Eppendorf said today that it has licensed patents covering gradient technology for thermal cyclers to Agilent Technologies.
The license includes US Patent No. 6,767,512, entitled "Temperature-regulating block with temperature-regulating devices;" and No. 7.074,367, entitled "Thermostated block with heat-regulating devices."
Last April, Agilent launched the SureCycler 8800 endpoint PCR instrument, which counts among its features thermal gradient technology (PCR Insider, 4/7/2011). Eppendorf utilizes the technology in its Eppendorf Mastercycler Pro Gradient, Mastercycler Nexus Gradient, and Mastercycler EP Realplex models.
In the last year, Hamburg, Germany-based Eppendorf has licensed the '512 and '367 patents to a number of life science companies, including Roche, Takara Bio, Analytik Jena, Bulldog Bio, Labnet, and Bibby Scientific.