Epistem Limited Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140315325 | ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A REACTION VESSEL AND A SAMPLE MATRIX, SAMPLE MATRIX COMPRISING AN UPPER ADSORBENT LAYER AND A LOWER LATERAL FLOW LAYER - An assembly and related methods are described for the preparation and processing of samples in molecular biology assays and nucleic acid amplification reactions. The assembly allows rapid and easy processing with reduced sample handling compared to known sample preparation apparatus and methods. The assembly comprises a reaction vessel, a sample matrix and a lid. The invention further provides an integrated punch to punch out discs of the sample matrix into the reaction vessel (without handling); thereby reducing the sample handling required to generate the final amplified nucleic acid product. | 10-23-2014 |
20120220024 | REACTION VESSEL - A reaction vessel assembly for use with thermal cyclers is described. The assembly includes a reaction vessel and a casing defining a cavity. In a first configuration, the casing receives the reaction vessel within the cavity, to act as a protective casing for the reaction vessel. In a second configuration, the casing engages with a mouth of the reaction vessel, to close the vessel. In this configuration, the casing may also act as a handle. In preferred embodiments, the reaction vessel is in the form of a capillary tube, and/or may include an integrated collimating lens. Certain embodiments also include an RFID tag. | 08-30-2012 |
20120214158 | MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS - A method for analysing genetic mutations, and in particular single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and/or somatic mutations, is described, as well as methods for preferentially amplifying one allelic form compared with another form. The methods use an oligonucleotide probe which hybridises to a first allele with a lower melting temperature (Tm) than that with which it hybridises to a second allele, together with amplification primers which flank the oligonucleotide probe binding site and which bind to the sample with a higher Tm than that of the probe and the first allele. An amplification reaction may be carried out at a temperature such that the probe is preferentially hybridised to the second allele, thereby amplifying the first allele. The amplified sequences may be detected using the same probe as acted as the blocking probe during amplification. | 08-23-2012 |
20120200396 | GENEDRIVE RFID - The present invention provides a method of operating a thermal cycler using readable tags (for example, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)) to simplify the operation and to reduce user interaction requirements. The RFID tag is used to program the thermal cycler unit. This automates process flow and allows single button operation. In general terms, the invention uses RFID tags provided on reaction vessels to identify a particular vessel; while a readable program card contains data associating reaction vessel identities with specific operations (eg, thermal cycling program, detection steps) to be performed on that vessel. The thermal cycler detects the reaction vessel RFID tag, and selects an appropriate operation to perform. | 08-09-2012 |
20120183562 | SECRETED FXYD PROTEINS EXPRESSED IN RESPONSE TO EPITHELIAL TISSUE DAMAGE, AND USES THEREFOR - Secreted FXYD family proteins are expressed by intestinal mucosa and/or associated tissues to regulate cell production in intestinal crypts in response to tissue damage. Such tissue damage may arise from disease, exposure to injurious chemicals (e.g., due to poisoning, chemotherapy, chemical weapons), or exposure to injurious radiation (e.g., due to nuclear power accidents, radiological weapons, radiation therapy). Because these proteins are secreted in response to epithelial tissue damage, some of them are implicated in tissue repair response or an inflammatory response which prolongs or exacerbates the tissue damage. Examples of these proteins include FXYD 3, FXYD 4, and FXYD 5. Diagnostic methods based upon the role of the FXYD proteins in epithelial tissue damage are disclosed. Also provided are antibodies raised against the FXYD family proteins, a kit for detecting at least an epitope of a polypeptide, a method of producing an antibody raised against an epitope of a polypeptide, and a method of diagnosing damage to an epithelial tissue. | 07-19-2012 |
20120077259 | EPISTEM GENEDRIVE - We describe a thermal cycler comprising a Peltier-type thermoelectric element used for cooling a sample block, and a non-Peltier-type heating device for heating the sample block. The cycler also includes a heat sink connected to the Peltier-type element by a heat pipe, which permits thermal energy to transfer from the Peltier-type element to the heat sink. This configuration operates more efficiently than conventional thermal cyclers which use Peltier-type elements for heating and cooling, and allows a more rapid cycling time as well as operation in a wider range of ambient temperatures. Certain embodiments utilise the Peltier-type element as a thermal gate to reduce thermal loss during heating when the Peltier-type element is switched off. | 03-29-2012 |
20110230448 | Treatment and/or Prevention of Non-Viral Epithelial Damage - There is provided the use of an inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of non-viral damage to an epithelium, or of a condition caused or characterised by such damage. The inhibitor of phosphate transporter activity may optionally be a phosphono-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of such an acid. There are also provided methods of treatment using such inhibitors, acids and derivatives. | 09-22-2011 |