MICHAEL DAVID WILLIAMS
Pilots at Skwy Dr, Saint Paul, MN

6756225, Jun 29, 2004

Mar 1, 2001

09/797343

William Bedingham - Woodbury MN
Raj Rajagopal - Woodbury MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12M 122

4353051, 4352883, 4353054

Thin film culture devices are described that have positioning structures, as well as methods for harvesting cells from colonies on the culture device based on location of colonies on the device relative to the positioning structures. In addition, a computer readable medium encoded with a computer program is described that identifies position of colonies relative to the positioning structures.

6787329, Sep 7, 2004

Nov 24, 1999

09/448633

Ai-Ping Wei - Woodbury MN
Michael George Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 137

435 23, 435 29, 530333

A method of biological assay comprises the steps of providing an enzyme substrate comprising two fluorescence dye groups bound to a flexible peptide, the dye groups being of proximity sufficiently close so as to allow free energy attractions to draw the dyes together to essentially self-quench fluorescence of the dye groups, wherein self quenching of fluorescence of the dye groups is effected by dye dimerization or stacking, and enzymatically cleaving the peptide to release the fluorescence dye groups from dye dimerization or stacking, thereby producing an increase in fluorescence intensity. A protease substrate for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed. This invention finds use in detection and identification of microorganisms, sterilization assurance, pharmaceutical discovery, enzyme assays, immunoassays, and other biological assays.

6391578, May 21, 2002

Apr 2, 2001

09/824160

Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN
Kurt J. Halverson - Lake Elmo MN
Gary E. Krejcarek - White Bear Lake MN
Ai-Ping Wei - Woodbury MN
James G. Berg - Lino Lakes MN
Peter D. Wickert - St. Paul MN
Clyde D. Calhoun - Stillwater MN
Mark K. Debe - Stillwater MN
Jean Qiu - Andover MA

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 106

435 39, 435 29, 435 31, 435 34, 4352883, 4352884

A method for partitioning an aqueous biological liquid sample into discrete microvolumes for detection and enumeration of microorganisms is described. The method involves distributing microvolumes of a sample to a plurality of hydrophilic liquid-retaining zones of a culture device, where each liquid-retaining zone is surrounded by a portion of a hydrophobic “land” area. Also disclosed are devices for carrying out these methods.

5958675, Sep 28, 1999

Apr 18, 1997

8/844145

James H. Wicks - Oakdale MN
Gary E. Krejcarek - White Bear Lake MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 170, C12Q 104, C12M 134

435 5

Bacteria are detected in a test sample by contacting the test sample with a bacteriophage that is capable of replicating in the bacteria, adding the resultant sample to a water-proof surface of a support for bacterial growth that contains a contrast-coloring dye and a precipitable dye, forming a bacterial lawn of a bacteria in which the bacteriophage can replicate on the support and detecting plaques on the bacterial lawn as an indication of the presence of the bacteria. The combination of precipitable dye and contrast-coloring dye improves visualization of plaques. A precipitate is formed in plaques by enzymatic cleavage of the precipitable dye by an enzyme of the bacterial lawn. A procedure for detecting bacteriophage is similar to that for detecting bacteria, except that a test sample suspected of containing bacteriophage is combined with bacteria in which the bacteriophage can replicate, and plaques detected indicate presence of the bacteriophage. The bacteria and bacteriophage detections are carried out with a disposable device containing at least one well having a water-proof surface and substantially vertical sides that extend at least 5 millimeters in height from the surface. A hydratable material containing the precipitable dye and the contrast-coloring dye is positioned on the water-proof surface.

