Patents by Inventor Robert Grass

Robert Grass 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: 11993769
    Abstract: This disclosure describes particles and techniques for storing oligonucleotides that provide stable, long-term protection yet are also compostable. A core is coated with a layer of oligonucleotides and encapsulated under an outer layer of non-porous, hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide. The hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide protects the oligonucleotides from oxidative and thermal damage under typical storage conditions. One suitable organosilicon disulfide is bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide (BTSPD). The oligonucleotides may be retrieved by contacting the particles with a reducing agent that degrades the disulfide bonds in the outer layer. The disulfide bonds enable removal of the protective encapsulation without the use of dangerous chemicals such as hydrogen fluoride. Instead of retrieving the oligonucleotides, the particles may be disposed of in a composting environment. In an implementation, the oligonucleotides are artificially synthesized and encode digital information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Bichlien Hoang Nguyen, Karin Strauss, Robert Grass, Jan Wendelin Stark, Julian Bernhard Koch
  • Publication number: 20220333095
    Abstract: This disclosure describes particles and techniques for storing oligonucleotides that provide stable, long-term protection yet are also compostable. A core is coated with a layer of oligonucleotides and encapsulated under an outer layer of non-porous, hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide. The hydrolyzed organosilicon disulfide protects the oligonucleotides from oxidative and thermal damage under typical storage conditions. One suitable organosilicon disulfide is bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide (BTSPD). The oligonucleotides may be retrieved by contacting the particles with a reducing agent that degrades the disulfide bonds in the outer layer. The disulfide bonds enable removal of the protective encapsulation without the use of dangerous chemicals such as hydrogen fluoride. Instead of retrieving the oligonucleotides, the particles may be disposed of in a composting environment. In an implementation, the oligonucleotides are artificially synthesized and encode digital information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Bichlien Hoang NGUYEN, Karin STRAUSS, Robert GRASS, Jan Wendelin STARK, Julian Bernhard KOCH
  • Publication number: 20210291134
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a substrate covered with alternating layers of a polycationic molecule and artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The magnetic substrate may be a metallic nanoparticle formed from a metal such as iron or cobalt. The polycationic molecule may be polyethyleneimine (PEI). The DNA is protected from degradation by encapsulation in silica. A process for stably storing DNA is also disclosed. Stored DNA may be freed from the silica for sequencing or other analysis by washing the silica-coated DNA with a buffered hydrogen fluoride solution. Storage densities of more than 7% DNA by weight are achieved on nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Karin STRAUSS, Weida CHEN, Robert GRASS, Alexander Xavier Christof KOHLL, Bichlien Hoang NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 11059016
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a substrate covered with alternating layers of a polycationic molecule and artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The magnetic substrate may be a metallic nanoparticle formed from a metal such as iron or cobalt. The polycationic molecule may be polyethyleneimine (PEI). The DNA is protected from degradation by encapsulation in silica. A process for stably storing DNA is also disclosed. Stored DNA may be freed from the silica for sequencing or other analysis by washing the silica-coated DNA with a buffered hydrogen fluoride solution. Storage densities of more than 7% DNA by weight are achieved on nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Strauss, Weida Chen, Robert Grass, Alexander Xavier Christof Kohll, Bichlien Hoang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10793852
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a dried product formed by drying a salt solution dried together with artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The cation in the salt may be calcium, magnesium, lanthanum, or another cation. The anion in the salt may be chloride, phosphate, or another anion. The DNA is protected from degradation by drying with the salt. Stored DNA may be freed from the salt for sequencing or other analysis by mixing the dried product with a chelator. The dry product formed from DNA and a salt may contain more than 30% DNA by weight and degrade at rates that are less than a third of rate at which untreated DNA degrades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Strauss, Weida Chen, Robert Grass, Alexander Xavier Christof Kohll, Bichlien Hoang Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20190390194
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a dried product formed by drying a salt solution dried together with artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The cation in the salt may be calcium, magnesium, lanthanum, or another cation. The anion in the salt may be chloride, phosphate, or another anion. The DNA is protected from degradation by drying with the salt. Stored DNA may be freed from the salt for sequencing or other analysis by mixing the dried product with a chelator. The dry product formed from DNA and a salt may contain more than 30% DNA by weight and degrade at rates that are less than a third of rate at which untreated DNA degrades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Karin STRAUSS, Weida Chen, Robert Grass, Alexander Xavier Christof Kohll, Bichlien Hoang Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20190388862
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a substrate covered with alternating layers of a polycationic molecule and artificially synthesized DNA molecules encoding digital information. The magnetic substrate may be a metallic nanoparticle formed from a metal such as iron or cobalt. The polycationic molecule may be polyethyleneimine (PEI). The DNA is protected from degradation by encapsulation in silica. A process for stably storing DNA is also disclosed. Stored DNA may be freed from the silica for sequencing or other analysis by washing the silica-coated DNA with a buffered hydrogen fluoride solution. Storage densities of more than 7% DNA by weight are achieved on nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Karin STRAUSS, Weida CHEN, Robert GRASS, Alexander Xavier Christof KOHLL, Bichlien Hoang NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 10316974
    Abstract: Air-riding seal arrangement between two components are rotatable relative to each other about a rotation axis. The seal arrangement includes an axially slidable carrier module mounted to one component and runner provided by other components. The carrier module and runner have respective and opposing annular sealing faces in a seal arrangement normal operation are axially spaced to form an air-seal therebetween separating a high-pressure region at one side of the air-seal from low-pressure region at the other side. The carrier module has a front and rear portions, and carrier module sealing face is provided by the front portion. The front portion has first and second rotation positions relative to the rear portion, the first rotation position being in normal operation, and second rotation position being in event of high speed touchdown of the annular sealing faces when contact between sealing faces rotates the front portion to the second rotation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Helen Webster, Luke Hamilton, Murad Khader, Robert Grasse
  • Patent number: 9103762
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target molecule in a sample by metal dissolution as described in the specification, said method using an electrical readout; to kits adapted for this method and to electrodes suitable for such kits and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Fabian Kohler, Robert Grass, Wendelin Jan Stark
  • Publication number: 20130302832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target molecule in a sample by metal dissolution as described in the specification, said method using an electrical readout; to kits adapted for this method and to electrodes suitable for such kits and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ETH ZURICH
    Inventors: Fabian Kohler, Robert Grass, Wendelin Jan Stark