Signal Encoding And Decoding In Multiplexed Biochemical Assays
Patent No. US12168797 (titled "Signal Encoding And Decoding In Multiplexed Biochemical Assays") was filed by California Institute Of Technology on Jul 13, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’797 is related to the field of multiplexed analyte detection , specifically improving the throughput of assays that identify multiple targets in a single sample. Traditional multiplexed assays rely on spectrally resolved fluorescence or spatially resolved signals, which can be complex and expensive. This patent addresses the need for simpler, more cost-effective methods for detecting multiple analytes simultaneously in a single solution, without requiring immobilization, separation, or complex analysis techniques like mass spectrometry or melting curve analysis.
The underlying idea behind ’797 is to encode each analyte with a unique combination of signal characteristics , such as intensity and wavelength, such that the cumulative signal from multiple analytes can be decoded to determine the presence or absence of each individual analyte. This is achieved by assigning specific intensity values at different wavelengths to each analyte, creating a coding scheme that allows for unambiguous detection even when multiple analytes are present in the same sample. The key inventive insight is to leverage multiple components of a signal to increase the number of detectable analytes beyond the number of spectrally resolvable probes.
The claims of ’797 focus on a system for multiplexed analyte detection that includes a sample chamber, a multi-channel detector, and a processor-controlled analyzer. The multi-channel detector measures electromagnetic signals at multiple wavelengths, corresponding to different fluorophores. The processor then applies a decoding matrix to the cumulative signal to determine the presence or absence of each analyte. The claims also cover a reaction mixture comprising a plurality of non-immobilized hybridization probes, wherein at least one of the probes is conjugated to two fluorophores that emit light at different wavelengths when excited by a light source.
In practice, the invention works by first encoding each target analyte with a specific code consisting of a combination of signal intensities at different wavelengths. When a sample containing multiple analytes is analyzed, the resulting signal is a cumulative measurement of the intensities at each wavelength. The decoding matrix then translates this cumulative measurement back into the presence or absence of each individual analyte. This approach allows for a higher degree of multiplexing than traditional methods, as it utilizes the full coding capacity of the available signal components.
The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by enabling high-throughput multiplexing without the need for complex sample preparation or analysis steps . Unlike methods that rely on spatial separation or sequential processing, this invention allows for simultaneous detection in a single solution. Furthermore, the use of a decoding matrix and the ability to eliminate degeneracy in the coding scheme ensures accurate and unambiguous detection of multiple analytes, even in complex samples. The system can be implemented using standard laboratory equipment, making it accessible and cost-effective.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’797 was filed, multiplexed reactions at a time when X was typically implemented using spectrally resolved fluorescence or chemiluminescence, spatially resolved signals, temporally resolved signals, or combinations thereof. There was a need for multiplexed reactions that can be carried out in a single solution.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because, while the claims recite judicial exceptions, the combination of experimental limitations in addition to the judicial exceptions are not routine and conventional in the prior art. The claims are free of the prior art because the prior art does not teach experimentally decoding electromagnetic signals to determine the presence and absence patterns of analytes using the equation and values input into the equation recited in the claims.
Claims
This patent contains 30 claims, with independent claims 1, 19, and 22. The independent claims are directed to a system and a reaction mixture for detecting the presence or absence of analytes using fluorophores and a decoding matrix. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the elements and configurations described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12168797
- Application Number
- US18352112
- Filing Date
- Jul 13, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Feb 1, 2033
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents