Patents by Inventor David A. Comstock

David A. Comstock 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: 20210371907
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining copy number variation (CNV) associated with a variety of medical conditions. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining copy number variation (CNV) of fetuses using maternal samples comprising maternal and fetal cell free DNA. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining CNVs associated with a variety of medical conditions. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide methods to improve the sensitivity and/or specificity of sequence data analysis by deriving a fragment size parameter, such as a size-weighted coverage or a fraction of fragments in a size range. In some embodiments, the fragment size parameter is adjusted to remove within-sample GC-content bias. In some embodiments, removal of within-sample GC-content bias is based on sequence data corrected for systematic variation common across unaffected training samples. Also disclosed are systems and computer program products for evaluation of CNV of sequences of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Darya I. Chudova, Catalin Barbacioru, Sven Duenwald, David A. Comstock, Richard P. Rava
  • Publication number: 20210368404
    Abstract: In order to perform a RACH-less handover from a source base station to a target base station, a UE device generates a request that the target base station is to send a Media Access Control (MAC) message to the UE device. The request can be sent with a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration Complete message. Alternatively, an RRC message sent from a UE device functions as an implicit request that the target base station is to send a MAC message to the UE device. The request can also be configured to specify a particular MAC Control Element that the target base station should send. The target base station transmits the requested MAC message, along with TA information, if required. The UE device determines when the handover has been completed, based at least partially on when the requested MAC message is received from the target base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: David COMSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20210340613
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining aneuploidy and/or fetal fraction in maternal samples comprising fetal and maternal cfDNA by massively parallel sequencing. The method comprises a novel protocol for preparing sequencing libraries that unexpectedly improves the quality of library DNA while expediting the process of analysis of samples for prenatal diagnoses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Richard P. Rava, Manjula Chinnappa, David A. Comstock, Gabrielle Heilek, Brian Kent Rhees
  • Patent number: 11130995
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for simultaneously determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy and the relative amount of fetal nucleic acids in a sample obtained from a pregnant female. The method encompasses the use of sequencing technologies and exploits the occurrence of polymorphisms to provide a streamlined noninvasive process applicable to the practice of prenatal diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Verinata Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Quake, Richard P Rava, Manjula Chinnappa, David A Comstock, Gabrielle Heilek
  • Patent number: 11122473
    Abstract: In order to perform a RACH-less handover from a source base station to a target base station, a UE device generates a request that the target base station is to send a Media Access Control (MAC) message to the UE device. The request can be sent with a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration Complete message. Alternatively, an RRC message sent from a UE device functions as an implicit request that the target base station is to send a MAC message to the UE device. The request can also be configured to specify a particular MAC Control Element that the target base station should send. The target base station transmits the requested MAC message, along with TA information, if required. The UE device determines when the handover has been completed, based at least partially on when the requested MAC message is received from the target base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: David Comstock
  • Patent number: 11072814
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining copy number variation (CNV) known or suspected to be associated with a variety of medical conditions. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining copy number variation (CNV) of fetuses using maternal samples comprising maternal and fetal cell free DNA. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining CNVs known or suspected to be associated with a variety of medical conditions. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide methods to improve the sensitivity and/or specificity of sequence data analysis by deriving a fragment size parameter, such as a size-weighted coverage or a fraction of fragments in a size range. In some embodiments, the fragment size parameter is adjusted to remove within-sample GC-content bias. In some embodiments, removal of within-sample GC-content bias is based on sequence data corrected for systematic variation common across unaffected training samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Verinata Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Darya I. Chudova, Catalin Barbacioru, Sven Duenwald, David A. Comstock, Richard P. Rava
  • Patent number: 11044737
    Abstract: Communication equipment communicates in a licensed frequency band using a licensed band physical channel structure (licensed structure) and communicates in an unlicensed frequency communication band using an unlicensed band physical channel structure (unlicensed structure) where the unlicensed structure includes at least the same symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions as in the licensed structure. The symbol times and subcarriers form a plurality of time-frequency communication resource elements. A set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form a licensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the licensed structure. The same set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form an unlicensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the unlicensed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Kalhan, Henry Chang, David Comstock
  • Patent number: 11044648
    Abstract: RACH-less handovers can be used to reduce the additional time required to complete the RACH procedure when the Timing Advance (TA) must be determined as part of the handover procedure. In order to facilitate a RACH-less handover, the source base station informs the target base station of a radio transmission configuration that will be used by the UE device to transmit uplink signals to the source base station, and the source base station configures the UE device in accordance with the radio transmission configuration. The UE device transmits uplink signals to the source base station using the specified radio transmission configuration, and the target base station receives the uplink signals. The UE device transmits these uplink signals to the source base station before the handover procedure is initiated. The target base station calculates the TA, based on the uplink signals, which can be signaled to the UE device in a handover command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: David Comstock
  • Publication number: 20210084692
    Abstract: The examples described herein provide for a Secondary Base Station (SeNB) Change procedure in a system configured to provide Dual Connectivity, where the SeNB Change procedure does not include the RACH procedure. As part of the SeNB Change procedure, a UE device generates a request that the Target Secondary base station (Target SeNB) is to send a Media Access Control (MAC) message to the UE device. In some examples, the request can be configured to specify a particular MAC Control Element that the Target SeNB should send in response to receiving the request. Upon receipt of the request, the Target SeNB transmits the requested MAC message to the UE device, along with TA information, if required. The UE device determines when the SeNB Change procedure has been completed, based at least partially on when the requested MAC message is received from the Target SeNB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventor: David COMSTOCK
  • Patent number: 10941442
