Patents by Inventor Andrew John Heron
Andrew John Heron has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230158503Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicants: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC, Sharp Life Science EU (Ltd)Inventors: Matthew Holden, James White, Andrew John Heron, James Anthony Clarke, Jason Robert Hyde, Benjamin James Hadwen, Sally Anderson
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Patent number: 11634763Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of characterizing a target polynucleotide. The method uses a pore and a Hel308 helicase or amolecular motor which is capable of binding to the target polynucleotide at an internal nucleotide. The helicase or molecular motor controls the movement of the target polynucleotide through the pore.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Ruth Moysey, Andrew John Heron
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Patent number: 11613771Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of delivering an analyte to a transmembrane pore in a membrane. The method involves the use of microparticles.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Clive Gavin Brown, Daniel Ryan Garalde, Andrew John Heron, Daniel John Turner, James White
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Publication number: 20230084931Abstract: Methods of characterizing an analyte using a nanopore. One aspect features methods for characterizing a double-stranded polynucleotide using a nanopore, e.g., without using a hairpin connecting a template and a complement of the double-stranded polynucleotide. Another aspect features methods for characterizing an analyte using a tag-modified nanopore with increased sensitivity and/or higher throughput. Compositions and systems including, e.g., adaptors for attachment to double-stranded polynucleotides and tag-modified nanopores, which can be used in the methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: James Anthony Clarke, James White, Richard Muscat, Jessica Mary May Knott, Ramiz Iqbal Nathani, Andrew John Heron, Mark John Bruce, Lakmal Jayasinghe, Domenico Caprotti, David Jackson Stoddart, Rebecca Victoria Bowen, Christopher James Wright, Paul Richard Moody
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Publication number: 20230041418Abstract: Provided herein is a method of concentrating a tethering complex in a region of an amphiphilic layer, such as a lipid membrane. Also provided herein are methods of assembling a tethering complex; methods of concentrating an analyte in the region of a detector; amphiphilic layers; and arrays and devices for use in the disclosed methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2020Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Clive Gavin Brown, Andrew John Heron, James Anthony Clarke, Paul Richard Moody, Aaron Luke Acton, Jason Robert Hyde
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Publication number: 20230024319Abstract: Provided herein are methods of characterising a target polypeptide as it moves with respect to a nanopore. Also provided are related kits, systems and apparatuses for carrying out such methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Andrew John Heron, James Edward Graham, Melania Slawa Strycharska
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Patent number: 11560589Abstract: The invention relates to new methods of moving helicases past spacers on polynucleotides and controlling the loading of helicases on polynucleotides. The invention also relates to new methods of characterising target polynucleotides using helicases.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Andrew John Heron, David Antoni Alves, James Anthony Clarke, Marion Louise Crawford, Daniel Ryan Garalde, Graham Hall, Daniel John Turner, James White
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Publication number: 20230012471Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of characterising a target RNA polynucleotide by taking one or more measurements as the target RNA polynucleotide moves with respect to a transmembrane pore. The movement is controlled by a DNA helicase. The invention also relates to a modified RNA construct wherein the RNA polynucleotide has been modified to increase DNA helicase binding thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2021Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Daniel Ryan Garalde, Andrew John Heron, Lakmal Jayasinghe, Daniel John Turner, James White
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Patent number: 11534763Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignees: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC, Sharp Life Science EU (Ltd)Inventors: Matthew Holden, James White, Andrew John Heron, James Anthony Clarke, Jason Robert Hyde, Benjamin James Hadwen, Sally Anderson
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Patent number: 11525125Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of characterising a target polynucleotide. The method uses a pore and a Dda helicase. The helicase controls the movement of the target polynucleotide through the pore. The invention also relates to modified Dda helicases which can be used to control the movement of polynucleotides and are particularly useful for sequencing polynucleotides.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Mark John Bruce, Andrew John Heron, Ruth Moysey, Szabolcs Soeroes, Elizabeth Jayne Wallace, James White
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Publication number: 20220389481Abstract: Provided herein is a method of sequencing a target double stranded nucleic acid. The method comprises contacting the double stranded nucleic acid with a reagent as described herein to form a construct and sequencing the construct using a single-molecule sequencing technique as described herein. Associated products and kits are further provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Andrew John Heron, Rebecca Victoria Bowen, Clive Gavin Brown
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Publication number: 20220372568Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of characterizing a target polynucleotide. The method uses a pore and a Hel308 helicase or a molecular motor which is capable of binding to the target polynucleotide at an internal nucleotide. The helicase or molecular motor controls the movement of the target polynucleotide through the pore.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Ruth Moysey, Andrew John Heron
