Other

Union Biometrica, Inc.

Point Care Technologies

Union Biometrica Technology Holdings, Inc.

Petra B Krauledat

W Peter Hansen

Donald Francis Perrault, Jr

Russell J Gershman

Anthony A Ferrante

This invention relates to the field of biological assays where cells can be classified and enumerated using flow cytometry optical instrumentation. The invention combines information from multi-angle, light scatter from the cell itself and multi-angle light scatter from small, optically resonant particles that are selectively bound to surface molecules on the cell to carry out classification and enumeration. This light scatter method enables an instrumentation system that is simple to use, inexpensive to build, and mechanically robust; making it suitable for use in remote clinical environments.

Enhanced cellular assay method for use in flow cytometry or similar instruments using optically resonant particles

A method of using elongate multicellular organisms in conjunction with a specialized flow cytometer for drug discovery and compound screening. A stable, optically detectable linear marker pattern on each organism is used to construct a longitudinal map of each organism as it passes through the analysis region of the flow cytometer. This pattern is used to limit complex data analysis to particular regions of each organism thereby simplifying and speeding analysis. The longitudinal marker pattern can be used to alter signal detection modes at known regions of the organism to enhance sensitivity and overall detection effectiveness. A repeating pattern can also be used to add a synchronous element to data analysis. The marker patterns are established using known methods of molecular biology to express various indicator molecules. Inherent features of the organism can be rendered detectable to serve as marker patterns.

System for axial pattern analysis of multicellular organisms

A device and a method enable the rapid, quantitative evaluation of a large collection of ligands for binding affinity with a certain immobilized receptor, the improvements being that binding pan be detected without the need for a label and that binding is carried out in solution phase at a high rate. The instrument has at least two embodiments, one is based on a sensitive absorption photometer and the other on a sensitive light scatter photometer operating at a specific resonance wavelength, &lgr; , of small, metallic, colloidal particles. The resonance is present in small particles having a complex refractive index with real part n(&lgr;) approaching 0 and imaginary part k(&lgr;) approaching 2 simultaneously at a specific wavelength &lgr; . The particles are substantially spherical and substantially smaller than &lgr; . The receptor is immobilized on a suspension of such particles and ligand binding is detected by a change in optical absorption or light scatter at the resonance wavelength.

Binding assays using optical resonance of colloidal particles

A homogeneous method of measuring chemical binding relies on resonant, or 'amplified,' optical extinction (light scattering plus absorption) from a defined, specific class of colloidal particles wherein the real term n of the complex refractive index n-ik approaches zero while the imaginary term k approaches .sqroot.2. Chemical binding partners are coated onto the particles, which either aggregate or disperse during the binding reaction, causing an optical extinction change at one wavelength that is quantitatively related to the number of single colloidal particles and another at a second wavelength that is quantitatively related to the number of doublet colloidal particles. The method employs: (1) a specific class of colloidal particles that exhibit optical resonance and that are substantially smaller in diameter than a wavelength of visible light; (2) a one-step process of colloidal particle aggregation; and (3) a photometric extinction measurement at wavelengths where the particles exhibit optical resonance.

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Canaan, NY, United States of America

Petra B Krauledat