Cepheid Patent Grants

Apparatus and method for cell disruption

Granted: April 17, 2018
Patent Number: 9943848
An apparatus for disrupting cells or viruses comprises a container having a chamber for holding the cells or viruses. The container includes at least one flexible wall defining the chamber. The apparatus also includes a transducer for impacting an external surface of the flexible wall to generate pressure waves in the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pressure source for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressurization of the chamber ensures effective coupling between the…

Honeycomb tube

Granted: March 13, 2018
Patent Number: 9914968
A honeycomb tube with a planar frame defining a fluidic path between a first planar surface and a second planar surface. A fluidic interface is located at one end of the planar frame. The fluidic interface has a fluidic inlet and fluidic outlet. The fluidic path further includes a well chamber having an well-substrate with a plurality of wells. The well chamber is arranged in the planar frame between the first or second surface and the well-substrate. The well chamber is in fluidic…

Thermal cycling apparatus and method

Granted: March 6, 2018
Patent Number: 9908119
A thermal cycling apparatus having a sample interfacing wall extending from a mounting wall. The sample interfacing wall can accept and apply thermal cycles to samples. An air source can direct an air stream to cool the sample. Another source can direct heated air away from the sample.

Methods and apparatus for sequential amplification reactions

Granted: January 23, 2018
Patent Number: 9873909
The invention provides methods and apparatus for carrying out multiple amplification reactions in a single reaction chamber by successive cycles of loading reaction mixture, amplifying, and removing spent reaction mixture in a fluidly closed reaction system. In particular, the present invention allows amplification of a plurality of target polynucleotides from a single sample by carrying out under closed-loop control successive amplifications of different target polynucleotides from…

Molecular diagnostic system

Granted: November 28, 2017
Patent Number: D804049

Molecular diagnostic system

Granted: November 14, 2017
Patent Number: D802786

Device for extracting nucleic acid from a sample

Granted: October 17, 2017
Patent Number: 9789481
The present invention provides a cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample. The cartridge provides for the efficient separation of cells or viruses in the sample from the remaining sample fluid, lysis of the cells or viruses to release the analyte (e.g., nucleic acid) therefrom, and optionally chemical reaction and/or detection of the analyte. The cartridge is useful in a variety of diagnostic, life science research, environmental, or forensic applications for determining the presence or…

Fluid processing and control

Granted: June 6, 2017
Patent Number: 9669409
A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least…

DNA recombination junction detection

Granted: March 28, 2017
Patent Number: 9605322
The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for detecting the presence or absence of an integrated insertion polynucleotide.

Modified cytosine polynucleotide oligomers and methods

Granted: March 21, 2017
Patent Number: 9598456
Disclosed are modified cytosine bases that provide enhanced base-pairing affinity for guanine bases in polynucleotide hybridization complexes. Also disclosed are polynucleotide oligomers, polynucleotide hybridization complexes that comprise such modified cytosine bases. Also disclosed are various methods of use. For example, in some embodiments, modified polynucleotide oligomers disclosed herein can be used as primers and probes for nucleic acid amplification and/or detection.

Modified thymine polynucleotide oligomers and methods

Granted: March 21, 2017
Patent Number: 9598455
Disclosed are modified thymine bases that provide enhanced base-pairing affinity for adenine or 2,6-diaminopurine bases in polynucleotide hybridization complexes. Also disclosed are polynucleotide oligomers, polynucleotide hybridization complexes that comprise such modified thymine bases. Also disclosed are various methods of use. For example, in some embodiments, modified polynucleotide oligomers disclosed herein can be used as primers and probes for nucleic acid amplification and/or…

Molecular diagnostic system

Granted: December 27, 2016
Patent Number: D775363

Methods of detecting sepsis

Granted: November 15, 2016
Patent Number: 9493832
Methods of detecting sepsis in a sample from a patient are provided. Methods of detecting changes in expression of one or more microRNAs associated with sepsis are also provided. Compositions and kits are also provided.

Methods, apparatus, and computer programs for verifying the integrity of a probe

Granted: October 11, 2016
Patent Number: 9464317
The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and computer programs for verifying the integrity of a probe by comparing the fluorescence value of a probe to a threshold value. The invention also provides for methods, apparatuses and computer programs for normalizing the fluorescence value of a probe and detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample.

Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing reagent beads

Granted: September 20, 2016
Patent Number: 9446409
Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in…

Multi-chambered lid apparatus

Granted: July 19, 2016
Patent Number: 9394086
A lid apparatus for a multi-chambered container. The lid apparatus has a top-lid that is hingedly attached to a bottom-cap. The top-lid includes one or more openings for fluid filling multiple passages that extend from the bottom-cap. A lower bottom-cap includes welding features for welding to the multi-chambered container.

Compositions comprising polynucleotides for detecting lung cancer

Granted: June 14, 2016
Patent Number: 9365903
Methods of detecting lung cancer, such as non-small cell lung cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, are provided. Methods of detecting changes in the levels of one or more small RNAs associated with lung cancer are also provided. Compositions and kits are also provided.

Cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction

Granted: April 26, 2016
Patent Number: 9322052
A cartridge for conducting a chemical reaction includes a body having at least one flow path formed therein. The cartridge also includes a reaction vessel extending from the body for holding a reaction mixture for chemical reaction and optical detection. The vessel comprises a rigid frame defining the side walls of a reaction chamber. The frame includes at least one channel connecting the flow path to the chamber. The vessel also includes flexible films or sheets attached to opposite…

Apparatus for controlling and monitoring reactions

Granted: April 19, 2016
Patent Number: 9316590
The present invention provides a reaction vessel and apparatus for performing heat-exchanging reactions. The vessel has a chamber for holding a sample, the chamber being defined by a plurality of walls, at least two of the walls being light transmissive to provide optical windows to the chamber. The apparatus comprises at least one heating surface for contacting at least one of the plurality of walls, at least one heat source for heating the surface, and optics positioned to optically…

Fluid processing and control

Granted: December 15, 2015
Patent Number: 9212980
A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least…