With Detailed Detection Patents (Class 204/452)
  • Publication number: 20130186757
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for identifying biopolymers, such as strands of DNA, as they pass through a constriction such as a carbon nanotube nanopore. More particularly, the invention is directed to such systems, devices and methods in which a newly translocated portion of the biopolymer forms a temporary electrical circuit between the nanotube nanopore and a second electrode, which may also be a nanotube. Further, the invention is directed to such systems, devices and methods in which the constriction is provided with a functionalized unit which, together with a newly translocated portion of the biopolymer, forms a temporary electrical circuit that can be used to characterize that portion of the biopolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS
    Inventors: Kevin Reinhart, Stuart Lindsay, Peiming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130186758
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices that feature nanopores formed in graphene sheets, such as graphene ribbons. The graphene sheets include an edge irregularity, such as a zig-zag configuration, a chiral edge, or an armchair-configuration edge, which edges confer on the devices the ability to discriminate between different subunits of a macromolecule translocated through the nanpore. The disclosed devices and methods have application to DNA sequencing and analysis, among other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: University Of Delaware, The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania, University Of Delaware
  • Publication number: 20130180855
    Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis method for identification and analyzing collagen quantitatively, which is used to identify and quantify collagen in a sample, comprises the steps of: (a) dissolving a collagen-containing sample to form a sample solution; (b) preparing a capillary with an inner wall thereof having a positively-charged layer; (c) introducing the sample solution into the capillary filled with an analytical buffer solution; and (d) driving the sample solution to pass through the capillary. The method of the present invention does not need the purifying pre-treatment and cracking the collagen-containing sample but directly performs the capillary electrophoresis analysis of collagen. Therefore, the present invention can shorten the time for analyzing collagen quantitatively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: National Cheng Kung University
  • Patent number: 8486247
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for conducting analyses, particularly microfluidic devices for the detection of target analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Osmetch Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Faiz Kayyem
  • Patent number: 8475640
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simple method to correct cross-talk, after the data have been generated. Adjacent signals are simply subtracted from the original observed signal with a repeating process. The data processing is stopped when a predefined condition is met. By this technique, cross-talk can be reduced from >5% to less than 0.1%. And as an additional advantage, this method provides a way to correct the cross-talk without the need to know which peaks are caused by the adjacent capillary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Analytical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ho-Ming Pang
  • Patent number: 8465637
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the measurement of a concentration of a charged species in a sample, the sample having a plurality of types of charged species and at least one insoluble component. The method comprises: providing the sample on a surface of a partly permeable layer (30); allowing components of the sample to pass through the partly permeable layer (30) into a channel (12); and separating the components into sections, such that each at least one of the sections substantially comprises a single type of the plurality of the types of charged species, and determining the charge concentration in the at least one of the sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Medimate Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Steven Selwyn Staal, Jan Floris, Albert Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20130146480
    Abstract: The invention features the use of graphene, a one atom thick planar sheet of bonded carbon atoms, in the formation of artificial lipid membranes. The invention also features the use of these membranes to detect the properties of polymers (e.g., the sequence of a nucleic acid) and identify transmembrane protein-interacting compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Slaven Garaj, Daniel Branton
  • Publication number: 20130146458
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments assay for the presence of Ge-68, although disclosed embodiments can also be used for other radionuclide generators, with minimal adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: Weinberg Medical Physics LLC
    Inventors: Weinberg Medical Physics LLC, Irving N. Weinberg, Pavel Stepanov, Mario G. Urdaneta, Roland Probst, Valera Zavarzin
  • Patent number: 8449880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition and method for sample preparation of proteins for their size separation by electrophoresis, suitable for molecular-weight determination of proteins in the range between about 14,000 and 500,000. In an embodiment, proteins, particularly those exhibiting biased migration, are modified to change their intrinsic charge, or carbohydrate component to improve accuracy of their molecular weights as determined by electrophoretic size separation via their interaction with ionic surfactants. In a preferred embodiment, the proteins are carbamylated with potassium cyanate and their carbohydrate components are oxidized with sodium periodate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: Vladislav Dolnik, William A. Gurske
