G6 Science Corp.

Other

Perceptronix Medical, Inc.

Perceptronix Medical, Inc. and British Columbia Cancer Agency

British Columbia Cancer Agency

Gary William Ferguson

Branko Mihael Palcic

Mario Zganec

Margareta Flezar

Jaka Lavrencak

Calum E MacAulay

David M Garner

Branko Michael Palcic

Alexei K Doudkine

Marija Us-Krasovec

Jayson Darek Eppler

Calum E Macaulay

The present invention is a filter apparatus with methods to capture a desired amount of material suspended in a liquid or gas for monolayer deposition, analysis or other uses. Novel filter devices are employed to capture material which may be used for the purification or enrichment of various sample constituents or captured material may be observed or analyzed. Alternatively, particulate material may be used as a transport mechanism for proteins or chemicals which in turn may be assessed or used. The filter device employs sensors to sense pressure and adjust, halt or otherwise control sample flow. The pressure sensor essentially monitors the flow rate of sample suspension through a filter, typically responding at a predetermined pressure associated with capture of a desired amount of material on the filter. A separate valve or valve integrated with pressure sensing provides a means to adjust sample flow. Typically, pressure is used to provide a means to cause the sample suspension to flow through the filter, which is preferably a membrane filter for monolayer deposition. In some embodiments a novel syringe provides this pressure, functioning as a vacuum source. The filter apparatus may be further automated to process a plurality of samples, simultaneously.

Filter methods to capture a desired amount of material from a sample suspension for monolayer deposition, analysis or other uses

Computer programs, systems and the like related to processing, segmenting and feature normalizing digital images. The images are of cells and the methods are useful for the detection of malignancy-associated changes (MAC) in cells, which can be used for the detection of cancer. The programs and methods detect cancer in one tissue by detecting MAC in another tissue, such as associated tissues or non-associated tissues. Examples of associated tissues include nipple aspirates or ductal washings to detect breast cancer, and sputum or bronchial lavage to detect lung cancer. Examples of non-associated tissues include buccal mucosa to detect lung or breast cancer.

Computerized methods and systems related to the detection of malignancy-associated changes (MAC) to detect cancer

The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive apparatus for and method of capturing biological or other material from sample suspensions on a collection surface and for depositing captured material on a receiving surface, such as a microscope slide, for observation and analysis. Accordingly, cytological material may be deposited in near mono-layers for the detection of disease. In one embodiment of the present invention, density gradients of material are captured and deposited, thus providing a desired range of concentrations for examination. In another embodiment multiple depositions or multiple slides may be made from the same sample suspension. The method and apparatus to exploit this new method are both presented for various applications. The dimensions of material captured and deposited may be controlled and used in conjunction with microscope slides that confine material to specific regions of interest.

Filter devices for depositing material and density gradients of material from sample suspension

The present invention is a method of identifying and assessing DNA euchromatin in biological cells. The amount and/or distribution of DNA euchromatin generally relates to RNA/protein synthesis, which may change in certain conditions, such as disease, and/or cellular response to environmental and/or chemical agents. The present invention detects the potential presence of disease by assessing DNA euchromatin in ostensibly normal cells and similarly provides means to monitor and assess treatment response. The present invention may also be used to assess how application (or removal) of influences, such as environment, radiation, chemical agents, medications, herbs, vitamins, etc., interact to effect cells, establishing uses in monitoring wellness and pharmacological screening. Additional uses include assessing age related disorders, allergies, infections, Alzheimer's disease, 'Time of Death', chronic fatigue syndrome, etc. The method may be advantageously applied to biological cells including micro-organisms, plants, animals, or cultured cells, alone or in conjunction with other markers.

