| Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120129238 | REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE MIXTURES WITH IMPROVED STORAGE STABILITY - Reverse transcriptase mixtures with improved storage stability are provided. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125440 | ROTARY COLUMN SELECTOR VALVE - A rotary valve is designed to include a stator with multiple pairs of ports for connection to flow-through components and a rotor with elongated recesses that form flow channels with minimal dead volume and that permit a reversal of flow direction through any component by rotation of the valve through a very small angle. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120124810 | PISTON MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN - In an axial-flow preparative chromatography column that contains a piston, commonly termed an adaptor, that is lowered over the top of the resin, the ability to lower the piston in a controlled manner to minimize the chances of damage to the resin is achieved by use of an aperture either in the piston head itself or in a compound bolt that secures the upper column frit to the piston head. The aperture is closed with a removable plug during storage and use of the piston head and column. During packing of the bed, however, the plug is replaced by a graduated rod operating as a dipstick to allow the operator to determine the distance between the bottom face of the piston head and the upper surface of the column packing. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120122158 | PCR FOR DNA THAT IS RESISTANT TO AMPLIFICATION - DNA that is difficult to amplify by conventional PCR is amplified by a modified PCR process that includes a high-temperature, short-term heating step as the last step of each thermal cycle, following the conventional denaturing and annealing/elongation steps. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120113428 | SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE SENSOR - An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120103074 | Automated Analyzer with Low-Pressure In-Line Filtration - An automated analyzer for biological samples that contain particulate matter is adapted to be able to process a large number of samples without changing the analytical cartridge, and in many cases without changing the internal switching valves, by including a filter in the low-pressure section of the analyzer, and preferably configuring the analyzer to be able to perform backflushing on the filter between sample injections. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120090999 | POLYMERIC SORBENT SHEETS AS ION RESERVOIRS FOR ELECTROBLOTTING - Electroblotting for the transfer of electrophoretically separated species from a gel to a transfer membrane is performed in a semi-dry format with sheets of absorbent polyester or polyester/cellulose blend wetted with buffer solution in place of the traditional buffer-wetted filter paper. The result is effective electroblotting at a lower electric current level than that obtained with filter paper and thereby less resistance heating of the gel, the transfer membrane, and the species being transferred. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120084010 | Dose Surface Method for Determination of Analyte Ratios - Methods, systems, and apparatus for accurately determining a proportion (ratio) of two analytes is provided, as well as provide a concentration of a first analyte from a determined concentration of a second analyte and from a proportion of the analytes to each other. In one aspect, a surface model (called a “dose surface” herein) relating the concentrations of the two analytes to the proportion can be used to obtain accurate values for one of the variables (e.g. a concentration or the proportion) when the other two variables have previously been obtained. The dose surface can be a three-dimensional surface and be non-linear. The dose surface model can include multiple regression functions. For example, measured responses can be individually converted to concentrations using two dose-response curves, and the concentrations can be input to a dose surface function to obtain the proportion. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120082991 | DETECTION OF RNA-INTERACTING REGIONS IN DNA - The present invention provides methods and kits for detecting RNA-interacting regions in genomic DNA. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120077961 | ENHANCED PURIFICATION OF ANTIBODIES AND ANTIBODY FRAGMENTS BY APATITE CHROMATOGRAPHY - Methods are disclosed for use of apatite chromatography, particularly without reliance upon phosphate gradients, for purification or separation of at least one intact non-aggregated antibody, or at least one immunoreactive antibody fragment, from an impure preparation. Integration of such methods into multi-step procedures with other fractionation methods are additionally disclosed. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120070829 | SIZE SELECTION OF DNA FOR CHROMATIN ANALYSIS - Methods for analyzing chromosomal DNA, including chromatin, are provided. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120064517 | DETECTION OF CHROMATIN STRUCTURE - The present invention provides methods of determining the accessibility of genomic DNA to a DNA modifying agent. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120058565 | CONJUGATES OF 1,4,7-TRIAZACYCLONONANES, DINUCLEAR METAL COMPLEXES OF SUCH CONJUGATES, AND METHODS OF USE FOR BOTH 1,4,7-TRIAZACYCLONONANES AND CONJUGATES - Conjugates of 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropanes with a variety of conjugating members are used in the formation of dinuclear metal complexes which bind to phosphate esters. By virtue of their conjugated forms, the complexes are incorporated into chromatographic media, affinity binding reagents, and dyes, which make the complexes useful in a wide range of assays, separations, and purifications. In addition, dinuclear metal complexes of 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropanes that are not so conjugated are used in the detection of phosphate esters of biological species by either MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry or by dye displacement. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055555 | DIAPHRAGM VALVE - Novel features enhancing the operation of a diaphragm valve include a specialized diaphragm profile for enhanced securement of the diaphragm in the valve body, and a quick-connect feature joining the diaphragm to its actuator, in which the forward end of the actuator contains a sloping surface, an expanded tip, and a shoulder, while the diaphragm contains a truncated bore with a complementary profile. The valve can be modular in construction to permit mounting of the valve to an instrument panel in close proximity to other valves or components to provide the ability to select among interconnected fluid flow paths. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120046765 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER CONTROL - A system for controlling an ultrasonic transducer utilizes an indication of the relative phase of the voltage on the transducer and the current passing through the transducer to control the relative phase to a value that has been preselected to correspond to resonance of an electromechanical system that includes the ultrasonic transducer. In one example application, the system includes a waveform generator that produces an oscillating signal, and the frequency of the oscillating signal is adjustable under control of the control processor. The control processor adjusts the frequency of the oscillating signal according to a proportional control law at least some of the time, and according to a proportional-integral control law at least some of the time. The control processor may also control the amplitude of the oscillation of the ultrasonic transducer. