Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100075862 | HIGH SENSITIVITY DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF ANALYTE MOLECULES OR PARTICLES IN A FLUID SAMPLE - The present invention relates to methods, systems, and kits for detecting, quantifying and/or analyzing a fluid sample comprising molecules or particles at low concentration. In certain embodiments, the methods for detection and/or quantifying analyte molecules in a sample comprise capturing a plurality of analyte molecules on a substrate (e.g., an array comprising a plurality of reaction vessels). The substrate may then be exposed to additional reaction components such as at least one binding ligand. The substrate may additionally be exposed to a precursor labeling agent molecule, wherein the precursor labeling agent molecule, in some cases, is converted to a labeling agent molecule, which may be detected, either directly or indirectly, which determination may be related to the presence of and/or may be employed to quantify the analyte molecules. Although the various aspects of the present invention may use a number of different assay formats, in one embodiment, the assays are conducted in a plurality of reaction vessels defined, at least in part, by the distal ends of fiber optic strands. | 03-25-2010 |
20110212462 | ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES USING DUAL DETECTION METHODS - Described herein are systems and methods for the detection of and/or determination of a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some cases, the systems and methods employ techniques to reduce or limit the negative effects associated with non-specific binding events. Certain methods of the present invention involve associating the analyte molecules at least a first type of binding ligand and at least a second type of binding ligand, and spatially segregating the analyte molecules into a plurality of locations on a surface. The presence of an analyte molecule at or in a location may be determined by determining the presence of both the first type of binding ligand and the second type of binding ligand. | 09-01-2011 |
20110212537 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXTENDING DYNAMIC RANGE IN ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES - Described herein are systems and methods for extending the dynamic range of assay methods and systems used for determining the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some embodiments, a method comprises spatially segregating a plurality of analyte molecules in a fluid sample into a plurality of locations. At least a portion of the locations may be addressed to determine the percentage of said locations containing at least one analyte molecule. Based at least in part on the percentage, a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid sample may be determined using an analog, intensity-based detection/analysis method/system and/or a digital detection/analysis method/system. In some cases, the assay may comprise the use of a plurality of capture objects. | 09-01-2011 |
20110212848 | ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES USING BEADS OR OTHER CAPTURE OBJECTS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample and in some cases, determining a measure of the concentration of the molecules or particles in the fluid sample. Methods of the present invention may comprise immobilizing a plurality of analyte molecules or particles with respect to a plurality of capture objects. At least a portion of the plurality of capture objects may be spatially separated into a plurality of locations. A measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in a fluid sample may be determined, at least in part, on the number of reaction vessels comprising an analyte molecule immobilized with respect to a capture object. In some cases, the assay may additionally comprise steps including binding ligands, precursor labeling agents, and/or enzymatic components. | 09-01-2011 |
20110245097 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXTENDING DYNAMIC RANGE IN ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES - Described herein are systems and methods for extending the dynamic range of assay methods and systems used for determining the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some embodiments, a method comprises spatially segregating a plurality of analyte molecules in a fluid sample into a plurality of locations. At least a portion of the locations may be addressed to determine the percentage of said locations containing at least one analyte molecule. Based at least in part on the percentage, a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid sample may be determined using an analog, intensity-based detection/analysis method/system and/or a digital detection/analysis method/system. In some cases, the assay may comprise the use of a plurality of capture objects. | 10-06-2011 |
20110277930 | OPTICAL MODULATOR/DETECTOR BASED ON RECONFIGURABLE DIFFRACTION GRATING - A system is provided for positioning separate portions of a sample in elongate, parallel channels of a sample chamber and for irradiating a sample in the chamber to create a diffraction pattern where the sample and chamber differ in refractive index. The system also can measure absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a sample in the chamber, and can measure the absorption simultaneously with measurement of diffraction by the sample. | 11-17-2011 |
20120196774 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES - Described are systems, devices, and methods which related to various aspects of assays for detecting and/or determining a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a sample fluid. In some cases, the systems employ an assay consumable comprising a plurality of assay sites. The systems, devices, and/or methods, in some cases, are automated. In some cases, the systems, devices, and/or methods relate to inserting a plurality of beads into assay sites, sealing assay sites, imaging assay sites, or the like. | 08-02-2012 |
20120277114 | ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES USING BEADS OR OTHER CAPTURE OBJECTS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample and in some cases, determining a measure of the concentration of the molecules or particles in the fluid sample. Methods of the present invention may comprise immobilizing a plurality of analyte molecules or particles with respect to a plurality of capture objects. At least a portion of the plurality of capture objects may be spatially separated into a plurality of locations. A measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in a fluid sample may be determined, at least in part, on the number of reaction vessels comprising an analyte molecule immobilized with respect to a capture object. In some cases, the assay may additionally comprise steps including binding ligands, precursor labeling agents, and/or enzymatic components. | 11-01-2012 |
20120289428 | ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES USING BEADS OR OTHER CAPTURE OBJECTS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample and in some cases, determining a measure of the concentration of the molecules or particles in the fluid sample. Methods of the present invention may comprise immobilizing a plurality of analyte molecules or particles with respect to a plurality of capture objects. At least a portion of the plurality of capture objects may be spatially separated into a plurality of locations. A measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in a fluid sample may be determined, at least in part, on the number of reaction vessels comprising an analyte molecule immobilized with respect to a capture object. In some cases, the assay may additionally comprise steps including binding ligands, precursor labeling agents, and/or enzymatic components. | 11-15-2012 |
20130165342 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXTENDING DYNAMIC RANGE IN ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF MOLECULES OR PARTICLES - Described herein are systems and methods for extending the dynamic range of assay methods and systems used for determining the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some embodiments, a method comprises spatially segregating a plurality of analyte molecules in a fluid sample into a plurality of locations. At least a portion of the locations may be addressed to determine the percentage of said locations containing at least one analyte molecule. Based at least in part on the percentage, a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid sample may be determined using an analog, intensity-based detection/analysis method/system and/or a digital detection/analysis method/system. In some cases, the assay may comprise the use of a plurality of capture objects. | 06-27-2013 |
20140243223 | ULTRA-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MOLECULES ON SINGLE MOLECULE ARRAYS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample and in some cases, determining a measure of the concentration of the molecules or particles in the fluid sample. Methods of the present invention may comprise immobilizing a plurality of analyte molecules or particles to form a plurality of complexes, releasing at least a portion of some of the plurality of complexes, determining at least a portion of the plurality of complexes released, and determining a measure of the concentration of the analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. | 08-28-2014 |
20140378333 | DIGITAL BRIDGE PCR - The present disclosure, among other things, provides methodologies for quantifying targets of interest in samples by 1) capturing single target entities on individual solid phase particles in a manner that permits that those particles that contain captured targets to be optically distinguished from those that do not, and 2) optically analyzing the particles so that those with captured target entities are “counted”. In some embodiments, provided methods and compositions in the present application comprise a population of particles including one or more sub-populations distinguishable from one another. | 12-25-2014 |