Illumina has received US Patent No. 7,803,537, "Parallel genotyping of multiple patient samples." The patent claims a method for the parallel genotyping, or other sample analysis, of multiple patients by direct sample immobilization onto microspheres of an array. The patient beads can then be used in a variety of target analyte analyses, according to the patent.
Illumina has also received US Patent No. 7,803,751, "Compositions and methods for detecting phosphomonoester." The patent provides a method of modifying a phosphomonoester moiety of a target compound by: a) providing a target compound having an electrophilic moiety and a phosphomonoester moiety; b) contacting the target compound with a first carbodiimide compound under conditions for preferential addition of the first carbodiimide compound to the electrophilic moiety over the phosphomonoester moiety, forming an electrophile-protected target compound; and c) contacting the electrophile-protected target compound with a second carbodiimide compound and a nucleophilic compound under conditions for addition of the nucleophilic compound to the phosphomonoester.
Panomics, now Affymetrix, has received US Patent No. 7,803,541, "Multiplex branched-chain DNA assays." The patent claims methods for detecting two or more nucleic acids in a multiplex branched-chain DNA assay. Different nucleic acids are captured through cooperative hybridization events on different, identifiable subsets of particles or at different selected positions on a spatially addressable solid support. Kits are also provided.
Affymetrix has also received US Patent No. 7,803,609, "System, method, and product for generating patterned illumination." A method for generating an interference pattern at a probe array is described. The method includes directing light at a first waveguide and second waveguide, where the first and second waveguides are positioned adjacent to each other and the output from the first and second waveguides produce an interference pattern; and directing the interference pattern at the probe array. According to the patent, the probe array has a biopolymer affixed to the surface of a support selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, amino acids, proteins, peptides, hormones, oligosaccharides, lipids, glycolipids, lipopolysaccharides, phospholipids, inverted nucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, and meta-DNA. The detector can be a charge-coupled device; an electron-multiplying, charge-coupled device, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, active pixel sensor, or photomultiplier tube.
The University of California of Oakland has received US Patent No. 7,803,542, "Signal-on architecture for electronic, oligonucleotide-based detectors." The patent provides architecture for oligonucleotide-based detectors that lead to order-of-magnitude increases in signal gain and sensitivity compared to other detectors. The detectors rely on base pairing between two oligonucleotide strands, the sensor strand and the blocker strand. The formation of comparatively rigid, duplex DNA prevents the redox moiety from approaching the electrode surface, suppressing Faradaic currents, according to the patent. When a target is added to the system, the target displaces the blocker strand and binds to the sensor strand, liberating the end of the redox-labeled oligonucleotide to produce a flexible element. This, in turn, allows the redox moiety to collide with the electrode surface, producing a readily detectable Faradaic current.
Chung Hua University of Hsinchu, Taiwan, has received US Patent No. 7,805,175, "Microarray bioprobe device integrated with a semiconductor amplifier module on a flexible substrate." The patent provides a microarray integrated with a semiconductor amplifier module, which integrates microarray probes and thin film transistors on a substrate by micro-electro-mechanical system processes and semiconductor processes. According to the patent, a signal from the microarray is amplified through a near amplifier to increase signal-to-noise ratio and impendence matching.