Mary Yang

US Patent:

6456734, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/092316

Inventors:

Douglas C. Youvan - San Jose CA
Christopher M. Silva - Sunnyvale CA
Edward J. Bylina - San Jose CA
William J. Coleman - Moutain View CA
Michael R. Dilworth - Santa Cruz CA
Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Kairos Scientific, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382128, 382100, 382132, 382133

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6738502, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jun 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/585951

Inventors:

William Coleman - Mountain View CA
Michael A. Tanner - Hayward CA
Christopher M. Silva - Sunnyvale CA
Edward Bylina - San Jose CA
Steven J. Robles - San Jose CA
Michael R. Dilworth - Santa Cruz CA
Douglas C. Youvan - San Jose CA
Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Kairos Scientific, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382133, 382167, 382191, 382287

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

58524983, Dec 22, 1998

Filed:

Apr 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/833351

Inventors:

Douglas C. Youvan - San Jose CA
Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA

Assignee:

KAIROS Scientific Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G01N 2164

US Classification:

356417

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

59142456, Jun 22, 1999

Filed:

Jun 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/098202

Inventors:

Edward J. Bylina - San Jose CA
William J. Coleman - Mountain View CA
Michael R. Dilworth - Santa Cruz CA
Christopher M. Silva - Sunnyvale CA
Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA
Douglas C. Youvan - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Kairos Scientific Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

C12Q 144
C12Q 137
C12Q 154
C12Q 100

US Classification:

435 19

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

45142785, Apr 30, 1985

Filed:

Jan 14, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/457992

Inventors:

James B. Stephens - LaCrescenta CA
Mary M. Yang - Berkeley CA
Eric G. Laue - San Marino CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 2746

US Classification:

204430

Abstract:

A solid electrolytic type hygrometer is described, which operates with high reliability while providing rapid and sensitive response. A gold foil electrode (16) is wrapped about a hollow glass cylinder (18), a sheet (12) of hygroscopic-electrolytic material is wrapped about the foil, and a wire (14) is wound around the outside of the electrolytic sheet. Moisture passing between wire turns can be absorbed by the electrolytic material (12), and then dissociated by current passed by the electrodes (14, 16) through the electrolytic material. The cylinder has a slit (20) extending along its length, to allow resilient expansion to press the sheet of electrolytic material firmly against the electrodes. The wire turns lie against one another to cause rapid dissociation of moisture throughout the electrolytic material. Additional guard wires (42,44, FIG.

US Patent:

58597000, Jan 12, 1999

Filed:

Nov 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/562272

Inventors:

Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Kairos Scientific, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G01J 300

US Classification:

356300

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

61606170, Dec 12, 2000

Filed:

Jan 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/229462

Inventors:

Mary M. Yang - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Kairos Scientific, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G01J 300

US Classification:

356300

Abstract:

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.