5468847, Nov 21, 1995

Mar 10, 1994

8/209700

Steven M. Heilmann - Afton MN
Gary J. Drtina - Woodbury MN
Philip D. Eitzman - Lake Elmo MN
Louis C. Haddad - Mendota Heights MN
Frederick W. Hyde - New Brighton MN
Todd W. Johnson - Minneapolis MN
Jerald K. Rassmussen - Stillwater MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN

C07K 116, C07K 118, B01D 1508, B01D 6108

530413

The invention provides a method of separating a biomacromolecule which comprises the steps of providing a separation system including a filter element which comprises a composite filtration medium, the composite filtration medium comprising a filtration layer on the upstream surface of which are located insoluble stationary phase particulates, the particulates being capable of binding to a biomacromolecule or class of biomacromolecules, a reservoir containing a solution mixture comprising at least one biomacromolecule as solute, and a pump and associated tubing to form a closed loop assembly, and recirculation pumping the solution mixture through the filter cartridge so as to bind the at least one biomacromolecule to the stationary phase particulate so as to form a biomacromolecule:stationary phase particulate product. An eluting solution can be pumped through the closed loop assembly which is capable of reversing the biomacromolecule:stationary phase particulate product binding interaction so as to liberate the biomacromolecule.

6090541, Jul 18, 2000

Jul 9, 1999

9/350978

James H. Wicks - Oakdale MN
Gary E. Krejcarek - White Bear Lake MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 170, C12Q 104, C12M 134

435 5

The use of a precipitable dye and a contrast-coloring dye together enhance visualization of plaques in confluent lawns of bacteria in bacteriophage and bacteria assays. A test sample suspected of containing a bacteriophage is combined with bacteria capable of replicating the bacteriophage, and applied to a water-proof surface to form a support for bacterial growth. The support is provided with the contrast-coloring dye and precipitable dye, and nutrients and salts capable of supporting growth of the bacteria. A lawn of bacteria is formed on the support, and plaques detected on the lawn indicate presence of the bacteriophage. The plaques contain a precipitate formed by enzymatic cleavage of the precipitable dye by an enzyme of the bacterial lawn. A similar procedure is used for detecting bacteria, except that a test sample suspected of containing a bacteria is combined with bacteriophage capable of replicating in the bacteria, and plaques detected indicate presence of the bacteria. The bacteriophage and bacteria assays are carried out with a disposable device containing at least one well having a water-proof surface and a depth of about at least 5 millimeters.

2004009, May 13, 2004

Oct 31, 2003

10/698302

William Bedingham - Woodbury MN, US
Raj Rajagopal - Woodbury MN, US
Michael Williams - Vadnais Heights MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company

C12M001/34

435/286200, 435/287300, 435/288300, 435/305400, 435/309100, 382/133000

Thin film culture devices are described that have positioning structures, as well as methods for harvesting cells from colonies on the culture device based on location of colonies on the device relative to the positioning structures. In addition, a computer readable medium encoded with a computer program is described that identifies position of colonies relative to the positioning structures.

6291202, Sep 18, 2001

Aug 25, 2000

9/645952

Peter D. Wickert - St. Paul MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 104, C12Q 100

435 34

An assay device for detection and enumeration of microorganisms. The device includes absorbent discs on a substrate, an inoculation vehicle to inoculate the discs with sample and an optional coversheet. Methods of use are also disclosed.

6174699, Jan 16, 2001

Mar 9, 1999

9/264804

Peter D. Wickert - St. Paul MN
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q 104, C12Q 100, C12M 100

435 34

An assay device for detection and enumeration of microorganisms. The device includes absorbent discs on a substrate, an inoculation vehicle to inoculate the discs with sample and an optional coversheet. Methods of use are also disclosed.

6900028, May 31, 2005

Oct 10, 2002

10/268654

Peter D. Wickert - St. Paul MN, US
Michael G. Williams - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Christine A. Binsfeld - Woodbury MN, US

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

C12Q001/02

435 29, 435 34, 4352874, 4352877, 4352878, 4352883, 4352887

Disc assay devices and methods for the detection and enumeration of microorganisms are disclosed. The devices and methods include a plurality of discs attached to a substrate and a reflector on one surface of each of the discs to reflect electromagnetic energy of selected wavelengths after the energy has passed through the disc. The reflector may be useful to improve the accuracy of detection and/or enumeration of target microorganisms on the assay devices. A system for detecting and/or enumerating target microorganisms on disc assay devices is also provided.