| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090197284 | Analysis of Proteins from Biological Fluids Using Mass Spectrometric Immunoassay - Presented herein are methods, devices and kits for the mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) of proteins present in complex biological fluids or extracts. Pipettor tips containing porous solid supports that are covalently derivatized with affinity ligand and used to extract specific proteins and their variants from various biological fluids. Nonspecifically bound compounds are rinsed from the extraction devices using a series of buffer and water rinses, after which the wild type protein (and/or its variants) are eluted directly onto a target in preparation for analysis such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Mass spectrometry of the eluted sample then follows with the retained proteins identified via accurate molecular mass determination. Protein and variant levels can be determined using quantitative methods in which the protein/variant signals are normalized to signals of internal reference standard species (either doped into the samples prior to the MSIA analysis, or other endogenous protein co-extracted with the target proteins) and the values compared to a working curves constructed from samples containing known concentrations of the protein or variants. Such MSIA devices, kits and methods have significant application in the fields of; basic research and development, proteomics, protein structural characterization, drug discovery, drug-target discovery, therapeutic monitoring, clinical monitoring and diagnostics, as well as in the high throughput screening of large populations to establish and recognize protein/variant patterns that are able to differentiate healthy from diseased states. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090209047 | BIOMARKERS AND ASSAYS FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - Presented herein are novel blood plasma/serum biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease. These newly identified biomarkers create the basis for multiple (single) assays using traditional bioassay technologies and when used in combination yield exceptional clinical sensitivity and specificity in the determination of myocardial infarction (MI). A multiplexed, mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) able to simultaneously assay for the new/novel biomarkers as well other MI markers is also presented. Means and methods for evaluating data generated using multiple biomarkers in order to validate findings and further the use of the multiplexed MI assay in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic uses is also included. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090215182 | METHOD, COMPOSITION AND DEVICE FOR SAMPLING NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES IN A BIOLOGICAL FLUID - Disclosed is a composition that synergistically prevents proteolysis or modification of peptides in sampled biological fluids using sulfonyl fluoride family protease inhibitors at high concentrations combined with at least one additional protease inhibitor of a different type, preferably a broad spectrum protease inhibitor, and a chelator. A preferred embodiment uses AEBSF at 10 mM, Benzamidine at 20 mM and EDTA as the chelator. The disclosed composition may be combined with other protease inhibitors to further modulate its specificity, for instance to additionally target acidic proteases. Additional protease inhibitors, reducing agents, stabilizers and buffering agents may be combined with the disclosed compositions in devices for sampling or testing biological fluids for levels of peptides of interest, or methods therefore. The disclosed devices, compositions and methods are of particular use in sampling and testing for the level of natriuretic peptides. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100181239 | Integrated High Throughput System for the Analysis of Biomolecules - Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100267069 | ANALYSIS OF PROTEINS FROM BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS USING MASS SPECTROMETRIC IMMUNOASSAY - Presented herein are methods, devices and kits for the mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) of proteins present in complex biological fluids or extracts. Pipettor tips containing porous solid supports that are covalently derivatized with affinity ligand and used to extract specific proteins and their variants from various biological fluids. Nonspecifically bound compounds are rinsed from the extraction devices using a series of buffer and water rinses, after which the wild type protein (and/or its variants) are eluted directly onto a target in preparation for analysis such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Mass spectrometry of the eluted sample then follows with the retained proteins identified via accurate molecular mass determination. Protein and variant levels can be determined using quantitative methods in which the protein/variant signals are normalized to signals of internal reference standard species (either doped into the samples prior to the MSIA analysis, or other endogenous protein co-extracted with the target proteins) and the values compared to a working curves constructed from samples containing known concentrations of the protein or variants. Such MSIA devices, kits and methods have significant application in the fields of; basic research and development, proteomics, protein structural characterization, drug discovery, drug-target discovery, therapeutic monitoring, clinical monitoring and diagnostics, as well as in the high throughput screening of large populations to establish and recognize protein/variant patterns that are able to differentiate healthy from diseased states. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110124122 | BIOMARKERS AND ASSAYS FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - Presented herein are novel blood plasma/serum biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease. These newly identified biomarkers create the basis for multiple (single) assays using traditional bioassay technologies and when used in combination yield exceptional clinical sensitivity and specificity in the determination of myocardial infarction (MI). A multiplexed, mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) able to simultaneously assay for the new/novel biomarkers as well other MI markers is also presented. Means and methods for evaluating data generated using multiple biomarkers in order to validate findings and further the use of the multiplexed MI assay in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic uses is also included. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110151568 | Assay for Monitoring Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Variants by Tandem Mass Spectrometry - Methods are described for monitoring the amounts of PTH variants in a biological sample by digesting the sample to produce surrogate peptides specific to the targeted PTH variants, and detecting and quantifying the surrogate peptides by selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry, using a set of precursor-to-product ion transitions optimized for sensitivity and selectivity. The PTH variants, or a portion thereof, may be concentrated in the sample by means of immunoaffinity capture or other suitable technique. The mass spectrometric method described herein enables the concurrent measurement of peptides representative of a plurality of targeted PTH variants in a single assay. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110192778 | INTEGRATED HIGH THROUGHPUT SYSTEM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF BIOMOLECULES - Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110250618 | BIOMARKERS AND ASSAYS FOR DIABETES - The present invention is directed to novel biomarkers and combinations thereof. The present invention also provides assays and data evaluation methods related to the detection and monitoring of diseases, particularly, diabetes. In particular, the biomakers in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, modified forms of nominally wild-type proteins, such as Gc-Globulin or GcG (also known as Vitamin D binding protein), beta-2-microglobulin (b2m), cystatin C (cysC), Albumin and Hem A&B. Particular forms of diabetes contemplated by the methods of the present invention include, but are not limited to, type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), pre-T1D and pre-T2DM. The present invention also provides methods of detecting multiple biomarkers in a single assay and to employ data evaluation methods that is able to accurately use these data in the determination and monitoring of diseases, such as diabetes. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20120085692 | INTEGRATED HIGH THROUGHPUT SYSTEM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF BIOMOLECULES - Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120171782 | MASS SPECTROMETRIC IMMUNOASSAY - Rapid mass spectrometric immunoassay methods for detecting and/or quantifying antibody and antigen analytes utilizing affinity capture to isolate the analytes and internal reference species (for quantification) followed by mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated analyte/internal reference species. Quantification is obtained by normalizing and calibrating obtained mass spectrum against the mass spectrum obtained for an antibody/antigen of known concentration. | 07-05-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080267462 | Apparatus and method for protecting fingerprint sensing circuitry from electrostatic discharge - A fingerprint sensor in accordance with the invention includes a non-conductive substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a fingerprint to be sensed. A sensor circuit is applied to a second surface of the non-conductive substrate opposite the first surface to sense a fingerprint when juxtaposed proximally thereto. An electrostatic discharge conductor is applied to the non-conductive surface and is located between an area where a fingerprint is swiped and the sensor circuit. The electrostatic discharge conductor discharges electrostatic charge resulting from a user swiping a fingerprint across the first surface. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20110214924 | Apparatus and Method for Electrostatic Discharge Protection - Embodiments of the invention provide a substrate and a method for constructing a substrate with electrostatic discharge protection. The substrate includes an edge surface with at least one plated castellation capable of conducting electrostatic discharge. The at least one plated castellation is connected to a circuit trace on at least one of the bottom surface and the top surface of the substrate. The method includes punching holes along at least a portion of a perimeter of each of a plurality of substrates in a substrate array, plating the holes with a conductive material, and cutting each of the plurality of substrates along cut lines that bisect at least some of the holes. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110267298 | FINGERPRINT SENSOR AND INTEGRATABLE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY - A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110304001 | FINGERPRINT SENSING CIRCUIT - Fingerprint sensing circuit packages and methods of making such packages may comprise a first substrate having a top side and a bottom side; the top side comprising a fingerprint image sensing side over which a user's fingerprint is swiped; the bottom side comprising a metal layer forming a fingerprint sensing circuit image sensor structure; and a sensor control circuit housed in a sensor control circuit package mounted on the metal layer. The sensor control circuit may comprise an integrated circuit die contained within the sensor control circuit package. The fingerprint sensing circuit package may also have a second substrate attached to the bottom side of the first substrate having a second substrate bottom side on which is placed connector members connecting the fingerprint sensing circuit package to a device using a fingerprint image generated from the fingerprint sensing circuitry contained in the fingerprint sensing circuitry package. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120242635 | FINGERPRINT SENSOR AND INTEGRATABLE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY - A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120256280 | PACKAGING FOR FINGERPRINT SENSORS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - A fingerprint sensor package, including a sensing side for sensing fingerprint information and a separate connection side for electrically connecting the fingerprint sensor package to a host device, is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor package can also include a sensor integrated circuit facing the sensing side and substantially surrounded by a fill material. The fill material includes vias at peripheral locations around the sensor integrated circuit. The fingerprint sensor package can further include a redistribution layer on the sensing side which redistributes connections of the sensor integrated circuit to the vias. The connections can further be directed through the vias to a ball grid array on the connection side. Some aspects also include electrostatic discharge traces positioned at least partially around a perimeter of the connection side. Methods of manufacturing arc also disclosed. | 10-11-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20110203176 | Fabric plant container - A plant container or planter is fabricated from a breathable, flexible, geo-textile, material such as recycled polyester needle-punched felt, which is self-supporting without an internal support structure. The geo-textile material is porous to both air and water, which allows air-born nutrients to pass to the roots and inhibit the ability of mold species to grow and harm the plant. The geo-textile material is configurable to various container designs that permit the non-conventional plant placement including the mounting of the plant containers on vertical surfaces, flat surfaces, and by suspension from ceilings and walls. The inclusion of a flexible, durable, impermeable, water-retaining, recycled rubber, vinyl, or plastic bottom and/or backing liner in the construction of the plant containers/hangers allow the planters to be placed on indoor and outdoor surfaces such as wood, stucco, sheetrock, carpet, and various other surfaces which might otherwise be damaged by moisture. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110219688 | Vertical hanging fabric plant container - A plant container or planter is fabricated from a breathable, flexible, geo-textile, material such as recycled polyester needle-punched felt, which is self-supporting without an internal support structure. The geo-textile material is porous to both air and water, which allows air-born nutrients to pass to the roots and inhibit the ability of mold species to grow and harm the plant. The geo-textile material is configurable to various container designs that permit the non-conventional plant placement including the mounting of the plant containers on vertical surfaces, flat surfaces, and by suspension from ceilings and walls. The inclusion of a flexible, durable, impermeable, water-retaining, recycled rubber, vinyl, or plastic bottom and/or backing liner in the construction of the plant containers/hangers allow the planters to be placed on indoor and outdoor surfaces such as wood, stucco, sheetrock, carpet, and various other surfaces which might otherwise be damaged by moisture. | 09-15-2011 |