Patents by Inventor Rodney M. Richards

Rodney M. Richards 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: 7285401
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for detecting an amplification product. Amplification is accomplished through the use of a plurality of detection probes. The present invention is also directed to a method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence by contacting a test sample with an excess of at least three pairs of nucleic acid amplification probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Jones, Rodney M. Richards
  • Patent number: 6037152
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Amgen Inc
    Inventors: Rodney M. Richards, Theodore Jones, Gregory S. Brown
  • Patent number: 5876976
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney M. Richards, Theodore Jones, David L. Snitman, Gregory S. Brown
  • Patent number: 5863732
    Abstract: The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. Richards
  • Patent number: 5650302
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney M. Richards, Theodore Jones, Gregory S. Brown
  • Patent number: 5650271
    Abstract: The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. Richards
  • Patent number: 5645987
    Abstract: The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney M. Richards
  • Patent number: 5427929
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively cleave the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney M. Richards, Theodore Jones, David L. Snitman, Gregory S. Brown