Notice2023-18438
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 28, 2023
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentNational Institutes of Health
Abstract
The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and is available for licensing to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58590-58591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18438]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and is available for licensing to achieve expeditious
commercialization of results of federally-funded research and
development.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Licensing information may be obtained
by communicating with Vidita Choudhry, Ph.D., Office of Technology
Transfer and Development, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 31
Center Drive Room 4A29, MSC2479, Bethesda, MD 20892-2479; telephone:
301-594-4095; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#43352a272a37226d202b2c36272b313a032d2a2b6d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f29363b362b3e713c37302a3b372d261f31363771383029">[email protected]</span></a>. A signed Confidential
Disclosure Agreement may be required to receive any unpublished
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technology description follows.
Apparatus for Cryogenic-Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation
Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) is used to obtain high-
resolution structural images of macromolecular structures. Samples must
be purified and loaded onto cryo-EM grids before imaging. The ideal
cryo-EM grid consists of particles that are evenly and richly
distributed in a broad distribution of orientations throughout the
holes of the support film. Current techniques to prepare cryo-EM grids
are performed manually and require trial and error, resulting in a
bottleneck in cryo-EM workflows.
Researchers have developed a device and method for time-resolved
preparation of liquid samples for cryo-EM experiments. In particular,
the mixing and dispensation of liquid samples is achieved by electrical
signals that are transduced into specific acoustic frequencies to mix
the liquid samples (low frequency) and then dispense the mixture (high
frequency) in small, nanoliter volumes onto a cryo-EM grid. This novel
apparatus and method provides more precise control over liquid sample
mixing and dispensing, and improved dispensation of the mixture onto
the EM grid. Also, the improved quality of captured images of
homogeneous macromolecular structures is achieved due to a uniformly
mixed and dispensed sample on the EM grid. This allows electrons to be
transmitted through the very thin liquid film in the holes of the cryo-
EM grid to form an image.
Potential Commercial Applications
<bullet> Automation of cryo-EM experiments aimed at Structure-based
Drug Design by examining macromolecular structure and its interactions
with ligands.
<bullet> Kits with hardware and software components to setup
robotic automation of cryo-EM sample preparation, dispensation,
plunging and storage.
Competitive Advantages
<bullet> Automated workflow eliminates the guesswork out of cryo-EM
sample preparation.
<bullet> Increases sample prep success rate and decreases the need
to screen repeated trials.
<bullet> Using acoustic-based, multiple-sample mixing enables
homogeneous mixing and facilitates the observation of transient
molecular interactions with high time resolution.
<bullet> Python code is available for command and control of a
robot that manipulates the cryo-EM grid.
[[Page 58591]]
Development Stage
<bullet> Prototype.
Inventors
Venkata M. Dandey (NIEHS), Mario J. Borgnia (NIEHS), Wyatt Peele
(NIEHS), Tony J. Huang (Duke), and Kaichun Yang (Duke).
Intellectual Property
HHS Reference No. E-184-2023-0; U.S Provisional Patent Application
63/472,113 filed June 09, 2023.
Licensing Contact
Vidita Choudhry, Ph.D.; 301-594-4095; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c4dbd6dbc6d39cd1daddc7d6dac0cbf2dcdbda9cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cdbba4a9a4b9ace3aea5a2b8a9a5bfb48da3a4a5e3aaa2bb">[email protected]</span></a>. This
notice is made in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404.
Dated: August 22, 2023.
Vidita Choudhry,
Senior Technology Transfer Manager, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute, Office of Technology Transfer and Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-18438 Filed 8-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
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