Patents by Inventor Stephen P. A. Fodor

Stephen P. A. Fodor 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: 20230083422
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide compositions, methods and kits for generating a set of combinatorial barcodes, and uses thereof for barcoding samples such as single cells or genomic DNA fragments. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide compositions comprising a set of component barcodes for producing a set of combinatorial barcodes. The set of component barcodes can comprise, for example, n×m unique component barcodes, wherein n and m are integers, each of the component barcodes comprises: one of n unique barcode subunit sequences; and one or two linker sequences or the complements thereof, wherein the component barcodes are configured to connect to each other through the one or two linker sequences or the complements thereof to produce a set of combinatorial barcodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Glenn Fu, Stephen P.A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20230074085
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for devices, methods, and systems for performing a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) digital assay upon generating at least a large number of counts per chromosome for a set of chromosomes present in a sample, where performing the NIPT digital assay can include: distributing nucleic acids of the sample and materials for an amplification reaction across a plurality of partitions; amplifying the nucleic acids with the materials, within the plurality of partitions; and generating counts per chromosome upon detecting signals from the plurality of partitions. The inventions enable processing of samples for NIPT digital analyses and/or other digital analyses involving other loci of interest, with unprecedented partitioning, reaction, readout, and analytical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Hei Mun Christina Fan, Stephen P. A. Fodor, Haeun Grace LEE
  • Publication number: 20230057339
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and compositions for generating a high-resolution spatial map of a distribution of targets of a sample are described. Processes for generating the spatial map can include: receiving the sample at a substrate having a distribution of functionalized particles, each having a stochastic barcode sequence paired with a position on the substrate; promoting interactions between the distribution of targets of the sample and the distribution of functionalized particles upon transmitting heat to a surface of the substrate opposite the distribution of functionalized particles; applying a set of reactions to the sample at the substrate, obtaining a set of sequences of a population of molecules generated from the set of reactions, the set of sequences associated with the distribution of targets labeled using the stochastic barcode sequences of the distribution of functionalized particles, and returning a set of positions of the distribution of targets upon processing the set of sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen P.A. Fodor, Hei Mun Christina Fan, Anaram Shahravan, Christina Chang, Jay Levine
  • Patent number: 11542546
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Enumerix, Inc.
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Patent number: 11535882
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide compositions, methods and kits for generating a set of combinatorial barcodes, and uses thereof for barcoding samples such as single cells or genomic DNA fragments. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide compositions comprising a set of component barcodes for producing a set of combinatorial barcodes. The set of component barcodes can comprise, for example, n×m unique component barcodes, wherein n and m are integers, each of the component barcodes comprises: one of n unique barcode subunit sequences; and one or two linker sequences or the complements thereof, wherein the component barcodes are configured to connect to each other through the one or two linker sequences or the complements thereof to produce a set of combinatorial barcodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Glenn Fu, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20220389410
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for devices, methods, and systems for generating a plurality of droplets within a collecting container at an extremely high rate (e.g., of at least 1 million droplets per minute, etc.), the plurality of droplets generated from an aqueous mixture comprising a set of single cells and a set of functionalized particles configured for a single cell assay. Upon generation, the plurality of droplets can be stabilized in position within a region of the collecting container, thereby providing a single-tube workflow for single cell analyses. Further, compositions implemented are structured to allow for overloading of partitions with functionalized particles, such that partitioned single-cells are co-localized with a subset of functionalized particles in a manner that allows for discernable tagging and downstream analyses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Hei Mun Christina Fan, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Patent number: 11447817
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Enumerix, Inc.
