Patents by Inventor Carl T. Wittwer

Carl T. Wittwer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240068021
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Patent number: 11834708
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Publication number: 20230279479
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and processes that may be used to increase the signal of a target-specific reporter molecule (such as a probe) by covalently attaching plural copies of a fluorophore to a target-reporter duplex that are excited by iFRET (induced fluorescence resonance energy transfer) from donor fluorescence of a double-stranded DNA-binding dye bound to the double-stranded DNA structure created by hybridization of reporter and target during an amplification reaction. In one illustrative example, a double-stranded DNA-binding dye is provided in solution and during amplification and/or after completion of amplification, the dye binds to the probe-target duplex, and provides fluorescence resonance energy transfer to multiple acceptor fluorophores that are covalently attached to the duplex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Luming ZHOU, Carl T. WITTWER, Noriko KUSUKAWA
  • Patent number: 11351545
    Abstract: A method and system have been provided to perform high speed nucleic acid melting analysis while still obtaining accurate melting curve sufficient for genotyping. This rapid ability to interrogate DNA should be useful whenever time to result is important, such as in molecular point of care testing. Specifically, microfluidics enables genotyping by melting analysis at rates up to 50° C./s, requiring less than is to acquire an entire melting curve. High speed melting reduces the time for melting analysis, decreases errors, and improves genotype discrimination of small amplicons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: Canon U.S.A., Inc., University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert J. Pryor, Carl T. Wittwer, Scott O. Sundberg, Ivor T. Knight, Joseph T. Myrick, Robert A. Palais, Jeanette Y. Paek
  • Patent number: 11332779
    Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye to form a mixture. Optionally, an unlabeled probe is included in the mixture. A melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: BIOFIRE DEFENSE, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Luming Zhou, Carl T. Wittwer, Philip Seth Bernard, Virginie Dujols
  • Publication number: 20210254132
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Patent number: 11066696
    Abstract: A method of background removal from melting curves generated using a fluorescent dye is provided for analyzing a melting profile of a nucleic acid sample. The method comprises measuring the fluorescence of the nucleic acid sample as a function of temperature to produce a raw melting curve having a melting transition, the nucleic acid sample comprising a nucleic acid and a molecule that binds the nucleic acid to form a fluorescently detectable complex, the raw melting curve comprising a background fluorescence signal and a nucleic acid sample signal; and separating the background signal from the nucleic acid sample signal by use of a quantum algorithm to generate a corrected melting curve, the corrected melting curve comprising the nucleic acid sample signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Lindsay N. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11028432
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR and other thermal cycling reactions in <20 seconds per cycle, using induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: BioFire Diagnostics, LLC, University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: David Jones, Carl T. Wittwer
  • Patent number: 11021744
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Patent number: 10900074
    Abstract: Methods, kits and mixtures are provided for performing RT-PCR with an RT incubation of no more than one minute and PCR cycles in <20 seconds per cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, John Francis Quackenbush, Jessica Anne Houskeeper
  • Publication number: 20200248247
    Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye to form a mixture. Optionally, an unlabeled probe is included in the mixture. A melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Luming Zhou, Carl T. Wittwer, Philip Seth Bernard, Virginie Dujols
  • Patent number: 10655169
    Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye to form a mixture. Optionally, an unlabeled probe is included in the mixture. A melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, Biofire Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Luming Zhou, Carl T. Wittwer, Philip Seth Bernard, Virginie Dujols
  • Publication number: 20190055591
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Publication number: 20190002954
    Abstract: Methods, kits and mixtures are provided for performing RT-PCR with an RT incubation of no more than one minute and PCR cycles in <20 seconds per cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, John Francis Quackenbush, Jessica Anne Houskeeper
  • Patent number: 10144960
    Abstract: Devices are provided for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Publication number: 20180179581
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds per cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Jared Steven Farrar
  • Publication number: 20180111125
    Abstract: A method and system have been provided to perform high speed nucleic acid melting analysis while still obtaining accurate melting curve sufficient for genotyping. This rapid ability to interrogate DNA should be useful whenever time to result is important, such as in molecular point of care testing. Specifically, microfluidics enables genotyping by melting analysis at rates up to 50° C./s, requiring less than is to acquire an entire melting curve. High speed melting reduces the time for melting analysis, decreases errors, and improves genotype discrimination of small amplicons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Pryor, Carl T. Wittwer, Scott O. Sundberg, Ivor T. Knight, Joseph T. Myrick, Robert A. Palais, Jeanette Y. Paek
  • Patent number: 9932634
    Abstract: Methods are provided for fast nucleic acid amplification in which concentrations of primers and polymerase are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Steven Jared Farrar
  • Publication number: 20180066137
    Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid that is at least partially double stranded is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye having a percent saturation of at least 50% to form a mixture. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is amplified in the presence of the dsDNA binding dye, and in another embodiment a melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou
  • Patent number: 9850381
    Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid that is at least partially double stranded is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye having a percent saturation of at least 50% to form a mixture. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is amplified in the presence of the dsDNA binding dye, and in another embodiment a melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION, BIOFIRE DEFENSE, LLC
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou