Patents by Inventor Yinfa Ma

Yinfa Ma 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: 10591418
    Abstract: A pH micro-probe, a temperature micro-probe, and an immuno-based micro-probe each include a shaft for transmuting an input light signal and a tip for inserting into a cell or other substance for measuring pH, temperature, and/or antigens. The pH micro-probe and the temperature micro-probe each include a luminescent material positioned on the tip of the micro-probe. The light signal excites the luminescent material so that the luminescent material emits a luminescent light signal. The luminescent light signal has a property value dependent on the pH or temperature being measured and reflects back through the shaft for being measured by a light signal measuring device. The immuno-based micro-probe includes a reflective material that has an effective refractive index dependent on the number of antigen-antibody bonds present on the reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri, Clemson University
    Inventors: Yinfa Ma, Honglan Shi, Qingbo Yang, Hai Xiao
  • Publication number: 20180100806
    Abstract: A pH micro-probe, a temperature micro-probe, and an immuno-based micro-probe each include a shaft for transmuting an input light signal and a tip for inserting into a cell or other substance for measuring pH, temperature, and/or antigens. The pH micro-probe and the temperature micro-probe each include a luminescent material positioned on the tip of the micro-probe. The light signal excites the luminescent material so that the luminescent material emits a luminescent light signal. The luminescent light signal has a property value dependent on the pH or temperature being measured and reflects back through the shaft for being measured by a light signal measuring device. The immuno-based micro-probe includes a reflective material that has an effective refractive index dependent on the number of antigen-antibody bonds present on the reflective material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Yinfa Ma, Honglan Shi, Qingbo Yang, Hai Xiao
  • Publication number: 20160146735
    Abstract: A pH micro-probe, a temperature micro-probe, and an immuno-based micro-probe each include a shaft for transmitting an input light signal and a tip for inserting into a cell or other substance for measuring pH, temperature, and/or antigens. The pH micro-probe and the temperature micro-probe each include a luminescent material positioned on the tip of the micro-probe. The light signal excites the luminescent material so that the luminescent material emits a luminescent light signal. The luminescent light signal has a property value dependent on the pH or temperature being measured and reflects back through the shaft for being measured by a light signal measuring device. The immuno-based micro-probe includes a reflective material that has an effective refractive index dependent on the number of antigen-antibody bonds present on the reflective material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Yinfa Ma, Honglan Shi, Qingbo Yang, Hai Xiao
  • Patent number: 9207205
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of pteridine levels in a biological sample using CE-LIF which is useful for early cancer screening involving fully oxidizing pteridine compounds in a sample such as a urine sample, subjecting to CE-LIF to assess compound concentration, and compare to expected levels in for healthy or cancer-bearing patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Yinfa Ma, Stephen Gibbons
  • Publication number: 20110147217
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of pteridine levels in a biological sample using CE-LIF which is useful for early cancer screening involving fully oxidizing pteridine compounds in a sample such as a urine sample, subjecting to CE-LIF to assess compound concentration, and compare to expected levels in for healthy or cancer-bearing patients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
    Inventors: Yinfa Ma, Stephen Gibbons
  • Patent number: 6576105
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique method and means for detecting pteridines in biological samples using the novel combination of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF). The method is effective in detecting eight pteridine compounds at very low detection limits of less than about 1×10−10 M. The method allows for the detection of pteridines for various purposes involving metabolism and function investigation, including cancer monitoring and precancer screening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Truman State University
    Inventor: Yinfa Ma
  • Publication number: 20020167665
    Abstract: A high-throughput method of distinguishing at least one molecule individually in a sample comprising multiple molecules, which method comprises: subjecting a sample comprising multiple molecules, at least one molecule of which is detectably labeled, to electrophoresis; imaging the electrophoretic mobility of each detectably labeled molecule over time by detecting the position of the detectable label of each detectably labeled molecule over time, and, optionally, at the same time, dispersing the imaging by a transmission grating for spectroscopic analysis, and determining the electrophoretic mobility of each detectably labeled molecule and, optionally, determining the molecular spectrum of each detectably labeled molecule, thereby distinguishing at least one molecule individually in a sample comprising multiple molecules, and a system for use in such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Edward S. Yeung, Michael Shortreed, Yinfa Ma
  • Patent number: 5879528
    Abstract: A means and method for indirect detection of constituent components of a mixture separated in a chemical separation process. Fluorescing ions are distributed across the area in which separation of the mixture will occur to provide a generally uniform background fluorescence intensity. For example, the mixture is comprised of one or more charged analytes which displace fluorescing ions where its constituent components separate to. Fluorescing ions of the same charge as the charged analyte components cause a displacement. The displacement results in the location of the separated components having a reduced fluorescence intensity to the remainder of the background. Detection of the lower fluorescence intensity areas can be visually, by photographic means and methods, or by automated laser scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Edward S. Yeung, Lance B. Koutny, Barry L. Hogan, King C. Chan, Yinfa Ma
  • Patent number: 5532166
    Abstract: Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE) with laser-excited fluorescence detection has been found to be a fast, easy, and accurate method for directly measuring serum retinol. Due to its small sample requirements, the method may be used for finger-prick analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Yinfa Ma
  • Patent number: 5192407
    Abstract: A means and method for indirect detection of constituent components of a mixture separated in a chemical separation process. Fluorescing ions are distributed across the area in which separation of the mixture will occur to provide a generally uniform background fluorescence intensity. For example, the mixture is comprised of one or more charged analytes which displace fluorescing ions where its constituent components separate to. Fluorescing ions of the same charge as the charged analyte components cause a displacement. The displacement results in the location of the separated components having a reduced fluorescence intensity to the remainder of the background. Detection of the lower fluorescence intensity areas can be visually, by photographic means and methods, or by automated laser scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Yeung, Lance B. Koutny, Barry L. Hogan, Chan K. Cheung, Yinfa Ma