Patents by Inventor Roger J. Chen

Roger J. Chen 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: 10677776
    Abstract: A method of exporting measurements of a nanopore sensor on a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. An electrical characteristic associated with the nanopore sensor is measured. The electrical characteristic associated with the nanopore sensor is processed. A summary for the electrical characteristic and one or more previous electrical characteristics is determined. The summary for the electrical characteristic and the one or more previous electrical characteristics are exported. Determining the summary includes determining that the electrical characteristic and at least a portion of the one or more previous electrical characteristics correspond to a base call event at the nanopore sensor. The summary represents the electrical characteristic and the at least a portion of the one or more previous electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Hui Tian, Santiago Fernandez-Gomez
  • Patent number: 10663423
    Abstract: A system for detecting electrical properties of a molecular complex is disclosed. The system includes an electrode electrically coupled to a molecular complex that outputs an electrical signal affected by an electrical property of the molecular complex, wherein the effect of the electrical property of the molecular complex on the electrical signal is characterized by an expected bandwidth. The system further includes an integrating amplifier circuit configured to receive the electrical signal from the electrode. The integrating amplifier circuit is further configured to selectively amplify and integrate a portion of the electrical signal over time within a predetermined bandwidth, wherein the predetermined bandwidth is selected at least in part based on the expected bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger J. A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20200124559
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, J. William Maney, JR., Hui Tian
  • Publication number: 20200032333
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of lipid bilayers over an array of cells in a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a well. A salt buffer solution is flowed over the array of cells in the nanopore based sequencing chip to substantially fill the wells in the cells with the salt buffer solution. A lipid and solvent mixture is flowed over the array of cells to deposit the lipid and solvent mixture over at least some of the wells in the cells. A first portion of the cells, each having a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. A second portion of the cells, each having a lipid membrane but not a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. An electrical lipid-thinning stimulus is selectively applied to the second portion of the cells but not to the first portion of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Aliado, Roger J.A. Chen, Jing Luo, J. William Maney, JR., William Nielsen, Kyle Umeda, Ashraf Wahba
  • Patent number: 10545112
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Hui Tian, J. William Maney, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190382833
    Abstract: This disclosure provides chips, systems and methods for sequencing a nucleic acid sample. Tagged nucleotides are provided into a reaction chamber comprising a nanopore in a membrane. An individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can contain a tag coupled to a nucleotide, which tag is detectable with the aid of the nanopore. Next, an individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can be incorporated into a growing strand complementary to a single stranded nucleic acid molecule derived from the nucleic acid sample. With the aid of the nanopore, a tag associated with the individual tagged nucleotide can be detected upon incorporation of the individual tagged nucleotide. The tag can be detected with the aid of the nanopore when the tag is released from the nucleotide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Randall W. Davis, Roger J.A. Chen, Arkadiusz Bibillo, Daniel Korenblum
  • Publication number: 20190369081
    Abstract: A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer is disclosed. A nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer. The nanopore forming solution has a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are substantially not formed un-stimulated in the lipid bilayer. Formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer is initiated by applying an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, the concentration level and the corresponding activity level of pore molecules are at levels such that less than 30 percent of a plurality of available lipid bilayers have nanopores formed un-stimulated therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, Randall Davis
  • Patent number: 10465240
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of lipid bilayers over an array of cells in a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a well. A salt buffer solution is flowed over the array of cells in the nanopore based sequencing chip to substantially fill the wells in the cells with the salt buffer solution. A lipid and solvent mixture is flowed over the array of cells to deposit the lipid and solvent mixture over at least some of the wells in the cells. A first portion of the cells, each having a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. A second portion of the cells, each having a lipid membrane but not a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. An electrical lipid-thinning stimulus is selectively applied to the second portion of the cells but not to the first portion of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashraf Wahba, William Nielsen, J. William Maney, Jr., Kevin Aliado, Kyle Umeda, Roger J. A. Chen, Jing Luo
  • Patent number: 10456993
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Randy Davis
  • Patent number: 10429375
    Abstract: A method of exporting measurements of a nanopore sensor on a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. An electrical characteristic associated with the nanopore sensor is measured. The electrical characteristic associated with the nanopore sensor is processed. A summary for the electrical characteristic and one or more previous electrical characteristics is determined. The summary for the electrical characteristic and the one or more previous electrical characteristics are exported. Determining the summary includes determining that the electrical characteristic and at least a portion of the one or more previous electrical characteristics correspond to a base call event at the nanopore sensor. The summary represents the electrical characteristic and the at least a portion of the one or more previous electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Hui Tian, Santiago Fernandez-Gomez
