Illumina has received US Patent No. 7,455,971, “Multiplex decoding of array sensors with microspheres.” The patent claims a method of decoding an array by: a) providing an array comprising sites, said sites having a bioactive agent and a combination of different identifier binding ligands randomly distributed on it; b) adding a first decoder binding ligand to the array, where the first DBL binds to an IBL in said combination; c) identifying the position of the IBL that binds to the first DBL; d) adding a second DBL to the array, where the second DBL binds to another IBL in said combination; e) identifying the position of the IBL that binds to the second DBL; and f) decoding the position of the bioactive agent on the array based on the position on the array of the IBLs that bind the first and the second DBLs.
Affymetrix has received US Patent No. 7,459,275, “Sequencing of surface immobilized polymers utilizing microfluorescence detection.” The patent claims a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid by: a) providing a nucleic acid array comprising at least two different target template nucleic acids attached to a support in distinct regions at a density of at least 1000 regions per centimeter; b) contacting the nucleic acid array with at least one nucleotide comprising a removable label; c) detecting the label to determine the addition of the nucleotide to an oligonucleotide hybridized to one of the template nucleic acids; d) removing the label; and e) repeating steps b and c.
Affymetrix has also received US Patent No. 7,459,273, “Methods for genotyping selected polymorphism.” The patent claims methods for genotyping polymorphisms using a locus specific primer that is complementary to a region near a selected polymorphism, as well as methods for synthesizing pools of locus specific primers that incorporate some degenerate positions. A plurality of different sequence capture probes are synthesized simultaneously using degenerate oligonucleotide synthesis. The sequence of the locus specific regions of the capture probes are related in that they have some bases that are identical in each sequence in the plurality of sequences and positions that vary from one locus specific region to another. The sequences are selected based on proximity to a polymorphism of interest and because they conform to a similar sequence pattern.
National Research Council of Canada of Ottawa has received US Patent No. 7,459,316, “Molecularly-imprinted chemical detection device and method.” The patent claims a method of producing a molecularly-imprinted chemical detection device by: a) modifying the surface of a solid support through the attachment of functional groups; b) reacting the solid support with a derivatized molecular target to form a molecular target-bound solid support; c) reacting the molecular target-bound solid support with at least one guest molecule, forming a solid support stamp with a binding cavity around the molecular target; d) selecting the solid substrate for facilitating attachment of the binding cavity on the solid support stamp to the solid substrate; e) applying the solid support stamp to a surface of the solid substrate to attach the binding cavity to the solid substrate; and f) removing the molecular target with the solid support to produce a molecularly-imprinted polymer on the surface of the solid substrate.
Epitome Biosystems of Waltham, Mass., has received US Patent No. 7,460,960, “Proteome epitope tags and methods of use thereof in protein modification analysis.” The patent claims methods for detecting the presence of proteins, especially proteins with various post-translational modifications, in a sample, by the use of one or more capture agents that recognize and interact with recognition sequences uniquely characteristic of a set of proteome epitope tags in the sample. Arrays comprising these capture agents or PETs are also claimed.