Patents by Inventor Gary D. Niehaus
Gary D. Niehaus 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: 7947492Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for improving the detection of a ligand by a receptor by concentrating microbes by removing particulates from fluid-borne samples and/or causing selective aggregation of concentrated microbes. The device may be configured as a multipath valve capable purifying/concentrating a sample in one orientation and delivering the concentrated sample in another orientation. In one embodiment, the device includes a body that defines a plurality of chambers and pathways and supports a pathogen capture unit that houses a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand. In another embodiment, the capture unit houses a plurality of antibody coated generally spherical particles capable of binding to a ligand.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineInventor: Gary D. Niehaus
-
Patent number: 7927827Abstract: A system for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism coupled to the receptor wherein an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding a ligand. Examples of suitable amplification mechanisms include antibody-embedded liquid crystalline materials; use of alpha-2-macroglobulin to encage an enzyme, whereby the enzyme is separated from its substrate by an receptor; and a receptor engineered to inhibit the active of site of an enzyme only in the absence of a ligand. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Gary D. Niehaus, Christopher J. Woolverton, Kathleen J. Doane, Steven P. Schmidt, Steven A. Signs
-
Patent number: 7811811Abstract: The invention relates to self-contained assay cassette for detecting a ligand in a sample. The assay cassette provides for turbulent flow and mixing of the sample with assay components, including receptors that bind to a ligand, optional microspheres capable of binding the receptors or to which other secondary receptors are attached, and liquid crystalline materials. The assay cassette also provides for laminar flow of the mixed sample into a detection chamber where complexes between a receptor, ligand, and optional microspheres, is detected as transmission of polarized light through the detection chambers. The invention also relates to methods for detecting a ligand in a sample using turbulent flow to mix the sample with assay components, including liquid crystalline materials, and laminar flow of the mixed sample such that the liquid crystalline material assumes an ordered conformation in absence of a ligand.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineInventor: Gary D. Niehaus
-
Patent number: 7732219Abstract: A system for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism coupled to the receptor wherein an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding a ligand. Examples of suitable amplification mechanisms include antibody-embedded liquid crystalline materials; use of alpha-2-macroglobulin to encage an enzyme, whereby the enzyme is separated from its substrate by an receptor; and a receptor engineered to inhibit the active of site of an enzyme only in the absence of a ligand. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Christopher J. Woolverton, Gary D. Niehaus, Kathleen J. Doane, Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Steven P. Schmidt, Steven A. Signs
-
Publication number: 20100047920Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for improving the detection of a ligand by a receptor by concentrating microbes by removing particulates from fluid-borne samples and/or causing selective aggregation of concentrated microbes. The device may be configured as a multipath valve capable purifying/concentrating a sample in one orientation and delivering the concentrated sample in another orientation. In one embodiment, the device includes a body that defines a plurality of chambers and pathways and supports a pathogen capture unit that houses a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand. In another embodiment, the capture unit houses a plurality of antibody coated generally spherical particles capable of binding to a ligand.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: NORTHEASTERN OHIO UNIVERSITIES COLLEGE OF MEDICINEInventor: Gary D. Niehaus
-
Patent number: 7407815Abstract: A functional cassette for the detection of ligands comprises a first inner housing, a second middle housing and a third outer housing and each housing is at least partially rotatable relative to an adjoining housing. The first inner housing contains a central well adapted for receiving a sample, and the central well is in selectable fluid communication with at least one mixing chambers. The mixing chambers contain a reagent for forming a complex with a ligand. The first inner housing additionally comprises at least one compartments for the storage of a liquid crystalline material, and the compartments are in selectable fluid communication with at least one mixing chambers. The third outer housing comprises at least one detection chambers for observing the light transmission properties of a liquid crystal material and the detection chambers are in selectable fluid communication with the mixing.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignees: Kent State University, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineInventors: Christopher J. Woolverton, Gary D. Niehaus
-
Publication number: 20080138244Abstract: A system for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism coupled to the receptor wherein an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding a ligand. Examples of suitable amplification mechanisms include antibody-embedded liquid crystalline materials; use of alpha-2-macroglobulin to encage an enzyme, whereby the enzyme is separated from its substrate by an receptor; and a receptor engineered to inhibit the active of site of an enzyme only in the absence of a ligand. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: KENT STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: Christopher J. Woolverton, Gary D. Niehaus, Kathleen J. Doane, Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Steven P. Schmidt, Steven A. Signs
-
Patent number: 7267957Abstract: A system for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism coupled to the receptor wherein an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding a ligand. Examples of suitable amplification mechanisms include antibody-embedded liquid crystalline materials; use of alpha-2-macroglobulin to encage an enzyme, whereby the enzyme is separated from its substrate by an receptor; and a receptor engineered to inhibit the active of site of an enzyme only in the absence of a ligand. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Christopher J Woolverton, Gary D Niehaus, Kathleen J Doane, Oleg D Lavrentovich, Steven P Schmidt, Steven A Signs
-
Patent number: 7160736Abstract: Devices and systems for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline, where an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding to a ligand are provided. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Gary D. Niehaus, Christopher J. Woolverton, Oleg D. Lavrentovich
-
Patent number: 7060225Abstract: The invention relates to self-contained assay cassette for detecting a ligand in a sample. The assay cassette provides for turbulent flow and mixing of the sample with assay components, including receptors that bind to a ligand, optional microspheres capable of binding the receptors or to which other secondary receptors are attached, and liquid crystalline materials. The assay cassette also provides for laminar flow of the mixed sample into a detection chamber where complexes between a receptor, ligand, and optional microspheres, is detected as transmission of polarized light through the detection chambers. The invention also relates to methods for detecting a ligand in a sample using turbulent flow to mix the sample with assay components, including liquid crystalline materials, and laminar flow of the mixed sample such that the liquid crystalline material assumes an ordered conformation in absence of a ligand.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineInventor: Gary D. Niehaus
-
Publication number: 20040185551Abstract: The invention relates to self-contained assay cassette for detecting a ligand in a sample. The assay cassette provides for turbulent flow and mixing of the sample with assay components, including receptors that bind to a ligand, optional microspheres capable of binding the receptors or to which other secondary receptors are attached, and liquid crystalline materials. The assay cassette also provides for laminar flow of the mixed sample into a detection chamber where complexes between a receptor, ligand, and optional microspheres, is detected as transmission of polarized light through the detection chambers. The invention also relates to methods for detecting a ligand in a sample using turbulent flow to mix the sample with assay components, including liquid crystalline materials, and laminar flow of the mixed sample such that the liquid crystalline material assumes an ordered conformation in absence of a ligand.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineInventor: Gary D. Niehaus
-
Publication number: 20040175841Abstract: Devices and systems for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline, where an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding to a ligand are provided. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: Kent State UniversityInventors: Gary D. Niehaus, Christopher J. Woolverton, Oleg D. Lavrentovich
-
Publication number: 20020052002Abstract: Devices and systems for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline, where an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding to a ligand are provided. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Inventors: Gary D. Niehaus, Christopher J. Woolverton, Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Tomohiro Ishikawa, Kathleen J. Doane
-
Patent number: 6171802Abstract: A system for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism coupled to the receptor wherein an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding a ligand. Examples of suitable amplification mechanisms include antibody-embedded liquid crystalline materials; use of alpha-2-macroglobulin to encage an enzyme, whereby the enzyme is separated from its substrate by an receptor; and a receptor engineered to inhibit the active of site of an enzyme only in the absence of a ligand. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Christopher J. Woolverton, Gary D. Niehaus, Kathleen J. Doane, Oleg Lavrentovich, Steven P. Schmidt, Steven A. Signs