  • Publication number: 20130112559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device and a method for handling at least one drop. The device comprises first and second microfluidic surfaces (3a, 3b) parallel and separated from each other by a separation distance (H), at least one first electrical displacement path (5a) arranged on said first surface (3a), and at least one second electrical displacement path (5b) arranged on said second surface (3b). The at least one of the first and second paths is configured in order to form a respective fluidic finger along said path, said fluidic finger rupturing via capillarity, by generating at least one respective drop. The first and second paths are configured so that said separation distance between said first and second surfaces is on the one hand, greater than the fluidic thickness formed by each fluidic finger and, on the other hand, less than the fluidic thickness formed by each drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
  • Publication number: 20130092539
    Abstract: Aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a simulator including a visual display capable of outputting to a user a display one or more effects of a command series selected and a system including a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to and controlled by a processor capable of executing instructions, the droplet microactuator including a substrate comprising electrodes for conducting droplet operations. Further aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a droplet operations troubleshooting apparatus. Other aspects of embodiments of the invention relate to a computer implemented method of displaying simulated microactuator droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicants: DUKE UNIVERSITY, ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula
  • Publication number: 20130075258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the identification of compounds in carbohydrate mixture compositions as well as the determination of carbohydrate mixture composition patterns, based on e.g. orthogonal cross determining migration time (indices) using capillary gel electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence and identifying said carbohydrate components based on comparing said migration time (indices) with standard migration time (indices) from a database which data are preferably also orthogonal cross determined. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for carbohydrate mixture composition pattern profiling, like glycosylation pattern profiling using capillary gel electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CGE-LIF). In another aspect, the present invention refers to a system for an automated determination and/or identification of carbohydrates and/or carbohydrate mixture composition patterns (e.g.: glycosylation patterns).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Erdmann Rapp, Jana Schwarzer, Udo Reichl, Christian Bohne
  • Publication number: 20130043131
    Abstract: A molecule trapping method includes forming a fluid bridge between a first reservoir and a second reservoir, translocating a molecule from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the fluid bridge, detecting when a segment of the molecule is in the fluid bridge, breaking the fluid bridge and forming an a gap between the first and the second reservoirs, thereby trapping a segment of the molecule in the gap and making measurements on the segment of the molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Venkat S.K. Balagurusamy, Stanislav Polonsky
  • Publication number: 20130026038
    Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting the length of analytes, and/or sequencing analytes are provided in which two or more electrical signals are obtained as an analyte traverses a fluidic channel. Detection of the relative position of probes hybridized to a biopolymer and/or the length of the analyte (e.g., a biopolymer) does not rely on the absolute time between detection events of a given electrical signal to determine a distance associated with the biopolymer. Instead, multiple signals are obtained as functions of time) corresponding to a plurality of detector volumes at known locations along a fluidic channel through which the biopolymer passes, and the distances are determined from the multiple signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NABsys, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Oliver
  • Patent number: 8357277
    Abstract: The invention relates to an enhanced method of detecting and/or quantifying at least one analyte in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings
    Inventors: Youssouf Badal, Ahmed Chenna, Syed Hasan Tahir, Yuping Tan
  • Publication number: 20130015066
    Abstract: The flow of particles (18) in an aperture (10) between two reservoirs (14) and (15) is controlled by suspending the particles (18) in a fluid (17) within the aperture (10), applying a potential difference across the aperture (10) so as to tend to electrophoretically transport the particles (18) between a region of higher potential field and a region of lower potential in the fluid (17), applying a pressure differential across the aperture (10) so as to tend to transfer the fluid (17) with the particles (18) therein though the aperture (10) from a high-pressure reservoir (14) to a low-pressure reservoir (15), and adjusting the potential difference and/or the pressure differential across the aperture (10) in order to achieve precise control over the translation of the particles (18) within the aperture (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: IZON SCIENCE LIMITED
