The device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample comprises: a carrier that holds a dye which can bind to a nucleic acid; a path for passing a sample through the carrier; and an evaluation part for observing a substance produced by the reaction between the sample and the dye with visible light, and evaluating the presence or absence of a nucleic acid by eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Miyamoto, Tomohisa Kato, Koji Takahashi, Jun Tomono
  • Patent number: 8470533
    Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for assessing RNA expression. For example, methods and materials for detecting the presence, absence, or amount of target nucleic acid (e.g., target RNA or target cDNA produced from target RNA), kits for detecting the presence, absence, or amount of target nucleic acid (e.g., target RNA or target cDNA produced from target RNA), and methods for making such kits are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Cascade Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Smith, Nina Yazvenko, Mariya Smit
  • Patent number: 8445201
    Abstract: A method, device and system for hybridizing a target oligonucleotide to at least one array comprising a plurality of mixing beads are provided. A target solution is mixed by agitating the mixing beads while the target oligonucleotides are hybridizing to the complementary probes on the array. In another embodiment, a permeable barrier contains the mixing beads, thereby preventing them from contacting the array surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Bellon Laurent, Martin J. Goldberg, Robert J. Lipshutz, Kaliyur Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 8445206
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a set of at least 100 single-stranded oligonucleotide probes directed against (or complementary to) portions of a genomic target sequence of interest. The present disclosure also relates to a method of detecting a genomic target sequence of interest using the set of oligonucleotide probes and a method of generating the set of oligonucleotide probes. Further, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising the set of oligonucleotide probes and at least one further component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Bergmann, Walter Eberle, Thomas Fischer, Herbert von der Eltz
  • Patent number: 8440396
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of tumor-derived or associated extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. Specifically, this invention enables the extraction of circulating RNA from plasma or serum and utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays for the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, premalignant, or malignant, in humans or other animals, which might be associated with that RNA. Further, this invention allows the qualitative or quantitative detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in the plasma or serum of humans or animals with or without any prior knowledge of the presence of cancer or premalignant tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OncoMedx, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Kopreski
  • Patent number: 8440429
    Abstract: An automated method for preparing and amplifying a sequence contained in a nucleic acid present in a sample, the nucleic acid being prepared in a receptacle that is part of a unit that includes a plurality of receptacles and holds a removable contact-limiting element for aspirating a fluid component of the sample from the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelly G. Ammann, Ralph E. Burns, Ernest V. Hansberry, Glenn A. Horner, Cheryl A. Jakub, John E. Kling, Donald J. Nieglos, Robert E. Schneider, Robert J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8409802
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, novel probes, methods, reaction mixtures, and kits for detecting the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Will
  • Patent number: 8399203
    Abstract: A method of analyzing cellular samples that include a chemically crosslinked analyte is provided. The analysis typically involves the use of mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bathsheba E. Chong Conklin, Patrick J. Parks
  • Patent number: 8399190
    Abstract: A method for lysing cells is disclosed. The method includes stirring cells with a magnetic stir element in the presence of a plurality of cell lysis beads at a speed sufficient to lyse the cells. Also disclosed is a device for lysing cells. The device includes a container having a magnetic stir element and a plurality of cell lysis beads disposed therein. The container is dimensioned to allow rotation of the magnetic stir element inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Akonni Biosystems, Quantilife, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Belgrader, Benjamin Hindson
  • Patent number: 8372605
    Abstract: A high-sensitivity, low-background immuno-amplification assay is provided, which offers a streamlined workflow suitable for high-throughput assays of clinically relevant samples, such as blood and other bodily fluids. The assay comprises the use of two proximity members that each comprise an analyte-specific binding component conjugated to an oligonucleotide. Binding an analyte brings the oligonucleotide moieties of the proximity members in sufficiently close contact that the oligonucleotides form an amplicon. The presence of the analyte then is detected through amplification of the amplicon and detection of the amplified nucleic acids. The sensitivity of the assay of the present invention is improved by preventing spurious or non-specific amplicon formation by proximity members that are not complexed with an analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: James Nadeau, Tobin J. Hellyer, Dolores M. Berger, William Nussbaumer, Robert Rosenstein, Andrew Kuhn, Sha-Sha Wang, Keith Edward Thornton
  • Patent number: 8367324
