Patents by Inventor Patrick B. Cahill

Patrick B. Cahill 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: 20110201797
    Abstract: Apparatus, devices, and methods for shearing nucleic acids are provided. In one exemplary embodiment the device is a disposable nucleic acid shearing cartridge. The cartridge includes two reservoirs, an orifice structure disposed therebetween, and a fluid driver. The reservoirs are in fluid communication with each other by way of the orifice structure, and the fluid driver cycles a sample between the two reservoirs. By passing a sample from one reservoir to the next, through the orifice structure, an orifice located in the orifice structure can shear the sample to a desired length. The sheared sample can then be used, for example, in a sequencing device. Apparatuses for cycling samples in the cartridge, and methods and kits for shearing nucleic acids, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Patrick B. Cahill, Son Hoang, Filip Rege, Shailendra Yadav
  • Patent number: 6406602
    Abstract: The present invention describes sample loading devices for use in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis systems. The sample loading devices comprise alternating areas of absorbent membranes and diffusion barriers, where the diffusion barriers are formed by the application of some form of energy, such as heat, pressure, laser energy, RF energy or the like. The present invention also describes devices and methods for making sample loading devices, and methods of loading samples into polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Genome Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick B. Cahill, Jeffrey P. Montt