Patents by Inventor Martin Alan Lee
Martin Alan Lee 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: 7652266Abstract: In apparatus for detecting the emission of fluorescent radiation from a sample in response to excitation by two or more different radiation sources (145, 160) over the same time period, each radiation source (145, 160) is imprinted with a modulation regime which can then be separately detected in the emitted fluorescent radiation. For instance in techniques based on fluorescent resonant energy transfer (“FRET”), the drive current to two or more different LED sources (145, 160) may be frequency modulated, or pulse width modulated, according to different modulation regimes. Responses of the sample, for instance of different donor/acceptor probes contained in the sample, to each of the sources (145, 160) can then be separately detected by means of the different modulation regimes, even where the wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the responses are the same or overlapping.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Engima Diagnostics LimitedInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20100006453Abstract: A method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, by subjecting it to an amplification and taking continuous electrochemical measurements on it during the reaction. The method can be used to determine whet amplification reaction has taken place, to quantitate the amount of target in the sample or to determine sequence characteristics. disclosed is apparatus for use in the method, comprising (i) an amplification reaction vessel which comprises an electrochemic (ii) means for taking continuous electrochemical measurements on a sample contained in the vessel and (iii) tempertature coat measurement means, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises an element formed from an electrically conducting plastics such as a polymer loaded with an electrically conducting material. Further disclosed is a reaction vessel for use in the appar probe for use in the method and a kit for effecting the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: The Secretary of State for DefenceInventors: Martin Alan Lee, Dario Lyall Leslie
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Publication number: 20090325278Abstract: A method of carrying out an amplification reaction, said method comprising supplying to a well in a disposable unit (a) a sample which contains or is suspected of containing a target nucleic acid sequence (b) primers, nucleotides and enzymes required to effect said amplification reaction and (c) a buffer system, and subjecting the unit to thermal cycling conditions such that any target nucleic acid present within the sample is amplified; wherein the disposable unit comprises a thermally conducting layer and a facing layer having one or more reagent wells of up to 1000 microns in depth defined therebetween; and the reaction mixture comprises at least one of the following: A) a buffer system wherein the pH is above 8.3; B) a detergent; and/or C) a blocking agent. Apparatus for effecting the method as well as disposable units for use in the method are described. The method is particularly suitable for rapid PCR reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: The Secretary of State for DefenceInventors: Martin Alan Lee, Hilary Bird, Dario Lyall Leslie, David James Squirrell, John Shaw, David Wenn, Julie Deacon
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Patent number: 7537927Abstract: Method and apparatus for carrying out a thermal cycling reaction, wherein a succession of samples is conveyed through a series of sequentially arranged temperature control sites, each of the sites comprising means for supplying an electric current to, or inducing an electric current in, sample-containing vessels passing through it so as to induce temperature changes in the samples. Also provided is a sample support and its production, the support comprising a succession of sample vessels arranged sequentially one behind the next, preferably in the form of a linked chain, the support comprising an electrically conducting, preferably plastics, material which heats when an electric current passes through it.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20090068672Abstract: The use of a red nucleic acid stain, in particular red fluorescent SYTO® dye in various methods used for the detection or characterisation of nucleic acids is described. In particular, the red nucleic acid stains have been found to be particularly compatible with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and therefore form the basis of enhanced detection methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: ENIGMA DIAGNOSTICS LIMITEDInventors: Martin Alan Lee, Tom Brown, Diane Rachel Sutton, Mark Andrew Laverick
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Publication number: 20090053728Abstract: Analytical methods using RNA probes for the detection or analysis of nucleic acid sequences is described. These probes are contacted with a sample suspected of containing the nucleic acid sequence and if they form duplexes, they are hydrolysed. This may be done, for example during an amplification reaction. AMP generated as a result of the hydrolysis is converted to ATP. The ATP may then be detected using bioluminescent reagents.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCEInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20080314855Abstract: A liquid dispensing device comprising a hollow body having an opening in a lower end thereof for receiving liquid, and an integrated cap member arranged to sealingly close the body, said cap member comprising a resilient diaphragm which is deformable in a downwards direction. The device is suitable for use in automated apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2006Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: ENIGMA DIAGNOSTICS LIMITEDInventors: Martin Alan Lee, David James Squirrell, Georgina Martin
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Publication number: 20080290292Abstract: In apparatus for detecting the emission of fluorescent radiation from a sample in response to excitation by two or more different radiation sources (145, 160) over the same time period, each radiation source (145, 160) is imprinted with a modulation regime which can then be separately detected in the emitted fluorescent radiation. For instance in techniques based on fluorescent resonant energy transfer (“FRET”), the drive current to two or more different LED sources (145, 160) may be frequency modulated, or pulse width modulated, according to different modulation regimes. Responses of the sample, for instance of different donor/acceptor probes contained in the sample, to each of the sources (145, 160) can then be separately detected by means of the different modulation regimes, even where the wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the responses are the same or overlapping.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2006Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Enigma Diagnostics LimitedInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20080206751Abstract: The application relates to a method of performing a multi-step reaction vessel (68) having at least two compartments (685, 680). The reagents are placed in the first compartment (685) and moved to second one (680) by centrifugation, after which another set of reagents may be placed in the first compartment (685) while the reaction in the lower chamber takes place. Once the reaction is complete, the reagents that were in the first compartment (685) may be moved to the lower one (680) by centrifugation. The application also claims a container having a pierceable lower surface and an upper surface with either a pierceable component or a lid. A wand capable of being electrostatically charged, an apparatus comprising such a wand and a method of transferring solid reagents using such a wand is also claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2006Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: ENIGMA DIAGNOSTICS LTDInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20080176232Abstract: A method of carrying out an amplification reaction, said method comprising supplying to a well in a disposable unit (a) a sample which contains or is suspected of containing a target nucleic acid sequence (b) primers, nucleotides and enzymes required to effect said amplification reaction and (c) a buffer system, and subjecting the unit to thermal cycling conditions such that any target nucleic acid present within the sample is amplified; wherein the disposable unit comprises a thermally conducting layer and a facing layer having one or more reagent wells of up to 1000 microns in depth defined therebetween; and the reaction mixture comprises at least one of the following: A) a buffer system wherein the pH is above 8.3; B) a detergent; and/or C) a blocking agent. Apparatus for effecting the method as well as disposable units for use in the method are described. The method is particularly suitable for rapid PCR reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: The Secretary of State for DefenceInventors: Martin Alan Lee, Hilary Bird, Dario Lyall Leslie, David James Squirrell, John Shaw, David Wenn, Julie Deacon
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Publication number: 20080166700Abstract: A method for detecting viable cells such as bacterial cells, within a sample, said method comprising (i) incubating said sample with a virus which is able to infect said cells under conditions which allow said virus to infect and replicate within any such cells which are viable; (ii) detecting any nucleic acid obtained by replication of the virus in said cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2006Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: ENIGMA DIAGNOSTICS LTDInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20080131891Abstract: A method for adding a first and a second functional nucleic acid sequence to a reaction mixture, in particular an amplification reaction mixture in a predetermined stoichiometry and/or at a predetermined point in time, said method comprising adding to the reaction mixture an oligonucleotide comprising a first and a second functional nucleic acid sequence separated by a spacer sequence, said spacer sequence comprising a region which, when double stranded, comprises a cleavable region, forming a cleavable double stranded region within the spacer region of said oligonucleotide, and cleaving the double stranded region within said oligonucleotide. Oligonucleotides for use in the method, and comprising a first and a second functional nucleic acid sequence, such as primers or probes used in an amplification reaction, separated by a spacer sequence, is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: ENIGMA DIAGNOSTICS LTDInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Patent number: 7264961Abstract: Method and apparatus for carrying out a thermal cycling reaction, wherein a succession of samples is conveyed through a series of sequentially arranged temperature control sites, each of the sites comprising means for supplying an electric current to, or inducing an electric current in, sample-containing vessels passing through it so as to induce temperature changes in the samples. Also provided is a sample support and its production, the support comprising a succession of sample vessels arranged sequentially one behind the next, preferably in the form of a linked chain, the support comprising an electrically conducting, preferably plastics, material which beats when an electric current passes through it.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2001Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Patent number: 7264950Abstract: A method of carrying out an amplification reaction, said method comprising supplying to a well in a disposable unit (a) a sample which contains or is suspected of containing a target nucleic acid sequence (b) primers, nucleotides and enzymes required to effect said amplification reaction and (c) a buffer system, and subjecting the unit to thermal cycling conditions such that any target nucleic acid present within the sample is amplified; wherein the disposable unit comprises a thermally conducting layer and a facing layer having one or more reagent wells of up to 1000 microns in depth defined therebetween; and the reaction mixture comprises at least one of the following: A) a buffer system wherein the pH is above 8.3; B) a detergent; and/or C) a blocking agent. Apparatus for effecting the method as well as disposable units for use in the method are described. The method is particularly suitable for rapid PCR reactions.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandInventors: Martin Alan Lee, Hilary Bird, Dario Lyall Leslie, David James Squirrell, John Shaw, David Wenn, Julie Deacon
