MR. MICHAEL ANTHONY AKONG, M.P.H., L.AC.
Acupuncture at Loker Ave, Carlsbad, CA

6372183, Apr 16, 2002

Jun 6, 1997

08/870537

Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Michael Miller Harpold - El Cajon CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
Paul Brust - San Diego CA

Merck Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

G01N 2164

422 63, 422 67, 422 8208, 436 43, 436 50, 436164, 436172

Automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening procedures are provided. The apparatus is capable of initiating and measuring rapid or transient events, such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. In particular, the apparatus is capable of aligning with predetermined positions, one or more samples contained in a multi-well container, initiating the reaction with reagent addition and measuring a resultant attribute for a period of time. The apparatus can substantially continuously measure and record data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event may be determined. After the reaction(s) are complete in one or more wells of the multi-well container, the apparatus can align one or more different wells to be assayed with the predetermined position and repeat the cycle until a predetermined number of wells are assayed. Automated drug screening methods employing the apparatus are also provided for screening for compounds which activate, inhibit or potentiate cellular ion channel or receptor activity.

5670113, Sep 23, 1997

Jun 20, 1994

8/244985

Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Michael Miller Harpold - El Cajon CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
Paul Brust - San Diego CA

SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc. - La Jolla CA

G01N 2164, G01J 342

422 63

Automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening and for studying ion channel and cell surface receptor activity are provided. The apparatus is designed to initiate and measure rapid or transient events, such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. The apparatus can effect measurements of transient reactions in or more samples in a multi-well container, initiate the reaction with reagent addition and measure a resulting attribute of the sample for a period of time. The apparatus is capable of substantially continuously measuring and recording data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event is determined. Automated drug screening methods and methods for studying receptor and ion channel activity using the apparatus are also provided. The drug screening assays identify compounds that activate, inhibit or potentiate cellular ion channel or receptor activity.

6127133, Oct 3, 2000

Apr 18, 1994

8/229150

Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Michael Miller Harpold - San Diego CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
Paul Brust - San Diego CA

Sibia Neurosciences, Inc. - La Jolla CA

G01N 3353, G01N 33566, G01N 1506, C12P 2106

435 72

Automated drug screening method and a method of studying receptor and ion-channel activity are provided.

6800452, Oct 5, 2004

Aug 8, 1994

08/287358

John Austin McNeil - La Mesa CA
Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Donald James Mierzeski - La Jolla CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
David Philip Karlton - San Diego CA

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

C12Q 102

435 29, 4352887

An automated detection system includes a robotic fluid handling system for performing a plurality of assays; a detection system for imaging the assays as they are performed; and a computer control, data acquisition, and data analysis system for controlling the operation of the fluid-handling and detection system and for collecting and analyzing imaging data. The automated detection system comprises a pipettor for simultaneously distributing a predetermined amount of a liquid and a signal-generating element to each of the plurality of wells; an excitation source for simultaneously exposing the wells to excitation radiation; a detector for simultaneously detecting signal emitted from each of the wells over a period of time comprising a single imager for optically imaging the plurality of wells simultaneously; and computerized controller for simultaneously coordinating the pipettor, the excitation source, and the detector. Further, a method for performing simultaneous assays includes the steps of simultaneously distributing a predetermined amount of a liquid solution to each of a plurality of samples, simultaneously exposing the wells to excitation radiation, simultaneously detecting signals emitted from the wells using a detector comprising a single imaging means, and simultaneously controlling and coordinating the distribution, excitation, and detection using a computerized controller.

6746864, Jun 8, 2004

Jun 5, 1995

08/465354

John Austin McNeil - La Mesa CA
Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Donald James Mierzeski - La Jolla CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
David Philip Karlton - San Diego CA

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA
Merck Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

C12M 134

4352887, 435 29, 435 4

An automated detection system includes a robotic fluid handling system for performing assays on the plurality of test samples; a detection system for imaging the assays as they are performed; and a computer control, data acquisition, and data analysis system for controlling the operation of the detection system and for collecting and analyzing imaging data. The automated detection system comprises a pipettor for simultaneously distributing a predetermined amount of a reagent to each of the plurality of samples containing a fluorescent dye or other indicator moiety; an excitation source for simultaneously exciting a fluorescent reaction of the fluorescent dye indicating the intensity of reaction between a sample and the reagent in each of the sample wells; a detector for detecting signal produced by the reaction in each of the sample wells over a period of time comprising a single CCD scanning device for optically scanning the plurality of samples simultaneously; and computerized controller for simultaneously coordinating the pipettor, the excitation source, and the detector.

6057114, May 2, 2000

May 4, 1995

8/434511

Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA
Michael Miller Harpold - El Cajon CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA
Paul Brust - San Diego CA

Sibia Neurosciences, Inc. - La Jolla CA

G01N 33533

435 721

Automated assays for detecting and measuring ion channel and cell surface receptor activity and for identifying compounds that modulate or potentiate such activity are provided. Among the assays are fluorescent indicator-based assays that use cells containing effective levels of a fluorescent indicator that is responsive to changes in ion concentration. Activation of the ion channels or receptors is initiated in the automated measurement apparatus by injection into one or more predetermined cell-containing wells of a reagent which is a known or possible activator or inhibitor of the ion channels or receptors of interest. The resulting activity of the ion channels or receptors, which causes changes in ion concentration in the cytoplasm, is determined by measurement of fluorescence intensity changes of the indicator in response to an excitation wavelength.

7427380, Sep 23, 2008

May 3, 2004

10/836425

John A. McNeil - La Mesa CA, US
Michael Anthony Akong - San Diego CA, US
Donald James Mierzeski - San Diego CA, US
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA, US
David Philip Karlton - San Diego CA, US

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA
Merck & Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

B01L 3/00

422102, 436 50

An automated detection system includes a robotic fluid handling system for performing a plurality of assays; a detection system for imaging the assays as they are performed; and a computer control, data acquisition, and data analysis system for controlling the operation of the fluid-handling and detection system and for collecting and analyzing imaging data. The automated detection system comprises a pipettor for simultaneously distributing a predetermined amount of a liquid and a signal-generating element to each of the plurality of wells; an excitation source for simultaneously exposing the wells to excitation radiation; a detector for simultaneously detecting signal emitted from each of the wells over a period of time comprising a single imager for optically imaging the plurality of wells simultaneously; and computerized controller for simultaneously coordinating the pipettor, the excitation source, and the detector. Further, a method for performing simultaneous assays includes the steps of simultaneously distributing a predetermined amount of a liquid solution to each of a plurality of samples, simultaneously exposing the wells to excitation radiation, simultaneously detecting signals emitted from the wells using a detector comprising a single imaging means, and simultaneously controlling and coordinating the distribution, excitation, and detection using a computerized controller.

5981193, Nov 9, 1999

Nov 30, 1992

7/938154

Michael Miller Harpold - El Cajon CA
Steven Bradley Ellis - San Diego CA
Paul Brust - San Diego CA
Michael Akong - San Diego CA
Gonul Velicelebi - San Diego CA

Sibia Neurosciences, Inc. - La Jolla CA

C07K 14705, C12N 510, C12N 1512

435 71

Human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits are described, as are methods for producing cells containing functional receptors employing such subunits. Also described are assay methods for determining the presence of functional HnAChRs in transfected cells, and for determining the agonist or antagonist activity of compounds with respect to such cells.