University of Utah Research Foundation

Inceptio Medical Technologies, Lc

Cv Technology, Inc.

Biocentrex, LLC

Other

Process Instruments, Inc.

Sentiomed, Inc.

Inceptio Medical Technologies, LLC

Ivd Systems, LLC

Duke University

James N. Herron

W. Monty Reichert

Douglas A. Christensen

Hsu-kun Wang

Douglas A Christensen

Karin D Caldwell

Scott D Miles

Lee Morgan Smith

Shayne Messerly

James N Herron

Hsu-Kun Wang

Shao-Chie Huang

W Monty Reichert

Eric M Simon

Vera Janatova

Richard D McEachern

Bradley J Stringer

Cameron P Ford

Robert W Evensen

Victor A Pollak

Gary A Simmons

Jacob D Durtschi

Vera Janatová

Vera Janatov&aacute;

Steven A Johnson

Richard Dennis Rallison

James W Wiskin

David T Borup

Florian Solzbacher

Jules J Magda

Mahender Avula

Robert E Benner

Joel M Harris

Stan Kanarowski

Navid Farhoudi

Christopher F Reiche

Frank Stenger

Carl W Johnson

Victor A Pollack

Julia Koerner

Rami Sami Marrouche

Michael David Sorenson

Jules John Magda

Mahender Nath Avula

Christopfer F Reiche

Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Ultrasound imaging of biomarker sensitive hydrogels

An apparatus, method and system for cannulation of blood vessels. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly including two linear transducer arrays oriented perpendicular to each other to form a 'T' shape to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The sensor assembly may have graphic markings on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate orientation of the sensor assembly on the patient and guidance of a needle toward a desired target vessel during the cannulation procedure. The sensor assembly may also include an associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Multiplanar ultrasonic vascular sensor assembly, system and methods employing same, apparatus for movably affixing a sensor assembly to a body and associated methods

A composite waveguide for evanescent sensing in fluorescent binding assays comprising a substrate layer having one or more thin-film waveguide channels deposited thereon. 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 includes integral light input coupling means adapted to the thin-film channels. Light coupling means may include 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 an input waveguide of high refractive index which receives the laser light through one end, propagating it by total internal reflection. Propagated light is coupled evanescently into the thin film across a spacer layer of precise thickness with a lower index of refraction than that of the input waveguide or the thin-film waveguide.

Integrated optic waveguide immunosensor

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. Also disclosed is a sled-shaped waveguide associated with a rear lens to couple light out of the waveguide to serve as a quality control measure thus insuring that the biosensor is properly placed and that the light is working.

Lens and associatable flow cell

An apparatus, method, system, component kit and protective sheath for cannulation of blood vessels are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly to provide ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's body in two perpendicular planes. The sensor assembly may have graphic markings on an exterior surface thereof 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 sensor assembly may also include associated structure to cooperate with a reference location element to place, align and secure the sensor assembly to the patient's skin at a desired location.

Multiplanar ultrasonic vascular imaging device, system incorporating same, method of use and protective sheath

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.

Waveguide immunosensor with coating chemistry and providing enhanced sensitivity

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.

Apparatus and methods for multi-analyte homogeneous fluoro-immunoassays

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. The composite waveguide can be constructed by plasma vapor deposition of silicon oxynitride onto the silicon dioxide substrate, masking the channel waveguides with a photoresist, and using reactive ion etching to expose the substrate in the unmasked regions.

Composite waveguide for solid phase binding assays

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 &ldquo;T&rdquo; shape to provide substantially simultaneous ultrasound images of at least one blood vessel in a portion of a patient's 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 patient's skin at a desired location.

Ultrasonic vascular imaging system and method of blood vessel cannulation

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.

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. Also disclosed is a sled-shaped waveguide associated with a rear lens to couple light out of the waveguide to serve as a quality control measure thus insuring that the biosensor is properly placed and that the light is working.

Apparatus for multichannel fluorescent immunoassays

Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide with an integral semi-cylindrical lens, and has multi-analyte features and calibration features, along with improved evanescent field intensity. A preferred embodiment of the biosensor and assay method have patches of capture molecules each specific for a different analyte disposed adjacent 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 non-specific-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.

The present invention relates to a system (,) for determining analyte concentration. The system (,) includes an optical detection system (,) that detects fluorescence from fluorescent binding assays in a biosensor (,). A processing system (,) may be used to determine analyte concentration from the fluorescence detected by the optical detection system (,). The optical detection system (,) may include photodetectors with or without in series lenses. Alternatively, a CCD camera (,) may be used.

System for determining analyte concentration

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Douglas A Christensen