Nanogen Issued Two Patents Related to Permeation Layer Technology
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGEN - news) announced today that it has recently been issued two additional patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office relating to the Company's permeation layer technology. The permeation layer provides an attachment mechanism for DNA molecules and separates the bioassay from the electrodes, thereby reducing the adverse effects of electrolysis products. Nanogen has had twelve patents issued year-to-date, bringing the Company's total number of issued patents to 33 in the United States and 18 abroad.
``Both these patents strengthen our proprietary position with regard to our core technology,'' said Randy White, Chief Executive Officer of Nanogen. ``We believe that electronic addressing and hybridization provide a key technological advantage for Nanogen in molecular analysis. The permeation layer technology makes electronic addressing and hybridization possible which enhances the consistency and sensitivity of the NanoChip® microarray. The permeation layer is an important factor in increasing the value of the NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation throughout the life sciences industry and we are pleased to have been granted additional patent protection.''
The patents issued are U.S. Patent No. 6,303,082, ``Permeation Layer Attachment Chemistry and Method'', issued on October 16, 2001 and U.S. Patent No. 6,306,348, ``Inorganic Permeation Layer for Microelectronic Devices'', issued October 23, 2001. Both patents relate to the systematic design and manufacture of permeation layers for use with electronic arrays. The '082 patent describes methods to covalently bond the permeation layer to the surface of the electrode, which improves the mechanical robustness of the system. The '348 patent protects the use of thin films of porous inorganic materials as permeation layers. Such materials permit a detailed control of the pore structure and size in the films... |
