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Applied Spectral Imaging receives color karyotyping patents
Over the past 10 months, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a series of patents for the color karyotyping technologies of Applied Spectral Imaging (Carlsbad, CA). The first, issued last August, was a broad-based patent for color karyotyping that is used in chromosome classification, including chromosome analysis, classification, and display methods used in the company's spectral karyotyping (SKY) system. The patent covers any device or algorithms designed to analyze and display chromosomes in color for the accurate identification of chromosome abnormalities.
Since then, the patent office has issued three related patents. The first covers the use of wide-band filters to classify pixels into groups by their spectra. The second covers a method for the spectral analysis of images, which works by resolving the spectrum through a translation of interferometers. The third, issued in February, is an additional reagent patent covering Applied Spectral Imaging's technology for DNA hybridization.
Color karyotyping is used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, genetic diseases, and other genetic disorders. SKY provides cytogeneticists with a color-coded method for identifying human and mouse chromosomes, translocations, and markers. Spectral's process of combining spectral imaging with optical microscopy stains each pair of chromosomes with a different color, making them clearly visible.
Robert Buckwald, president of Applied Spectral Imaging, says the patents represent "a major addition" to the company's patent portfolio. "Together, they effectively ensure that Applied Spectral Imaging will continue to dominate the color karyotyping market in the foreseeable future," he adds.—Robert Drummond
PHOTO COURTESY APPLIED SPECTRAL IMAGING