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120031759 | DIELECTROPHORETIC DEVICE WITH ACTUATOR - A dielectrophoretic fractionation device having a channel defining a direction of flow therethrough for the fractionation of particles in a liquid particle suspension is disclosed. The device also has a deflector unit affixed to a wall of the channel and arranged to generate an electric field gradient in the channel to spatially separate the particles in the liquid particle suspension. The device also has an actuator mounted to the channel and positioned to deform the wall. Also provided is a method for inhibiting aggregation of particles in a liquid particle suspension of the dielectrophoretic fractionation device, the method including periodically deforming the wall with the actuator. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120015392 | Cell Counting Slide With Lateral Reservoir For Promoting Uniform Cell Distribution - Cells in a suspension are counted in a hemocytometer slice with a chamber of controlled depth and one or more reservoirs along one or more side edges of the chamber. The suspension is fed to a reservoir to first fill the reservoir, and then to overflow into the chamber. The result is an even distribution of the cells in the chamber. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120013727 | CELL CHARACTERIZATION USING MULTIPLE FOCUS PLANES - A system for characterizing cells takes a series of digital images of a sample containing the cells. Each of the images is taken at a different plane of focus. One of the images is determined to have been taken at a plane of best focus. The system analyzes the digital image taken at the plane of best focus and at least one other of the digital images to classify cells in the sample as either live or dead. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110306042 | DETERMINATION OF CHROMATIN CONFORMATION - Methods and kits for determining histone modification or epigenetic status are provided. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110297545 | INSTRUMENT FOR INDEPENDENT ELECTROTRANSFER IN MULTIPLE CASSETTES - Electrotransfer is performed in an instrument that receives electroblotting cassettes and that contains an integrated power supply, controls, and a display that allows the user to monitor and control each of a plurality of cassettes individually through electrical contacts within the housing that mate with corresponding electrical contacts on the cassettes. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297544 | ELECTROTRANSFER CASSETTE WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS AND LOCKING MECHANISM - An electrotransfer cassette is formed in two parts that are releasably joined by a manually operated locking mechanism. The joined parts have electrical contact areas extending from the electrodes in the two parts of the cassette, the contact areas being exposed on an outer edge of the resulting cassette to form electrical connections to a power supply upon the simple insertion of the cassette into an instrument. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110270974 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATICALLY UPDATED PRODUCT INSERTS - Systems, apparatuses, and methods can provide parameters of operating results for control products used in biological reactions. For example, automatically updated inserts containing such parameters for clinical quality controls can be provided. A customer can log into a website, provide lot number of quality control products, information about instruments, and tests being performed and then receive updated parameters for the products. The product inserts can be customized for or by a particular customer. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110267622 | SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE SENSOR - An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110263823 | ENHANCED CAPACITY AND PURIFICATION OF PROTEIN BY MIXED MODE CHROMATOGRAPHY IN THE PRESENCE OF AQUEOUS-SOLUBLE NONIONIC ORGANIC POLYMERS - This invention relates to the use of mixed mode chromatography for purification of a protein from a mixture containing other materials, including fragmented or aggregated antibodies, host cell proteins, DNA, endotoxin, and/or virus. This invention further relates to the integration of such a method into a multi-step procedure with other fractionation methods for purification of antibodies or other proteins suitable for in vivo applications. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110250167 | METHOD FOR PURIFYING PROTEINS - The present invention provides methods and kits for purifying a target protein group. The method comprises the steps of contacting a sample comprising at least 95% of the target protein group and at most 5% of contaminating proteins with a library of binding moieties having different binding moieties, binding the contaminating proteins and a minority of the target protein group to the library of binding moieties, separating the unbound target protein group from the proteins bound to the library of binding moieties and collecting the unbound target protein. The collected target protein is more pure than the target protein group in the sample. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110222068 | NEAR REAL TIME OPTICAL PHASE CONJUGATION - An optical system and associated method enable near real time optical phase conjugation. In the method, a translucent medium is illuminated by a sample illumination beam. Light scattered by the medium is directed to an electronic image sensor while a reference beam is also directed to the electronic image sensor. The scattered light and the reference beam form an interference pattern at the electronic image sensor. A digital representation of the interference pattern is recorded using the electronic image sensor, and the characteristics of a conjugate of the sample beam are computed from the numerical representation. A conjugate beam having the computed characteristics is generated using a configurable optical element and directed back to the translucent medium. The generation of the conjugate beam may be accomplished using a spatial light modulator. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110222051 | MICROASSEMBLED IMAGING FLOW CYTOMETER - A microassembled imaging cytometer includes a sensing location that undergoes relative motion with a cell. Light from a light source is focused by a focusing element to a plurality of focused illumination spots or lines at the sensing location, illuminating the cell as the cell traverses the sensing location. A collection lens collects light emanating from the cell and refocuses the collected light onto an array light sensor. The focusing element may include an array of microlenses having spherical or aspheric surfaces. The system may include a processing unit that constructs a digital image of the cell based at least in part on signals produced by the array light sensor indicating the intensity and distribution of light falling on the array light sensor. The system may characterize cells using light emanating from the cells by fluorescence. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110211058 | COMPACT AUTOMATED CELL COUNTER - Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2×2 μm or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110204256 | HIGH-SPEED CELLULAR CROSS SECTIONAL IMAGING - A cross sectional imaging system performs high-resolution, high-speed partial imaging of cells. Such a system may provide much of the information available from full imaging cytometry, but can be performed much more quickly, in part because the data analysis is greatly reduced in comparison with full image cytometry. The system includes a light source and a lens that focuses light from the light source onto a small spot in a scanning location. A transport mechanism causes relative motion between a cell in the scanning location and the spot. A sensor generates a signal indicating the intensity of light emanating from the cell as a result of illumination by the light source. The system repeatedly takes readings of the light intensity signal and characterizes the light intensity along a substantially linear path across the cell. