Apparatus for polymer synthesis
Granted: December 9, 2003
Patent Number:
6660234
A method and apparatus for preparation of a substrate containing a plurality of sequences. Photoremovable groups are attached to a surface of a substrate. Selected regions of the substrate are exposed to light so as to activate the selected areas. A monomer, also containing a photoremovable group, is provided to the substrate to bind at the selected areas. The process is repeated using a variety of monomers such as amino acids until sequences of a desired length are obtained. Detection…
System, method, and product for pixel clocking in scanning of biological materials
Granted: November 18, 2003
Patent Number:
6650411
Systems and methods are described that may be applied to scanning biological materials in or on probe arrays. For example, a system is described that includes a scanner that has one or more excitation sources and an emission receiving element, such as an objective lens, that receives from locations of the probe array an emission signal responsive to the excitation sources. The scanner also has a radial position generator that generates radial positions of the emission receiving element.…
Nucleic acid reading and analysis system
Granted: November 11, 2003
Patent Number:
6646243
A method and apparatus for preparation of a substrate containing a plurality of sequences. Photoremovable groups are attached to a surface of a substrate. Selected regions of the substrate are exposed to light so as to activate the selected areas. A monomer, also containing a photoremovable group, is provided to the substrate to bind at the selected areas. The process is repeated using a variety of monomers such as amino acids until sequences of a desired length are obtained. Detection…
System, method, and product for symmetrical filtering in scanning of biological materials
Granted: November 4, 2003
Patent Number:
6643015
An apparatus is described that includes an emission signal detector and an emission signal filter. An excitation beam scans an array of biological materials, and the emission signal detector detects an emission signal indicative of an emission beam responsive to the excitation beam. The emission signal filter is a linear-phase filter that provides a filtered emission signal having substantially symmetrical rise and fall edges. A linear-phase excitation signal filter may also be provided…
Attachment device
Granted: November 4, 2003
Patent Number:
6643076
An attachment device is described for attaching a part to a structure. The part may be, for example, an optical element such as a lens or a mirror, that is to be attached, for example, to an optical instrument such as a scanner used to scan biological materials. The device includes a base and two or more holding elements coupled to the base. The holding elements may include a first group of two or more opposing holding elements of a first length and a second group of two or more opposing…
Genotyping biallelic markers
Granted: October 28, 2003
Patent Number:
6638719
A method is described for determining the genotype of one or more individuals at a biallelic marker. The method employs amplification of a region of genomic DNA using color tagged, allele-specific primers and hybridization of the products to an array of allele-specific probes. The genotype is identified from the pattern of hybridization.
Cleaning deposit devices that generate microarrays
Granted: October 28, 2003
Patent Number:
6638770
An apparatus for depositing an array of spots on a receiving surface includes a fluid source, a deposit device that includes a drop-carrying surface, and a cleaning device. The deposit device and a fluid source are cooperatively arranged to deposit a spot(usually created by a drop) on a receiving surface. The cleaning device is constructed and arranged to clean the drop-carrying surface by employing a flow of cleaning fluid or another cleaning matter such as small particles the flow…
Hybridization assays on oligonucleotide arrays
Granted: October 14, 2003
Patent Number:
6632605
This invention provides methods of performing nucleic acid hybridization assays on high-density substrate-bound oligonucleotide arrays involving including in the hybridization mixture an isostabilizing agent, a denaturing agent or a renaturation accelerant.
