Douglas L 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:

6350413, Feb 26, 2002

Filed:

Oct 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/412731

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

University of Utah Research Foundation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G01N 3353

US Classification:

422 8211, 422 8205, 436150, 436164, 385 12

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

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:

6755789, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Feb 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/072662

Inventors:

Bradley J. Stringer - Farmington UT
Gary A. Simmons - Farmington UT
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT
Shayne Messerly - Farmington UT
Cameron P. Ford - Kaysville UT
Robert W. Evensen - Layton UT

Assignee:

Inceptio Medical Technologies, LLC - Farmington UT

International Classification:

A61B 814

US Classification:

600461, 600441

Abstract:

An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicularly to each other to form a âTâ shape to provide substantially simultaneous ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patients body in two perpendicular planes. The apparatus may also include one or more Doppler transducer elements to transmit and receive one or more Doppler beams at an incident angle beneath one of the transducer arrays and in alignment therewith to determine blood flow direction and velocity within the at least one blood vessel. The sensor assembly may be disposed within an elongated, flexible, protective sheath and secured to a graphically marked cover to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle towards a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The cover may also include associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patients skin at a desired location.

US Patent:

6911344, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Nov 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/185318

Inventors:

W. Monty Reichert - Durham NC, US
James N. Herron - Salt Lake City UT, US
Douglas A. Christensen - Salt Lake City UT, US
Hsu-Kun Wang - Salt Lake City UT, US
Jacob D. Durtschi - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

BioCentrex, LLC - Culver City CA

International Classification:

G01N033/543

US Classification:

436518, 356317, 356318, 385 12, 385123, 385129, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 8211, 435 6, 435 75, 4352871, 4352872, 4352887, 435808, 436164, 436172, 436527, 436531, 436805

Abstract:

A step-gradient composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprises a thick substrate layer having one or more thin film waveguide channels deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon dioxide and the thin film is silicon oxynitride. Specific binding molecules having the property of binding with specificity to an analyte are immobilized on the surface of the thin film channels. In preferred embodiments, the composite waveguide further includes light input coupling means integrally adapted to the thin film channels. Such light coupling means can be a grating etched into the substrate prior to deposition of the thin film, or a waveguide coupler affixed to the upper surface of the thin film. The waveguide coupler has a thick input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end and propagates it by total internal reflection. The propagated light is then coupled evanescently into the thin film waveguide across a spacer layer of precise thickness and having an index of refraction lower than either the input waveguide or the thin-film 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.