Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, Calif., has received US Patent No. 7,153,682, “Microarrays on mirrored substrates for performing proteomic analyses.” The patent claims peptidomimetic protein-binding arrays, as well as their manufacture, use, and application. Specifically, peptidomimetic array element library synthesis is described, followed by distribution, and spotting of array elements onto solid planar substrates, labeling of complex protein mixtures, and the analysis of differential protein binding to the array. Kits, including proteomic microarrays, are also claimed.
Agilent Technologies has received US Patent No. 7,153,689, “Apparatus and methods for cleaning and priming droplet dispensing devices.” The patent describes an apparatus and methods for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device. According to the patent’s abstract, a dispensing surface on the dispensing device includes a row of nozzles that are sealed to form a chamber adjacent to the dispensing surface. A wash fluid is then introduced into the chamber and removed from the chamber. A priming vacuum is subsequently applied individually, and preferably, simultaneously, to a portion of the nozzles. Optionally, a wash fluid is then introduced into the chamber and removed from the chamber to rinse the dispensing surface.
Decision Biomarkers of Waltham, Mass., has received US Patent No. 7,154,598, “Excitation and imaging of fluorescent arrays.” The patent claims a support for an array of fluorescently labeled samples constructed of: a) an array-support surface; and b) a field of embedded optical features under the support that are exposed to illumination by a broad light beam of excitation. According to the patent’s abstract, the support is constructed so that the light of the beam on the features is launched through the support at an angle to the support surface that produces the surface wave effect of radiation in the manner that it can produce fluorescence from the labeled samples to be imaged beyond the support from a direction different from the direction of the illumination. A data acquisition system is also claimed that employs an elastic rotary motion reducer to direct illumination beams through a series of small angular increments, in order to take images at each increment by a CCD camera. A quilt image is then formed that is based on responses of the energy references associated with localized regions of each image.