Patents Examined by Gail R Gabel
  • Patent number: 9945769
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing particles in a solution including a unit configured to place a flow cell having a flow path for flowing a sample solution containing the particles; a unit configured to illuminate the sample solution flowing through the flow path of the flow cell; a photodetector that detects a scattered light and/or fluorescence generated from the particles in the sample solution; and a unit configured to analyze the particles based on their signal intensities detected by the photodetector, wherein the flow cell has the flow path formed in a substrate, a reflection plane is formed on the side surface of the flow path, the reflection plane leads the lights generated in the flow path of the flow cell and advancing in the substrate in-plane direction to a specified region of the surface of the flow cell, and the photodetector detects the light exiting from the specified region to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ON-CHIP BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9880158
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of flow cytometry and more particularly to a panel of antibody reagents conjugated to fluorescent compounds. Provided are reagent compositions, comprising at least eight distinct fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies comprising a set of at least three identification antibodies for the identification of a leukocyte population of interest and at least four characterization antibodies for further characterization and/or classification of said leukocyte population. Also provided are kits and methods related to the reagent compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam
    Inventors: Jacobus Johannes Maria Van Dongen, José Alberto Orfao De Matos Correia E Vale, Juan Alejandro Flores-Montero, Julia Maria Almeida Parra, Vincent Henricus Johannes Van Der Velden, Sebastian Böttcher, Andrew Craig Rawstron, Ruth Mary De Tute, Ludovic Bernard Simon Lhermitte, Vahid Asnafi, Ester Mejstríková, Tomasz Szczepanski, Paulo Jorge Monteiro Da Silva Lucio, Marta Marín Ayuso, Carlos Eduardo Pedreira
  • Patent number: 9857358
    Abstract: The present invention relates a simple method for evaluating free eukaryotic cell nuclei for biomarkers of DNA damage and/or transcription factor activation, activity, or expression levels and/or epigenetic modifications to chromatin or chromatin-associated factors. The invention also teaches useful strategies for combining nuclear biomarkers into a matrix of endpoints that are capable of elucidating genotoxicants' primary mode of DNA-damaging activity. Kits for conducting methods according to the invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Litron Laboratories Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Dertinger, Steven M. Bryce, Jeffrey C. Bemis
  • Patent number: 9855349
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods of use comprising a targeting composition comprising a solid substrate, an antibody composition, and optionally a chemotherapeutic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Susan Napier Thomas
  • Patent number: 9851367
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Blood Center Research Foundation
    Inventors: Richard H. Aster, Daniel W. Bougie, Curtis Gerald Jones, Anand Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 9823238
    Abstract: The disclosed invention includes methods and kits for the removal of white blood cells from samples of immunomagnetically enriched rare cells by treating the sample with a leukocyte marker conjugated to a hapten which adheres to the white blood cells and treating the resulting product with a second medium that adheres to the hapten of the white blood cells that are labeled with the leukocyte marker conjugated to hapten and removing the labeled white blood cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Menarini Silicon Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Galla Chandra Rao, Brad Foulk, Denis Smirnov, Karl Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9823248
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical diagnostics. In particular, it relates method and kits for identification and classification of IgE-related diseases, e.g. Type I hypersensitivity, as well as for monitoring of treatment efficacy, for instance anti-IgE therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: ERASMUS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ROTTERDAM, UNIERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA
    Inventors: Menno Cornelis van Zelm, Jacobus Johannes Maria van Dongen, José Alberto Orfao de Matos Correia e Vale
  • Patent number: 9816993
    Abstract: Identification, quantification and characterization of biological micro- and nano-systems is enabled by magnetically spinning these natural, non-magnetic systems with the aid of induced magnetization. Biofriendly magnetic micro- and nano-labels enable magnetorotation in extremely weak electromagnetic fields. The spinning of these micromotors can be observed by a simple, CD-like, optical tracking system. The spinning frequency response enables real-time monitoring of single (cancer) cell morphology, with sub-microscopic resolution, yielding previously undeterminable information. Likewise, it enables super-low detection limits for any (cancer) biomarker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Raoul Kopelman, Remy Elbez, Ariel Hecht, Brandon H. McNaughton
  • Patent number: 9810695
    Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to determining whether or not a pregnant mammal (e.g., a pregnant human) has preeclampsia. For example, methods and materials related to the use of urinary podocytes to determine whether or not a pregnant human has preeclampsia are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventor: Vesna D. Garovic
  • Patent number: 9804153
    Abstract: A method for magnetic cellular manipulation may include contacting a composition with a biological sample to form a mixture. The composition may include a plurality of particles. Each particle in the plurality of particles may include a magnetic substrate. The magnetic substrate may be characterized by a magnetic susceptibility greater than zero. The composition may also include a chargeable silicon-containing compound. The chargeable silicon-containing compound may coat at least a portion of the magnetic substrate. The biological sample may include cells and/or cellular structures. The method may also include applying a magnetic field to the mixture to manipulate the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Inguran, LLC