    Inventor: Johannes Adrianus Van Der Voorn
  • Publication number: 20130001083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfabricated device and methods of using the device for analyzing and sorting polynucleotide molecules by size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Stephen Quake, Wayne D. Volksmuth
  • Publication number: 20120292184
    Abstract: A method of microbial identification is disclosed. The method includes the steps of assembling dielectrophoretic particles modified with specific DNA probes on a surface thereof in a continuous fluid at a predetermined location in a microchannel to form a particle assembly by a negative dielectrophoretic force and a hydrodynamic force provided by the continuous fluid, narrowing gaps between the dielectrophoretic particles of the particle assembly to enhance the electric field in the gaps between the dielectrophoretic particles, injecting a fluid containing target DNAs of a target microbe into the microchannel at a predetermined flow rate to move the target DNAs toward the particle assembly and generating a positive dielectrophoretic force by the enhanced electric field to attract the target DNAs toward the dielectrophoretic particles of the particle assembly for hybridization with the DNA probes. The present invention also discloses a method of manipulation of nanoscale biomolecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: I-Fang CHENG, Hsien-Chang Chang, Cheng-Che Chung
  • Publication number: 20120273353
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for performing pulsed field mobility shift assays in microfluidic devices. In particular, the methods of the invention utilize differences between electrophoretic mobilities (e.g., as between reactants and products, especially in non-fluorogenic reactions) in order to separate the species and thus analyze the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea W. Chow, John C. Owicki, J. Wallace Parce
  • Patent number: 8277659
    Abstract: Microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) utilizing a sample injector based on a mechanical valve rather than electrokinetic injection can provide improved sample injections, enhanced capabilities, and can eliminate the need for changing the electric field in the separation channel to induce sample injection. In one instance CE electrodes continuously apply an electric field for CE separation along a separation channel. A sample channel is connected to the separation channel at an intersection and has a sample pressure that is greater than that which is present in the separation channel near the intersection. The sample channel does not have electrodes that apply voltages for electrokinetic injection. A sample injector in the sample channel or at the intersection comprises a mechanical valve to control sample injection from the sample channel to the separation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Xuefei Sun, Ryan T. Kelly, Keqi Tang, Richard D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120241322
    Abstract: An analysis apparatus is an apparatus that performs electrophoresis using a microchip provided with a channel. The analysis apparatus includes a cooling unit (an electron cooling element and a driving circuit) that cools the microchip, a voltage application unit (electrodes and a power supply circuit) that applies voltage to a buffer solution filled in the channel of the microchip, an optical analysis unit (a light source, a light receiving element, and an analysis unit) that conducts, through the microchip, optical analysis of a sample introduced in the channel, and a control unit that controls the cooling unit, the voltage application unit, and the optical analysis unit. The control unit causes the cooling unit to start cooling the microchip, and after the microchip has been cooled, causes the voltage application unit and the optical analysis unit to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Yasunori Shiraki, Daisuke Matsumoto, Yusuke Nakayama, Genki Adachi
  • Patent number: 8268249
    Abstract: An analytical cell including a lightguide with a plurality of conduits filled with a migration medium. The medium, the lightguide and a surrounding medium have refractive indices selected such that light entering the lightguide is internally reflected within the lightguide to provide substantially uniform illumination of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Larry J. Carson, Joel R. Dufresne, Patrick R. Fleming, Michael C. Lea, Nicholas A. Lee, John Shigeura
  • Patent number: 8246803
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which simultaneity can be ensured between sensitivity and data acquisition to decrease a pull-up signal while spectral data acquisition is eliminated in each capillary exchange. The invention relates to a capillary electrophoresis apparatus characterized in that a multi-bandpass filter is provided in an optical detection system. In one aspect of the invention, a signal detection area of a two-dimensional detector is divided into plural regions corresponding to wavelength transmission regions of the multi-bandpass filter. An integrated value of the fluorescence spectrum signal is determined in the region including a fluorescence spectrum peak of an analysis sample in the plural regions. The analysis is performed with the integrated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Ryoji Inaba, Satoshi Takahashi, Shigeru Matsui
