The State University of New York

Other

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Frederick Sachs

Richard G McGarrigle

Thomas Suchyna

Victor Demjanenko

Arthur Beyder

Philip Gottlieb

Stephen Besch

Zonglu Hua

Seth L Alper

Harsh Deep Chopra

James E Neil

David H Vandorpe

Phillip Gottlieb

Chang Xu

Janice Johnson

Anthony Auerbach

The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting calcium permeable cation conductance of red blood cells from individuals afflicted with sickle cell anemia. The method comprises exposing the cells to the peptide GsMTx4 and/or variants thereof.

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A method and apparatus for measuring changes in cell volume generally includes introducing cells into a chamber having a volume between 2 and 100 times the volume of the introduced cell. A first electrically conductive extracellular fluid is introduced into the chamber and a current is applied. The voltage induced by said current flow is measured. The first fluid is exchanged with a second electrically conductive extracellular fluid and a current is applied. The voltage induced by said current flow is measured. The first induced voltage result and the second induced voltage result are used in conjunction with known voltages induced by such current flows to monitor changes in the volume corresponding to fluid flow between the cell and an extracellular fluid.

Method and apparatus for measuring changes in cell volume

The method and system of the present invention uses synchronous rectification and frequency domain analysis to remove the need for calibration of the A/D and D/A components. It is applicable to any sensor based measurement in which either the sensor can be excited with an AC voltage or current, or in which the signal can be modulated with an AC voltage or current.

Method and system for synchronous rectification

A scanner which includes a gradient index lens for passing and focusing beams from a radiation emitter to a cantilevered member reflective surface of a probe and from the reflective surface to a radiation detector. The lens also serves as a mechanical support for attachment of the radiation emitter and the radiation detector and is also attached to a support for the cantilevered member. The resulting fixed positions of the radiation emitter and the radiation detector relative to the reflective cantilevered member surface allows the scanner to be compact and factory focally alignable.

Factory-alignable compact cantilever probe

A device such as a sensor for use in an atomic force microscope. The device comprises a first oscillator, a second oscillator, a pair of first co-axial members interconnecting the first and second oscillators for torsionally suspending the first oscillator, a support structure, and a pair of second co-axial members whose axis is orthogonal to an axis of the first co-axial members and which interconnect the second oscillator and the support structure for torsionally suspending the second oscillator.

Oscillator for atomic force microscope and other applications

A device having an oscillator such as a sensor for use in an atomic force microscope. A pair of co-axial members interconnect support structure and the oscillator for torsionally suspending the oscillator. The co-axial members are portions of a layer of silicon nitride or other material that is connected to the oscillator and support structure, which are composed of silicon or other material. A process for making a device which includes an oscillator, which includes depositing on silicon or other first material a layer of silicon nitride or other second material, forming in the first material a support structure and the oscillator, including applying an etchant which is selective for the first material to etch all the way through the first material and leave the second material substantially unetched to thereby form the at least one flexible hinge of the second material.

Oscillator and method of making for atomic force microscope and other applications

The present invention discloses a peptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and its variants that blocks stretch-activated ion channels. All amino acids in this peptide are D-amino acids. The peptide, designated as D-GsMTx4, is an enantiomer of a peptide GsMTX-4 present in the venom of the spider. The present invention also discloses a method for inhibition of stretch activated ion channels in a cell. This peptide can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and other pathologies that involve alterations in mechanical stress.

Mechanically activated channel blocker

The present invention discloses a peptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and its variants that blocks stretch-activated ion channels. The peptide, designated as GsMTx-4, is present in the venom of the spider. The present invention also discloses a method of purifying the peptide GsMTx-4 from the spider venom and a method for inhibition of stretch activated ion channels in a cell. The cDNA sequence encoding the GsMTx-4 is also disclosed. This peptide and its variants can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

The method of the present invention consists of the steps of heating an area along the length of a small diameter glass tube while the tube is being rotated, pulling the heated tube using an unidirectional force to rapidly extend the heated area while mechanically maintaining the heat source centrally located along the portion of the tubing being extended. The extended tubing is subsequently cooled and separated at the narrowed portion to produce two capillary tubes.

