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).

  • Patent number: 9850549
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and kits are provided wherein a temperature-sensitive reagent that emits a luminescent signal is used to adjust the identification of the temperature of a sample or to control thermocycling. In various illustrative embodiments, the sample is a PCR mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Lindsay N. Sanford, Carl T. Wittwer
  • Patent number: 9771610
    Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for nucleic acid analysis. In an illustrative method a target nucleic acid is amplified using a first primer and a second primer, wherein the first primer comprises a probe element specific for a locus of the target nucleic acid and a template-specific primer region, and the probe element is 5? of the template-specific primer region, subsequently allowing the probe element to hybridize to the locus to form a hairpin, generating a melting curve for the probe element by measuring fluorescence from a dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated, wherein the dye is not covalently bound to the first primer, and analyzing the shape of the melting curve. Kits may include one or more of the first and second primers, the dsDNA binding dye, a polymerase, and dNTPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, BioFire Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Luming Zhou, Mark Aaron Poritz
  • Publication number: 20170226573
    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 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Luming Zhou, Carl T. Wittwer, Philip Seth Bernard, Virginie Dujols
  • Patent number: 9657347
    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: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation and BioFire Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Luming Zhou, Carl T. Wittwer, Philip Seth Bernard, Virginie Dujols
  • Publication number: 20160348157
    Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for nucleic acid analysis. In an illustrative method a target nucleic acid is amplified using a first primer and a second primer, wherein the first primer comprises a probe element specific for a locus of the target nucleic acid and a template-specific primer region, and the probe element is 5? of the template-specific primer region, subsequently allowing the probe element to hybridize to the locus to form a hairpin, generating a melting curve for the probe element by measuring fluorescence from a dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated, wherein the dye is not covalently bound to the first primer, and analyzing the shape of the melting curve. Kits may include one or more of the first and second primers, the dsDNA binding dye, a polymerase, and dNTPs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Luming Zhou, Mark Aaron Porter
  • Publication number: 20160289736
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR and other thermal cycling reactions in <20 seconds per cycle, using induction heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: David Jones, Carl T. Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20160202195
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Lindsay N. Sanford
  • Patent number: 9290663
    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: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, BioFire Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150247209
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and kits are provided wherein a temperature-sensitive reagent that emits a luminescent signal is used to adjust the identification of the temperature of a sample or to control thermocycling. In various illustrative embodiments, the sample is a PCR mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Lindsay N. Sanford, Carl T. Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20150118715
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for performing PCR in <20 seconds cycle, with improved efficiency and yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Steven Jared Farrar
  • Publication number: 20140370507
    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: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Luming Zhou
  • Patent number: 8399189
    Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for nucleic acid analysis. In an illustrative method a target nucleic acid is amplified using a first primer and a second primer, wherein the first primer comprises a probe element specific for a locus of the target nucleic acid and a template-specific primer region, and the probe element is 5? of the template-specific primer region, subsequently allowing the probe element to hybridize to the locus to form a hairpin, generating a melting curve for the probe element by measuring fluorescence from a dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated, wherein the dye is not covalently bound to the first primer, and analyzing the shape of the melting curve. Kits may include one or more of the first and second primers, the dsDNA binding dye, a polymerase, and dNTPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, BioFire Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Luming Zhou, Mark Aaron Poritz
  • Patent number: 8343754
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, BioFire Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Kirk M. Ririe, Randy P. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20120301875
    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 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120258524
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Kirk M. Ririe, Randy P. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20120231522
    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: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: IDAHO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou
  • Patent number: 8093002
    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: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, Idaho Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Gudrun Reed, Virginie Dujols, Luming Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100297656
    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: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: CARL T. WITTWER, GUDRUN REED, VIRGINIE DUJOLS, LUMING ZHOU
  • Patent number: 7803551
    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: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, Idaho Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Virginie Dujols
  • Patent number: RE42325
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for analyzing sequence variations in nucleic acid samples comprising multiple loci, each having two, three or more possible allelic sequences. The method involves combining at least a first and second pair of oligonucleotide probes with the nucleic acid sample. The first pair of probes is capable of hybridizing in proximity to each other within a segment of the nucleic acid sample comprising the first locus and the second pair is capable of hybridizing in proximity to each other within a segment of the nucleic acid sample comprising the second locus. The first member of each probe pair comprises a FRET donor and the second member comprises a FRET acceptor, the FRET acceptor of the first probe pair member having a different emission spectrum from the FRET acceptor of the second probe pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Carl T. Wittwer, Mark G. Herrman