Patents Examined by Samuel Woolwine
  • System and method for identification of biological tissues
    Patent number: 9046448
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system, method, and device for analyzing, localizing and/or identifying tissue types. The method includes analyzing, localizing and/or identifying one or more tissue samples, characterized in that the method comprises: (a) generating gaseous tissue particles from a site in the one or more tissue samples, (b) transporting the gaseous tissue particles from the site to an analyser, (c) using the analyser for generating tissue-related data based on the gaseous tissue particles, and (d) analyzing, localizing and/or identifying the one or more tissue samples based on the tissue-related data. The invention can either be used in close conjunction with a surgical procedure, when one or more surgical tools are an integrated part of ionization, or as a separate mass spectrometric probe for the analysis of one or more tissue parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Zoltan Takats
  • Method for sequencing RNA by in-source decay using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometer
    Patent number: 9040235
    Abstract: An analytic method is provided for obtaining much sequence information by causing in-source decay of modified RNA and non-modified RNA and generating many fragment ions. Particularly, a method for analysis wherein a matrix that efficiently causes decomposition by in-source decay of RNA of 20 bases or longer is used in an apparatus that has a laser of a wavelength commonly used in MALDI-TOF MS. A specimen containing RNA is subjected to matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry that uses 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone as a matrix to obtain fragment ions derived from the RNA. The difference in mass between the peaks of ions in the fragment ions is used to analyze the sequence of the RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Yamada
  • Human single nucleotide polymorphisms within CODIS loci D13S317, TH01, vWA, D12S391, and D6S1043
    Patent number: 9029088
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for human identification utilizing newly discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within CODIS loci D13S317, TH01, vWA, D12S391 and D6S1043, which can cause allelic dropout. Also disclosed are kits useful in human identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Julio Mulero, Michael Malicdem, Robert Lagace
  • Method and arrays for detecting biological molecules
    Patent number: 9023766
    Abstract: Arrays and methods for detecting one or more biological molecules, where the methods generally comprise the steps of: providing a first support structure fixed with one or more reagents; providing a second support structure fixed with a plurality of ligands; contacting the reagents fixed to the first support structure with the ligands fixed to the second support structure whereby a plurality of the reagents bind to one or more of the ligands; and separating the first support structure from the second support structure so that the plurality of the bound reagents remain bound to a plurality of ligands on the second support after separation. In one preferred method, proteins are immobilized on a support with adequate strength so that the proteins can be dissociated from the support under certain conditions, such as after binding with other proteins immobilized on another support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Yingjian Wang
  • Nanopore sequencing using ratiometric impedance
    Patent number: 9017937
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for nanopore sequencing. The invention includes arrays of nanopores having incorporated electronic circuits, for example, in CMOS. The invention includes devices having sample and reference pores connecting sample, measurement and reference chambers, wherein potential measurements in each chamber is used to provide an accurate determination of current through a sample nanopore, improving nanopore sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Turner, Nathaniel McCaffrey, Jeffrey Wegener, Adrian Fehr
  • Rare cell analysis using sample splitting and DNA tags
    Patent number: 9017942
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, GPB Scientific, LLC, Verinata Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Shoemaker, Ravi Kapur, Mehmet Toner, Roland Stoughton, Ronald W. Davis
  • System and method for generating and/or screening potential metal-organic frameworks
    Patent number: 9012368
    Abstract: A system and method for systematically generating potential metal-organic framework (MOFs) structures given an input library of building blocks is provided herein. One or more material properties of the potential MOFs are evaluated using computational simulations. A range of material properties (surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, powder x-ray diffraction pattern, methane adsorption capability, and the like) can be estimated, and in doing so, illuminate unidentified structure-property relationships that may only have been recognized by taking a global view of MOF structures. In addition to identifying structure-property relationships, this systematic approach to identify the MOFs of interest is used to identify one or more MOFs that may be useful for high pressure methane storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Christopher E. Wilmer, Michael Leaf, Randall Q. Snurr, Omar K. Farha, Joseph T. Hupp
  • Devices comprising muscle thin films and uses thereof in high throughput assays for determining contractile function
    Patent number: 9012172
    Abstract: The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for use in these assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Kevin Kit Parker, Adam Walter Feinberg, Patrick W. Alford, Anna Grosberg, Mark D. Brigham, Josue Adrian Goss
  • Rapid nucleic acid purification using paper chromatography
    Patent number: 9012614
    Abstract: Provided is a method for rapid nucleic acid purification. The method includes allowing the nucleic acid isolated from the biological sample to be adsorbed on a silica membrane; separating contaminants from the nucleic acid-adsorbed silica membrane by using paper chromatography; and eluting only high-purity nucleic acid from the silica membrane from which the contaminants are isolated by using a buffer, or applying at least one selected from direct PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and real-time RT-PCR to the nucleic acid bound onto the silica membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Nanohelix Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsu Ko, Young Cheol Kim, Siseok Lee