    Abstract: A probe-bearing substrate in which a probe capable of specifically binding to a target substance is immobilized on a substrate, characterized in that the probe-bearing substrate further includes a device for detecting an environmental change that may cause a change in the probe-bearing substrate such as probe deterioration or change in a substrate-protecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8367322
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of assembling genomic maps of an organism's DNA or portions thereof. A library of an organism's DNA is provided where the individual genomic segments or sequences are found on more than one clone in the library. Representations of the genome are created, and nucleic acid sequence information is generated from the representations. The sequence information is analyzed to determine clone overlap from a representation. The clone overlap and sequence information from different representations is combined to assemble a genomic map of the organism. Once the genomic map is obtained, genomic sequence information from multiple individuals can be applied to the map and compared with one another to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
    Inventors: Francis Barany, Jianzhao Kiu, Brian W. Kirk, Monib Zirvi, Norman P. Gerry, Philip B. Paty
  • Patent number: 8367334
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for detecting protein-nucleic acid interactions, in particular, detecting the genomic location to near-base pair resolution at which a particular protein (e.g., transcription factor) binds includes combining steps of a conventional chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay with use of an exonuclease that digests nucleic acid strands in the 5?-3? or 3?-5? direction until it reaches a bound protein including a protein crosslinked to the nucleic acid. Proteins that inefficiently crosslink to a nucleic acid and thus are very difficult to detect, are expected to be significantly detected by the kits and methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Benjamin Franklin Pugh, Ho Sung Rhee
  • Patent number: 8334097
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for concentrating and pooling liquid suspensions of biological specimens containing analytes of interest in a dry state. The dried biological specimens containing analytes of interest are reconstituted and released from the matrix for subsequent analysis in concentrated form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ViveBio, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Lloyd, Jr., Ronald O. Gilcher
  • Patent number: 8327841
    Abstract: The treatment of snoring related sleep disorders require the knowledge of the location of origin of snoring in a patient. A method and device are provided for the determination of a location of origin of a primary vibration signal generated by snoring in an upper airway of a patient. At least two sensors are used to respectively detect the primary vibration signal and to generate respective intermediate signals. The sensors are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the patient's neck. The respective intermediate signals are processed to generate an output signal. The output signal is indicative of the location of origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: BRAEBON Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Carmon Bradley
  • Patent number: 8323929
    Abstract: The invention employs an unlabeled signal primer comprising a 5? adapter sequence for detection of variations in nucleic acid target sequences. The detection system further comprises a reporter probe, the 3? end of which hybridizes to the complement of the 5? adapter sequence of the signal primer to produce a 5? overhang. Polymerase is used to fill in the overhang and synthesize the complement of the 5? overhang of the reporter probe. Synthesis of the reporter probe complement is detected, either directly or indirectly, as an indication of the presence of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Sha-Sha Wang, Keith Thornton, James G. Nadeau, Tobin J. Hellyer
  • Patent number: 8318429
    Abstract: The invention includes method of determining if a subject has a genetic predisposition to clinically diagnosed schizophrenia (SZ), schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), and/or schizoaffective disorder (SD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark David Brennan, D. Kay Phillips
  • Patent number: 8309330
    Abstract: Methods, substrates, and systems for diagnostic sequencing are provided. Small circles of nucleic acids from about 10 bases to about 200 bases can be sequenced, for example using template dependent sequencing by synthesis. The use of small circles of nucleic acids allows for repeated sequencing of the same portions of the nucleic acid, providing for higher accuracy sequence determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Travers, Geoff Otto, Stephen Turner, Cheryl Heiner, Congcong Ma
  • Patent number: 8288093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to means for the detection and characterization of nucleic acid sequences, as well as variations in nucleic acid sequences. The present invention also relates to methods for forming a nucleic acid cleavage structure on a target sequence and cleaving the nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific manner. The structure-specific nuclease activity of a variety of enzymes is used to cleave the target-dependent cleavage structure, thereby indicating the presence of specific nucleic acid sequences or specific variations thereof. The present invention further relates to methods and devices for the separation of nucleic acid molecules based on charge. The present invention also provides methods for the detection of non-target cleavage products via the formation of a complete and activated protein binding region. The invention further provides sensitive and specific methods for the detection of human cytomegalovirus nucleic acid in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff G. Hall, Victor I. Lyamichev, Andrea L. Mast, Mary Ann D. Brow