Patents by Inventor James N. Herron
James N. Herron 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).
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Patent number: 6356676Abstract: Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor includes a waveguide placed between a plurality of members such as plates at least one of the members being formed to define the walls of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket, the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e.g., by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e.g., plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Victor A. Pollak, Richard D. McEachern, Eric M. Simon
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Patent number: 6350413Abstract: A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1999Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: W. Monty Reichert, James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 6340598Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Karin D. Caldwell, Vera Janatová, Shao-Chie Huang, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 6316274Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semi-cylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method have patches of capture molecules each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacent within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a non-specific-binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang, Karin Caldwell, Vera Janatová, Shao-Chie Huang
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Publication number: 20010030741Abstract: A method and apparatus of diagnosing a cardiac disease state in as little as two minutes involving the utilization of an evanescent wave assay system in conjunction with a data acquisition and analysis procedure that monitors the precision of assay results in real time (i.e., while data is being acquired). The method includes diagnosing a disease state using a diagnostic procedure (e.g., an immunoassay) wherein the testing device informs the person conducting the test of the results of the test as soon as reliable test data is obtained (generally, <5% variation in the reaction rate of the assay). After which point, the diagnostic procedure may be terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Jacob D. Durtschi
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Patent number: 6287871Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (80) for determining analyte concentration. The system (80) includes an optical detection system (92) that detects fluorescence from fluorescent binding assays in a biosensor (88). A processing system (96) may be used to determine analyte concentration from the fluorescence detected by the optical detection system (92). The optical detection system (92) may include photodetectors with or without in series lenses. Alternatively, a CCD camera (146) may be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen
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Publication number: 20010019405Abstract: A method and apparatus of diagnosing a cardiac disease state in as little as two minutes involving the utilization of an evanescent wave assay system in conjunction with a data acquisition and analysis procedure that monitors the precision of assay results in real time (i.e., while data is being acquired). The method includes diagnosing a disease state using a diagnostic procedure (e.g., an immunoassay) wherein the testing device informs the person conducting the test of the results of the test as soon as reliable test data is obtained (generally, <5% variation in the reaction rate of the assay). After which point, the diagnostic procedure may be terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Inventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Jacob D. Durtschi
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Patent number: 6242267Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly analyzing samples for analytes of interest by an homogeneous immunofluorescence assay. The apparatus includes a sample test cartridge having a high control sample section, a low control sample section, and at least one test sample section. Each of these sections contain at least one pre-loaded reagent housed in a well within the cartridge wherein the low control sample section contains a known low amount of an analyte of interest and the high control sample section contains a known high amount of an analyte of interest. The cartridge includes a biosensor comprising a planar waveguide having first and second parallel plane surfaces and an edge extending between them, the edge having a receiving region for receiving a light beam.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Scott D. Miles
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Patent number: 6222619Abstract: A method and apparatus of diagnosing a cardiac disease state in as little as two minutes involving the utilization of an evanescent wave assay system in conjunction with a data acquisition and analysis procedure that monitors the precision of assay results in real time (i.e., while data is being acquired). The method includes diagnosing a disease state using a diagnostic procedure (e.g., an immunoassay) wherein the testing device informs the person conducting the test of the results of the test as soon as reliable test data is obtained (generally, <5% variation in the reaction rate of the assay). After which point, the diagnostic procedure may be terminated.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1997Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Jacob D. Durtschi
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Patent number: 6108463Abstract: Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor (190) includes a waveguide (164) placed between a plurality of members such as plates (100, 186), at least one of the members (100) being formed to define the walls (132, 134, 136) of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket (162), the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e.g. by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e.g. plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Victor A. Pollak, Richard D. McEachern, Eric M. Simon
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Patent number: 5961924Abstract: A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: W. Monty Reichert, James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 5919712Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semi-cylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method have patches of capture molecules each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacent within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a non-specific-binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1996Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang, Karin D. Caldwell, Vera Janatova, Shao-Chie Huang
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Patent number: 5846842Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1996Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Karin D. Caldwell, Vera Janatova, Shao-Chie Huang, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 5832165Abstract: A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1996Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: W. Monty Reichert, James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 5814565Abstract: A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1995Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: W. Monty Reichert, James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 5677196Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semi-cylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method have patches of capture molecules each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacent within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a non-specific-binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1994Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Hsu-Kun Wang, Karin D. Caldwell, Vera Janatova, Shao-Chie Huang
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Patent number: 5512492Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1993Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Douglas A. Christensen, Karin D. Caldwell, Vera Janatova, Shao-Chie Huang, Hsu-Kun Wang
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Patent number: 5380668Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having antigenic binding affinity with antibodies directed against human chorionic gonadotropin. The compounds typically include or consist of an oligopeptide with the sequence:AA1' AA2' AA3' AA4' AA5' AA6'wherein AA1' is Gly, Asn, Ser, Phe, Arg Leu, or Lys; AA2' is Pro, Trp, Ala, Val, or Glu; AA3' is Arg, Gln, Ile, Met, Val, Thr, Ser, Gly, or Phe; AA4' is Tyr, Glu, Leu, Phe, Pro, or Thr; AA5' is Asp, Asn, Leu, Met, Val, Tyr, Ser, Ile, Ala, Gly, or Phe; and AA6' is Phe, Trp, Ala, Thr, Arg, Asp, or Val.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventor: James N. Herron
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Patent number: 5245551Abstract: The extinction coefficient of fluorescent dyes in donor-acceptor energy transfer processes is determined for dye-protein conjugates by forming short polypeptide fragment-dye conjugates and measuring the change in ultraviolet light absorbance of the conjugates with changing concentration. The protein concentration is determined by comparing the absorption spectrum of a conjugate of donor dye, acceptor dye, and protein with the individual components thereof using a multiple linear regression technique based on the following model:A.sub.p-d =.alpha..multidot.A.sub.p +.beta..multidot.A.sub.d +.epsilon.where, A.sub.p-d, A.sub.p, A.sub.d are the absorption spectra of the dye-protein conjugate, the protein alone, and the dye-polypeptide compound, respectively, .alpha., .beta. are the regression coefficients to be determined, and .epsilon. is the error term.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1991Date of Patent: September 14, 1993Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: James N. Herron, Ai-Ping Wei
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Patent number: D426783Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation, IVD Systems, LLCInventors: Douglas A. Christensen, James N. Herron, Eric M. Simon