Enrico Living Gratton

US Patent:

6603546, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Jul 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/621248

Inventors:

Beniamino Barbieri - Champaign IL
Enrico Gratton - Urbana IL

Assignee:

I.S.S. (USA) Inc. - Champaign IL

International Classification:

G01N 2164

US Classification:

356318, 356417, 2504581

Abstract:

A fluorescence spectrometer comprises a laser and at least one beam splitter positioned to receive a light beam from the laser and to divide it into several first light beam portions. Dichroic mirrors are positioned to separately receive the first light beam portions and to reflect the beam portions at an angle to the first light beam portions. Transparent chambers are provided for holding the samples. Objective lens systems are respectively positioned in the path of the reflected beam portions to respectively focus each reflected beam portion to a point within one of the separate transparent chambers. Lenses are positioned to receive fluorescence from a sample for testing within the transparent chambers and to respectively focus the fluorescence at pin holes in opaque partitions. The lenses are positioned to receive the fluorescence, which passes back through the objective lens system and the dichroic mirror. Light detectors are each respectively positioned adjacent to one of the partitions, with one of the partitions respectively positioned between each of the lens and the light detectors to permit each light detector to sense fluorescence through the pin hole.

US Patent:

6794659, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Jun 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/454875

Inventors:

Beniamino Barbieri - Champaign IL
Enrico Gratton - Urbana IL

Assignee:

I.S.S. (USA) Inc. - Champaign IL

International Classification:

G01N 2164

US Classification:

2504591

Abstract:

A fluorescence spectrometer comprises a laser and at least one beam splitter positioned to receive a light beam from the laser and to divide it into several first light beam portions. Dichroic mirrors are positioned to separately receive the first light beam portions and to reflect the beam portions at an angle to the first light beam portions. Transparent chambers are provided for holding the samples. Objective lens systems are respectively positioned in the path of the reflected beam portions to respectively focus each reflected beam portion to a point within one of the separate transparent chambers. Lenses are positioned to receive fluorescence from a sample for testing within the transparent chambers and to respectively focus the fluorescence at pin holes in opaque partitions. The lenses are positioned to receive the fluorescence, which passes back through the objective lens system and the dichroic mirror. Light detectors are each respectively positioned adjacent to one of the partitions, with one of the partitions respectively positioned between each of the lens and the light detectors to permit each light detector to sense fluorescence through the pin hole.

US Patent:

7528384, May 5, 2009

Filed:

Jan 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/342273

Inventors:

Enrico Gratton - Urbana IL, US
Guido Motolese - Carroccio, IT
Abdel Tahari - Savoy IL, US

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL

International Classification:

G01N 21/64

US Classification:

2504612

Abstract:

The invention provides methods and devices for detecting, identifying, classifying and characterizing particles in a fluid sample. Optical analyzers are provided having a rotating and/or translating sample container for measuring the concentrations of fluorescent particles present in very low concentrations and for characterizing fluorescent particles on the basis of size, shape, diffusion constant and/or composition. Scanning optical analyzers are provided using pattern recognitions data analysis techniques and multichannel detection.

US Patent:

7973294, Jul 5, 2011

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/415004

Inventors:

Enrico Gratton - Urbana IL, US
Guido Motolese - Carroccio, IT
Abdel Tahari - Savoy IL, US

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois - Urbana IL

International Classification:

G01N 21/64

US Classification:

2504581

Abstract:

The invention provides methods and devices for detecting, identifying, classifying and characterizing particles in a fluid sample. Optical analyzers are provided having a rotating and/or translating sample container for measuring the concentrations of fluorescent particles present in very low concentrations and for characterizing fluorescent particles on the basis of size, shape, diffusion constant and/or composition. Scanning optical analyzers are provided using pattern recognitions data analysis techniques and multichannel detection.

US Patent:

8256898, Sep 4, 2012

Filed:

Jun 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/813423

Inventors:

Enrico Gratton - San Clemente CA, US
Kaveh Azartash - Laguna Hills CA, US
Luisa Marsili - Frascati, IT

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61B 3/14
A61B 3/10

US Classification:

351206, 351221, 351205

Abstract:

Tear film stability has an important role in the quality of vision. A system and method for performing Fluctuation Analysis of Spatial Image Correlation (FASIC) provides for a non-invasive system and method for evaluating the dynamics of the tear film surface using spatial autocorrelation analysis. With FASIC, a series of images are obtained using illumination and a camera. The spatial autocorrelation is calculated for image frames produced by the camera. A sinusoidal background appears in this correlation together with other features. The changes in the sinusoidal background of the spatial autocorrelation is extracted and monitored over time. The spatial period of this sinusoidal background correlates with the thickness of the tear film. In this regard, one is able to derive the tear film thickness from the period of this sinusoidal background.

US Patent:

8330123, Dec 11, 2012

Filed:

Jan 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/695244

Inventors:

Enrico Gratton - San Clemente CA, US
Enrico D'Amico - Frascati, IT

Assignee:

I.S.S. (USA), Inc. - Champaign IL

International Classification:

G01N 21/64

US Classification:

2504581, 2504591

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for improved fluorescence decay time measurement. A digital heterodyning technique is disclosed in which a photon detector is sampled at a rate slightly faster than a digitally pulsed excitation signal. A resulting cross correlation frequency is low enough to be read by inexpensive electronics such as by a field programmable gate array. Phase information in the signal provides correlation with corresponding photon detections.

US Patent:

20080009748, Jan 10, 2008

Filed:

May 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/749704

Inventors:

Enrico Gratton - San Clemente CA, US
Shwayta Kukreti - Irvine CA, US
Albert Cerussi - Lake Forest CA, US
Bruce Tromburg - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Okland CA

International Classification:

A61B 6/00

US Classification:

600475000, 600473000

Abstract:

The illustrated embodiment is an improvement in a method of optically analyzing tissue in vivo in an individual to obtain a unique spectrum for the tissue of the individual, the improvement including the steps of optically measuring the tissue of the individual to obtain a spectrum of an optical parameter, and identifying a spectral signature specific to a metabolic or physiologic state in the tissue of the individual with a unique spectrum for the tissue by considering only the spectral differences between a first metabolic or physiologic state of the tissue of the individual and one or more other metabolic or physiologic states of the tissue of the individual such that identification of the spectral signature is self-referencing with respect to intra-individual metabolic or physiologic variations. The method also includes separating benign and malignant lesions only using the shape or a characteristic of the spectrum.

US Patent:

20120250000, Oct 4, 2012

Filed:

Mar 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/435387

Inventors:

Luca Lanzano - Irvine CA, US
Michelle Digman - Irvine CA, US
Enrico Gratton - San Clemente CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G01C 3/08
G01B 11/24

US Classification:

356 51

Abstract:

An optical imaging method based on a feedback principle in which the specific scan pattern is adapted according to the shape of the sample. The feedback approach produces nanometer-resolved three dimensional images of very small and moving features in live cells and in a matter of seconds. Images of microvilli in live cultured opossum kidney cells expressing NaPi co-transporter proteins with different GFP constructs and images of cell protrusions in a collagen matrix are produced with a resolution of about 20 nm. Along cell protrusions in three dimensional cellular adhesions could be identified to the extracellular matrix.