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Patent number: 11466317Abstract: Methods of characterizing an analyte using a nanopore. One aspect features methods for characterizing a double-stranded polynucleotide using a nanopore, e.g., without using a hairpin connecting a template and a complement of the double-stranded polynucleotide. Another aspect features methods for characterizing an analyte using a tag-modified nanopore with increased sensitivity and/or higher throughput. Compositions and systems including, e.g., adaptors for attachment to double-stranded polynucleotides and tag-modified nanopores, which can be used in the methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: James Clarke, James White, Richard Muscat, Jessica Mary May Knott, Ramiz Iqbal Nathani, Andrew John Heron, Mark John Bruce, Lakmal Nishantha Jayasinghe, Domenico Caprotti, David Jackson Stoddart, Rebecca Victoria Bowen, Christopher James Wright, Paul Richard Moody
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Patent number: 11401549Abstract: A biochemical analysis system analyses polymers by taking measurements of a polymer from a sensor element comprising a nanopore during translocation of the polymer through the nanopore. When a polymer has partially translocated, the series of measurements is analysed using reference data derived from a reference sequence to provide a measure of similarity. Responsive to the measure of similarity, the sensor element may be selectively operated to eject the polymer and thereby make the nanopore available to receive a further polymer. Where the biochemical analysis system comprises an array of sensor elements and is takes measurements from sensor elements selected in a multiplexed manner, responsive to the measure of similarity, the biochemical analysis system ceases taking measurements from the currently selected sensor element and to starts taking measurements from a newly selected sensor element.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLCInventors: Stuart William Reid, Gavin Harper, Clive Gavin Brown, Daniel John Turner, Andrew John Heron, Christopher James Wright
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Publication number: 20220221441Abstract: A biochemical sensing system senses interactions between molecular entities and nanopores using a sensor device comprising an array of sensor elements that support the nanopores. A switch arrangement selectively connects detection channels for amplifying sensed electrical signals to respective sensor elements. On the basis of an analysis of the amplified electrical signal output from the detection channels, detection of completion of interactions at sensor elements occurs. In response thereto, the switch arrangement is controlled to connect the detection channel connected to a sensor element at which completion of an interaction has been detected to a further sensor element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc.Inventors: Andrew John Heron, Mark John Bruce
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Publication number: 20220177937Abstract: The invention relates to new in vitro methods for synthesising a polymer, particularly a polynucleotide molecule, having a pre-defined sequence of units such as nucleotides. For synthesising a polynucleotide molecule the methods involve a process of extending a polynucleotide synthesis molecule with a transfer nucleotide. The methods additionally involve repeating the extension process multiple times to iteratively extend the polynucleotide molecule with multiple transfer nucleotides to generate a new polynucleotide molecule having a pre-defined nucleotide sequence. The invention also relates to in vitro methods of joining multiple synthetic polynucleotides following synthesis to form larger synthetic polynucleotides, as well as devices and systems for performing the extension, synthesis and assembly methods of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies LimitedInventor: Andrew John Heron
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Publication number: 20220135956Abstract: The invention relates to modified Dda helicases which can be used to control the movement of polynucleotides and are particularly useful for sequencing polynucleotides.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Andrew John Heron, Rebecca Victoria Bowen, Mark Bruce, Lakmal Jayasinghe, Joseph Hargreaves Lloyd, Szabolcs Soeroes, Elizabeth Jayne Wallace, Christopher Peter Youd
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Publication number: 20220127669Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of sequencing a double stranded target polynucleotide. The two strands of the double stranded target polynucleotide are linked by a bridging moiety. The two strands of the target polynucleotide are separated using a polynucleotide binding protein and the target polynucleotide is sequenced using a transmembrane pore.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Clive Gavin Brown, James Clarke, Graham Hall, Gavin Harper, Andrew John Heron, James White
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Publication number: 20220090192Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of characterising two or more target polynucleotides using a pore. The method involves sequentially attaching to a first polynucleotide one or more subsequent polynucleotides to form a concatenated polynucleotide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Andrew John Heron, Daniel Ryan Garalde, James White
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Publication number: 20220064723Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting a target polynucleotide in a sample comprising: (a) contacting the sample with a guide polynucleotide that binds to a sequence in the target polynucleotide and a polynucleotide-guided effector protein, wherein the guide polynucleotide and polynucleotide-guided effector protein form a complex with any target polynucleotide present in the sample; (b) contacting the sample with a membrane comprising a transmembrane pore; (c) applying a potential to the membrane; and (d) monitoring for the presence or absence of an effect resulting from the interaction of the complex with the transmembrane pore to determine the presence or absence of the complex, thereby detecting the target polynucleotide in the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Oxford Nanopore Technologies LimitedInventors: Andrew John HERON, James Edward GRAHAM, Richard Alexander GUTIERREZ, Rebecca Victoria BOWEN, James WHITE, Clive Gavin BROWN, Daniel George FORDHAM