  • Patent number: 8246806
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus includes a multi-capillary array having a liquid or solid disposed between the capillaries of the array. The liquid or solid exhibits a refractive index higher than that of air and less than that of water and reduces the amount of laser beams scattered by the capillaries. Also provided are methods of adjusting refracted and reflected excitation light beams passing through capillaries of a multi-capillary array, to reduce loss of intensity of the laser beams and increase irradiation of respective samples disposed in the capillaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Applera Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Inaba, Tomohiro Shoji, Shozo Kasai, Masaya Kojima, Yasushi Shimizu, Seiichi Ugai, Eric S. Nordman
  • Patent number: 8246799
    Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting the length of analytes and/or sequencing analytes are provided in which two or more electrical signals are obtained as an analyte traverses a nanopore or fluidic channel. Detection of the relative position of probes hybridized to a biomolecule and/or the length of the analyte (e.g., a biomolecule) rely on detection events to determine a distance associated with the biomolecule. Multiple signals may be obtained (e.g., as functions of time) corresponding to a plurality of detector volumes at known locations along a fluidic channel through which the biomolecule passes, and the distances may be determined from the multiple signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nabsys, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Oliver, Petre Ianakiev
  • Publication number: 20120160681
    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: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Randall W. Davis, Roger J.A. Chen
  • Patent number: 8206568
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for molecular analysis. In the method, sidewalls are formed extending through a structure between two structure surfaces, to define an aperture. A layer of material is deposited on the aperture sidewalls and the two structure surfaces. The aperture with the deposited material layer is then configured in a liquid solution with a gradient in a chemical potential, between the two structure surfaces defining the aperture, that is sufficient to cause molecular translocation through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Daniel Branton, Roy G. Gordon, Peng Chen, Toshiyuki Mitsui, Damon B. Farmer, Jene A. Golovchenko
  • Publication number: 20120152742
    Abstract: This invention discloses a highly efficient method, system and apparatus for nucleic acid analysis, including sequencing (both automated re-sequencing and de-novo sequencing). The system is capable of sequencing DNA sizes ranging from fragments to mammalian size genomes having mouse draft quality at a much reduced cost. The system comprises a massive parallel capillary electrophoretic separation using two-dimensional monolith multi-capillary arrays (2D-MMCA). Sequence identification can be performed using fluorescent or otherwise labeled dideoxynucleotide-terminated DNA extension product generated by gel matrix-, or beads-, or substrate tethered-, or otherwise immobilized colonies of single template molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Vera Gorfinkel, Evgeni A. Kabotyanski, Boris Gorbovitski
  • Publication number: 20120125775
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition and method for sample preparation of proteins for their size separation by electrophoresis, suitable for molecular-weight determination of proteins in the range between about 14,000 and 500,000. In an embodiment, proteins, particularly those exhibiting biased migration, are modified to change their intrinsic charge, or carbohydrate component to improve accuracy of their molecular weights as determined by electrophoretic size separation via their interaction with ionic surfactants. In a preferred embodiment, the proteins are carbamylated with potassium cyanate and their carbohydrate components are oxidized with sodium periodate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Vladislav Dolnik, William A. Gurske
  • Patent number: 8182746
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus is generally disclosed for sequentially analyzing a single sample or multiple samples having one or more analytes in high or low concentrations. The apparatus comprises a relatively large-bore transport capillary which intersects with a plurality of small-bore separation capillaries and includes a valve system. Analyte concentrators, having antibody-specific (or related affinity) chemistries, are stationed at the respective intersections of the transport capillary and separation capillaries to bind one or more analytes of interest. The apparatus allows the performance of two or more dimensions for the optimal separation of analytes. The apparatus may also include a plurality of valves surrounding each of the analyte concentrators to localize each of the concentrators to improve the binding of one or more analytes of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Princeton Biochemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Norberto A. Guzman
  • Patent number: 8173417
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for ruggedizing a nucleic acid analyzing apparatus. The ruggedized apparatus can be used reliably and effectively in uncontrolled environments, such as, for example at a crime scene to collect and analyze forensic data, as well as in semi-controlled environments, such as, for example at a point of care location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: NetBio Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tan, Heung Chuan Lam, Gregory John Kellogg
