Marc L Pusey

US Patent:

7291459, Nov 6, 2007

Filed:

Dec 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/315826

Inventors:

Marc L. Pusey - Huntsville AL, US
Krishnan K. Chittur - Huntsville AL, US
Jeffrey J. Dowell - Laceys Spring AL, US
Joseph D. Ng - Huntsville AL, US

Assignee:

University of Alabama at Huntsville - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

C12Q 1/68

US Classification:

435 6

Abstract:

A nucleic acid detector and a method of using the detector are disclosed for detecting the presence of target nucleic acid sequences within a sample. The nucleic acid detector comprises a substrate-bound, hairpin-shaped nucleic acid captor in conjunction with a labeled universal nucleic acid detector probe. The captor has a segment that is complementary to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid and is denatured and hybridized to the target under test conditions. Hybridization of the captor to the target maintains the captor in an open conformation which exposes an end portion of the captor to the universal detector probe. The detector probe is able to hybridize with the exposed end portion of the captor if the captor has hybridized with a target. The labeled detector probe is detectable by external detection methods. Detector probes having identical universal detector probe sequences may be used to identify the presence of multiple targets having various target sequences within a sample.

US Patent:

20080225265, Sep 18, 2008

Filed:

Mar 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/725114

Inventors:

Marc L. Pusey - Huntsville AL, US
Elizabeth L. Minamitani - Lacey's Spring AL, US
Takahisa Minamitani - Lacey's Spring AL, US

Assignee:

MI Research, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

G01N 21/01

US Classification:

356 30

Abstract:

A system and method for determining macromolecule crystallization conditions by measuring the polarization anisotropy of a fluorescent probe attached to the macromolecule in solution as a function of a variation in crystallization conditions. In one exemplary embodiment, the concentration of the macromolecule material is varied and the polarization anisotropy as a function of concentration gives an indication of the proximity to crystallization conditions. A pulse illumination system with time gated detection is disclosed to isolate fluorescence response from excitation to reduce noise due to scattered and reflected light. A microassay system is disclosed to allow a complete 96 condition screen with less than 1 micro-liter of solution.

US Patent:

50789759, Jan 7, 1992

Filed:

Dec 18, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/629740

Inventors:

Percy H. Rhodes - Huntsville AL
Robert S. Snyder - Huntsville AL
Marc L. Pusey - Huntsville AL

Assignee:

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

International Classification:

C30B 702

US Classification:

422253

Abstract:

This invention relates to a crystal growth apparatus (10) generally used for growing protein crystals wherein a vapor diffusion method is used for growing the crystals. In this apparatus, a precipitating solution and a solution containing dissolved crystalline material are stored in separate vials (12, 14), each having a resilient diaphragm (28) across one end and an opening (24) with a puncturable septum (26) thereacross at an opposite end. The vials are placed in receptacles (30) having a manifold (41) with a manifold diaphragm (42) in contact with the vial diaphragm at one end of the receptacle and a hollow needle (36) for puncturing the septum at the other end of the manifold. The needles of each vial communicate with a ball mixer (40) that mixes the precipitate and protein solutions and directs the mixed solution to a drop support (64) disposed in a crystal growth chamber (16), the drop support being a tube with an inner bevelled surface (66) that provides more support for the drop (68) than the tubes of the prior art. A sealable storage region (70) intermediate the drop support and mixer provides storage of the drop (68) and the grown crystals.

US Patent:

49335588, Jun 12, 1990

Filed:

Jan 31, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/304155

Inventors:

Daniel C. Carter - Huntsville AL
William K. Witherow - Huntsville AL
Marc L. Pusey - Huntsville AL
Vaughn H. Yost - Huntsville AL

Assignee:

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

International Classification:

G01N 2320
H05B 3300

US Classification:

2503272

Abstract:

A radiation sensitive area detection device is disclosed which comprises a phosphor-containing film capable of receiving and storing an image formed by a pattern of incoming X-rays, UV, or other radiation falling on the film and capable of fluorescing in response to stimulation by a light source in a manner directly proportional to the stored radiation pattern; a light source capable of projecting light or other appropriate electromagnetic wave on the film so as to cause it to fluoresce; means, such as a lens, to focus the fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film after light stimulation; and at least one charged coupled detector or other detecting element capable of receiving and digitizing the pattern of fluoresced light coming from the phosphor-containing film. The device of the present invention will be able to generate superior X-ray images of high resolution from a crystal or other sample, and will be particularly advantageous in that instantaneous near real time images of rapidly deteriorating samples can be obtained. Further, the device can be made compact and sturdy, thus capable of carrying out X-ray or other radiation imaging under a variety of conditions, including those experienced in space.