IntegenX of Pleasanton, Calif., has received US Patent No. 8,562,918, "Universal sample preparation system and use in an integrated analysis system." The claimed system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module, and a computer. The system also includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers.
Toyo Kohan of Tokyo has received US Patent No. 8,563,239, "Solid support having electrostatic layer and use thereof." The patent provides a solid support capable of immobilizing nucleic acid molecules in a high proportion, and with a high bond strength to nucleic acid molecules. The solid support consists of a substrate and an electrostatic layer for attracting nucleic acid molecules and functional groups capable of covalently binding to them.
National Applied Research Laboratories of Taipei, Taiwan, has received US Patent No. 8,563,245, "Method for changing surface properties of a substrate from immobilized biomolecules." The method includes providing a biomolecule that is combined with at least one single-stranded DNA that has bound to it a first protein through an affinity binding tag; adding a second ssDNA conjugated with a second protein with a concentration greater than that of the first protein; and replacing the first protein on the ssDNA with the second protein through chemical competitive principle.
Illumina has received US Patent No. 8,563,246, "Combinatorial decoding of random nucleic acid arrays." The method includes providing an array composition that consists of a substrate with a surface that hosts discrete sites and two populations of microspheres. According to the patent, each subpopulation of microspheres consists of an identifier nucleic acid sequence comprising a primer sequence and a decoder sequence. The method also includes adding to the array a first set of combinatorial decoding probes comprising a priming sequence, at least one decoding nucleotide, and a label, and detecting the presence of the label.
Illumina has also received US Patent No. 8,565,475, "Optical system and method for reading encoded microbeads." According to the patent, the microbeads provide output light signals onto a Fourier plane when illuminated by an incident light. The system includes an input light source that is configured to illuminate the microbeads. It also includes a reading device that is positioned to detect the output light signals from the Fourier plane, as well as a processor that is configured to perform Fourier plane analysis of the optical light signals to determine corresponding codes of the microbeads.
BioArray Solutions (now Immucor) of Warren, NJ, has received US Patent No. 8,563,247, "Kits for multiplexed nucleic acid analysis by capture of single-stranded DNA produced from double-stranded target fragments." A method of fragmentation of double-stranded DNA is provided for use in nucleic acid analysis, notably in the multiplexed analysis of polymorphisms and mutations. The method produces labeled sense and anti-sense fragments that are not complementary, and do not significantly re-anneal under conditions suitable for hybridization analysis of the polymorphisms and/or mutations. According to the patent, cleavage sites can be selected such that the fragments are short, yet long enough to allow discrimination among fragments in an assay.
The University of Louisville Research Foundation of Louisville, Ky., has received US Patent No. 8,563,328, "Fiber-optic biosensor and biosensing methods." The method includes passing, via convective flow, a sample believed to contain one or more target biomarkers through a microfluidic channel and over the surface of an optical waveguide that has been prepared to bind one or more target biomarkers. A sensor is then used to detect emission light from the optical waveguide at an emission wavelength characteristic of binding of the target biomarker.
Rosetta Genomics of Rehovot, Israel, has received US Patent No. 8,563,252, "Methods for distinguishing between lung squamous carcinoma and other non small cell lung cancers." The patent provides nucleic acid sequences that are used for identification, classification and diagnosis of specific types of non-small-cell lung cancers. The nucleic acid sequences can also be used for prognosis evaluation of a subject based on the expression pattern of a biological sample. According to the patent, these patterns can be detected using microarrays, as well as other technologies.
The University of California of Oakland and New York University of New York have received US Patent No. 8,566,038, "Compositions and methods for analyzing immobilized nucleic acids." The patent provides methods for detecting a nucleic acid analyte in a sample and for assigning a feature profile to a nucleic acid, as well as a computer program for doing both. It also includes a method for immobilizing a nucleic acid onto an insoluble support and provides insoluble support with nucleic acids immobilized on it.