Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090219540 | OPTICAL INTERROGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - An optical interrogation system and a method are described herein that enable the interrogation of one or more biosensors which can be located within the wells of a microplate. In one embodiment, the optical interrogation system has a tunable laser, N-fiber launches, N-lenses and N-detectors that are set-up to interrogate N-biosensors. In another embodiment, the optical interrogation system has a tunable laser, N-fiber launches, N+1 lenses and N-detectors that are set-up to interrogate N-biosensors. | 09-03-2009 |
20090247427 | LABEL-FREE HIGH THROUGHPUT BIOMOLECULAR SCREENING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A screening system and method are described herein which provide a unique and practical solution for enabling label-free high throughput screening (HTS) to aid in the discovery of new drugs. In one embodiment, the screening system enables direct binding assays to be performed in which a biomolecular interaction of a chemical compound (drug candidate) with a biomolecule (therapeutic target) can be detected using assay volumes and concentrations that are compatible with the current practices of HTS in the pharmaceutical industry. The screening system also enables the detection of bio-chemical interactions that occur in the wells of a microplate which incorporates biosensors and surface chemistry to immobilize the therapeutic target at the surface of the biosensors. The screening system also includes fluid handling and plate handling devices to help perform automated HTS assays. | 10-01-2009 |
20100105148 | MULTI-CHANNEL SWEPT WAVELENGTH OPTICAL INTERROGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - A multi-channel swept wavelength optical interrogation system and a method are described herein that enable the interrogation of one or more biosensors which for example could be located within the wells of a microplate. In one embodiment, the optical interrogation system comprises: (a) a tunable laser that emits an optical beam which has a predetermined sequence of distinct wavelengths over a predetermined time period; (b) a distribution unit that splits the optical beam into a plurality of interrogation beams; (c) an array of optical interrogation units that receive and direct the interrogation beams towards an array of biosensors; (d) the array of optical interrogation units receive a plurality of reflected interrogation beams from the array of biosensors; (e) a data processing device that receives and processes information associated with the reflected interrogation beams to determine for example whether or not there was a biochemical interaction on anyone of the biosensors. | 04-29-2010 |
20100118315 | REFERENCE MICROPLATES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE REFERENCE MICROPLATES - A reference microplate is described herein which can be used to help calibrate and troubleshoot an optical interrogation system. In one embodiment, the reference microplate has a frame with an array of wells each of which contains an optical biosensor and each optical biosensor is at least partially coated with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy). In another embodiment, the reference microplate in addition to having its optical biosensors at least partially covered with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy) also has a controllable heating device attached thereto which is used to heat the optical biosensors. | 05-13-2010 |
20100225921 | Screening system and method for analyzing a plurality of biosensors - A screening device and a method are described herein which can automatically handle and measure (interrogate) a plurality of sensor carriers (i.e., multiwell plates, microplates) with multi-dimensionally arranged, temperature-compensated or temperature-compensatable optical sensors, while maintaining a substantially constant temperature gradient for a relatively long period of time around the optical sensors where temperature compensation has been performed on the sensor carriers. | 09-09-2010 |
20110142092 | SCREENING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING A PLURALITY OF BIOSENSORS - A screening device and a method are described herein which can automatically handle and measure (interrogate) a plurality of sensor carriers (i.e., multiwell plates, microplates) with multi-dimensionally arranged, temperature-compensated or temperature-compensatable optical sensors, while maintaining a substantially constant temperature gradient for a relatively long period of time around the optical sensors where temperature compensation has been performed on the sensor carriers. | 06-16-2011 |
20120010105 | LABEL-FREE HIGH THROUGHPUT BIOMOLECULAR SCREENING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A screening system and method are described herein which provide a unique and practical solution for enabling label-free high throughput screening (HTS) to aid in the discovery of new drugs. In one embodiment, the screening system enables direct binding assays to be performed in which a biomolecular interaction of a chemical compound (drug candidate) with a biomolecule (therapeutic target) can be detected using assay volumes and concentrations that are compatible with the current practices of HTS in the pharmaceutical industry. The screening system also enables the detection of bio-chemical interactions that occur in the wells of a microplate which incorporates biosensors and surface chemistry to immobilize the therapeutic target at the surface of the biosensors. The screening system also includes fluid handling and plate handling devices to help perform automated HTS assays. | 01-12-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110102799 | Multi-Grating Biosensor For Label-Independent Optical Readers - A multi-grating resonant waveguide (RWG) biosensor for an optical reader system having a spatial resolution limit is disclosed. The multi-grating RWG biosensor includes one or more signal-grating regions and one or more reference-grating regions. The multi-grating RWG biosensor can also include a non-resonance region that spatially separates the one or more signal-grating regions, that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions, and that spatially separates the one or more reference-grating regions from the one or more signal-grating regions. The non-resonance region can have a minimum width greater than the optical reader system spatial resolution limit. The RWG biosensor can have an asymmetric split-grating configuration. Methods of measuring a signal resonant wavelength of a multi-grating RWG biosensor using an optical reader having a spatial resolution limit are also disclosed. | 05-05-2011 |
