X-Body of Waltham, Mass., has received US Patent No. 8,298,780, "Methods of detection of changes in cells." The claimed method includes immobilizing extracellular matrix ligands to a surface of a colorimetric resonant reflectance biosensor or a grating-based waveguide biosensor; exposing the cells to compounds that modulate activity of a G protein-coupled receptor, ion channels, P13 kinase, transient receptor potential channels, phospholipase C, receptor tyrosine kinases, cytokines, beta-arrestin pathway responses, cytoskeletal rearrangements, epigenetic signals, integrins, or signal transduction pathways; and detecting a change in peak wavelength value or signal over time, which indicates that the cells have responded to the stimuli.
Dako Denmark, now part of Agilent Technologies, has received US Patent No. 8,298,815, "Systems and methods of sample processing and temperature control." The patent claims temperature control methods for use in automated sample processing systems. Corresponding systems are described, including sample processing systems, sample carrier temperature regulation systems, reagent temperature regulation systems, sample processing control systems, and temperature regulation devices. According to the patent, the methods may be applied in immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and microarray sample processing.
Purdue Research Foundation of West Lafayette, Ind., has received US Patent No. 8,298,831, "Differentially encoded biological analyzer planar array apparatus and methods." The method includes contacting a test sample to molecules on a surface, scanning the molecules at a rate relating to a carrier frequency signal, and detecting the presence or absence of a biological molecule based at least in part upon the presence or absence of a signal substantially at a sideband of the carrier frequency signal.
Toray Industries of Tokyo has received US Patent No. 8,298,832, "Method of agitating solution." The method includes contacting a selective binding substance immobilized on the surface of a carrier, such as a DNA chip, with a solution containing an analyte substance reactive with the selective binding substance; mixing fine particles or air bubbles into the solution; and moving the fine particles or air bubbles without allowing them to contact the surface. According to the patent, this approach allows the detection of a trace amount of analyte at high signal intensity and high signal-to-noise ratio.
The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of Paris and Institut Gustave Roussy of Villejuif, France, have received US Patent No. 8,299,233, "Molecular in vitro diagnosis of breast cancer." Multiple polynucleotide probe sets are claimed that consist of probes chosen from a library of nucleic acid sequences. According to the patent, each probe is capable of hybridizing with a specific gene when certain variants are present, and can be used to determine the variation of expression of at least 12 genes in order to diagnose the benign or malignant state of a breast tumor. In the patent, the inventors claim that this can be accomplished using a microarray containing the probe sets.