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110190169 | SIMULTANEOUS ASSAY FOR DETERMINING DRUGS - Bodily fluid is analyzed for the presence of drugs of a selected panel of drugs in a simultaneous assay in which sample of the fluid is incubated with additional amounts of all drugs of the panel, antibodies specific to each of the drugs of the panel, and microparticles, the microparticles being divided into subsets, one subset for each drug in the panel and each subset distinguishable from the others. The incubation is performed in a liquid medium in which competitive binding occurs, the drugs in the sample competing with those added to the assay medium for binding to the antibodies. In one procedure, the added drugs are pre-coupled to the microparticles while the antibodies are not, and the incubation is followed by further incubating the microparticles with labeled ligands that have affinity for the antibodies. In an alternative procedure, the added drugs are not coupled to the microparticles but are pre-labeled, while the antibodies are pre-coupled to the microparticles, and the assay proceeds without further incubation. In both alternatives, the microparticles are ultimately recovered from the assay medium and from any unbound species, and the recovered microparticles are analyzed by flow cytometry to obtain indications of the presence of the various drugs in the sample in an inverse manner by detection of the label, each drug differentiable from the others by the distinguishing features of the microparticles. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110177599 | DELIVERY OF NUCLEIC ACIDS ACROSS MEMBRANES - The present invention provides for methods and compositions for introducing integral membrane proteins into cell membranes and, optionally, delivery of nucleic acids across membranes via the integral membrane proteins. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110165654 | NUCLEIC ACID MODIFYING ENZYMES - This invention provides for an improved generation of novel nucleic acid modifying enzymes. The improvement is the fusion of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the ability of the enzyme to bind and catalytically modify the nucleic acid. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110139718 | PISTON MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN - In an axial-flow preparative chromatography column that contains a piston, commonly termed an adaptor, that is lowered over the top of the resin, the ability to lower the piston in a controlled manner to minimize the chances of damage to the resin is achieved by use of an aperture either in the piston head itself or in a compound bolt that secures the upper column frit to the piston head. The aperture is closed with a removable plug during storage and use of the piston head and column. During packing of the bed, however, the plug is replaced by a graduated rod operating as a dipstick to allow the operator to determine the distance between the bottom face of the piston head and the upper surface of the column packing. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139689 | Monitoring A Preparative Chromatography Column From the Exterior During Formation of the Packed Bed - In an axial-flow cylindrical preparative chromatography column that utilizes a piston to close off the top of the resin space inside the column and thereby eliminate void spaces at the top of the resin, a sight glass is incorporated in the column wall to allow monitoring of the packing height and density as the packing material is being placed inside the column, as well as the position of the piston head relative to the packing while the piston is being lowered to consolidated and/or compress the packing. By observing the column interior through the sight glass, the operator can assure that the column receives a more uniform packing density and can minimize the risk of damage to the packing material by excessive force from the piston head. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110136250 | BEAD READER - A method of determining a normalized quantity of an analyte adhering to beads in a detection area of a bead-based assaying system, the method comprising:
| 06-09-2011 |
| 20110134238 | CALIBRATION OF IMAGING DEVICE FOR BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL SAMPLES - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for imaging biological/chemical samples are provided. A calibrated imaging system can allow a user to obtain an optimal focus setting (position) for any effective distance (e.g. a zoom setting). The optimal focus can be determined from a functional approximation that defines a relationship between effective distance and focus setting. A user can input a size, and an imaging system can determine the appropriate effective distance and focus. An imaging system can also determine a size based on any effective distance. A flat-field correction can also be determined for any effective distance or size. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110130560 | SONICATION CARTRIDGE FOR NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION - A cartridge in which sonication is applied to biological matter to disrupt and release nucleic acids from the matter is formed from a cartridge body containing a series of wells connected by fluid passages engineered to prevent backflow, with at least one well containing a sonication window covered by a thin lamina to transmit sonic vibrations from a sonication horn contacting the exterior surface of the window. Fluid transport among the wells is achieved by pressure differentials through the fluid passages, and a succession of functions is performed in the various wells, including disruption, mixing, binding of the released nucleic acids to binding materials, washing, elution, and collection. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110117670 | MULTIPLEX IMMUNOASSAYS FOR HEMOGLOBIN, HEMOGLOBIN VARIANTS, AND GLYCATED FORMS - Hemoglobin, its variants, and glycated forms of each are determined individually in a multiplex assay that permits correction of the measured level of HbA1c to account for glycated variants and other factors related to the inclusion of the variants in the sample. New antibodies that are particularly well adapted to the multiplex assay are also provided. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110111978 | DIVERSE CHEMICAL LIBRARIES BOUND TO SMALL PARTICLES WITH PARAMAGNETIC PROPERTIES - The present invention provides diverse chemical libraries bound to small particle with paramagnetic properties. Typically, the chemical structures comprise a plurality of different chemical moieties, the particles are paramagnetic and have a diameter between about 100 nm and about 10 microns, the chemical structures bound to each particular particle have substantially the same structure and the combinatorial library comprises at least 100,000 different chemical structures. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110104760 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF NUCLEIC ACIDS AMPLIFICATION REACTIONS - The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification reactions. The invention encompasses hybrid polymerases that show increased processivity over wild type polymerases as well as decreased exonuclease activity. The invention also encompasses methods, compositions and kits for conducting nucleic acid synthesis and amplification reactions in which non-specific amplification of primers is reduced. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110104686 | RAPID DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA CONTAMINATION IN CELL CULTURE SAMPLES - The present invention provides for methods of detecting | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110009287 | PURIFICATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES - Methods and compositions for efficiently purifying monoclonal antibodies and identifying pairs of antibodies compatible in sandwich immunoassays are provided. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100328766 | MODULAR MICROSCOPE CONSTRUCTION - A system, apparatus and method for using modular microscopes is disclosed. Connecting the housings of the individual microscope modules provide the structural framework of the modular microscope. Furthermore, the modular microscope can include specialized software, the distribution and use of which can be controlled using security keys or identifiers stored on one or more of the microscope modules. The security keys and identifiers can be based on calibration data associated with the physical, electrical, or optical properties of one of more of the modules. The illumination modules disclosed provide for selectable wavelengths and controllable levels of output illumination for both bright field and dark field illumination. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100305777 | PISTON POSITION DETECTION FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN - In an axial-flow cylindrical preparative chromatography column that utilizes a piston to close off the top of the resin space inside the column and thereby eliminate void spaces at the top of the resin, one or more proximity detectors are incorporated in the piston head to either generate a signal indicating the proximity of the piston had to the resin, or to collect a signal, such as a optical signal, emitted from the resin. The value of the signal or any change in the signal is compared to a threshold value to ascertain when the piston head is in proximity to the resin so that the motion of the piston toward the resin can be halted before contact pressure from the piston head damages the resin. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100305310 | Multi-Media Affinity Column to Prevent Leaching of Ligands - In an affinity-type purification, ligands dissociated from a packed bed that would otherwise leach into the solution containing the species being purified are captured by a second ligand that resides in a porous barrier downstream from the packed bed, the second ligand exhibiting an affinity-type interaction with the dissociated first ligand with sufficient specificity to avoid the undesired retention by the second ligand of species from the liquid sample or source liquid other than the species sought to be purified in the affinity column. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100280228 | PURIFICATION OF IMMUNOCONJUGATES - The present invention provides methods of purifying immunoconjugates. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100279360 | Sso7-Polymerase Conjugate Proteins - This invention provides Sso7-polymerase conjugates that exhibit improved activity in a polymerase reaction. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100267163 | NON-SCANNING SPR SYSTEM - A system for measuring an evanescent wave phenomenon at total internal reflection, the system comprising:
| 10-21-2010 |
| 20100250145 | SNP DETECTION BY MELT CURVE CLUSTERING - Systems, methods and apparatus for an automated analysis of a collection of melt curves is provided. The analysis can identify certain characteristics of double stranded nucleotide sequences (e.g. DNA or other nucleotide sequences) which were melted. For example, a variation (e.g. a mutation) in the sequences (also called amplicons) may be determined from the analysis. The amplicons may be amplified via any amplification mechanism, such as PCR or Ligase chain reaction (LCR). The automated analysis can include identifying a melt region, normalizing a melt curve, and clustering melt curves. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100243452 | ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING TRAY AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR ALTERNATE GEL STRIP ORIENTATIONS - The procedures involved in isoelectric focusing that entail the use of an electric current can be performed with the gel side of the IPG strip facing either up or down in a tray and electrode assembly in which the electrodes are mounted on an insert from which the inner ends of the electrodes extend into the troughs to reside either below the IPG strips or above them. Slots in one part (either the insert or the tray) mate with walls or partitions in the other part to secure the two parts together, and the heights of the electrodes within the troughs of the tray can be adjusted by the height of the insert in the tray or by a resilient mounting of the electrode to the insert. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100238442 | SERIAL-LINE-SCAN-ENCODED MULTI-COLOR FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY AND IMAGING FLOW CYTOMETRY - A system for performing high-speed, high-resolution imaging cytometry utilizes a line-scan sensor. A cell to be characterized is transported past a scan region. An optical system focuses an image of a portion of the scan region onto at least one linear light sensor, and repeated readings of light falling on the sensor are taken while a cell is transported though the scan region. The system may image cells directly, or may excite fluorescence in the cells and image the resulting light emitted from the cell by fluorescence. The system may provide a narrow band of illumination at the scan region. The system may include various filters and imaging optics that enable simultaneous multicolor fluorescence imaging cytometry. Multiple linear sensors may be provided, and images gathered by the individual sensors may be combined to construct an image having improved signal-to-noise characteristics. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100220330 | OPTICAL RESONANCE ANALYSIS USING A MULTI- ANGLE SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION - An SPR or other optical resonance based analysis system in which, light is provided at multiple angles to a specimen and then the light modified by the specimen is processed to select only some of the light. Optionally, the processing selects light at a particular incidence angle. Optionally, the detection is by imaging of the light on a 2D imager array. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100213064 | ELECTROBLOTTING CASSETTE WITH MANUALLY RELEASABLE ELECTRODES OF ADJUSTABLE SPACING - An electroblotting cassette is formed in three separable parts—an upper plate, a lower plate, and a base that receives both plates, with electrodes mounted on both the upper and lower plates. The cassette accommodates transfer stacks of different thicknesses by its inclusion of a set of raised areas, known as “lands,” on the floor of the base and a set of inverse lands on the underside of the lower electrode plate, the two sets being spatially arranged to either abut each other or be offset from each other, depending on the orientation of the lower plate, thereby allowing the user a choice between two heights of the lower plate within the base and hence two thicknesses of transfer stacks. Other arrangements include those with more than one set of lands on one or both parts to allow for three or more thickness selections, or depressions in place of lands. Finger-operated latches secure the upper plate to the base. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100213060 | AQUEOUS TRANSFER BUFFER - The present invention relates to an aqueous transfer buffer that provides superior efficiency in transferring polypeptides of a broad range of molecular weight from a matrix used in electrophoresis to another immobilized surface. Also disclosed are electrophoretic methods and devices in which the aqueous transfer solution of this invention is used. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100193441 | Chromatography Column With Pack, Unpack, and Clean-In-Place Features - A preparative chromatography column is equipped with one or more valves that can each be used to both inject a column packing into the column or withdraw used packing from the column, in addition to cleaning the supply and discharge lines associated with the valve itself, all by moving a movable plug within the valve body and all without protruding into the column interior. Each valve is mounted on the lateral wall of the column just above the filter plate at the column floor, and the plug is movable between a closed position in which the end surface of the plug is flush with the inner wall of the column and an open position in which the plug is recessed within the bore. Each valve has two additional ports in its valve body, positioned such that when the plug is closed, both ports are open to the valve bore, and when the plug is open, at least one of the ports is open to the bore. The position of the plug within the valve bore determines the valve function. