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IP Roundup, Jul 19, 2011

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Meso Scale Technologies of Gaithersburg, Md., has received US Patent No. 7,981,362, "Modular assay plates, reader systems and methods for test measurements." According to the patent, luminescence test measurements can be conducted using an assay module. The module includes integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules, and measure the induced luminescence.


California Institute of Technology of Pasadena, Calif., has received US Patent No. 7,981,604, "Methods and kits for analyzing polynucleotide sequences." Methods are claimed for analyzing a sequence of a target polynucleotide by detecting the incorporation of a nucleotide into its complementary strand, where the polynucleotides may be bound at high density and at single molecule resolution. The patent also claims labeling moieties and blocking moieties that enable chain termination or choking. The methods allow for asynchronous analysis of target polynucleotides and the use of short-sequencing cycles. Surface chemistry aspects of the sequencing methods are also provided.


Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, both of Boston, have received US Patent No. 7,981,609, "Methods for identifying and using SNP panels:" The methods are based on the statistical analysis of genetic data, such as SNP genotype calls. When applied to particular sample datasets, the methods permit the identification of a relatively small set of SNPs that can be used to identify or distinguish samples containing genetic material. Because the number of SNPs required for genetic analysis is relatively small when using SNPs, the genetic analysis is cost effective when compared to analysis that uses thousands of randomly selected SNPs, according to the patent.


Maven Technologies of Los Angeles has received US Patent No. 7,981,664, "Apparatus and method for performing ligand binding assays on microarrays in multiwell plates." According to the patent, three-dimensional ligand arrays are immobilized on the side walls of wells in a multiwell plate. A well is formed with planar side walls and a stack of sample separators is placed within a well in positions so as to not come in contact with ligand spots in the arrays. The spacing between each pair of adjacent separators in a stack forms a sample chamber in a position corresponding to an array.


Corning of Corning, NY, has received US Patent No. 7,981,665, "Supports for assaying analytes and methods of making and using thereof." The patent claims a method for making a support for performing an assay. It includes pre-blocking a binding polymer and attaching the pre-blocked binding polymer to a substrate. According to the patent, the polymer contains maleic anhydride reactive groups for attaching biomolecules and inactive groups.


Samsung Electronics of Seoul, Korea, has received US Patent No. 7,981,666, "Sensing switch and detecting method using the same." The described sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. According to the patent, the target material need not be labeled, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch.


Panomics, now part of Affymetrix, of Santa Clara, Calif., has received US Patent No. 7,981,842, "Method for detecting transcription factor-protein interactions." The patent relates to methods and kits for isolating DNA probes that bind to activated transcription factors. The method includes contacting a biological sample with a library of double stranded DNA probes under conditions where DNA probe--transcription factor complexes are formed between the DNA probes and activated transcription factors present in the biological sample; separating DNA probe-transcription factor complexes from non-complexed DNA probes in the library using an agarose gel separation; excising a portion of the agarose gel comprising the separated DNA probe--transcription factor complexes; and isolating the DNA probes from the excised portion of the agarose gel.


Affymetrix has also received US Patent No. 7,983,467, "System, method, and product for scanning of biological materials." The scanning system includes optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array. It also includes detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array. According to the patent, the system also contains: a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array; an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data, where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from probe features; and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with an image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.


The University of Arkansas of Little Rock has received US Patent No. 7,983,850, "Diagnosis, prognosis, identification, and classification of multiple myeloma based on gene expression profiling." The method of diagnosis relies on the gene-expression profiling of multiple myeloma patients into distinct subgroups using microarrays and hierarchical clustering analysis of the hybridization data, where the results may further be used to identify therapeutic gene targets. A method for controlling bone loss in an individual via pharmacological inhibitors of DKK1 protein is also described, as is a method for diagnosing multiple myeloma using a 15-gene model that classifies myeloma into seven groups.