Patents by Inventor George Maracas

George Maracas 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: 7238533
    Abstract: Personal illicit drug detecting apparatus is disclosed which includes a substance chemically reactive to a suspected drug. The substance is provided in the form of a layer positioned on at least one finger of a user. The substance can be blended into finger nail polish and positioned on at least one nail by painting or positioned anywhere on a finger in the form of a decal. To test a suspected beverage the user inconspicuously moistens the substance on the finger or finger nail with liquid from a beverage and observes any change (e.g. color, image, etc.) of the layer on the finger nail or finger nail, wherein the change indicates the presence of the suspected drug in the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Legge, Theresa Hopson, George Maracas, Pamela Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20070145356
    Abstract: A carbon nanotube sensor (30), for determining the degree of the presence of an unwanted environmental agent, includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes (18). The sensor (30) comprises first and second conducting layers (32, 34) having alternatively interdigitated fingers (36, 38). The plurality of carbon nanotubes (18) having a material characteristic are coupled between each of the interdigitated fingers (36, 38). Optionally, a gate may be used for biasing the device for specific sensor applications by adjusting the electrical resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Islamshah Amlani, George Maracas, Larry Nagahara
  • Publication number: 20050023155
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for the electrical detection of molecular interactions between a probe molecule and a protein or peptide target molecule, but without requiring the use of electrochemical or other reporters to obtain measurable signals. The methods can be used for electrical detection of molecular interactions between probe molecules bound to defined regions of an array and protein or peptide target molecules which are permitted to interact with the probe molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Jaymie Sawyer, Changming Li, Vi-En Choong, George Maracas, peiming Zhang
  • Patent number: 6824669
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for the electrical detection of molecular interactions between a probe molecule and a protein or peptide target molecule, but without requiring the use of electrochemical or other reporters to obtain measurable signals. The methods can be used for electrical detection of molecular interactions between probe molecules bound to defined regions of an array and protein or peptide target molecules which are permitted to interact with the probe molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Changming Li, Jaymie Robin Sawyer, Vi-En Choong, George Maracas, Peiming Zhang
  • Patent number: 6790613
    Abstract: This invention relates to the improvement of arrays of porous polymer pads on solid supports used in biological assays. The invention involves freeze drying the porous polymer pads to increase pore size. The increased pore size results in an enhanced ability of the porous polymer pads to bind specific binding substances such as DNA, RNA and polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Amersham Biosciences AB
    Inventors: Song Shi, George Maracas, Vi-En Choong
  • Publication number: 20040014078
    Abstract: This invention is directed to novel methods of amplifying and detecting DNA. More specifically, the invention applies variations of Rolling Circle Amplification to several detection platforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: James Xia, Charles K. Brush, Vineet Gupta, Heshu Huang, Changming Li, George Maracas, Robert Marrero, Melissa L. Ray, Lei Sun, Peiming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20030209432
    Abstract: This invention relates to the detection of molecular interactions between biological molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to electrical detection of interactions such as hybridization between nucleic acids or peptide antigen-antibody interaction using arrays of peptides or oligonucleotides. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and methods for detecting nucleic acid hybridization or peptide binding using electronic methods including AC impedance. In some embodiments, no electrochemical or other label moieties are used. In others, electrochemically active labels are used to detect reactions on hydrogel arrays, including genotyping reactions such as the single base extension reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, Sean R. Gallagher, Mike Gaskin, Changming Li, George Maracas, Song Shi
  • Patent number: 6602400
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for efficient, high-throughput electrical or electrochemical detection of biomolecules. More specifically, the invention provides an apparatus in which an independent set of electrodes is used to increase the occurrence of a desired bio-conjugation event at a test site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, Changming Li, Song Shi, George Maracas
  • Publication number: 20030138845
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for the electrical detection of molecular interactions between a probe molecule and target molecule, but without requiring the use of electrochemical or other reporters to obtain measurable signals. The methods can be used for electrical detection of molecular interactions between probe molecules bound to defined regions of an array and protein or peptide target molecules which are permitted to interact with the probe molecules.peptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Changming Li, Jaymie Sawyer, Vi-En Choong, George Maracas, Peiming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20030096283
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for detecting single base extension to an oligonucleotide array using electrochemical labels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Motorola Inc, A Corporation of the State of Delaware
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, Song Shi, George Maracas, Sean Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6518024
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for detecting single base extension to an oligonucleotide array using electrochemical labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, Song Shi, George Maracas, Sean Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20020064775
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for detecting single base extension to an oligonucleotide array using electrochemical labels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: VI-EN CHOONG, SONG SHI, GEORGE MARACAS, SEAN GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20020061591
    Abstract: Among other things, the invention provides devices and methods for obtaining electric field-enhanced bioconjugation events. In particular, the invention provides for contactless electrodes for obtaining the electric field, such that transport and bioconjugation of charged molecules is obtained in the absence of current flow through the buffer, sample, and/or porous media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, George Maracas, Larry Akio Nagahara
  • Publication number: 20020051975
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for detecting cation interactions associated with molecular interactions using AC impedance, but without the use of electrochemical or other reporters to obtain measurable signals. The methods can be used for electrical detection of molecular interactions between probe molecules bound to defined regions of an array and target molecules which are permitted to interact with the probe molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: CHANGMING LI, SONG SHI, GEORGE MARACAS, VI-EN CHOONG
  • Patent number: 6365415
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to characterize, optimize, and control the quality and production of hydrogel media. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for determining the size, size distribution, and spatial distribution of the pores of a porous substrate. More particularly, the invention provides a method for determining the size, size distribution, and spatial distribution of the pores of a polymeric hydrogel-based substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Changming Li, Song Shi, George Maracas, Vi-En Choong
  • Patent number: 6238909
    Abstract: Among other things, the invention provides devices and methods for obtaining electric field-enhanced bioconjugation events. In particular, the invention provides for contactless electrodes for obtaining the electric field, such that transport and bioconjugation of charged molecules is obtained in the absence of current flow through the buffer, sample, and/or porous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Vi-En Choong, George Maracas, Larry Akio Nagahara