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100187441 | TRANSILLUMINATOR ADAPTOR FOR CONVERSION OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION TO VISIBLE LIGHT - An adaptor is designed as an accessory to an ultraviolet transilluminator for the excitation of fluorescent molecules or labels in a planar array of biochemical samples such as a two-dimensional electrophoresis gel to enable the emissions resulting from the excitation to be detected and quantified. The adaptor is constructed to overlay the transilluminator and contains both a fluorescent dye that upon excitation by ultraviolet light emits light in the visible spectrum, and a conditioning substance that selects a portion of the wavelength band of the visible light produced by the fluorescent dye. The adaptor converts the ultraviolet light from the transilluminator to visible light while limiting the emissions reaching the detector to those that emanate from the sample. By the use of this adaptor, the transilluminator is adapted for use with samples labeled with dyes that are excitable by visible light and avoids exposure of the samples and the user to ultraviolet light. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100187114 | HIGH-PERFORMING ELECTROPHORESIS GELS WITH EXTENDED SHELF LIVES - Polyacrylamide gels that offer high resolution as electrophoretic media for protein separations and an improved resistance to hydrolysis upon storage are made by including either taurine, asparagine, or both as an ampholyte, in combination with either tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-tris(hydroxymethyl)methane as a buffer, plus other conventional components. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100184616 | SPATIALLY CONTROLLED ILLUMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE ARRAY THROUGH WEDGE-SHAPED SUPPORT - Two-dimensional samples or sample arrays such as electrophoresis gels and microplates, containing fluorescently labeled species, are illuminated by an illumination device that includes a slab of non-autofluorescing or low-autofluorescing material shaped to receive excitation light from one or more edges and to distribute the light to emerge from an upper surface of the slab at a uniform intensity along the length and width of the upper surface. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100178647 | SIMULATION OF NORMAL FRESH BLOOD PLATELETS - The present invention provides for novel analogs of fresh human platelets for use in hematological instrument. Methods for preparing such analogs are also described. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100173791 | PROCESS DESIGN USING MASS SPECTROMETRY - The present invention provides a facile and efficient method for determining a chromatographic protocol for separating a target protein from one or more second protein impurity. Also provided is a database facilitating the determination of an appropriate separation protocol. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100159447 | QUANTITATIVE AMPLIFICATION WITH A LABELED PROBE AND 3' TO 5' EXONUCLEASE ACTIVITY - This invention provides methods and kits for performing a quantitative amplification reaction. The method employs a polymerase enzyme and an enzyme having a 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity that cleaves the 3′ oligonucleotide of the probe. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100145029 | ENHANCED CAPACITY AND PURIFICATION OF ANTIBODIES BY MIXED MODE CHROMATOGRAPHY IN THE PRESENCE OF AQUEOUS-SOLUBLE NONIONIC ORGANIC POLYMERS - This invention relates to the use of mixed mode chromatography for purification of at least one intact non-aggregated antibody from a mixture containing intact non-aggregated antibodies and undesirable materials, including fragmented or aggregated antibodies, host cell proteins, DNA, endotoxin, and/or virus. This invention further relates to the integration of such a method into a multi-step procedure with other fractionation methods for purification of antibodies suitable for in vivo applications. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100144046 | CYCLOMETALATED TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES FOR MULTIPLEX ANALYTE DETECTION - A complex containing a transition metal ion and a plurality of donor ligands each of which is fully coordinated to the transition metal ion and is either a nitrogen donor ligand or a cyclometalated donor ligand, such that at least one of the donor ligands is a cyclometalated donor ligand bears one or more reactive groups connected to at least one of the donor ligands through a linker that includes a chain of four or more atoms. The linker offers advantages that make the complex particularly effective in labeling biomolecules and in multiplex analyses. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100140174 | SUPPORTING STRUCTURES FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMNS - The plunger used as the upper enclosure in a preparative chromatography column is suspended by one or more rods that are supported by a frame through coupling connections on the frame that can fix the position of the rod(s) relative to the frame, while the position of the rod(s) is controlled by a motorized drive system that is suspended above the column. The drive system is mounted either to the column lid or to a functional plate positioned a short distance above the column lid. These constructions allow the plunger to be raised and lowered so that the column and its parts can be exchanged, all without the need for a hoist or crane. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100136559 | CHROMATIN STRUCTURE DETECTION - The present application provides methods and compositions for determining accessibility of a DNA modifying agent in genomic DNA. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100133165 | SUPPORTING STRUCTURES FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMNS - The plunger used as the upper enclosure in a preparative chromatography column is suspended by one or more rods that are supported by a frame through coupling connections on the frame that can fix the position of the rod(s) relative to the frame, while the position of the rod(s) is controlled by a motorized drive system that is suspended above the column. The drive system is mounted either to the column lid or to a functional plate positioned a short distance above the column lid. These constructions allow the plunger to be raised and lowered so that the column and its parts can be exchanged, all without the need for a hoist or crane. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100125128 | PHOSPHOPEPTIDE ENRICHMENT OF COMPOSITIONS BY FRACTIONATION ON CERAMIC HYDROXYAPATITE - Phosphorylated peptides are extracted from digests of biological liquids and other peptide mixtures by fractionation on ceramic hydroxyapatite. The ceramic hydroxyapatite is readily usable in a centrifuge, allowing for rapid fractionations of a large number of small volume samples, and accordingly high throughput. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100099581 | LOCALIZED TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SPATIAL ARRAYS OF REACTION MEDIA - Individual temperature control in multiple reactions performed simultaneously in a spatial array such as a multi-well plate is achieved by thermoelectric modules with individual control, with each module supplying heat to or drawing heat from a single region within the array, the region containing either a single reaction vessel or a group of reaction vessels. