Douglas K Christensen

US Patent:

6340598, Jan 22, 2002

Filed:

Dec 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/207187

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Karin D. Caldwell - Salt Lake City UT
Vera Janatová - Prague, CZ
Shao-Chie Huang - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 33543

US Classification:

436518, 385 12, 385123, 422 55, 422 57, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8211, 435 75, 4352871, 4352872, 4352887, 435808, 436164, 436172, 436512, 436527, 436805

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.

US Patent:

6356676, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Jun 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/608714

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Victor A. Pollak - Salt Lake City UT
Richard D. McEachern - Ann Arbor MI
Eric M. Simon - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 12, 385 15, 385 33, 385 37, 385130, 385146, 422 8211

Abstract:

Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor includes a waveguide placed between a plurality of members such as plates at least one of the members being formed to define the walls of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket, the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e. g. , by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e. g. , plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.

US Patent:

6611634, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Mar 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/095540

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Victor A. Pollak - Salt Lake City UT
Richard D. McEachern - Ann Arbor MI
Eric M. Simon - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385 12, 385 14, 385129, 385130, 385131, 385 33, 422 8205, 422 8211, 436518, 356317

Abstract:

Improvements in a biosensor are disclosed. A biosensor includes a waveguide, at least a portion of which is substantially planar. One or more reservoirs may be formed adjacent to a chemistry-bearing surface of the waveguide. The biosensor may include a gasket to form a seal between the waveguide and side walls of the reservoir. A sample solution may be introduced into the reservoir or otherwise onto the surface of a waveguide through an input port. Waveguides of varying composition (e. g. , plastic, quartz, glass, or other suitable waveguide materials) may be used in the biosensor. Also disclosed is a sled-shaped waveguide, which includes a planar portion and a lens at an end thereof and angled relative thereto for coupling light into the waveguide.

US Patent:

6979567, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/008339

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT, US
Karin Caldwell - Salt Lake City UT, US
Vera Janatová - Prague, CZ
Shao-Chie Huang - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

BioCentrex, LLC - Culver City CA

International Classification:

C12M003/00

US Classification:

4352871, 422 55, 422 57, 422 58, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8211, 4352872, 4352879, 4352885, 4352887, 435808, 436164, 436165, 436514, 436518, 436527, 436531, 436805, 436807, 385 12, 385129, 385130, 356418

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semicylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method has patches of capture molecules, each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacently within a single reservoir. The capture molecules are immobilized to the patches on the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling of thiol groups on the capture molecules to photo-affinity crosslinkers, which in turn are coupled to the waveguide surface or to a nonspecific binding-resistant coating on the surface. The patches of different antibodies are produced by selectively irradiating a portion of the waveguide surface during the process of coupling the photo-affinity crosslinkers, the selective irradiation involving a mask, a laser light source, or the like.

US Patent:

7022515, Apr 4, 2006

Filed:

Oct 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/971467

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Karin D. Caldwell - Salt Lake City UT, US
Vera Janatová - Prague, CZ
Shao-Chie Huang - Salt Lake City UT, US
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

C12M 3/00

US Classification:

4352871, 356317, 356318, 356244, 356246, 385 12, 385129, 385130, 422 57, 422 58, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8211, 435 75, 4352872, 4352887, 435808, 436164, 436172, 436518, 436527, 436805

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.

US Patent:

RE39772, Aug 14, 2007

Filed:

Mar 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

10/225687

Inventors:

James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Victor A. Pollack - Salt Lake City UT, US
Richard D. McEachern - Ann Arbor MI, US
Eric M. Simon - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G02B 6/26
G02B 6/10
G01N 21/00
G01N 33/552
G01N 33/72

US Classification:

385 12, 385 15, 385 33, 385 37, 385130, 385146, 422 8211

Abstract:

Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor () includes a waveguide () placed between a plurality of members such as plates (), at least one of the members () being formed to define the walls () of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket (), the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e. g. by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e. g. plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.

US Patent:

20010019405, Sep 6, 2001

Filed:

Apr 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/839778

Inventors:

James Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Jacob Durtschi - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G01N033/48

US Classification:

356/039000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of diagnosing a cardiac disease state in as little as two minutes involving the utilization of an evanescent wave assay system in conjunction with a data acquisition and analysis procedure that monitors the precision of assay results in real time (i.e., while data is being acquired). The method includes diagnosing a disease state using a diagnostic procedure (e.g., an immunoassay) wherein the testing device informs the person conducting the test of the results of the test as soon as reliable test data is obtained (generally,

US Patent:

20010030741, Oct 18, 2001

Filed:

Jun 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/877635

Inventors:

James Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Jacob Durtschi - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G01N033/48

US Classification:

356/039000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of diagnosing a cardiac disease state in as little as two minutes involving the utilization of an evanescent wave assay system in conjunction with a data acquisition and analysis procedure that monitors the precision of assay results in real time (i.e., while data is being acquired). The method includes diagnosing a disease state using a diagnostic procedure (e.g., an immunoassay) wherein the testing device informs the person conducting the test of the results of the test as soon as reliable test data is obtained (generally,