  • Publication number: 20190293624
    Abstract: A nanopore sequencing device is disclosed. The nanopore sequencing device includes a working electrode. It further includes a dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the dielectric layer is disposed horizontally adjacent to the working electrode and a portion of the dielectric layer is disposed above and covering a portion of the working electrode, and wherein the dielectric layer forms a well having an opening above an uncovered portion of the working electrode. A base surface area of the working electrode is greater than a base surface area of the opening above the uncovered portion of the working electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, Jennifer Hovis, Hui Tian
  • Patent number: 10400278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using nanopores to obtain sequence information of sample DNAs in ss test DNAs. The method comprises using speed bumps to stall the ss test DNAs in the nanopores at random positions of the ss test DNAs to obtain sequence information of each and every nucleotides of the sample DNAs, and to construct the whole sequences of the sample DNAs. The present invention also relates to identification and/or isolation of test DNAs having desired sequence(s) using nanopore detectors facilitated by speed bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Genia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall W Davis, Roger J. A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20190264275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using nanopores to obtain sequence information of sample DNAs in ss test DNAs. The method comprises using speed bumps to stall the ss test DNAs in the nanopores at random positions of the ss test DNAs to obtain sequence information of each and every nucleotides of the sample DNAs, and to construct the whole sequences of the sample DNAs. The present invention also relates to identification and/or isolation of test DNAs having desired sequence(s) using nanopore detectors facilitated by speed bump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: GENIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Randall W. DAVIS, Roger J.A. CHEN
  • Patent number: 10393700
    Abstract: A method of identifying a molecule is disclosed. A molecule is drawn to a nanopore by applying a first voltage signal to a pair of electrodes during a first period, wherein the first voltage signal causes a first ionic current through the nanopore that is indicative of a property of a portion of the molecule proximate to the nanopore. The molecule is released from the nanopore by applying a second voltage signal to the pair of electrodes during a second period, wherein the second voltage signal causes a second ionic current through the nanopore. The first period and the second period are determined based at least in part on a net ionic current through the nanopore comprising the first ionic current and the second ionic current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger J. A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10371692
    Abstract: A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer is disclosed. A nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer. The nanopore forming solution has a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are substantially not formed un-stimulated in the lipid bilayer. Formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer is initiated by applying an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, the concentration level and the corresponding activity level of pore molecules are at levels such that less than 30 percent of a plurality of available lipid bilayers have nanopores formed un-stimulated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GENIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Randy Davis
  • Publication number: 20190217552
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, Randy Davis
  • Publication number: 20190212296
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule in a nanopore is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a nanopore that is inserted in a membrane by coupling the nanopore to a voltage source. The nanopore is decoupled from the voltage source. After the decoupling, a rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore is determined. A molecule in the nanopore is distinguished from other possible molecules based on the determined rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, Hui Tian, J. William Maney, JR.
  • Patent number: 10345290
    Abstract: A nanopore sequencing device is disclosed. The nanopore sequencing device includes a working electrode. It further includes a dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the dielectric layer is disposed horizontally adjacent to the working electrode and a portion of the dielectric layer is disposed above and covering a portion of the working electrode, and wherein the dielectric layer forms a well having an opening above an uncovered portion of the working electrode. A base surface area of the working electrode is greater than a base surface area of the opening above the uncovered portion of the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Genia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Hovis, Hui Tian, Roger J. A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10343350
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Genia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. A. Chen, Randy Davis
  • Publication number: 20190204295
    Abstract: A liquid voltage is applied to a first side of a lipid bilayer. The liquid voltage comprises a tag-reading period with a tag-reading voltage that tends to capture a tag into a nanopore in the lipid bilayer and an open-channel period with an open-channel voltage that tends to repel the tag. A pre-charging voltage source is connected to an integrating capacitor and a working electrode on a second side of the lipid bilayer during a pre-charging time period, such that the integrating capacitor and the working electrode are charged to a pre-charging voltage. The pre-charging voltage source is disconnected from the integrating capacitor and the working electrode during an integrating time period, such that a voltage of the integrating capacitor and a voltage of the working electrode may vary as a current flows through the nanopore. The pre-charging time period overlaps with a beginning portion of the tag-reading period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Roger J.A. Chen, Hui Tian, J. William Maney, JR.