Method of target enrichment and amplification
Granted: October 14, 2003
Patent Number:
6632611
The presently claimed invention provides methods and kits for amplifying a target sequence from within a nucleic acid population. The presently claimed invention provides selection probes which are complementary to at least a portion of said target sequence and mechanisms for adding a probe sequence to the 3′ end of a target sequence that is hybridized to a selection probe. The added 3′ probe sequence and a probe sequence added at the 5′ end of the target by adaptor…
Methods of synthesizing a plurality of different polymers on a surface of a substrate
Granted: October 7, 2003
Patent Number:
6630308
A method and apparatus for preparation of a substrate containing a plurality of sequences. Photoremovable groups are attached to a surface of a substrate. Selected regions of the substrate are exposed to light so as to activate the selected areas. A monomer, also containing a photoremovable group, is provided to the substrate to bind at the selected areas. The process is repeated using a variety of monomers such as amino acids until sequences of a desired length are obtained. Detection…
System and method for self-calibrating measurement
Granted: September 2, 2003
Patent Number:
6612737
The present invention provides systems and methods for self-calibrated measurements, for example temperature sensing. The system includes a controller, a multiplexer of low on-resistance, at least two calibration reference resistors, and a current-to-frequency converter that performs self-calibrated temperature sensing with temperature sensing devices such as resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). In general, the system provides a self-calibrated temperature sensing by the…
Electrochemical denaturation of double-stranded nucleic acid
Granted: September 2, 2003
Patent Number:
6613527
A process is described for denaturing native double-stranded nucleic acid material into its individual strands in an electrochemical cell. The process disclosed is an electrical treatment of the nucleic acid with a voltage applied to the nucleic acid material by an electrode. The process may also employ a promoter compound such as methyl viologen to speed denaturation. The process may be used in the detection of nucleic acid by hybridizing with a labelled probe or in the amplification of…
Preparation of nucleic acid samples
Granted: September 2, 2003
Patent Number:
6613516
The presently claimed invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatus for studying nucleic acids. Specifically, the present invention provides a novel enrichment and labeling strategy for ribonucleic acids. In one embodiment, the invention provides enriching for a population of interest in a complex population by diminishing the presence of a target sequence. In a further embodiment, the invention can be used to reproducibly label and detect extremely small amounts of nucleic…
Support bound probes and methods of analysis using the same
Granted: August 26, 2003
Patent Number:
6610482
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for sequencing, fingerprinting and mapping biological macromolecules, typically biological polymers. The methods make use of a plurality of sequence specific recognition reagents which can also be used for classification of biological samples, and to characterize their sources.
Scanned image alignment systems and methods
Granted: August 26, 2003
Patent Number:
6611767
Systems and methods for aligning scanned images are provided. A pattern is included in the scanned image so that when the image is convolved with a filter, a recognizable pattern is generated in the convolved image. The scanned image may then be aligned according to the position of the recognizable pattern in the convolved image. The filter may also act to remove the portions of the scanned image that do not correspond to the pattern in the scanned image.
Computer-aided visualization and analysis system for sequence evaluation
Granted: August 19, 2003
Patent Number:
6607887
A computer system for analyzing nucleic acid sequences is provided. The computer system is used to perform multiple methods for determining unknown bases by analyzing the fluorescence intensities of hybridized nucleic acid probes. The results of individual experiments may be improved by processing nucleic acid sequences together. Comparative analysis of multiple experiments is also provided by displaying reference sequences in one area and sample sequences in another area on a display…
Cartridge loader and methods
Granted: August 12, 2003
Patent Number:
6604902
A device for transporting cartridges comprises a housing for holding a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment. A transport system is also provided and has a grasping mechanism for grasping one of the cartridges. The transport system is further used to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.
Methods of making nucleic acid or oligonucleotide arrays
Granted: July 29, 2003
Patent Number:
6600031
A synthetic strategy for the creation of large scale chemical diversity. Solid-phase chemistry, photolabile protecting groups, and photolithography are used to achieve light-directed spatially-addressable parallel chemical synthesis. Binary masking techniques are utilized in one embodiment. A reactor system, photoremovable protective groups, and improved data collection and handling techniques are also disclosed. A technique for screening linker molecules is also provided.
Computer-aided techniques for analyzing biological sequences
Granted: July 29, 2003
Patent Number:
6600996
Computer-aided techniques for analyzing biological sequences like nucleic acids are provided. The computer system may analyze hybridization intensities indicating hybridization affinity between nucleic acid probes and a sample nucleic acid sequence in order to call bases in the sample sequence. Multiple base calls may be combined to form a single base call. Additionally, the computer system may analyze hybridization intensities in order to monitor gene expression or the change in gene…
Nucleic acid labeling compounds
Granted: July 22, 2003
Patent Number:
6596856
Nucleic acid labeling compounds containing heterocyclic derivatives are disclosed. The heterocyclic derivative containing compounds are synthesized by condensing a heterocyclic derivative with a cyclic group (e.g. a ribofuranose derivative). The labeling compounds are suitable for enzymatic attachment to a nucleic acid, either terminally or internally, to provide a mechanism of nucleic acid detection.