  • Patent number: 8163151
    Abstract: Methods of analyzing the electrophoretic mobility distribution of von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers include providing a sample medium comprising a plurality vWF multimers. The vWF multimers are electrophoretically separated by electrohoretic mobility in the sample medium by subjecting said sample medium to an electric field to provide separated vWF multimers. The separated vWF multimers in the sample medium are exposed to a light source to produce scattered light. The scattered light is detected, and the electrophoretic mobility distribution of the separated vWF multimers is determined from the detected scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventor: Don A. Gabriel
  • Publication number: 20120090996
    Abstract: A DNA analyzer includes an interface for coupling a microfluidic chip to the DNA analyzer. The microfluidic chip includes a first separation channel for electrophoretic separation of DNA fragments in a first sample. Further, the DNA analyzer includes a first optical device. The first optical device includes an illuminating path and a detecting path. The illuminating path directs a first input light beam received from a light source to a first separation channel of the microfluidic chip. The first input light beam causes fluorescent labels attached on DNA fragments in the first separation channel to emit a first fluorescence light. The detecting path collects and directs the first fluorescent light to a first plurality of optical fibers. Further, the DNA analyzer includes a spectrometer configured to receive the first fluorescent light from the plurality of optical fibers and detect fluorescent components in the first fluorescent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Karl TROST, Michael E. EGAN, Doug SOUTH
  • Publication number: 20120085645
    Abstract: Methods and devices for liquid-liquid extraction using digital microfluidic arrays are provided. A polar droplet is transported to a separation region containing a substantially non-polar solvent, where non-polar impurities may be extracted from the polar droplet while maintaining a distinct phase separation. In a preferred embodiment, biological samples containing hormones are dried on a digital microfluidic array, lysed by a lysing solvent, dried, subsequently dissolved in a polar solvent, and further purified in a separation step in which droplets are transported through a volume of non-polar solvent. The method disclosed herein provides the distinct advantage of an automated sample preparation method that is capable of extracting hormones from low sample volumes with high precision and recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
    Inventors: Noha Ahmed Mousa, Mais J. Jebrail, Mohamed Omar Abdelgawad, Aaron R. Wheeler, Robert Fredric Joseph Casper
  • Publication number: 20120082985
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for analysis of a biological sample includes receiving the sample, wherein the sample includes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), lysing the sample to obtain access to the DNA included in the sample, purifying the DNA in the sample to isolate the DNA from other components in the sample, amplifying the DNA, separating fragments of the amplified DNA, detecting the separated fragments using laser induced fluorescence, based on the detecting, generating a profile of the DNA in the received sample, comparing the generated profile with profiles of DNA stored in a database, and upon determining that the generated profile matches one of the stored profiles, identifying the source from which the stored profile was obtained, wherein the receiving, lysing, purifying, amplifying, and detecting are performed on corresponding portions of a microfluidic device, and wherein transporting the sample and the DNA to the portions of the microfluidic device and enabling the lysing, purifying, amplifying,
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Frederic Zenhausern, Ralf Lenigk, Jianing Yang, Zhi Cai, Alan Nordquist, Stanley D. Smith, David Maggiano, Mrinalini Prasad, Karem Linan, Edward Olaya, Baiju Thomas, Cedric Hurth, Darryl Cox, Mark Richard, Glen Mccarty
  • Publication number: 20120043208
    Abstract: A multi-channel gel electrophoresis apparatus for efficiently collecting molecules isolated by gel electrophoresis so they can be further analyzed, identified, or used as reagents or medications. The apparatus using a novel “tagless” strategy that combines multi-dimensional separation of endogenous complexes with mass spectrometric monitoring of their composition. In this procedure, putative protein complexes are identified based on the co-migration of collections of polypeptides through multiple orthogonal separation steps. A majority of E. coli proteins are shown to remain in stable complexes during fractionation of a crude extract through three chromatographic steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jian Jin, Mark D. Biggin, Robert A. Nordmeyer, Ming Dong, Earl W. Cornell, Megan Choi, Halina Ewa Witkowski, Bong-Gyoon Han, Robert M. Glaeser
  • Patent number: 8118986