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100086949 | RETENTATE CHROMATOGRAPHY AND PROTEIN CHIP ARRAYS WITH APPLICATIONS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE - This invention provides methods of retentate chromatography for resolving analytes in a sample. The methods involve adsorbing the analytes to a substrate under a plurality of different selectivity conditions, and detecting the analytes retained on the substrate by desorption spectrometry. The methods are useful in biology and medicine, including clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100070190 | MULTI-STAGE, REGRESSION-BASED PCR ANALYSIS SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided for analyzing data to determine properties of a PCR process or other process exhibiting amplification or growth. Data representing an amplification can be distinguished from data representing a jump or other error. A modified sigmoid function containing a drift term may be used in determining the properties. A multi-stage functional fit of the amplification data can provide increased accuracy and consistency of one or more of the properties. A baseline of the amplification data can be determined by analyzing an integrated area of a first derivative function of the data. A reference quantitation value can also be determined from locations of maxima of different derivative functions of the amplification data, e.g., a weighted average of the maxima locations for the second and third derivatives may be used. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100057371 | DETERMINATION OF THE INTEGRITY OF RNA - Methods, systems, and apparatus make a determination of a level of integrity of a sample of biomolecules. For example, the determination of the integrity of RNA in a sample may be done in a fast and reproducible manner, such that the user can be assured of accuracy of a test (e.g. quantitative polymerase chain reaction qPCR) on the sample and compare results of different samples. The determination of integrity of an RNA sample is performed by comparing a size profile to reference size profiles (degradation standards) obtained from degradation over different lengths of times. As the reference scale of the level of integrity is derived from the actual degradation that occurs in a sample, high accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency is provided. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100055743 | LOW-MASS SAMPLE BLOCK WITH RAPID RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGE - A sample block for use in the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and other procedures that involve the performance of simultaneous reactions in multiple samples with temperature control by heating or cooling elements contacting the bottom surface of the block is improved by the inclusion of hollows in the block that are positioned to decrease the mass of the block in the immediate vicinity of the wells. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100051462 | HYDROLYSIS-RESISTANT POLYACRYLAMIDE GELS - Polyacrylamide gels that offer high resolution in protein separations and are more stable relative to hydrolysis than conventional polyacrylamide gels that rely on Tris or Tris-Bis as buffering agents are made by incorporating triethanolamine in place of most or all of the Tris or Tris-Bis. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100049372 | ELECTROPORATION SYSTEM WITH DIAL-IN TIME CONSTANT - Methods, systems, and apparatus provide an accurate time constant for electroporation. A model voltage function is created (analog, digital, or combination) to provide a model voltage having the desired time constant. A voltage is applied to the sample. A comparing circuit compares the output voltage, which may be attenuated, to the model voltage and provides an output control signal. This output signal is used to modify a resistance in parallel with the sample, thereby altering the output voltage to approximate the model voltage, which has the desired time constant. In one aspect, the control signal may be used to turn on and off a transistor that is in series with a resistor in order to modify the parallel resistance. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100047819 | MULTIPLEX ASSAY FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - Multiplex assays that allow for the detection and quantification of Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in a single reaction mixture are provided. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100041163 | COUMARIN-BASED CYANINE DYES FOR NON-SPECIFIC PROTEIN BINDING - Protein dyes whose molecular structure is that of a coumarin moiety coupled to a quaternary ammonium heterocycle through a vinyl or polyvinyl linkage demonstrate the ability to associate with proteins in a non-covalent, non-specific manner at low pH, where the associated form displays a significantly higher fluorescence emission than the unassociated form. This makes the dyes useful as selective labels for proteins at the low pH and eliminates the need for the removal of extraneous components from the medium in which the proteins reside prior to detection. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100003725 | LOW-MASS SAMPLE BLOCK WITH RAPID RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGE - A sample block for use in the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and other procedures that involve the performance of simultaneous reactions in multiple samples with temperature control by heating or cooling elements contacting the bottom surface of the block is improved by the inclusion of hollows in the block that are positioned to decrease the mass of the block in the immediate vicinity of the wells. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090321629 | MASS SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION OF MATERIAL TRANSFERRED TO A SURFACE - The present invention provides methods for using detection methods, including mass spectrometry methods such as SELDI-TOF-MS, to detect and analyze molecules directly transferred from a sample to a surface to form a molecular print of the sample. Methods and compositions of the invention can be used to produce spatially and non-spatially oriented molecular prints for detection using methods such as mass spectrometry. Methods and compositions of the invention encompass molecular printing of tissues, cells and gels onto surfaces. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090317894 | CELL LYSIS REAGENT FOR ISOLATION OF RNA - RNA is extracted from cellular material with a reagent that includes heparin, a reducing agent to reduce disulfide bonds, a chelating agent, a buffer, and an alkali metal halide. The reagent does not require the use of organic solvents, and the reagent allows extraction to be performed in a relatively short period of time in comparison to the prior art. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317883 | INDIVIDUAL-CELL ELECTROPORATION USING AREA-FOCUSED ELECTRIC FIELDS - Electroporation is performed on a population of cells, liposomes, vesicles, or other membrane-encased structures with uniform results regardless of size variations within the population, by drawing the membrane-encased structures into micron-sized openings that contain paired electrodes. An electric potential is then imposed between the paired electrodes to permeabilize only that portion of each cell that extends into the openings and resides within the electric field focused in the area between the electrodes. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090311727 | RECOMBINANT DEAMIDATED GLIADIN ANTIGEN - The present invention provides a method for determining whether a subject is suffering from celiac disease by contacting a sample of bodily fluid from the subject, with an antigen formed from a gliadin fusion protein immobilized on a solid support. The gliadin fusion protein of the antigen includes a recombinant deamidated gliadin linked to a tag such as Glutathione-S transferase (GST) protein. The antigen is prepared by immobilizing on the solid support the gliadin fusion protein via the tag. The antigen can further include tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) cross-linked to the gliadin fusion protein. When tTG is present, the tTG and recombinant deamidated gliadin are mixed together prior to immobilization to the solid phase. