Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2002-03-05
Ketter, James (Department: 1636)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
C435S252310, C435S306100, C435S261000, C435S308100, C204S547000, C204S643000, C536S023100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06352838
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) method of trapping and collecting a biological sample, processing the sample, and analyzing the result to detect and identify the sample. The invention is useful for the detection of biological warfare agents, hazardous bacteria in agricultural products and prepared food, genetic-based biomedical assays, and mapping DNA of the human genome.
2. Description of Related Art
Dielectrophoresis (DEP)has been used very successfully by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to separate various types of cells, such as cancerous from non-cancerous cells [F. F. Becker, X.-B. Wang, Y. Huang, R. Pethig, J. Vykoukal, and P. R. C. Gascoyne, “The Removal of Human Leukemia Cells from Blood Using Interdigitated Microelectrodes,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 27 (1994) 2659]. In addition, they have demonstrated the use of DEP to concentrate DNA in specified regions. In other work, a Japanese group has demonstrated manipulation of DNA in solution [Morishima et al., “Microflow System and Transportation of DNA Molecule by Dielectrophoretic Force Utilizing the Conformal Transition if the Higher Structure of DNA Molecule”, IEEE 0-7803-3744-1, 1997].
Such DEP separation process as involve applying an alternating electric field through a series of interdigitated electrodes. By choosing an appropriate excitation frequency, specific cells or particles (DNA in our case) become trapped in the high field gradient regions at the electrode tips. Other particles can then be flushed out of the system, leaving the attracted particles of interest behind for subsequent collection. The University of Texas group has demonstrated this procedure for the removal of human leukemia cells(x) from blood (o) as in
FIG. 2
[F. F. Becker, X.-B. Wang, Y. Huang, R. Pethig, J. Vykoukal, and P. R. C. Gascoyne, “The Removal of Human Leukemia Cells from Blood Using Interdigitated Microelectrodes,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 27 (1994) 2659].
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to detect and identify biological agents.
It is a further object of this invention to assist in mapping the human genome and other genetic-based biomedical assays by allowing a fully automated microsystem based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
It is still another object of this invention to detect hazardous bacteria in agricultural products and prepared food.
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Balch Joseph W.
Gascoyne Peter R. C.
Krulevitch Peter A.
Mariella Raymond P.
Miles Robin R.
Ketter James
The Regents of the Universtiy of California
Thompson Alan H.
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