    Abstract: A method for determining the hydrodynamic radius for the constituents of an admixture, includes: (A) by separating capillary electrophoresis, the constituents of the admixture, leaving them within the capillary; (B) at one of the ends of the capillary obtained in this manner, containing, in different zones, the separated constituents, a detectable marker is injected in the region of a detection device which is placed at the side of the other end of the capillary; (C) a pressure difference is induced between the ends of the capillary in order to cause the various constituents separated in step (A) and finally the marker to migrate towards the outlet of the capillary; and (D) by analyzing the Taylor dispersion produced in step (C), the hydrodynamic radius is determined for each of the constituents, based on the detection time of the marker and the elution profile of each of the constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Hervé Cottet, Thomas Le Saux
  • Publication number: 20120021454
    Abstract: The invention comprises a substrate for detection of micro-organisms, wherein said substrate comprises a set of molecular markers linked, optionally with linker molecules or moeieties, to a di-, or tripeptide consisting of amino acids X1 and X2, or X1, X2 and X3, in which one of them, for example X1, is a D-amino acid and the others, for example X2 and X3, may be any D- or L-amino acid. Said substrate preferably is used for the detection of Bacillus anthracis. Alternatively, the invention is directed to a substrate for detection of micro-organisms, more specifically P. aeruginosa, wherein said substrate comprises a set of molecular markers linked, optionally with linker molecules or moeities to a tri- tetra or pentapeptide consisting of glycine amino acids. The invention further comprises methods for detection of micro-organisms, specifically Bacillus anthracis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the substrates of the invention and use of the substrate(s) in such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Floris Jacob Bikker, Wendy Esmeralda Kaman-Van Zanten
  • Publication number: 20110308950
    Abstract: Although analysis can be very quickly conducted at a low cost by a method for measuring a biopolymer using a nanopore, the accuracy of distinguishing the individual monopolymers constituting the biopolymer is low. To both ends of a biopolymer through a nanopore, molecules which are larger than the nanopore are attached and then the biopolymer is reciprocated by an external force to thereby perform repeated measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sakai, Takeshi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20110290648
    Abstract: This invention provides a capillary electrophoresis device in which capillaries are thermally regulated on a thermally responsive electrical path attached to an electrically insulating circuit board. This invention also provides an optical scanner useful for scanning an array of capillaries. A laser, optical detector and optical selector are in an arrangement that allows the optical detector to selectively detect an optical signal from any one or more of the plurality of electrophoresis capillaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: INTEGENX INC.
    Inventors: Lars Majlof, Ezra Van Gelder
  • Patent number: 8052856
    Abstract: A support for capillaries comprises a ceramic member having a flat surface area on which the capillaries are to be aligned. The flat surface area has a flatness of not more than 0.02 mm and has a mean spacing of waviness motifs (AW) of not more than 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Asai, Masahiro Okumura, Yoshihiro Okawa
  • Publication number: 20110259743
    Abstract: Provided is a biomarker that enables easy and rapid detection of oxidative stress on a living organism and enables prevention of tissue damage or cell necrosis by drug administration, and which is a powerful marker for the study of toxicity and pharmacokinetics of various agents. Oxidative stress is determined by measuring blood concentration of ophthalmic acid, which is a substance that varies in blood depending on the variation of reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in a biological sample with the use of an analyzer such as a capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometer. Further, an anti-oxidative stress agent is screened by administering an anti-oxidative stress candidate agent to a non-human animal under oxidative stress conditions, measuring blood concentration of ophthalmic acid, and evaluating the degree of decrease in the ophthalmic acid concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: KEIO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi SOGA, Makoto Suematsu
  • Patent number: 8043493
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus includes a multi-capillary array having a liquid or solid disposed between the capillaries of the array. The liquid or solid exhibits a refractive index higher than that of air and less than that of water and reduces the amount of laser beams scattered by the capillaries. Also provided are methods of adjusting refracted and reflected excitation light beams passing through capillaries of a multi-capillary array, to reduce loss of intensity of the laser beams and increase irradiation of respective samples disposed in the capillaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Inaba, Tomohiro Shoji, Shozo Kasai, Masaya Kojima, Yasushi Shimizu, Seiichi Ugai
  • Publication number: 20110253535
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-channel apparatus for non-gel based two-dimensional protein separation. One or more flat channels are arranged in parallel and have an isoelectric focusing section for primarily separating proteins from protein samples according to isoelectric point (pI) and a flow field-flow fractionation section for secondarily separating the primarily separated proteins according to molecular weight, thereby making it possible to simultaneously separate the proteins in multiple channels, to increase a protein separation speed, and to overcome limitation to sample injection due to an increase in channel volume. The apparatus can separate the proteins according to pI and molecular weight, be safe from denaturation of the protein in the process of protein separation, automatically remove an ampholyte used for pI-based separation, and separately detecting the separated proteins to identify the proteins using nanoflow liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Yonsei University - Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Myeong Hee Moon, Ki Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8030092
