Illumina of San Diego, Calif., has received US Patent No. 6,998,274, "Composite arrays utilizing microspheres." The patent claims compositions and methods for decoding microsphere array sensors. Specifically, a composite array with a plurality of assay locations that in turn contain a population of microspheres with subpopulation of bioactive agents is claimed. Methods of decoding an array composition by providing an array composition as outlined above, and adding a plurality of decoding binding ligands to the composite array to identify the location of at least a plurality of the bioactive agents, are also claimed in the patent. Methods of determining the presence of one or more target analytes in one or more samples by contacting the sample with a composition and determining the presence or absence of a target analyte, are claimed as well.
Bioforce Nanosciences of Ames, Iowa, has received US Patent No. 6,998,228, "Method and apparatus for solid state molecular analysis." The patent describes a method for the formation and analysis of novel miniature deposition domains where the deposition domains are placed on a surface to form a molecular array. The molecular array is then scanned with atomic force microscopy to analyze molecular recognition events and the effect of introduced agents on defined molecular interactions. The patent's abstract states that the processes described are useful in the search for compounds such as new drugs for treatment of undesirable physiological conditions.