20110267623 | Multi-Wavelength Reference Microplate For Label-Independent Optical Reader - A multi-wavelength reference microplate for a label-independent optical reader is disclosed. The microplate includes a support plate that supports a plurality of reference wells. At least one of the reference wells is configured as a multi-wavelength reference well having disposed therein two or more resonant waveguide grating sections that respectively reflect two or more different reference resonant wavelengths within the light source wavelength band. Methods for making and using the microplates are also disclosed. | 11-03-2011 |
20110273706 | MICROPLATE MOUNT SYSTEM AND SENSING METHODS - The invention is a microplate mounting system for mounting a microplate relative to an optical reader to control an angle of incidence of an interrogation beam at the microplate and includes a reference plane with at least one set of mount features that engage one or both of the bottom of the microplate and the skirt of the and a first positioning mechanism that provides a reversible and predetermined separation in the z direction between a plane formed by the bottom of the microplate and the reader, to control the angle of incidence of the interrogation beam at the microplate by reversibly controlling the relative positioning of the microplate in the z direction through the engagement between the bottom and/or skirt of the microplate and the at least one set of mount features. | 11-10-2011 |
20120212748 | OPTICAL READER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MICROPLATE POSITION DETECTION - Optical reader systems and methods with accurate microplate position detection capability are disclosed. The optical reader systems having scanning optical systems that are configured to scan select position-detecting features on the microplate to accurately determine their respective positions. The measurement of the positions of the position-detecting features can also be used to calibrate the optical reader system to reduce or eliminate adverse positioning effects from system non-linearities that arise from one or more of the system components, including the scanning optical system. | 08-23-2012 |
20140071450 | Wavelength-Tunable Detector For Label-Independent Optical Reader - A wavelength-tunable detector for use in a label-independent optical reader for reading at least one resonant waveguide grating (RWG) biosensor is disclosed. The wavelength-tunable detector includes a tunable wavelength filter. Broadband light is made incident upon the RWG biosensor to produce resonantly reflected light, which is then passed through the tunable wavelength filter whose central wavelength is adjusted, such as by varying the filter angle of the tunable wavelength filter. This generates filtered resonantly reflected light, which is detected by a photodetector that generates an electrical signal in response thereto. The electrical signal is representative of the detected spectrum, which includes the center resonant wavelength of the RWG biosensor. A controller can be used to determine the center resonant wavelength from the electrical signal. | 03-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100164013 | RANDOM PERSONALIZATION OF CHIPS DURING FABRICATION - Disclosed are embodiments of a method for randomly personalizing chips during fabrication, a personalized chip structure and a design structure for such a personalized chip structure. The embodiments use electronic device design and manufacturing processes to randomly or pseudo-randomly create a specific variation in one or more instances of a particular electronic device formed on each chip. The device design and manufacturing processes are tuned so that the specific variation occurs with some predetermined probability, resulting in a desired hardware distribution and personalizing each chip. The resulting personalized chips can be used for modal distribution of chips. For example, chips can be personalized to allow sorting when a single chip design can be used to support multiple applications. The resulting personalized chips can also be used for random number generation for creating unique on-chip identifiers, private keys, etc. | 07-01-2010 |
20110199114 | BIT FAILURE SIGNATURE IDENTIFICATION - A method, system, and program product for identifying at least one bit failure among a plurality of semiconductor chips are provided. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of identifying at least one bit failure signature among a plurality of semiconductor chips, the method comprising: counting failures of each failing bit among the plurality of semiconductor chips; determining a most commonly failing bit (MCFB) among the failing bits; establishing a bit failure signature including the MCFB; counting failures of each failing bit on semiconductor chips on which the MCFB fails; determining a next most commonly failing bit (NMCFB) among the failing bits on semiconductor chips on which the MCFB fails; determining whether the NMCFB tends to fail when the MCFB fails; and in response to a determination that the NMCFB tends to fail when the MCFB fails, adding the NMCFB to the bit failure signature. | 08-18-2011 |
20120066657 | METHOD OF DESIGNING AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT BASED ON A COMBINATION OF MANUFACTURABILITY, TEST COVERAGE AND, OPTIONALLY, DIAGNOSTIC COVERAGE - Disclose are embodiments of an integrated circuit design method based on a combination of manufacturability, test coverage and, optionally, diagnostic coverage. Design-for manufacturability (DFM) modifications to the layout of an integrated circuit can be made in light of test coverage. Alternatively, test coverage of an integrated circuit can be established in light of DFM modifications. Alternatively, an iterative process can be performed, where DFM modifications to the layout of an integrated circuit are made in light of test coverage and then test coverage is altered in light of the DFM modifications. Alternatively, DFM modifications to the layout of an integrated circuit can be made in light of test coverage and also diagnostic coverage. In any case, after making DFM modifications and establishing test coverage, any unmodified and untested nodes (and, optionally, any unmodified and undiagnosable tested nodes) in the integrated circuit can be identified and tagged for subsequent in-line inspection. | 03-15-2012 |