Nanogen, Inc.

Gamida for Life B.v.

Robert David Juncosa

Michael James Heller

Thomas R Jackson

James P O'Connell

Ronald George Sosnowski

Lei Wu

Robert H Cormack

William Frank Butler

A system for performing molecular biological diagnosis, analysis and multistep and multiplex reactions utilizes a selfaddressable, selfassembling microelectronic system for actively carrying out controlled reactions in microscopic formats. The device includes a power supply and waveform generator adapted to supply a DC bias and superimposed AC signal to the system through an interface to the array of microlocations.

Active programmable matrix devices

An optical detection system is adapted for detection of biological reactions. An excitation source illuminates a portion of an object to be examined, the portion preferably comprising one microlocation out of an array of microlocations. An intervening optical detection platform serves to direct the excitation radiation to the portion of the object to be illuminated. A detector receives the emitted radiation from the object to be examined, the detector being characterized in that the diameter of the region examined by the detector is the same as or smaller than the diameter of the illuminated region, and comprises less than the entire surface of the object to be examined, and most preferably images a whole or a part of a single microlocation. In operation, a microscopy system is formed in which the excitation radiation is substantially in focus at the surface of the object to be examined. In one aspect of this invention, the optical detection platform includes an excitation detector that measures reflected excitation radiation from the object to be examined. This information is compared to prestored information regarding the location of the microlocations and interstitial regions on the object to be examined, whereby alignment information is obtained. The excitation radiation may then be precisely directed to a given microlocation or portion thereof to perform the examining through the system.

Scanning optical detection system

A system for performing molecular biological diagnosis, analysis and multistep and multiplex reactions utilizes a selfaddressable, selfassembling microelectronic system for actively carrying out controlled reactions in microscopic formats. Preferably, a fluidic system flow a sample across an active area of the biochip, increasing diagnostic efficiency. Preferably, the fluidic system includes aflow cell having a window. Pulsed activation of the electrodes of the biochip are advantageously employed with the fluidic system, permitting more complete sampling of the materials within the biological sample. An improved detection system utilizes a preferably coaxially oriented excitation fiber, such as a fiber optic, disposed within a light guide, such as a liquid light guide. In this way, small geometry systems may be fluorescently imaged. A highly automated DNA diagnostic system results. Perturbation of the fluorescence signal during electronic denaturation is detailed and analyzed for analytical and diagnostic purposes. Such fluorescence perturbation information is combined with other information to provide improved analysis. DNA fingerprinting uses hybridizing DNA fragments of a given length and a capture sequence at a test site and then determining the level of reverse bias necessary to affect the hybridization, such as to dehybridize, and determine the length of the DNA.

Methods for hybridization analysis utilizing electrically controlled

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Robert David Juncosa