PerkinElmer received US Patent No. 6,756,232, “Method and apparatus for producing compact microarrays.” The patent covers a technology that can selectively lift pins partially out of a print head of a spotting instrument and thereby prevent the pins from contacting the substrate during any printing. Methods of using pin-lifters to increase the rate of production of compact microarrays are covered.
Motorola received US Patent No. 6,756,223, “Electrochemical analysis device with integrated thermal sensor and method for monitoring a sample using the device.” The patent covers an electrochemical analysis device and a method for analyzing biomolecular samples, including a means for holding a sample on a substrate platform. Additionally, the patent covers a thermal sensor, a biosensor with a specific spatial resolution related to the thermal sensor, and a means for providing radiation to the biomolecular sample. The technology for holding the sample, the thermal sensor, the biosensor, and radiation source are all three-dimensionally integrated with the substrate platform to create a volume resolution of less than 50 microliters. During operation, radiation is provided to the biomolecular sample to provide for a constant temperature at which hybridization of the biomolecules takes place. The temperature of the biomolecular sample is monitored and controlled by the integrated thermal sensor and the integrated heater. Once hybridization takes place, the change in electric condition (e.g., voltage, current, and/or power) is recorded and an exterior reader is used to make identification of the molecule within biomolecular sample.
Hitachi received US Patent No. 6,756,014, “Biochemical sensor and biochemical testing system using the same.” The invention provides a biochemical sensor with probes uniformly caught in each section. The probes used for detecting a substance of interest are caught in advance on particles, and the particles are fixed in sections arranged in the form of a lattice using a chemical patterning method on the surface of a baseplate. In each section, the particles attached with probes caught on the surface are fixed in single layer and tightly packed. The quantity of the particles fixed on the baseplate is determined by using light scattering from the particles or by labeling the particles in advance with a fluorescent substance. Therefore, the number of probes caught in each section of the biochemical sensor is determined so as to allow the substance of interest to be detected with high accuracy.
Hitachi Chemical of Japan and the Hitachi Chemical Research Center of Irvine, Calif., received US Patent No. 6,755,384, “Flexible platform for liquid handling robots.” The patent covers a platform or plate holder for use with liquid-handling robots. Specifically, it covers a flexible platform for use with a variety of plate holders that allows for complete removal of a sample from a well without the need for liquid sensors.
The German Cancer Research Center of Heidelberg, Germany, received US Patent No. 6,756,492, “Nucleoside derivatives with photo-unstable protective groups.” The patent relates to nucleoside derivatives having photolabile protection and a method of producing these nucleosides, their use, and nucleic acid chips built up from them.
Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, Ill., received US Patent No. 6,756,217, “Glass composite materials containing alkoxosilane derivative having alterable charge, hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.” The patent covers a porous glass composite material comprised of a gel containing water and a polymeric network containing at least one alkoxosilane derivative having a group of alterable charge, a hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group. Devices using the technology can include chromatographic and other separation media, drug delivery vehicles, and electric and mechanical actuators.