Gen-Probe has been awarded US Patent No. 8,145,435, "Real-time amplification and monitoring system incorporating vector-based algorithm for analyzing polynucleotide-containing samples."
James Carrick, Jeffrey Chismar, and Michael Gilly are named as inventors on the patent.
Provides a system for analyzing a polynucleotide-containing sample using real-time amplification and monitoring. The system includes a computer or processing device with software for performing a vector analysis of growth curves. The vector analysis advantageously simplifies polynucleotide quantitation by circumventing the need to establish thresholds used for calculating initiation of the growth phase, or to calculate derivatives.
Gen-Probe has also been awarded US Patent No. 8,137,620, "Temperature-controlled incubator having an arcuate closure panel."
Kelly Ammann, Robert Schneider, and Robert Smith are named as inventors on the patent.
Discloses an automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously. The analyzer includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte-isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle-transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner; and a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents and for presenting the containers and holding them in a temperature-controlled environment. The patent also discloses a method for performing an automated diagnostic assay. The method includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte by moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles between stations to incubate their contents and separate the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is subsequently added to the separated analyte before a final incubation step.
Canon US Life Sciences has been awarded US Patent No. 8,145,433, "High-resolution melting analysis."
Deborah Boles, Kenton Hasson, and Sami Kanderian are named as inventors on the patent.
Relates to methods and systems for analyzing the dissociation behavior of nucleic acids and identifying nucleic acids. The patent discloses methods and systems for identifying a nucleic acid in a sample including an unknown nucleic acid, and for detecting a SNP in a nucleic acid in a sample. The patent also discloses methods and systems for identifying a nucleic acid in a biological sample including at least one unknown nucleic acid by fitting denaturation data, including measurements of a quantifiable physical change of the sample at a plurality of independent sample property points, to a function to determine an intrinsic physical value and to obtain an estimated physical change function. The nucleic acid can then be identified by comparing the intrinsic physical value for at least one unknown nucleic acid to an intrinsic physical value for a known nucleic acid, the patent's abstract states.
PhyNexus has been awarded US Patent No. 8,143,071, "Method and device for extracting an analyte."
Douglas Gjerde is named as inventor on the patent.
Provides columns and methods for purifying and concentrating an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein, or nucleic acid) from a sample solution. The columns typically include a bed of extraction medium positioned in the column between two frits. In some embodiments, the extraction columns employ modified pipette tips as column bodies. The invention also provides methods for purifying and concentrating multiple analytes simultaneously.
Illumina has been awarded US Patent No. 8,143,008, "Method of nucleic acid amplification."
Eric Kawashima, Laurent Farinelli, and Pascal Meyer are named as inventors on the patent.
Describes a method in which a nucleic acid molecule can be annealed to an appropriate immobilized primer. The primer can then be extended and the molecule and the primer can be separated from one another. The extended primer can then be annealed to another immobilized primer and the other primer can be extended. Both extended primers can then be separated from one another and used to provide further extended primers. The process can be repeated to provide amplified, immobilized nucleic acid molecules. These can be used for many different purposes, including sequencing, screening, diagnosis, in situ nucleic acid synthesis, monitoring gene expression, nucleic acid fingerprinting, et cetera, the patent's abstract states.
The National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi, India, has been awarded US Patent No. 8,143,007, "Nested primer sets for amplifying mouse immunoglobulin variable gene segments."
Sehgal Devinder and Rohtagi Soma are named as inventors on the patent.
Provides oligonucleotides for detecting rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes for identifying clonality of cells, cancer cells, hypermutation in immunoglobulin genes, antibody isotype-producing cells, and/or assaying B cell repertoire in a sample. The disclosed oligonucleotides are very specific to the immunoglobulin genes.
Igor Kutyavin has been awarded US Patent No. 8,143,006, "Accelerated cascade amplification of nucleic acids comprising strand- and sequence-specific DNA nicking."
Kutyavin is the founder of nucleic acid analysis consulting firm Perpetual Genomics (PCR Insider, 7/8/2010).
The patent provides nucleic acid amplification and detection methods comprising (1) providing a reaction mixture containing a target nucleic acid with an amplifiable target sequence, forward and reverse external nick-directing (ND) primers, at least one internal ND-primer, a strand-displacing DNA polymerase, a ND endonuclease for strand-specific cleavage of ND-primer-extension products, and deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates; and (2) incubating the reaction mixture with reagents under conditions suitable to amplify the target sequence. The amplification comprises primer extension, by at least one internal ND-primer, of an external ND-primer extension product comprising the amplifiable target sequence or a portion thereof but lacking the respective external ND-primer sequence or a portion thereof.
Preferably, amplification uses a plurality of internal ND-primers, extension of one internal ND-primer extension product by a different internal ND-primer, and is isothermal and synergistic with respect to the number of primers employed. The patent also provides amplification and detection kits.
GenturaDx has been awarded US Patent No. 8,124,024, "Cassette for sample preparation."
Jesus Ching, David Hu, Steve Yu, and Phillip Lee are named as inventors on the patent.
Discloses a cassette for preparing a sample. The cassette includes a housing that encloses the structures and the processes used to prepare the sample.