Baxter International Inc.

Nanosphere, Inc.

Fenwal, Inc.

Mark C Weber

William Henry Cork, Iii

David E Morrow

Tim Patno

Guy A Lyle

Kyungyoon Min

Ying-Cheng Lo

Tom Westberg

Richard L West

Douglas A Ceckowski

James Joseph Ulmes

Christian Kronshage

Christopher Khoury

Dave Morrow

Wesley Buckingham

Benjamin Rush

Jennifer A Hollenstein

Janusz Ruszel

Ying-Chen Lo

A method and apparatus are provided for processing a nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a disposable self-contained processing module that contains the nucleic acid and substantially all of the fluids to effect a nanoparticle hybridization test, a pump coupled to the processing module, a valving system disposed between the pump and processing module and a control system coupled to the pump and valving system causing the processing fluids to interact with the nucleic acid to effect a sandwich hybridization test using nanoparticles.

System using self-contained processing module for detecting nucleic acids

An apparatus and method for imaging metallic nanoparticles is provided. Preferably, the invention provides for an apparatus and method for detection of gold colloid particles and for accurate reporting to the operator. The apparatus includes a substrate holder for holding the substrate, a processor and memory device, an imaging module, an illumination module, a power module, an input module, and an output module. The apparatus may have a stationary substrate holder and imaging module which are proximate to one another. The apparatus provided for a compact sized system without the need for complex motorized devices to move the camera across the substrate. Further, the apparatus and method provide for automatic detection of the spots/wells on the substrate, automatic quantification of the spots on the substrate, and automatic interpretation of the spots based on decision statistics.

Method for detecting the presence of a target analyte in a test spot

A method and apparatus are provided for preparing a test sample for detecting a predetermined target nucleic acid. The method includes the steps of providing a test probe comprising an oligonucleotide attached to a nanoparticle and providing a hybridization unit containing the test sample and the test probe, wherein said hybridization unit further includes a target sample substrate and a distribution manifold coupled to a first side of the substrate. The method further includes the steps of clamping a processing fluids manifold to the distribution manifold of the hybridization unit, denaturing the test sample and preparing the test sample for detecting the predetermined target nucleic acid by pumping a plurality of processing fluids between the processing fluids source manifold and distribution manifold to hybridize the test probe and predetermined target nucleic acid to the target sample substrate, to wash the hybridized sample and to amplify a detectable parameter of the hybridized sample.

Method of preparing nucleic acids for detection

A biological suspension processing system is disclosed that may include a suspension treatment device for treating one or more components of a biological suspension, a first fluid flow path for introducing a suspension into the treatment device and a second fluid flow path for withdrawing a constituent of the suspension from the device. At least one microelectromechanical (MEM) sensor communicates with one of the fluid flow paths for sensing a selected characteristic of the fluid therewith. The MEM sensor may be located elsewhere, such as on a container or bag and communicate with the interior for sensing a characteristic of the fluid contained therein. A wide variety of characteristics may be sensed, such as flow rate, pH, cell type, cell antigenicity, DNA, viral or bacterial presence, cholesterol, hematocrit, cell concentration, cell count, partial pressure, pathogen presence, or viscosity.

Medical system, method and apparatus employing MEMS

Nanoparticle imaging system and method

A biological suspension processing system is disclosed that may include a suspension treatment device for treating one or more components of a biological suspension, a first fluid flow path for introducing a suspension into the treatment device and a second fluid flow path for withdrawing a constituent of the suspension from the device. At least on microelectromechanical (MEM) sensor communicates with one of the fluid flow paths for sensing a selected characteristic of the fluid therewith. The MEM sensor may be located elsewhere, such as on a container or bag and communicate with the interior for sensing a characteristic of the fluid contained therein. A wide variety of characteristics may be sensed, such as flow rate, pH, cell type, cell antigenicity, DNA, viral or bacterial presence, cholesterol, hematocrit, cell concentration, cell count, partial pressure, pathogen presence, or viscosity.

A device has processing hardware to carry out a blood processing procedure. A processing control manager resides on the device to monitor status conditions over time during the blood processing procedure. A data interface also resides on the device. The data interface includes a flash memory data storage medium formatted to allocate discrete block file spaces to receive data. Chronologic data or time-specific data are created based upon sensed conditions by a data generator task, which also resides on the device. A file manager task appends chronologic data to an allocated file space to create a chronologic block file, which, when read, provides a time-ordered account of processing activities or hardware conditions. The file manager also operates to block-write time-specific data to another allocated file space, which, when read, creates a snap-shot of processing conditions at a given point in time. The data file structure created on the flash memory medium withstands corruption of data due to power failure.

Systems and methods for storing, retrieving, and manipulating data in medical processing devices

A controller provides an abstract, &ldquo;virtual&rdquo; interface between the software based applications resident in the controller and the hardware elements of the fluid processing system. The controller also provides a straightforward yet very interactive dual region user interface.

Interactive control systems for medical processing devices

A medical fluid processing device for processing blood or other fluids includes a plurality of hardware elements that perform specific functions. Different processing procedures are achieved by performing the specific functions in appropriately arranged sequences and combinations. A user accessible menu permits user selection of the desired processing procedure. A dual region, user accessible screen provides user interaction with the processing device.

A medical fluid processing device for processing blood or other fluids includes a plurality of hardware elements that perform specific functions. Different processing procedures are achieved by performing the specific functions in appropriately arranged sequences and combinations. A user accessible menu permits user selection of the desired processing procedure. A software implemented 'virtual' interface generates appropriate hardware commands for actuating the hardware elements as needed to achieve the desired processing procedure. A dual region, user-accessible screen provides user interaction with the processing device. The 'virtual' interface provides positive control over the individual hardware elements in combination with sufficient system flexibility to achieve useful interactivity with the processing device operator.

Growing community of inventors

West Dundee, IL, United States of America

Mark C Weber