Method of identifying and assessing DNA euchromatin in biological cells for detecting disease, monitoring wellness, assessing bio-activity, and screening pharmacological agents

A syringe device incorporating ridges that cause resistive changes to the movement of the syringe gasket or plunger, thereby providing user feedback as to the position and speed of plunger movement. Such user feedback may be useful in stressful situations, under poor lighting conditions or in other unfavorable circumstances. Additionally, in certain embodiments these ridges may aid in accurate dispension or allow the syringe to derive additional functionality, such as performing as a vacuum source. Ridges can be protrusions such as tabs, bubbles or continuous rings for single or repeated use or these ridges may be formed as indentations. Ridges may be formed in patterns, in various sizes and shapes or these ridges may be mixed and matched as required or desired. Ridges may also be formed from a soluble material and the resistive change may itself provide indication that the material has been substantially dissolved and dispensed. In some embodiments these ridges are formed primarily within the barrel portion of the syringe. In other embodiments these ridges may be formed on the plunger stem of the syringe. Ridges may be constructed to provide one type of resistive change during the aspiration stroke and a different resistive change to motion in the opposite direction.

Syringe device with resistive ridges and methods of use

The present invention is a filter apparatus with methods to capture a desired amount of material suspended in a liquid or gas for monolayer deposition, analysis or other uses. Novel filter devices are employed to capture material which may be used for the purification or enrichment of various sample constituents or captured material may be observed or analyzed. Alternatively, particulate material may be used as a transport mechanism for proteins or chemicals which in turn may be assessed or used. The filter device employs sensors to sense pressure and adjust, halt or otherwise control sample flow. The pressure sensor essentially monitors the flow rate of sample suspension through a filter, typically responding at a predetermined pressure associated with capture of a desired amount of material on the filter. A separate valve or valve integrated with pressure sensing provides a means to adjust sample flow. Typically, pressure is used to cause the sample suspension to flow through the filter, which is preferably a membrane filter for monolayer deposition. In some embodiments a novel syringe provides this pressure, functioning as a vacuum source. The filter apparatus may be further automated to process a plurality of samples, simultaneously.

Filter apparatus and methods to capture a desired amount of material from a sample suspension for monolayer deposition, analysis or other uses

A filter device is used to capture a desired amount of material suspended in a liquid or gas. The device includes a planar filtermounted in a chamber defined by a body member having an upper body, a lower body, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The filter includes porous portionsand. Porous portionis centrally arranged and is more restrictive to flow than portion. The filter is designed such that upon portioncapturing a desired amount of material, a predetermined pressure change exists across the filter. The predetermined pressure change causes the filter to deform and conform against an inner surface of the upper body resulting in all suspension flowing through the apparatus to flow through the more restrictive second portion

Filter device to capture a desired amount of material

The present invention is a disc media storage and retrieval system for safely and efficiently storing and conveniently retrieving specific disc media from a plurality of disc media stacked on a central column or spindle. Modified disc media are rotationally aligned on the spindle using corresponding alignment protrusion(s) formed on the spindle and notch(es) on the inner chuck hole of the disc. Accordingly, disc media is further modified with the addition of indexing notches on the outer circumference of the disk, such that each disc within the system is provided a unique notched-index. The aligned stack is protected by a cover member that forms a disc lifting device. A disc of interest is indexed and retrieved from the stack by rotating the cover member relative to the disc stack thereby aligning the disc notch-index with the lifting device. When the cover member is raised, the lifting device separates the stack at the disc of interest. These innovations and modifications to the disc media provide improvements in disc storage and retrieval over existing spindle-type disc media storage systems.

Disc media and storage and retrieval system

A deterrent device comprises a portable container having a cavity disposed therein and an actuator mechanism disposed within the cavity. An inflatable deterrent extends outwardly from the actuator mechanism, the inflatable deterrent is substantially contained within the cavity in a non-operative configuration. The actuator mechanism is activated by an operator to attain an operative configuration in which the actuator mechanism inflates the inflatable deterrent outwardly from the container, an assailant being deterred by the inflated inflatable deterrent.

Inflatable security device

A slide for depositing for observation material under a microscope comprising a mounting surface to receive material for observation and a removable layer on the mounting surface formed with at least one opening in the removable layer to define at least one exposed region on the mounting surface for retaining material to be observed when the removable layer is detached. The exposed region has definite boundaries and any material to be examined remaining on the slide is confined to the exposed region to facilitate examination of the slide by human visual identification or machine vision by making material easier to locate, by limiting material to regions appropriate for best observation (e.g. away from edges of the slide and coverglass), and by limiting the amount of material or area covered by material to permit quick and rigorous observation and analysis. A method for using slides according to the present invention is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Burnaby, Canada

Gary William Ferguson