  • Structural nucleic acid guided chemical synthesis
    Patent number: 9006150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising the nucleic acid and a chemical compound, said composition forming a star structure defining 3 or more stems extending from a reaction center. The stems are formed by a nucleic acid duplex and the chemical compound has been formed in the reaction center as the reaction product of 3 or more chemical groups. The advantage of the composition is that a close proximity is provided between the chemical groups in the reaction center, thereby promoting a reaction. The invention also relates to a method for preparation of the composition. The advantage of the method is that it does not require the pre-synthesis of a large number of templates and that it is not dependent upon codon/anti-codon recognition for an encoded molecule to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Vipergen ApS
    Inventors: Nils Jokob Vest Hansen, Peter Blakskjaer, Margit Haahr Hansen, Lars Kolster Petersen, Tara Renee Heitner
  • Nanopore sequencing using charge blockade labels
    Patent number: 8986932
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for nanopore sequencing. The invention includes compositions and methods of nucleic acid sequencing using a single polymerase enzyme complex comprising a polymerase enzyme and a template nucleic acid attached proximal to a nanopore, and nucleotide analogs in solution comprising charge blockade label that are attached to the polyphosphate portion of the nucleotide analog such that the charge blockade labels are cleaved when the nucleotide analog is incorporated into a growing nucleic acid and the charge blockade label is detected by the nanopore to determine the presence and identity of the incorporated nucleotide and thereby determine the sequence of a template nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Turner, Jeffrey Wegener
  • Methods and systems for electronic sequencing
    Patent number: 8969002
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and systems for Electronic DNA sequencing, single molecule DNA sequencing, and combinations of the above, providing low cost and convenient sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Genapsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Hesaam Esfandyarpour, Mark Oldham
  • Processes for the preparation of highly pure plasmid compositions by enzymatic digestion of colanic acid
    Patent number: 8969068
    Abstract: A process for the purification of plasmid DNA, the process comprising treating an aqueous composition containing plasmid DNA with a polypeptide obtained from an NST1 phage to digest colanic acid and separating the plasmid DNA from the treated aqueous composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Gradalis, Inc.
    Inventor: Nancy Smyth Templeton
  • Gene targets associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 8969005
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for diagnosis and treatment of ALS are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventor: Aaron D. Gitler
  • Solution microarrays and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8969256
    Abstract: The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous 2-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to systems and methods for performing assays within the solution microarrays (e.g., diagnostic assays).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shuichi Takayama, Arlyne Simon, Nien-Tsu Huang, Katsuo Kurabayashi
  • Peptoids useful for catalyzing the mineralization of calcium carbonate
    Patent number: 8952127
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a bio-mimetic polymer capable of catalyzing CO2 into a carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chun-Long Chen, Ronald N. Zuckermann, James J. De Yoreo
  • Combinatorial rosamine library to detect cell-state switching
    Patent number: 8951938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of rosamine derivative compounds, as described herein, in detecting differentiated forms of a cell type of interest in a sample and in screening for compounds which inhibit differentiation of the cell type of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: New York University, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Young-Tae Chang, Young-Hoon Ahn, Yun Kyung Kim, Bridget Wagner, Hyman A. Carrinski, Paul Clemons, Stuart Schreiber
  • Method for multiplexed nucleic acid patch polymerase chain reaction
    Patent number: 8936912
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a method for amplifying at least two different nucleic acid sequences. In particular, the method encompasses a multiplexed nucleic acid patch polymerase chain reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Robi M. Mitra, Katherine E. Varley
  • Method for determining the origin of a sample
    Patent number: 8936909
    Abstract: A method for determining the nature of a sample is provided, wherein the presence or absence of at least one marker small non-coding RNA in the sample is detected. Suitable marker small non-coding RNAs for different samples such as blood, saliva, semen and vaginal secretions are provided. Also provided are suitable kits and methods for identifying marker small-non coding RNAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Qiagen GmbH, University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc.
    Inventors: Helge Lubenow, Jack Ballantyne, Erin K. Hanson
  • Methods and compounds for phototransfer
    Patent number: 8932879
    Abstract: Methods are described for phototransferring a compound from a first surface to a second surface. Compounds are described with photocleavable linkers. Compounds attached to a first surface through a photocleavable linker are put in proximity (or contact) with a second surface, and then phototransferred to the second surface upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Illuminating the compound with radiation photocleaves the compound from the first surface and transfers the compound to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ambergen, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Lim, Kenneth J. Rothschild