Patents Examined by Melanie Y Brown
  • Patent number: 9316637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include sensors comprising high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with capture reagents on a gate region of the HEMTs. Example sensors include HEMTs with a thin gold layer on the gate region and bound antibodies; a thin gold layer on the gate region and chelating agents; a non-native gate dielectric on the gate region; and nanorods of a non-native dielectric with an immobilized enzyme on the gate region. Embodiments including antibodies or enzymes can have the antibodies or enzymes bound to the Au-gate via a binding group. Other embodiments of the invention are methods of using the sensors for detecting breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney injury, glucose, metals or pH where a signal is generated by the HEMT when a solution is contacted with the sensor. The solution can be blood, saliva, urine, breath condensate, or any solution suspected of containing any specific analyte for the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Fan Ren, Stephen John Pearton, Tanmay Lele, Hung-Ta Wang, Byoung-Sam Kang
  • Patent number: 9316576
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sample detection apparatus including an insulating partition to divide a first and a second region, a pore formed in the partition, a first electrode arranged in the first region, a second electrode arranged in the second region, a power source configured to apply electrical current between the first and second electrode in a state in which a reagent containing a capture substance to be bound to a target and a tag particle bound to the capture substance is introduced into the first region together with a sample, and an electrolyte solution is introduced into the second region, a measurement unit configured to observe a change in a conductive state, and a detection unit to detect presence/absence of the target in the sample based on an observation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Sadato Hongo, Kentaro Kobayashi, Hideto Furuyama
  • Patent number: 9316608
    Abstract: A biosensor that is capable of detecting the presence and/or concentration of an analyte or biomarker includes at least one electrically conductive electrode operatively coupled to an impedance analyzer for measuring the change in the resistive impedance ?ZRe of the electrode in response to an applied alternating current at a plurality of frequencies. In one embodiment, at least one electrode is covered with a self-assembled monolayer that is chemically bonded to a surface. A plurality of virus particles such as phage viruses are immobilized on the self-assembled monolayer and may be exposed to a test or sample solution. The virus particles may be obtained from phage-displayed libraries to detect a wide variety of targets including, for example, DNA, RNA, small molecules, and proteins or polypeptides. In another embodiment, the virus particles are electrostatically bound to a substrate in between a pair of elongated electrodes disposed on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Gregory A. Weiss, Reginald M. Penner, Phillip Y. Tam, Li-Mei Yang, Tyler Brigham
  • Patent number: 9310303
    Abstract: In the present invention, it is demonstrated for the first time, the influence of electrical current on the ability of surface plasmons to amplify fluorescence signatures. An applied direct current across silver island films (SiFs) of low electrical resistance perturbs the fluorescence enhancement of close-proximity fluorophores. For a given applied current, surface plasmons in “just-continuous” low resistance films are sparsely available for fluorophore dipole coupling and hence the enhanced fluorescence is gated as a function of the applied current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
    Inventor: Chris D. Geddes
  • Patent number: 9310305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an encoded microcarrier comprising a readable code attached to it for identification, said encoded microcarrier comprising a body having at least a detection surface to detect a chemical and/or biological reaction, the microcarrier further comprising at least a spacing element projecting from the body and shaped to ensure that, when the encoded microcarrier is laid on a flat plane with the detection surface facing said flat plane, a gap exists between said flat plane and the detection surface. The invention also relates to an assay device designed to use a plurality of said encoded microcarriers to perform assays. The invention relates finally to a method for monitoring a chemical or biological reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: MyCartis NV
    Inventor: Nicolas Demierre
  • Patent number: 9309550
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having nanostructured electrodes as well as methods for making and using such sensors. In certain embodiments of the invention, the sensor includes a carbon nanotube electrode and a analyte limiting membrane that modulates the ability of a analyte to contact the carbon nanotube electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Cooper, Ratnakar Vejella, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Rajiv Shah
  • Patent number: 9310291
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reaction vessel, a device and a method for detecting specific interactions between molecular target and probe molecules. The present invention especially relates to a reaction vessel which has a shape and size typical of a laboratory reaction vessel and in which a supporting element with probe molecules immobilized thereon on predetermined regions is arranged on its base surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CLONDIAG CHIP TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Schulz, Eugen Ermantraut, Ralf Ehricht, Klaus-Peter Möbius, Gerd Wagner, Joachim Fischer, Thomas Ellinger
  • Patent number: 9302263
    Abstract: This invention relates to microfluidics apparatus and methods for particle concentration in sensors for sensing biological entities such as cells, spores and the like. We describe a microfluidic sensor for sensing biological particles including a particle concentration device for performing concentration of particles in three dimensions. The sensor device comprises a substrate bearing a microfluidic channel or chamber for carrying a conductive fluid bearing the particles. The channel has: first and second electrodes spaced apart on the channel or chamber for defining an electric field therebetween, and a sensing surface on an inner surface of the channel or chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Camtech Management PTD LTD
    Inventor: Meng-Han Kuok
  • Patent number: 9304129
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward devices, systems, and method for conducting assays using sedimentation. In one example, a method includes layering a mixture on a density medium, subjecting sedimentation particles in the mixture to sedimentation forces to cause the sedimentation particles to move to a detection area through a density medium, and detecting a target analyte in a detection region of the sedimentation channel. In some examples, the sedimentation particles and labeling agent may have like charges to reduce non-specific binding of labeling agent and sedimentation particles. In some examples, the density medium is provided with a separation layer for stabilizing the assay during storage and operation. In some examples, the sedimentation channel may be provided with a generally flat sedimentation chamber for dispersing the particle pellet over a larger surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Ulrich Y. Schaff, Chung-Yan Koh, Gregory J. Sommer
  • Patent number: 9274430
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a device for molecule sensing. In some embodiments, the device includes a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a dielectric layer. The first electrode comprises a large area electrode and the second electrode comprises a small area electrode. At least one opening (e.g., trench) cut or otherwise created into the dielectric layer exposes a tunnel junction therebetween whereby target molecules in solution can bind across the tunnel junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS on behalf of ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Brett Gyarfas, Stuart Lindsay, Pei Pang
  • Patent number: 9276063
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
  • Patent number: 9267939
    Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the immunoassay of an analyte of interest. The analyte is detected in an immunoassay using three or more antibodies, wherein each antibody specifically binds to a different epitope on the analyte. When the analyte of interest in a clinical marker for an acute disease, the detection of the analyte by immunoassay is a diagnosis of the occurrence of the disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care Inc.
