Patents by Inventor Barry L. Merriman

Barry L. Merriman 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).

  • Patent number: 10648941
    Abstract: In various embodiments a molecular circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, and a binding probe molecule conductively attached to both the positive and negative electrodes to form a circuit having a conduction pathway through the binding probe. In various examples, the binding probe is an antibody, the Fab domain of an antibody, a protein, a nucleic acid oligomer hybridization probe, or an aptamer. The circuit may further comprise molecular arms used to wire the binding probe to the electrodes. In various embodiments, the circuit functions as a sensor wherein electrical signals, such as changes to voltage, current, impedance, conductance, or resistance in the circuit, are measured as targets interact with the binding probe. In various embodiments, the circuit provides a means to measure the presence, absence, or concentration of an analyte in a solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Venkatesh Alagarswamy Govindaraj, Paul Mola, Tim Geiser, Gina Costa
  • Patent number: 10597767
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating at least one nanoparticle include providing one or more substrates and depositing a substance on the one or more substrates. At least one portion of the substance is heated or annealed so the at least one portion beads up on the one or more substrates due to cohesive forces of the substance being greater than adhesive forces between the substrate and the substance. In some methods, a pattern generation process is performed to define the at least one portion. A combination of a substance material for the substance and a substrate material for the one or more substrates may also be selected so that the at least one portion beads up into a predetermined shape. The substance may also be deposited on the one or more substrates with a sub-monolayer thickness or with gaps to further reduce a nanoparticle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Paul W. Mola, Chulmin Choi
  • Patent number: 10584410
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Patent number: 10526696
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ROSWELL BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20190383770
    Abstract: A sequencing device is disclosed. The sequence device includes an array of conducting electrode pairs, each pair of electrodes comprising a source and a drain electrode arrangement separated by a nanogap, the electrode array deposited and patterned on a dielectric substrate; at least one transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) layer disposed on each pair of electrodes, wherein the TMD layer connects each source and drain electrode within each pair, and bridges each nanogap of each pair of electrodes; and a dielectric masking layer disposed on the TMD layer and comprising at least one opening that defines an exposed TMD region, wherein the at least one opening is sized so as to allow a single biomolecule to fit therein and to attach on to the exposed TMD region. In embodiments of the disclosure, the TMD layer be a defective TMD layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chulmin CHOI, Sungho JIN, Barry L. MERRIMAN, Paul MOLA, Tim GEISER
  • Patent number: 10508296
    Abstract: In various embodiments a molecular circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, and an enzyme molecule conductively attached to both the positive and negative electrodes to form a circuit having a conduction pathway through the enzyme. In various examples, the enzyme is a polymerase. The circuit may further comprise molecular arms used to wire the enzyme to the electrodes. In various embodiments, the circuit functions as a sensor, wherein electrical signals, such as changes to voltage, current, impedance, conductance, or resistance in the circuit, are measured as substrates interact with the enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Venkatesh Alagarswamy Govindaraj, Paul Mola, Tim Geiser
  • Publication number: 20190376925
    Abstract: In various aspects of the present disclosure, a sequencing device structure is disclosed. The device structure has an array of metallic conducting electrode pairs, each electrode pair defining a bridging source and drain arrangement separated by a nanogap, the electrode pairs deposited and patterned on a dielectric substrate; a graphene layer deposited onto each electrode pair bridging the source and drain electrodes in each pair, wherein each electrode pair is in electrical isolation from each other; and a dielectric masking layer contacting the graphene layer, the masking layer having an opening exposing a portion of the graphene layer directly over each nanogap, wherein each opening is dimensioned in size to accommodate at least one polymerase enzyme molecule. The graphene layer may include defective graphene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Chulmin Choi, Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Paul Mola, Tim Geiser
  • Publication number: 20190355442
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an information storage system comprises: a writing device for synthesizing a nucleotide sequence that encodes a set of information; and a reading device for interpreting the nucleotide sequence by decoding the interpreted nucleotide sequence into the set of information, wherein the reading device comprises a molecular electronics sensor, the sensor comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes and a molecular complex attached to each electrode to form a molecular electronics circuit, wherein the molecular complex comprises a bridge molecule and a probe molecule, and wherein the molecular electronics sensor produces distinguishable signals in a measurable electrical parameter of the molecular electronics sensor, when interpreting the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Paul Mola