Method for producing glass tubing of a narrowed diameter

The method of the present invention consists of the steps of heating an area along the length of a small diameter glass tube while the tube is being rotated, pulling the heated tube using an unidirectional force to rapidly extend the heated area while mechanically maintaining the heat source centrally located along the portion of the tubing being extended. The extended tubing is subsequently cooled and separated at the narrowed portion to produce two capillary tubes. The apparatus of the present invention consists of two independently rotatable, co-axially aligned chucks. The chucks rotate in an essentially simultaneous manner, that is, the speed of rotation of each chuck is essentially the same. Each of the chucks has an adjustable collet thereon adapted to receive and hold a section of glass tubing aligned therebetween. A means of moving one of said chucks away from the other is provided. A moveable heating means is positioned intermediate the chucks. The moveable heating means is adapted to start at the same time and to move in the same direction as the movable chuck, but half the distance that the chuck moves. The moveable heating means provides longitudinal symmetry while the rotational means provides axial symmetry.

Apparatus for producing glass tubing of a narrowed diameter

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the controlled heating of an ultra small volume. The invention provides a means of heating, measuring, and controlling the temperature in such ultra small volume. The present apparatus includes a heat-sensor portion comprised of an electrical resistance. Heat is generated in the heat-sensor portion by a flow of electrical current through such electrical resistance. The temperature in the heat-sensor portion is determined by measuring the electrical resistance of the circuit that includes the heat-sensor element. The apparatus is comprised of a thin-walled microcapillary tube filled internally with an electrically conductive material and coated externally with a dissimilar electrically conductive material. The external electrically conductive coating on the microcapillary tube is suitable a noble metal such as gold. The external metal coating preferably has a metallic overcoat to improve conductivity, and more preferably has a further overcoat, or outside layer, of a nonconductive material. Along the tip portion of the microcapillary tube the two dissimilar conductive materials (internal and external) meet to form a juncture of electrical resistance. This juncture is the heat-sensor portion serving both as the heating element and as the temperature sensor. The electrically conductive material inside the microcapillary tube and the electrically conductive coating on the outside of the microcapillary tube are connected to an electrical source as part of an electrical circuit.

Method and apparatus for heating and controlling the temperature of

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring the temperature in an ultra small area by determining the electrical resistance, or changes in electrical resistance in an electrical circuit. The system utilizes a temperature sensory element comprised of a microcapillary tube containing an ionic liquid and an electrical circuit capable of measuring the electrical resistance, or the changes in the electrical resistance, of the liquid. The temperature sensory element is of a size useful to measure the temperature in ultra small areas. The temperature sensory element ranges up to about 2.0 microns in outside diameter, and more preferably has an outside diameter between about 0.1 and about 1.0 micron, and most preferably between about 0.5 and about 1.5 micron. Minute changes in the electrical resistance of the liquid within the temperature sensory element reflect minute temperature changes in the immediate area of the temperature sensory element.

Method and apparatus for measuring temperature of ultra small areas

A shielded microelectrode process and product wherein the microelectrode is coated by vacuum evaporation techniques with a thin layer of silver; the silver from the microelectrode tip region is removed to a depth of no greater than substantially 20 micrometers by contact with memory; and the microelectrode is dipped into a thermosetting wax in liquid form whereby as the wax solidifies the silver is coated thereby below the tip region.

Microelectrodes and process for shielding same

Apparatus for controlled removal of silver from the tip of a silver coated microelectrode including a mercury bath aligned with the microelectrode; a motor driven micromanipulator for moving the microelectrode into contact with the mercury; and circuits to deenergize and control the angular momentum of the micromanipulator motor whereby the depth of penetration of the electrode into the mercury can be accurately controlled.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo, NY, United States of America

Frederick Sachs