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining aneuploidy and/or fetal fraction in maternal samples comprising fetal and maternal cfDNA by massively parallel sequencing. The method comprises a novel protocol for preparing sequencing libraries that unexpectedly improves the quality of library DNA while expediting the process of analysis of samples for prenatal diagnoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Verinata Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Rava, Manjula Chinnappa, David A. Comstock, Gabrielle Heilek, Brian Kent Rhees
  • Publication number: 20210024996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for verifying the integrity of biological source samples subjected to multistep bioassays that comprise massively parallel sequencing of the sample genomic nucleic acids. The integrity of the biological source samples is verified using unique marker nucleic acids that are combined with the biological source sample, and are sequenced concomitantly with the genomic nucleic acids of the biological source sample. The method provides verification of individual samples in single- and multiplex massively parallel sequencing assays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: David A. Comstock, Anupama Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10887923
    Abstract: The examples described herein provide for a Secondary Base Station (SeNB) Change procedure in a system configured to provide Dual Connectivity, where the SeNB Change procedure does not include the RACH procedure. As part of the SeNB Change procedure, a UE device generates a request that the Target Secondary base station (Target SeNB) is to send a Media Access Control (MAC) message to the UE device. In some examples, the request can be configured to specify a particular MAC Control Element that the Target SeNB should send in response to receiving the request. Upon receipt of the request, the Target SeNB transmits the requested MAC message to the UE device, along with TA information, if required. The UE device determines when the SeNB Change procedure has been completed, based at least partially on when the requested MAC message is received from the Target SeNB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: David Comstock
  • Publication number: 20200413455
    Abstract: The examples described herein provide for a Secondary Base Station (SeNB) Change procedure in a system configured to provide Dual Connectivity, where the SeNB Change procedure does not include the RACH procedure. As part of the SeNB Change procedure, a UE device generates a request that the Target Secondary base station (Target SeNB) is to send a Media Access Control (MAC) message to the UE device. In some examples, the request can be configured to specify a particular MAC Control Element that the Target SeNB should send in response to receiving the request. Upon receipt of the request, the Target SeNB transmits the requested MAC message to the UE device, along with TA information, if required. The UE device determines when the SeNB Change procedure has been completed, based at least partially on when the requested MAC message is received from the Target SeNB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: David COMSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20200385810
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for determining the fraction of fetal nucleic acids in a maternal sample comprising a mixture of fetal and maternal nucleic acids. The fraction of fetal nucleic acids can be used in determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Verinata Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Rava, Yue-Jen Chuu, Manjula Chinnappa, David A. Comstock, Gabrielle Heilek, Michael Hunkapiller
  • Patent number: 10820239
    Abstract: In a communication method according to one embodiment, a first base station sets a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) mobility set that is a set of one or more WLAN identifiers to a user equipment. The first base station decides a handover of the user equipment to a second base station. The first base station includes, in a handover request message for the user equipment, an identifier of a WLAN termination device associated with the one or more WLAN identifiers. The first base station transmits the handover request message including the identifier of the WLAN termination device to the second base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Yushi Nagasaka, Katsuhiro Mitsui, David Comstock
  • Publication number: 20200275460
    Abstract: Communication equipment communicates in a licensed frequency band using a licensed band physical channel structure (licensed structure) and communicates in an unlicensed frequency communication band using an unlicensed band physical channel structure (unlicensed structure) where the unlicensed structure includes at least the same symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions as in the licensed structure. The symbol times and subcarriers form a plurality of time-frequency communication resource elements. A set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form a licensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the licensed structure. The same set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form an unlicensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the unlicensed structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Amit KALHAN, Henry CHANG, David COMSTOCK
  • Patent number: 10694433
    Abstract: Where a user equipment (UE) device transfers communication from a first radio access network (RAN) device to a second RAN device, the first RAN device receives a traffic offload indicator indicating that resources being used for data traffic for the UE device through the first RAN device are released because the data traffic communication has been transferred to the second RAN device. The first RAN device provides assistance parameters to the UE device that are determined at least partially based on the information that the data traffic communication has been transferred to the second RAN device. The UE device uses the assistance parameters in determining when to transfer data traffic RAN between the first RAN device and the second RAN device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: David Comstock
  • Patent number: 10674525
    Abstract: Communication equipment communicates in a licensed frequency band using a licensed band physical channel structure (licensed structure) and communicates in an unlicensed frequency communication band using an unlicensed band physical channel structure (unlicensed structure) where the unlicensed structure includes at least the same symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions as in the licensed structure. The symbol times and subcarriers form a plurality of time-frequency communication resource elements. A set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form a licensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the licensed structure. The same set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form an unlicensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the unlicensed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Kalhan, Henry Chang, David Comstock
  • Patent number: 10612096
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for determining the fraction of fetal nucleic acids in a maternal sample comprising a mixture of fetal and maternal nucleic acids. The fraction of fetal nucleic acids can be used in determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: VERINATA HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Richard P. Rava, Yue-Jen Chuu, Manjula Chinnappa, David A. Comstock, Gabrielle Heilek, Michael Hunkapiller
  • Publication number: 20200076687
    Abstract: A UE is configured to perform Radio Link Monitoring (RLM) with a first Coverage Enhancement (CE) configuration that provides a first CE level. The first RLM configuration associated with the first CE configuration has a first radio-link-quality-improving threshold value that corresponds with a third distance from a base station that is closer to the base station than a second distance associated with an in-sync radio link quality threshold value associated with a first RLM configuration. The first RLM configuration also has a first radio-link-quality-improving-cancellation threshold value that corresponds with a fourth distance from the base station that is located farther from the base station than the third distance and closer to the base station than the first distance. If conditions are satisfied, the base station reconfigures the UE with a second RLM configuration and a second CE configuration having a second CE level lower than the first CE level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: David COMSTOCK