Kairos-scientific Inc.

Other

Mary M Yang

Edward J Bylina

William Joseph Coleman

Michael Robert Dilworth

Douglas C Youvan

Christopher M Silva

Steven J Robles

Dougalas C Youvan

Michael A Tanner

A size adjustable footwear includes an upper, an insole, a midsole, an outer sole, and a size adjustment mechanism. The midsole includes a heel plate and a toe plate. The upper is perimetrically connected around the midsole. The insole is adjacently connected atop the midsole and internally positioned within the upper. The outer sole is perimetrically connected around the midsole as the midsole is positioned in between the insole and the outer sole. The heel plate and the toe plate are slidably engaged to the size adjustment mechanism. The size adjustment mechanism is operatively integrated in between the heel plate and the toe plate, wherein the size adjustment mechanism elastically expands and contracts the upper, the midsole, and the outer sole.

Size adjustable footwear

Complex multidimensional datasets generated by digital imaging spectroscopy can be organized and analyzed by applying software and computer-based methods comprising sorting algorithms. Combinations of these algorithms to images and graphical data, allow pixels or features to be rapidly and efficiently classified into meaningful groups according to defined criteria. Multiple rounds of pixel or feature selection may be performed based on independent sorting criteria. In one embodiment sorting by spectral criteria (e.g., intensity at a given wavelength) is combined with sorting by temporal criteria (e.g., absorbance at a given time) to identify microcolonies of recombinant organisms harboring mutated genes encoding enzymes having desirable kinetic attributes and substrate specificity. Restriction of the set of pixels analyzed in a subsequent sort based on criteria applied in an earlier sort (&ldquo;sort and lock&rdquo; analyses) minimize computational and storage resources. User-defined criteria can also be incorporated into the sorting process by means of a graphical user interface that comprises a visualization tools including a contour plot, a sorting bar and a grouping bar, an image window, and a plot window that allow run-time interactive identification of pixels or features meeting one or more criteria, and display of their associated spectral or kinetic data. These methods are useful for extracting information from imaging data in applications ranging from biology and medicine to remote sensing.

Visualization and processing of multidimensional data using prefiltering and sorting criteria

The present invention provides an instrument and methods for a multispectral optical technique that can simultaneously classify individual biological cells within mixed populations. This invention, known as Multispectral Taxonomic Identification (MTID), shows that microscopy can be combined with a software analysis program to measure and categorize the fluorescence and other spectroscopically identifiable signals from complex populations of cells in situ, without cultivation. The invention thus enables high-throughput screening of cells for taxonomic classification.

Multispectral taxonomic identification

Imaging hardware, software, calibrants, and methods are provided to visualize and quantitate the amount of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) occurring between donor and acceptor molecules in epifluorescence microscopy. The MicroFRET system compensates for overlap among donor, acceptor, and FRET spectra using well characterized fluorescent beads as standards in conjunction with radiometrically calibrated image processing techniques. The MicroFRET system also provides precisely machined epifluorescence cubes to maintain proper image registration as the sample is illuminated at the donor and acceptor excitation wavelengths. Algorithms are described that pseudocolor the image to display pixels exhibiting radiometrically-corrected fluorescence emission from the donor (blue), the acceptor (green) and FRET (red). The method is demonstrated on samples exhibiting FRET between genetically engineered derivatives of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) bound to the surface of Ni chelating beads by histidine-tags.

Calibration of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in microscopy

The invention pertains to a high resolution imaging microscope, and more specifically, to a digital imaging spectrophotometer (DIS) configured to enable the direct determination of the ground state absorption spectra of microscopic samples from violet to near infrared. The instrument is capable of simultaneously recording hundreds of spectra, and can, using image processing techniques identify features (such as a single microbial cell) on a microscope slide or thin section. The invention additionally relates to the use of such an instrument.

High resolution imaging microscope (HIRIM) and uses thereof

A MicroColonyImager instrument and solid phase methods to screen cells expressing mutagenized enzymes for enhanced activity. The MicroColonyImager instrument and methods permit high throughput screening of enzyme libraries by time course analyses of single-pixels, using either absorption, fluorescence or FRET. This high throughput assay can detect small differences in enzyme rates within microcolonies grown at a nearly confluent density on an assay disk. Each microcolony is analyzed simultaneously at single-pixel resolution, requiring less than 100 ml substrate/measurement. By simultaneously assaying different substrates tagged with spectrally distinct chromogenic or fluorogenic reporters, the substrate specificity of an enzyme can be changed.

Solid phase enzyme kinetics screening in microcolonies

An optical instrument for use in collecting light from an object, the optical instrument having a post-objective waist with a variable optical filter positioned approximately at the post-objective waist. The invention also comprises an optical instrument for collecting light from an object, comprising an objective lens positioned to receive light from the object, an exit lens positioned to focus the light at a focal position, and a variable optical filter positioned between the objective lens and the focal position approximately at a waist of the light. The optical instrument may be an epifluorescence microscope for use in observing an image formed from light from an object under illumination by a light source. The light source may be, for example, a filtered light source or a monochromatic light source, preferably in an epifluorescence configuration. The variable optical filter may be a circular variable interference filter or a tilting interference filter. In some embodiments, the orientation of the filter may be varied to block light outside of one band at one time and outside of another band at another time. The variable filter preferably is band pass, blocking substantially all light at wavelengths other than a selected wavelength band.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Mary M Yang