Michael Alan Finney

US Patent:

6682641, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Apr 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559906

Inventors:

Michael J. Finney - San Francisco CA
Daniel E. Sullivan - Cambridge MA
Bruce R. Turner - Exeter NH
Alexis Vira - Somerville MA
Peter B. Vander Horn - Foster City CA
Charles P. Andre - San Francisco CA
Sean Rubin - Mountain View CA
Corey Nislow - San Francisco CA
John R. Linton - Lincoln MA
William D. Bowers - Peabody MA

Assignee:

MJ Research, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B01D 5702

US Classification:

204466, 204465, 204606, 204615, 204616, 204618, 204619, 204620, 425179, 425234, 425543

Abstract:

The invention provides an electrophoresis cassette to cast electrophoresis gels and to separate and analyze molecular components by electrophoresis. The electrophoresis cassette comprises a top plate assembly, a spacer and a bottom plate. The top plate assembly is seated to the bottom plate with the spacer there between to define a thickness of the electrophoresis cassette and to seal an outer perimeter of the assembly. The top plate assembly includes a cathode reservoir connected to a first terminal end of a central plate, and an anode reservoir connected to a second terminal end of the central plate. When the electrophoresis cassette is assembled, the cathode and anode reservoirs are in alignment with the first and second terminal ends of the central plate to facilitate formation of leak-proof seals between the reservoirs and the assembly components. An embodiment of the invention provides a plurality of sample wells incorporated with the cathode reservoir and constructed of rigid, electrically non-conducting material to provide a hard-well sample loading site for uniform and consistent sample injection. Another embodiment provides a mechanical biasing system incorporated with a cathode reservoir body to bias the assembly components together.

US Patent:

7148043, Dec 12, 2006

Filed:

May 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/431708

Inventors:

Igor Kordunsky - Newton MA, US
Jeffrey A. Goldman - Acton MA, US
Michael J. Finney - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Hercules CA

International Classification:

C12P 19/34
C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 912, 435 6, 435 911

Abstract:

A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.

US Patent:

7163790, Jan 16, 2007

Filed:

Nov 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/306828

Inventors:

Yan Wang - San Francisco CA, US
Michael Finney - San Francisco CA, US
Fan Chen - Alameda CA, US

Assignee:

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Hercules CA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68
C07H 21/02
C07H 21/04

US Classification:

435 6, 536 231, 536 243

Abstract:

This invention provides a method of detecting polymorphisms, e. g. , single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), by amplification and error correction. The invention encompasses methods of performing amplification and error correction using an improved generation of nucleic acid polymerases, and methods of multiplexing the assay. The improvement to the polymerases is the joining of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the ability of the enzyme to bind and catalytically modify the nucleic acid.

US Patent:

7749736, Jul 6, 2010

Filed:

Nov 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/555642

Inventors:

Igor Kordunsky - Newton MA, US
Jeffrey A. Goldman - Acton MA, US
Michael J. Finney - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Bio-Rad Labortories - Hercules CA

International Classification:

C12P 19/34
C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 912, 435 6, 435 911

Abstract:

A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.

US Patent:

8236504, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jun 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/827521

Inventors:

Igor Kordunsky - Newton MA, US
Jeffrey A. Goldman - Acton MA, US
Michael J. Finney - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Hercules CA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68
C12P 19/34

US Classification:

435 612, 435 61, 435 611

Abstract:

A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.

US Patent:

20020006619, Jan 17, 2002

Filed:

Feb 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/791367

Inventors:

David Cohen - Dedham MA, US
Michael Finney - San Francisco CA, US
Michael Mortillaro - Lunenburg MA, US

International Classification:

C12M001/34
H05B003/68
C12Q001/68

US Classification:

435/006000, 435/287200, 219/447100

Abstract:

A thermal cycler for use in thermal cycling procedures, and more specifically to a thermal cycler and a method for using same which permits the creation of temperature gradients in the thermal cycler in either of two dimensions and which permits optimization of the hold time of a given step in the thermal cycling procedure

US Patent:

20060051749, Mar 9, 2006

Filed:

Nov 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/496702

Inventors:

Yan Wang - San Francisco CA, US
Lei Xi - Foster City CA, US
Michael Finney - San Francisco CA, US
Fan Chen - Fullerton CA, US

Assignee:

MJ BIOWORKS INCORPORATED - South San Francisco

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68
C12P 19/34

US Classification:

435006000, 435091200

Abstract:

The current invention provides a method of performing DNA polymorphism assays. The assay combines allele-specific PCR with technology used for quantitative PCR. The method can be used to score the presence of absence of particular polymorphisms in a DNA sample. In a further aspect of the invention, the method is used to score the presence or absence of particular haplotypes in a DNA sample.

US Patent:

20070009954, Jan 11, 2007

Filed:

Sep 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/521754

Inventors:

Yan Wang - San Francisco CA, US
Michael Finney - San Francisco CA, US
Fan Chen - Alameda CA, US

Assignee:

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Hercules CA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68
C12P 19/34
C07H 21/04

US Classification:

435006000, 435091200, 536025320

Abstract:

This invention provides a method of detecting polymorphisms, e.g., single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), by amplification and error correction. The invention encompasses methods of performing amplification and error correction using an improved generation of nucleic acid polymerases, and methods of multiplexing the assay. The improvement to the polymerases is the joining of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the ability of the enzyme to bind and catalytically modify the nucleic acid.