    Inventors: John Lewis Emerson Campbell, Pamela Anne Frank, Meghan Elizabeth Hawkes, Shannon Reishma Lobin, Cary James Miller, Zhen Yang
  • Patent number: 9261503
    Abstract: A combination of mutually exclusive cell-based analytical techniques can be applied to the same group of cells for analysis. The same group of cells can be prepared for analysis by each technique resulting with candidate cells targeted for mass cytometry analysis. This configuration allows for the correlation of the information between each technique to produce a matrix of multi dimension of cellular information with the same group of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidigm Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Baranov
  • Patent number: 9260475
    Abstract: Lysing may include agitating a specimen in a chamber along with a medium that includes a particulate lysing material that has an affinity for a biological material. Lysing material may include beads or other material which may be coated that facilitates binding. The medium may include a fluid with a high salt or low pH level. The biological material may be eluted by lowering a concentration of salt or increasing a pH level. Lysing materials with two or more different affinities may be employed. Heating may be used. Lysing may be performed in a flow through apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Claremont BioSolutions LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Irvine, Robert W. Doebler, Barbara Erwin, Ryan P. Talbot, Angelika Brigitte Niemz
  • Patent number: 9255912
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thin-film bulk acoustic resonator such as including an acoustic mirror, a piezoelectric region acoustically coupled to the acoustic mirror, and first and second conductors electrically coupled to the piezoelectric region. In an example, an integrated circuit substrate can include an interface circuit connected to the first and second conductors of the resonator, the integrated circuit substrate configured to mechanically support the resonator. An example can include an array of such resonators co-integrated with the interface circuit and configured to detect a mass change associated with one or more of a specified protein binding, a specified antibody-antigen coupling, a specified hybridization of a DNA oligomer, or an adsorption of specified gas molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Matthew Johnston, Kenneth Shepard, Ioannis Kymissis
  • Patent number: 9257238
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device is disclosed. The method comprises coating a solid structure by nanostructures selected from the group consisting of peptides and amino acids, under conditions that at least partially prevent assembly of the nanostructures into supramolecular structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Beker, Gil Rosenman
  • Patent number: 9244068
    Abstract: A device and method for filtering blood is disclosed herein. The device can filter blood and attach analytes within the blood to magnetic particles. The analytes can then be strongly bound to an analyzing device by a magnetic force. The analytes can then be counted by the analyzing device and the result can be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Silicon BioDevices, Inc.
    Inventor: Octavian Florescu
  • Patent number: 9244067
    Abstract: A biosensor includes a flexible foil with an electrode layer positioned on the foil. An adhesive layer is positioned on the foil layer, and a first photo-definable hydrogel membrane is positioned over the electrode layer and the adhesive layer. A second photo-definable hydrogel membrane with an immobilized bio-recognition element is positioned over the first hydrogel membrane in contact with the electrode layer through an opening in the first hydrogel membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Di Matteo, Vincenza Di Palma, Maria Fortuna Bevilacqua, Angela Cimmino
  • Patent number: 9233370
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for the rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by immunoassays incorporating magnetic capture of beads on a sensor capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ABBOTT POINT OF CARE INC.
    Inventors: Cary James Miller, Jinghua Hu
  • Patent number: 9228974
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biological field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device includes a plurality of microwells having a bio-sensing layer and a number of stacked well portions over a multi-layer interconnect (MLI). A bottom surface area of a well portion is different from a top surface area of a well portion directly below. The microwells are formed by removing a top metal plate on a topmost level of the MLI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Wei-Cheng Shen, Shih-Wei Lin, Chun-Ren Cheng