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Patent number: 7252975Abstract: Analytical methods using RNA probes for the detection or analysis of nucleic acid sequences is described. These probes are contacted with a sample suspected of containing the nucleic acid sequence and if they form duplexes, they are hydrolysed. This may be done, for example during an amplification reaction. AMP generated as a result of the hydrolysis is converted to ATP. The ATP may then be detected using bioluminescent reagents.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: The Secretary of State for DefenceInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Patent number: 7176003Abstract: A method of determining the length of a particular region within a nucleic acid, the method comprising a) subjecting a sample of the nucleic acid to a plurality of amplification reactions in which the region is amplified, wherein the time of the extension phase in each of the reactions is varied; b) monitoring the progress of the amplification reactions; c) determining the minimum time during which extension phase of the amplification is completed within each reaction mixture and relating that to the length of the sequence undergoing extension. The method, combined with melting point analysis, will allow percentage GC content of a sequence to be determined. Length analysis of this type can be used in diagnosis or analysis as well as in recombinant DNA technology to check for the presence of concatamers, and in taxonomic classification or forensics. Apparatus for use in the method is also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: The Secretary of State for DefenceInventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Patent number: 7015018Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising subjecting said sample to an amplification reaction using a set of nucleotides, at least one of which is labelled with a first label, and a reagent comprising an amplification primer which can hybridise to said target sequence when in single stranded form and which is connected at its 5? end to a probe which carries a second label by way of a chemical linking group, said labelled probe being of a sequence which is similar to that of the said target sequence, such that it can hybridise to a complementary region in an amplification product, and wherein one of the first or the second label comprises a donor label and the other comprises an acceptor label, the donor label comprising a fluorescent molecule which is able to donate fluorescent energy to the acceptor label; and monitoring fluorescence of said sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Brittanic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Inventors: Martin Alan Lee, Dario Lyall Leslie
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Publication number: 20040175709Abstract: Analytical methods using RNA probes for the detection or analysis of nucleic acid sequences is described. These probes are contacted with a sample suspected of containing the nucleic acid sequence and if they form duplexes, they are hydrolysed. This may be done, for example during an amplification reaction. AMP generated as a result of the hydrolysis is converted to ATP. The ATP may then be detected using bioluminescent reagents.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20030148503Abstract: Method and apparatus for carrying out a thermal cycling reaction, wherein a succession of samples is conveyed through a series of sequentially arranged temperature control sites, each of the sites comprising means for supplying an electric current to, or inducing an electric current in, sample-containing vessels passing through it so as to induce temperature changes in the samples. Also provided is a sample support and its production, the support comprising a succession of sample vessels arranged sequentially one behind the next, preferably in the form of a linked chain, the support comprising an electrically conducting, preferably plastics, material which beats when an electric current passes through it.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee
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Publication number: 20030143574Abstract: A method of analysing the length of a particular region within a nucleic acid, said method comprising a) subjecting a sample of said nucleic acid to a plurality of amplification reactions in which said region is amplified, wherein the time of the extension phase in each of said reactions is varied; b) monitoring the progress of said amplification reactions; c) determining the minimum time during which extension phase of the amplification is completed within each reaction mixture and relating that to the length of the sequence undergoing extension. The method, combined with melting point analysis will allow percentage GC content of a sequence to be determined. Length analysis of this type can be used in diagnosis or analysis as well as in recombinant DNA technology to check for the presence of concatamers, and in taxonomic classification or forensics. Apparatus for use in the method is also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: David James Squirrell, Martin Alan Lee