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus is generally disclosed for sequentially analyzing a single sample or multiple samples having one or more analytes in high or low concentrations. The apparatus comprises a relatively large-bore transport capillary which intersects with a plurality of small-bore separation capillaries and includes a valve system. Analyte concentrators, having antibody-specific (or related affinity) chemistries, are stationed at the respective intersections of the transport capillary and separation capillaries to bind one or more analytes of interest. The apparatus allows the performance of two or more dimensions for the optimal separation of analytes. The apparatus may also include a plurality of valves surrounding each of the analyte concentrators to localize each of the concentrators to improve the binding of one or more analytes of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Princeton Biochemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Norberto A. Guzman
  • Publication number: 20110214991
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes at least one first channel and at least one second channel or chamber which is connected to the first channel via a nanopore in a fluid communication manner, and a method of determining a nucleotide sequence of a target nucleic acid by using the same. Accordingly, the nucleotide sequence of the target nucleic acid may be efficiently determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suhyeon KIM, Joo-won RHEE
  • Patent number: 8012327
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which simultaneity can be ensured between sensitivity and data acquisition to decrease a pull-up signal while spectral data acquisition is eliminated in each capillary exchange. The invention relates to a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which capillary position shift is detected in each capillary exchange by detecting a capillary position. A capillary position measuring light source is provided in the capillary electrophoresis apparatus of the invention. The capillary is irradiated with light emitted from the capillary position measuring light source, a capillary image is detected with a two-dimensional detector, and thereby a position deviation of the capillary is determined. On the basis of the position deviation of the capillary, a data acquisition area is set in the two-dimensional detector, or a reference fluorescent light spectrum determined from the capillary at the standard position is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Ryoji Inaba, Satoshi Takahashi, Isao Haraura, Tomoyuki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110210000
    Abstract: A plurality of particles of from about 5 nm to 100 ?m possessing predetermined isoelectric points in the pH range of from about 2.5 to 11 is used in a method of detection of a plurality of analytes, wherein the isoelectric particles of each isoelectric point further contain as label and a member of a binding pair capable of interacting with a selected analyte. The particles that form specific binding pairs are recovered and separated by isoelectric focusing followed by the detection of the labels associated with the particles. A flow cytometer may be used as a detector of the isoelectric particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Gentius, Inc.
    Inventor: Branko Kozulic
  • Publication number: 20110212914
    Abstract: Various pentosan polysulfate (PPS) formulations useful for treatment of osteoarthritis, interstitial cystitis, and other conditions of mammals are provided. These formulations showed improved resistance to degradation and discoloration and improved stability at physiological pH, even after sterilization. Capillary electrophoresis analysis of these formulations indicates that various formulations remain stable under conditions that caused degradation of PPS in prior art PPS formulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: NUTRAMAX LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Ellinghuysen, Charles Filburn, David Griffin, Todd R. Henderson
  • Patent number: 8007725
    Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus is generally disclosed for sequentially analyzing a single sample or multiple samples having one or more analytes in high or low concentrations. The apparatus comprises a relatively large-bore transport capillary which intersects with a plurality of small-bore separation capillaries and includes a valve system. Analyte concentrators, having antibody-specific (or related affinity) chemistries, are stationed at the respective intersections of the transport capillary and separation capillaries to bind one or more analytes of interest. The apparatus allows the performance of two or more dimensions for the optimal separation of analytes. The apparatus may also include a plurality of valves surrounding each of the analyte concentrators to localize each of the concentrators to improve the binding of one or more analytes of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Princeton Biochemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Norberto A. Guzman