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090308751 | WELDED ELECTROPHORESIS CASSETTE WITHOUT LEAKAGE-PRONE WELD LINE - A slab gel cassette is formed from generally flat plates welded together along their borders with a gel space between the plates that is open at the top and bottom edges of the plates to expose the opposing ends of a gel in the gel space to buffer solutions in which electrodes are immersed. The plates are shaped such that the weld line does not intersect with the bottom opening of the gel space. Sealing of the bottom of the gel space, which is necessary for gel casting, is achieved by placing a sealing strip over the bottom opening with no danger of leakage of the gel solution along a weld line. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090305380 | ELECTROPORATION OF ADHERENT CELLS WITH AN ARRAY OF CLOSELY SPACED ELECTRODES - Adherent cells and other membranous structures that are immobilized on a solid surface are transfected by electroporation in which the electric field is produced by a array of closely spaced electrodes positioned above the surface. Each electrode is substantially smaller in at least one lateral dimension than the dimensions of a single cell, and the electrodes in each pair are spaced apart by distances selected such that that a maximum of one cell will reside within the field produced by each pair, and the distance of the electrodes above the surface to which the cells are adherent is small enough to place the cell within the resulting electric field and yet great enough to avoid contact of the electrodes with the cell membrane. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090296095 | SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE SENSOR - An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090270596 | CHROMATOGRAPHY PURIFICATION OF ANTIBODIES - Methods, kits and apparatuses for chromatography purification of antibodies are provided. In some embodiments, antibodies are purified by mixed mode chromatography that does not comprise hydroxyapatite (HT) or fluorapatite (FT). The mixed mode chromatography step is then followed by a HT/FT chromatography step. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090269829 | NOVEL COMPOSITIONS WITH POLYMERASE ACTIVITY - The invention provides novel compositions with polymerase activity and methods of using the compositions. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090259028 | PREVENTION OF LEACHING OF LIGANDS FROM AFFINITY-BASED PURIFICATION SYSTEMS - In an affinity-type purification, ligands dissociated from the stationary phase that would otherwise leach into the species being purified are captured by a second ligand that is also incorporated into the stationary phase, the second ligand exhibiting an affinity-type interaction with the dissociated first ligand with sufficient specificity to avoid the undesired retention by the second ligand of species from the liquid sample or source liquid other than the species sought to be purified in the affinity column. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090247735 | ENHANCED CAPACITY AND PURIFICATION OF PROTEIN BY MIXED MODE CHROMATOGRAPHY IN THE PRESENCE OF AQUEOUS-SOLUBLE NONIONIC ORGANIC POLYMERS - This invention relates to the use of mixed mode chromatography for purification of a protein from a mixture containing other materials, including fragmented or aggregated antibodies, host cell proteins, DNA, endotoxin, and/or virus. This invention further relates to the integration of such a method into a multi-step procedure with other fractionation methods for purification of antibodies or other proteins suitable for in vivo applications. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090230060 | PISTON POSITION DETECTION FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN - In an axial-flow cylindrical preparative chromatography column that utilizes a piston to close off the top of the resin space inside the column and thereby eliminate void spaces at the top of the resin, one or more proximity detectors are incorporated in the piston head to either generate a signal indicating the proximity of the piston had to the resin, or to collect a signal, such as a optical signal, emitted from the resin. The value of the signal or any change in the signal is compared to a threshold value to ascertain when the piston head is in proximity to the resin so that the motion of the piston toward the resin can be halted before contact pressure from the piston head damages the resin. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090212235 | SCANNING FLUORESCENT READER WITH DIFFUSER SYSTEM - A fluorescence detection apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. The excitation light generator includes a diffuser to provide a more uniform light distribution. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module can interrogate different wells while in motion over the wells. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090183989 | POLYMERIC SORBENT SHEETS AS ION RESERVOIRS FOR ELECTROBLOTTING - Electroblotting for the transfer of electrophoretically separated species from a gel to a transfer membrane is performed in a semi-dry format with sheets of absorbent polyester or polyester/cellulose blend wetted with buffer solution in place of the traditional buffer-wetted filter paper. The result is effective electroblotting at a lower electric current level than that obtained with filter paper and thereby less resistance heating of the gel, the transfer membrane, and the species being transferred. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090137008 | REDUCED INHIBITION OF ONE-STEP RT-PCR - The present invention provides a method for amplifying a nucleic acid molecule. The method involves mixing an RNA template with a composition having a reverse transcriptase, a DNA polymerase and a RT inhibition reducer. The RT inhibition reducer can be Sso7d, Sac7d, Sac7e, Sso7e, AluI methylase, suramin, a phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytosine, a phosphorothioate oligodeoxyadenine, a phosphorothioate oligodeoxythymine or poly(rA)(dT). The mixing forms a mixture that is incubated under conditions sufficient to synthesize a DNA molecule complementary to all or a portion of the RNA template, thereby amplifying the nucleic acid molecule. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090131640 | PHOTOLUMINESCENT METAL COMPLEXES FOR PROTEIN STAINING - A method of staining a poly(amino acid) by contacting a poly(amino acid) with a complex of at least one of transition metal ion, and a plurality of donor ligands each of which is fully coordinated to the transition metal ion and is either a nitrogen donor ligand or a cyclometalated donor ligand, such that at least one of the donor ligands is a cyclometalated donor ligand. Donor ligands in a single complex can be the same or different. Nitrogen donor ligands will contain heteroaryl ring systems having from 10 to 40 ring atoms, where from 2 to 8 ring atoms are N, O, S, or combinations thereof, such that at least two ring atoms are N, wherein each nitrogen donor ligand is substituted with from 0 to 4 R | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090096791 | OVERLAP DENSITY (OD) HEATMAPS AND CONSENSUS DATA DISPLAYS - Systems and methods that generate or provide overlap displays of multiple sets of data in a manner that advantageously simplifies trend visualization in large sets of data. A two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or greater-dimensional occurrence count array is generated for a plurality of similar data sets. Each element in the array is a number of times a corresponding vector of data values occurs in the plurality of N data sets, wherein each array element corresponds to a discrete interval of data values. Once the array has been generated, a graphical display of overlap density may be generated by comparing a desired degree of overlap with the value of each array element. Those array elements having values that satisfy the desired degree of overlap are rendered, as a display object, using one or more colors, shades and/or patterns representing varying degrees of overlap. