Ohio State University of Columbus has received US Patent No. 8,603,744, "Methods for diagnosing breast cancer using microRNAs." The claimed method relies on microRNA microarrays to measure miRNA expression signatures in a sample and compare it with a control sample. According to the patent, an alteration in the signal of at least one miRNA in the test sample relative to the control sample is indicative of the subject either having, or being at risk for developing, a solid cancer.
Timothy Liu of Fremont, Calif., has received US Patent No. 8,603,743, "Multiplex nucleic acid detection methods and systems." A hybridization-based approach is described for single molecule-based clonal amplification and subsequent detection of nucleic acid molecules, and particularly to the determination of SNPs, mutations, and to the diagnosis of diseases associated with the changes of these nucleic acid molecules.
Akonni Biosystems of Frederick, Md., has received US Patent No. 8,603,783, "Temperature control device with a flexible temperature control surface." The claimed device includes a bladder assembly, including a housing containing a reaction chamber; and a temperature-control bladder disposed within the housing, where the bladder is configured to receive a temperature-control fluid and provides a heat conductive surface that comes in contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reaction chamber after receiving the temperature-control fluid. Also discussed are a bladder thermal cycler, a temperature-control bladder assembly, and methods for producing a thermal cycle in a reaction chamber.
Intel of Santa Clara, Calif., has received US Patent No. 8,603,803, "Solid phase electrochemical synthesis with controlled product cleavage." Methods for electrochemically synthesizing polymers are provided. A cleavable linker is coupled to the surface of at least one electrode of an array of electrodes on a substrate and a polymer coupled to the cleavable linker is synthesized through a series of monomer addition cycles. Polymers that are synthesized include nucleic acids and peptides. Cleavable linkers include linkers that can be cleaved under conditions such as reducing, oxidizing, acidic, and or basic conditions.
Advanced Cell Diagnostics of Hayward, Calif., has received US Patent No. 8,604,182, "Multiplex detection of nucleic acids." Methods of detecting two or more nucleic acids in multiplex branched-chain DNA assays are provided. Nucleic acids captured on a solid support are detected, for example, through cooperative hybridization events that result in specific association of a label with the nucleic acids. Compositions, kits, and systems related to the methods are also described.