Patents by Inventor Robert F. Curl

Robert F. Curl 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: 20120219029
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Graham B. I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael Metzker
  • Patent number: 8089628
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignees: Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University
    Inventors: Graham B. I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael L. Metzker
  • Patent number: 8009293
    Abstract: Novel methods and laser spectroscopic systems for accurately measuring the concentration of compounds are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods utilize a modulation cancellation technique resulting in a significantly increase in the sensitivity and accuracy of laser spectroscopic measurements. In general, the methods and systems utilize modulation phase-shifting and amplitude attenuation to cancel the signals detected from at least two modulated light beams. Thus, any signal detected will be directly proportional to the concentration measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Anatoliy A. Kosterev, Robert F. Curl
  • Patent number: 7733924
    Abstract: A widely tunable, mode-hop-free semiconductor laser operating in the mid-IR comprises a QCL laser chip having an effective QCL cavity length, a diffraction grating defining a grating angle and an external cavity length with respect to said chip, and means for controlling the QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle. The laser of claim 1 wherein said chip may be tuned over a range of frequencies even in the absence of an anti-reflective coating. The diffraction grating is controllably pivotable and translatable relative to said chip and the effective QCL cavity length can be adjusted by varying the injection current to the chip. The laser can be used for high resolution spectroscopic applications and multi species trace-gas detection. Mode-hopping is avoided by controlling the effective QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle so as to replicate a virtual pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Gerard Wysocki, Frank K. Tittel, Robert F. Curl
  • Publication number: 20090303476
    Abstract: Novel methods and laser spectroscopic systems for accurately measuring the concentration of compounds are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods utilize a modulation cancellation technique resulting in a significantly increase in the sensitivity and accuracy of laser spectroscopic measurements. In general, the methods and systems utilize modulation phase-shifting and amplitude attenuation to cancel the signals detected from at least two modulated light beams. Thus, any signal detected will be directly proportional to the concentration measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Anatoliy A. Kosterev, Robert F. Curl
  • Publication number: 20090156429
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Graham B.I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael Metzker
  • Patent number: 7511811
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. This technology differs significantly from the current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing instrumentation, which features single source excitation and color dispersion for DNA sequence identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University
    Inventors: Graham B. I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael L. Metzker
  • Patent number: 6995841
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignees: Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Graham B. I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael L. Metzker
  • Publication number: 20030058440
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. This technology differs significantly from the current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing instrumentation, which features single source excitation and color dispersion for DNA sequence identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Graham B. I. Scott, Carter Kittrell, Robert F. Curl, Michael L. Metzker