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20220283174
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for devices, methods, and systems for generating a plurality of droplets within a collecting container at an extremely high rate (e.g., of at least 1 million droplets per minute, etc.), each of the plurality of droplets comprising an aqueous mixture for a digital analysis, wherein upon generation, the plurality of droplets is stabilized in position within a region of the collecting container. The inventions enable partitioning of samples for digital analyses at unprecedented rates, where readout of signals from targets within such partitions can still be achieved in accordance with various assays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Sixing Li, Stephen P.A. Fodor, Eleen Yee Lam Shum
  • Publication number: 20220280941
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for devices, methods, and systems for generating a plurality of droplets within a collecting container at an extremely high rate (e.g., of at least 1 million droplets per minute, etc.), each of the plurality of droplets comprising an aqueous mixture for a digital analysis, wherein upon generation, the plurality of droplets is stabilized in position within a region of the collecting container. The inventions enable partitioning of samples for digital analyses at unprecedented rates, where readout of signals from targets within such partitions can still be achieved in accordance with various assays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Sixing Li, Stephen P.A. Fodor, Eleen Yee Lam Shum
  • Publication number: 20220186308
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for sequencing nucleic acid molecules of a sample in 3 dimensions (e.g., 3D sequencing).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Christina FAN, Stephen P.A. FODOR
  • Publication number: 20220186302
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina FAN, Eleen Yee Lam SHUM, Janice Hoiyi LAI, Stephen P. A. FODOR
  • Publication number: 20220170085
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina FAN, Eleen Yee Lam SHUM, Janice Hoiyi LAI, Stephen P. A. FODOR
  • Patent number: 11242558
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ENUMERIX, INC.
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20220017952
    Abstract: The invention(s) cover a composition, where units of the composition are configured to interact with each other (e.g., as neighbors) in order enable decoding of positions of captured target material relative to neighboring units of the composition. In embodiments, the composition includes: a body; and a set of molecules coupled to the body, the set of molecules comprising a first subset and a second subset, wherein the first subset is structured for target analyte capture, and wherein the second subset is structured for interactions with one or more neighboring objects. The invention(s) also cover systems incorporating one or more units of the composition and methods implementing units of the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Patent number: 11162136
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g., without requiring implementation of correction factors based upon Poisson statistics).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20210324448
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20210324459
    Abstract: The inventions cover systems and methods for generation of emulsions having suitable clarity without requiring refractive index matching between emulsion components. Systems can include: a substrate including a set of openings; a reservoir facing the substrate at a first side and containing a sample fluid configured for droplet formation upon interacting with the set of openings of the substrate; and a collecting container facing the substrate at a second side and containing a set of fluid layers configured with a density gradient and suitable immiscibility characteristics. One or more components of the system(s) can support methods for emulsion generation, in relation to enabling interactions between multiple continuous phases and a dispersed droplet phase to generate clear emulsions. Applications of the inventions(s) can include performance of droplet-based digital PCR in an improved manner (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Hei Mun Christina Fan, Eleen Yee Lam Shum, Janice Hoiyi Lai, Stephen P. A. Fodor
  • Publication number: 20210238588
    Abstract: Methods, kits and systems are disclosed for analyzing one or more molecules in a sample. Analyzing the one or more molecules may comprise quantitation of the one or more molecules. Individual molecules may quantitated by PCR, arrays, beads, emulsions, droplets, or sequencing. Quantitation of individual molecules may further comprise stochastic labeling of the one or more molecules with a plurality of oligonucleotide tags to produce one or more stochastically labeled molecules. The methods may further comprise amplifying, sequencing, detecting, and/or quantifying the stochastically labeled molecules. The molecules may be DNA, RNA and/or proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Glenn K. Fu, Stephen P.A. Fodor, Julie Wilhelmy
  • Publication number: 20210230582
    Abstract: Methods, kits and systems are disclosed for analyzing one or more molecules in a sample. Analyzing the one or more molecules may comprise quantitation of the one or more molecules. Individual molecules may quantitated by PCR, arrays, beads, emulsions, droplets, or sequencing. Quantitation of individual molecules may further comprise stochastic labeling of the one or more molecules with a plurality of oligonucleotide tags to produce one or more stochastically labeled molecules. The methods may further comprise amplifying, sequencing, detecting, and/or quantifying the stochastically labeled molecules. The molecules may be DNA, RNA and/or proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Glenn K. Fu, Stephen P.A. Fodor, Julie Wilhelmy
  • Patent number: RE48913
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods, compositions, systems, devices, and kits for determining the number of distinct targets in distinct spatial locations within a sample. In some examples, the methods include: stochastically barcoding the plurality of targets in the sample using a plurality of stochastic barcodes, wherein each of the plurality of stochastic barcodes comprises a spatial label and a molecular label; estimating the number of each of the plurality of targets using the molecular label; and identifying the spatial location of each of the plurality of targets using the spatial label. The method can be multiplexed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Stephen P. A. Fodor, Christina Fan, Glenn Fu, Geoffrey Facer