SAN DIEGO, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nanogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGEN - News), developer of advanced diagnostic products, announced today that it has been granted United States Patent No. 7,060,224 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for an application of its core technology in nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing. Potential uses of the technology range from further miniaturization of the company’s microarray testing platforms to potential applications in integrated electronics and photonics, photovoltaics, fuel cells, and batteries.
“The ‘224 patent demonstrates the underlying strength and robustness of our basic electronic microarray technology and our commitment to continuing fundamental R&D to protect our strong IP position in the nascent and growing field of nanotechnology,” said Howard C. Birndorf, Nanogen chairman and chief executive officer.
Covered by the patent are nanofabrication applications of Nanogen’s proprietary “electronic addressing” microarray employed in the company’s NanoChip® 400 system for molecular diagnostic applications. The patent describes a technology by which both nanoscale and microscale components can be manipulated and selectively positioned to achieve a desired structure in a rapid and cost-effective manner. The non-mechanical “pick and place” technology allows the placement of components at targeted positions on a microarray template which can then be linked together in a specific and directed manner.
“It’s currently relatively easy to make various types of nanoparticles, but it’s hard to put different kinds of nanoparticles and other nanocomponents together,” said Michael J. Heller, a co-founder of Nanogen and professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. “And it’s even harder to combine nanoparticles with components of other size scales, like you would need to do in order to build an integrated sensor device, for example, that could circulate within the body, detecting disease and releasing medication as appropriate. The non-mechanical ‘pick and place’ allows for this type of integrated assembly.”
Nanogen has an extensive portfolio of intellectual property relating to integrated assembly of molecular structures through the use of electric field microfabrication technology. The ‘224 patent builds on that portfolio and relates specifically to a process in which nano, micro and macro components are attached to one another through solder reflow following electroosmostic positioning.
The technology is particularly applicable to manufacturing of photovoltaic devices, fuel cells and batteries, as well as various hybrid-integrated components including flat panel displays, wireless/RF integrated devices, lab on a chip devices, microcantilever sensor devices, atomic force microscope devices, integrated MEMS/optical/microelectronic devices, integrated microscopic analytical and diagnostic devices, and compact, handheld medical diagnostic devices and systems. The technology can also be used to manufacture the company’s core microarray testing platforms.
“Fabricating complex integrated devices right now usually requires that each component be built separately and then assembled. Interfaces that integrate function across the various components can be difficult to achieve,” said Heller. “Using the non-mechanical ‘pick and place’ technology described in the ‘224 patent facilitates integrated assembly of these complex structures.”
For information about licensing opportunities, contact Nanogen.
About Nanogen, Inc.
Nanogen’s advanced technologies provide researchers, clinicians and physicians worldwide with improved methods and tools to predict, diagnose, and ultimately help treat disease. The company’s products include real-time PCR reagents, the NanoChip® electronic microarray platform and a line of rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests. Nanogen’s ten years of pioneering research involving nanotechnology holds the promise of miniaturization and continues to be supported for its potential for diagnostic and biodefense applications. For additional information please visit Nanogen’s website at www.nanogen.com.
Nanogen Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including whether patents owned or licensed by Nanogen will be developed into products, whether the patents owned by Nanogen offer any protection against competitors with competing technologies, whether products under development can be successfully developed and commercialized, whether results reported by our customers or partners can be identically replicated, and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the caption “Factors That May Affect Results” and elsewhere in Nanogen’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Nanogen disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Source: Nanogen, Inc.