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090081750 | TRANSFECTION IN MAGNETICALLY DRIVEN CONTINUOUS FLOW - Biological cells and other membranous structures are transfected in a flow-through system by first rendering the structures magnetically active such that they respond to a magnetic field, suspending the structures in a solution of an exogenous species with which the structures are to be transfected, then placing the suspension in a channel and using a moving magnetization pattern along the channel wall to cause the structures to travel through the channel. Along their path of travel, the structures pass a transmitter that emits transfection energy sufficient to cause the exogenous species in the suspension to permeate the structure membranes and enter the interiors of the structures. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090005334 | Nucleic acid derivatives - A compound which comprises a backbone having a plurality of chiral carbon atoms, the backbone bearing a plurality of ligands each being individually bound to a chiral carbon atom of the plurality of chiral carbon atoms, the ligands including one or more pair(s) of adjacent ligands each containing a moiety selected from the group consisting of a naturally occurring nucleobase and a nucleobase binding group, wherein moieties of the one or more pair(s) are directly linked to one another via a linker chain; building blocks for synthesizing the compound; and uses of the compound, particularly in antisense therapy. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080314557 | THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE AND HEAT SINK ASSEMBLY WITH REDUCED EDGE HEAT LOSS - An assembly that includes one or more thermoelectric devices and a heat sink and that corrects the problem of an uneven heating effect across the area occupied by the devices due to a lateral heat loss at the edges of the devices or other anomalies among the devices is constructed with a heat sink that contains voids in the slab or flat surface that is in thermal contact with the thermoelectric devices. The voids are located at or within the periphery of the area that is directly aligned with the thermoelectric devices and are concentrated in regions relatively close to the periphery, leaving an area in the center of the slab that is either void-free or of a relatively low void density. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080305486 | SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION USING CIRCULAR HAIRPIN PROBES - The present invention provides methods for detecting a target nucleic acid using a circular dual-hairpin probe that is formed upon the presence of the target nucleic acid. The detection methods find use in detecting the presence of antibody-antigen complexes and for detecting the binding of a ligand to its binding partner. Kits and reaction mixtures for performing the present methods are also provided. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080302393 | WASH RING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE - Devices, including a wash ring assembly, and methods are provided for the removal of excess fluid or solids from the exterior or interior of a probe used to transfer fluids, for instance, in an automated assay device. Typically, a probe is used to aspirate and dispense a sample fluid material such as whole blood or a reagent. The devices and methods provided herein are useful for removing excess fluid from the exterior or interior of the probe so as to prevent dripping and cross-contamination between samples or reagents. It is also contemplated that, utilizing the devices and methods provided herein, washing and/or drying can be performed simultaneously as the probe is in motion, aspirating a sample and/or dispensing a sample. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080290016 | SUPPORTING STRUCTURES FOR PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMNS - The plunger used as the upper enclosure in a preparative chromatography column is suspended by one or more rods that are supported by a frame through coupling connections on the frame that can fix the position of the rod(s) relative to the frame, while the position of the rod(s) is controlled by a motorized drive system that is suspended above the column. The drive system is mounted either to the column lid or to a functional plate positioned a short distance above the column lid. These constructions allow the plunger to be raised and lowered so that the column and its parts can be exchanged, all without the need for a hoist or crane. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080268542 | High Efficiency Electroporation Buffer - Electroporation of mammalian cells is performed to high efficiency by use of a buffer solution containing trehalose, sucrose, or both, in addition to an inorganic phosphate buffer, an organic sulfonic acid buffer, a halide salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, a chelating agent, an alkyl methyl sulfoxide, and a nucleotide triphosphate, with substantially no sodium. This buffer solution is effective both in the electroporation of cells that are suspended in the buffer solution and in the electroporation of cells that are fixed on a surface. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080264837 | CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN WITH PACK, UNPACK, AND CLEAN-IN-PLACE FEATURES - A preparative chromatography column is equipped with one or more valves that can each be used to both inject a column packing into the column or withdraw used packing from the column, in addition to cleaning the supply and discharge lines associated with the valve itself, all by moving a movable plug within the valve body and all without protruding into the column interior. Each valve is mounted on the lateral wall of the column just above the filter plate at the column floor, and the plug is movable between a closed position in which the end surface of the plug is flush with the inner wall of the column and an open position in which the plug is recessed within the bore. Each valve has two additional ports in its valve body, positioned such that when the plug is closed, both ports are open to the valve bore, and when the plug is open, at least one of the ports is open to the bore. The position of the plug within the valve bore determines the valve function. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080220493 | COMPOSITE ELECTROPORATION PLATE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE WELL INSERTS - Electroporation on a plurality of samples of membranous structures is performed in an electroporation well plate that includes a frame that can hold a plurality of well strips to form a two-dimensional array of wells, and a set of well strips, the set containing strips that differ in the number of wells while having the same outer dimensions and hence being interchangeable, thereby allowing the user to select strips appropriate for a given electroporation procedure, and allowing the manufacturer to replace defective strips without rejecting an entire well plate when a small number of wells is found to be defective. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080216698 | MICRODOT PRINTING HEAD - A microdot printing head containing hollow pins as reservoirs for biological samples is manufactured with a high degree of accuracy in the spacing of the hollow pins by press fitting the pins into bushings at precisely dimensioned end sections in the bores of the bushings, and receiving the bushings into a common support block. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080199365 | Planar registration of multi-well plate from well side - A multi-well plate such as a microtiter plate is secured from its well side in a manner that corrects or compensates for any deviations of the plate base from a planar configuration. This is achieved by an apparatus that includes an array of posts with exposed tips that define a plane, a plurality of movable collets that, when appropriately actuated, seize the walls of selected wells, and a biasing means to urge the collets in a direction that forces the wells of the microtiter plate against the exposed tips of the posts. | 08-21-2008 |