    Inventor: Kristie Marie Krug
  • Patent number: 9797899
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assaying a sample. A microfluidic device to perform an assay of a sample (e.g., biological sample) is described having a sample application site, a porous component and a flow channel. The porous component provides for uniform dissolution of a reagent and mixing of the sample and reagent without filtering the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Scott Joseph Bornheimer, Jeffrey Sugarman, Wei Huang, Edward Michael Goldberg, Ming Tan
  • Patent number: 9791460
    Abstract: Identification of urokinase-type plasminogen, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and ?-2-microglobulin as novel biomarkers associated with liver fibrosis and uses thereof in diagnosing liver fibrosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tzu-Ling Tseng, Hung-Yi Li, Yen-Peng Li, Angelina Huai-Lo Lee, Yi-Chen Liu, Ping-Fu Cheng, Wei-Ya Lin, Hong-Zen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9790539
    Abstract: Coated Ferromagnetic Density Particles or Density Particles with binding agents bound thereto capable of binding biological molecules and methods of use and apparatus for means are disclosed. Coated particles coupled to specific binding agents can be used for molecular biology and proteomic applications in research and diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Russell Biotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Russell, Michael J. Ciocci, Michael Musick
  • Patent number: 9778263
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to characterization of biological samples. By way of example, a biological sample may be contacted with a plurality of probes specific for targets in the sample, such as probes for immune markers and segmenting probes. Acquired image data of the sample may be used to segment the images into epithelial and stromal regions to characterize individual cells in the sample based on the binding of the probes. Further, the biological sample may be characterized by a distribution, location, and type of a plurality of the characterized cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srabani Bhaumik, Michael John Gerdes, Zhengyu Pang, Fiona Ginty, Christopher James Sevinsky, Qing Li, Alberto Santamaria-Pang, Yunxia Sui, Keyur Hemantkumar Desai
  • Patent number: 9739768
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and compositions for separating a desired or undesired population or subpopulation from a biological sample are disclosed herein. The selection procedure is based on ferromagnetic, dense particles in a preferred size range from about 0.8 to about 1.2 microns. Specific binding agents are bound to the particles that recognize and bind to specific molecules on the targeted population or subpopulation, and the particles are mixed with the sample in such a way as to promote movement of the particles relative to the sample, promoting binding to the targeted population or subpopulation without non-specifically binding to non-targeted populations in the sample. Because of the large particle density, the bound population is separated from the fluid sample by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Russell Biotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Russell, Pauline McGann, Mike Musick, Michael Ciocci
  • Patent number: 9717762
    Abstract: The present invention provides the use of the antigens CD49e and/or CD49f as selection markers for enrichment, isolation, detection and/or analysis of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes and a method for enrichment, isolation, detection and/or analysis of these cells from a sample comprising cardiomyocytes. In addition substantially pure compositions of these cardiomyocyte subpopulations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Miltenyi Biotec
    Inventors: Anne Maria Wiencierz, Dominik Eckardt, Andreas Bosio
  • Patent number: 9709564
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and kits for diagnosing or monitoring systemic lupus erythematosus in an individual. In particular aspects, in a blood sample containing white blood cells from the individual, autoantibodies deposited on or contacting with the surface of a T lymphocyte in the sample are quantitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Allegheny-Singer Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ahearn, Chau-Ching Liu, Susan M. Manzi
  • Patent number: 9683920
    Abstract: Methods for using focused light scattering techniques for the optical sensing of biological particles suspended in a liquid medium are disclosed. The optical sensing enables one to characterize particles size and/or distribution in a given sample. This, in turn, allows one to identify the biological particles, determine their relative particle density, detect particle shedding, and identify particle aggregation. The methods are also useful in screening and optimizing drug candidates, evaluating the efficacy and dosage levels of such drugs, and in personalized medicine applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: AIDIA INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Don Gabriel
  • Patent number: 9677989
    Abstract: The present invention, provides a flow cytometry apparatus for the detection of particles from a plurality of samples comprising: means for moving a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; means for introducing a separation gas between each of the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream; and means for selectively analyzing each of the plurality of samples for the particles. The present invention also provides a flow cytometry method employing such an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Larry A. Sklar, Bruce Edwards, Frederick Kuckuck
  • Patent number: 9671407
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for isolating target biomolecules or cells from samples, particularly biological samples. In particular, the device comprises a loading mixture, which contains the biological sample and a first binding entity that specifically binds to the target biomolecule or target cell; and a micro-channel coated with a second binding entity that binds directly or indirectly to the first binding entity. Methods of capturing, detecting, and/or evaluating target biomolecules or target cells (e.g. cancer cells) in biological samples are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BIOCEPT, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Mikolajczyk, Tony Pircher, Farideh Z. Bischoff, Pavel Tsinberg