Affymetrix Patent Grants

Polymorphisms associated with hypertension

Granted: February 25, 2003
Patent Number: 6525185
The invention discloses a collection of polymorphic sites in genes know or suspected to have a role in hypertension. The invention provides nucleic acids including such polymorphic sites. The nucleic acids can be used as probes or primers or for expressing variant proteins. The invention also provide methods of analyzing the polymorphic forms occupying the polymorphic sites.

Exploiting genomics in the search for new drugs

Granted: February 25, 2003
Patent Number: 6524800
The cellular effects of potentially therapeutic compounds are characterized in mammalian cells and yeast. In the latter case the effects can be characterized on a genome-wide scale by monitoring changes in messenger RNA levels in treated cells with high-density oligonucleotide probe arrays.

Cartridge loader and methods

Granted: January 28, 2003
Patent Number: 6511277
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.

Computer software products for nucleic acid hybridization analysis

Granted: January 21, 2003
Patent Number: 6510391
Methods and computer software products are provided for analyzing gene expression data. In one embodiment, multiple probes are used to detect a single transcript. The hybridization intensities of each probe is adjusted by dividing the intensities by the affinities of the probes. The minimal adjusted hybridization intensity may be used as the measurement of the gene expression.

Very large scale immobilized polymer synthesis

Granted: January 14, 2003
Patent Number: 6506558
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 protecting groups, and improved data collection and handling techniques are also disclosed. A technique for screening linker molecules is also provided.

Methods and computer software products for multiple probe gene expression analysis

Granted: January 7, 2003
Patent Number: 6505125
Methods and computer software products are provided for analyzing gene expression data. In one embodiment, the expression of a gene is determined by multiple probes in several experiments. A principal component analysis is performed to obtain the relative expression of the gene in these experiments.

Even length proportional amplification of nucleic acids

Granted: December 17, 2002
Patent Number: 6495320
The even length proportional amplification of nucleic acids can increase the amount of nucleic acids while preserving the relative abundance of the individual nucleic acid species, or portions thereof, in the original sample. An even length proportionally amplified nucleic acid preparation may be analyzed in a gene expression monitoring system, preferably involving a nucleic acid probe array.

System for determining receptor-ligand binding affinity

Granted: December 10, 2002
Patent Number: 6491871
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.

Process for labeling a ribonucleic acid, and labeled RNA fragments which are obtained thereby

Granted: December 3, 2002
Patent Number: 6489114
A process is provided for labeling with signal amplification a ribonucleic acid (RNA), comprising fragmenting the RNA to form RNA fragments, fixing a first ligand to a terminal phosphate located at least one of the 3′ end and the 5′ end of each of a plurality of the RNA fragments, the terminal phosphate having been released during the fragmentation, and binding a plurality of labeling agents to the first ligand on each of a plurality of the fragments.

System, method, and product for dynamic noise reduction in scanning of biological materials

Granted: December 3, 2002
Patent Number: 6490533
Systems and methods are described for processing an emission signal, such as a fluorescent signal, to compensate for noise in an excitation beam, such as a laser beam. As one example, a scanning system is described that includes an excitation signal generator that provides an excitation signal having one or more representative excitation values representative of an excitation beam; an excitation reference provider that provides at least one excitation reference value; a normalization…

Use of hexahydrolupulones as antibacterial agents

Granted: November 26, 2002
Patent Number: 6486286
Provided are functionalized silicon compounds and methods for their synthesis and use. The functionalized silicon compounds include at least one activated silicon group and at least one derivatizable functional group. Exemplary derivatizable functional groups include hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl and thiol, as well as modified forms thereof, such as activated or protected forms. The functionalized silicon compounds may be covalently attached to surfaces to form functionalized surfaces which…

Functionalized silicon compounds and methods for their synthesis and use

Granted: November 26, 2002
Patent Number: 6486287
Provided are functionalized silicon compounds and methods for their synthesis and use. The functionalized silicon compounds include at least one activated silicon group and at least one derivatizable functional group. Exemplary derivatizable functional groups include hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl and thiol, as well as modified forms thereof, such as activated or protected forms. The functionalized silicon compounds may be covalently attached to surfaces to form functionalized surfaces which…

Conformationally-restricted peptide probe libraries

Granted: November 19, 2002
Patent Number: 6482591
Libraries of unimolecular, double-stranded oligonucleotides on a solid support. These libraries are useful in pharmaceutical discovery for the screening of numerous biological samples for specific interactions between the double-stranded oligonucleotides, and peptides, proteins, drugs and RNA. In a related aspect, the present invention provides libraries of conformationally restricted probes on a solid support. The probes are restricted in their movement and flexibility using…

Method and system for providing a polymorphism database

Granted: November 19, 2002
Patent Number: 6484183
Systems and methods for organizing information relating to study of polymorphisms. A database model is provided which interrelates information about one or more of, e.g, subjects from whom samples are extracted, primers used in extracting the DNA from the subjects, about the samples themselves, about experiments done on samples, about particular oligonucleotide probe arrays used to perform experiments, about analysis procedures performed on the samples, and about analysis results. The…

Methods involving direct write optical lithography

Granted: November 12, 2002
Patent Number: 6480324
An improved optical photolithography system and method provides predetermined light patterns generated by a direct write system without the use of photomasks. The Direct Write System provides predetermined light patterns projected on the surface of a substrate (e.g., a wafer) by using a computer controlled component for dynamically generating the predetermined light pattern, e.g., a spatial light modulator. Image patterns are stored in a computer and through electronic control of the…

Cyclic and substituted immobilized molecular synthesis

Granted: October 22, 2002
Patent Number: 6468740
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. In one particular embodiment, an array of rotated cyclic polymers is formed. In another embodiment, an array of polymers is formed based on a target polymer. The array includes systematically substituted versions of the target molecule. In another…

Analysis of genetic polymorphisms and gene copy number

Granted: October 22, 2002
Patent Number: 6468744
The invention provides methods for detecting variations in polymorphic sites and/or variations in gene copy number. The methods are particularly useful for analysis of biotransformation genes, such as cytochromes P450.

Selecting tag nucleic acids

Granted: October 1, 2002
Patent Number: 6458530
Methods of selecting tag nucleic acids and VLSIPS™ arrays and the arrays made by the methods are used to label and track compositions, including cells and viruses, e.g., in libraries of cells or viruses. In addition to providing a way of tracking compositions in mixtures, the tags facilitate analysis of cell and viral phenotypes.

Products for detecting nucleic acids

Granted: September 17, 2002
Patent Number: 6451536
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.

Analysis of target molecules using an encoding system

Granted: August 27, 2002
Patent Number: 6440667
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.