  • Patent number: 10378103
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20190194801
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, TIm Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20190094175
    Abstract: Electronic sensors configured to detect single molecules and DNA methods of using and manufacturing same are disclosed. A sensor may include source and drain electrodes spaced apart by a sensor gap; a gate electrode, wherein the source, drain and gate electrodes cooperate to form an electrode circuit; and a bridge molecule bridging across the sensor gap, connecting source and drain electrodes; and a probe coupled to the bridge molecule, wherein interaction of the probe with a nucleic acid is detectable by monitoring a parameter of the electrode circuit. In various examples, the nucleic acid comprises DNA or RNA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Paul W. Mola, Chulmin Choi
  • Patent number: 10227694
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20190041378
    Abstract: A DNA or genome sequencing structure is disclosed. The structure includes an electrode pair, each electrode having a tip-shaped end, the electrodes separated by a nanogap defined by facing tip-shaped ends; at least one conductive island deposited at or near each tip-shaped end; and a biomolecule having two ends, each end attached to the conductive islands in the electrode pair such that one biomolecule bridges over the nanogap in the electrode pair, wherein nucleotide interactions with the biomolecule provides electronic monitoring of DNA or genome sequencing without the use of a fluorescing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Chulmin Choi, Sungho Jin, Paul W. Mola, Barry L. Merriman
  • Publication number: 20190039065
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a device useable in DNA or genome sequencing comprises disposing pairs of electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes within each pair separated by a nanogap; depositing a resist layer over the electrodes; patterning the resist layer to create an exposed region on each electrode at or near each nanogap; roughening the electrode surface within each exposed region using various methods; and exposing the exposed regions to biomolecules, wherein one biomolecule bridges each nanogap of each electrode pair, with each end of each bio-molecule bound to the electrodes at each exposed region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Chulmin Choi, Sungho Jin, Paul W. Mola, Barry L. Merriman
  • Publication number: 20190041355
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a molecular electronics sensor array chip comprises: (a) an integrated circuit semiconductor chip; and (b) a plurality of molecular electronic sensor devices disposed thereon, each of said sensor devices comprising: (i) a pair of nanoscale source and drain electrodes separated by a nanogap; (ii) a gate electrode; and (iii) a bridge and/or probe molecule spanning the nanogap and connecting the source and drain electrodes, wherein the molecular electronic sensor devices are organized into an electronically addressable, controllable, and readable array of sensor pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Paul W. Mola, Chulmin Choi
  • Publication number: 20190033244
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20190004003
    Abstract: In various embodiments a molecular circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, and a binding probe molecule conductively attached to both the positive and negative electrodes to form a circuit having a conduction pathway through the binding probe. In various examples, the binding probe is an antibody, the Fab domain of an antibody, a protein, a nucleic acid oligomer hybridization probe, or an aptamer. The circuit may further comprise molecular arms used to wire the binding probe to the electrodes. In various embodiments, the circuit functions as a sensor wherein electrical signals, such as changes to voltage, current, impedance, conductance, or resistance in the circuit, are measured as targets interact with the binding probe. In various embodiments, the circuit provides a means to measure the presence, absence, or concentration of an analyte in a solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Venkatesh Alagarswamy Govindaraj, Paul Mola, Tim Geiser, Gina Costa
  • Patent number: 10151722
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola
  • Publication number: 20180340220
    Abstract: Electronic sensors configured to detect single molecule targets and methods of using and manufacturing such electronic sensors are disclosed. A sensor may include a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a sensor gap. The first and second electrodes can be coupled by a sensor complex that can include a biopolymer bridge molecule and a probe. The probe can interact with a target molecule, and interaction of the probe and target molecule can produce a signal suitable to provide detection of the target molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Barry L. Merriman, Paul W. Mola
  • Patent number: 10125420
    Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Barry L. Merriman, Tim Geiser, Chulmin Choi, Paul Mola