> > "A method for soaking ligands into > macromolecule (e.g. protein) crystals (e.g. microcrystals) on EM (e.g. > TEM) grids is presented. One or more crystals on the grid are soaked > simultaneously using standard cryo-EM vitrification equipment." So, the > only claim of novelty is for soaking in the ligand in a specific way > after the crystals are placed on the grid.
The things to read are the claims (below). In fact, patent agents sometimes put misleading or vague blurb into the abstract and description to confuse competitors (I'm told) The first claim is the important one. The others are there in case they have to fall back onto them because the first claim is overruled by prior art. This patent is about introducing small molecules into crystals *on a grid. *I'm guessing that they may need to fall back onto at least claim 4, which is about blotting - in other words, this isn't much of an invention! __________________________________________ What is claimed is: l. A method of introducing a small molecule into a crystal of a macromolecule, comprising applying a first sample comprising the crystal of the macromolecule onto an electron microscopy (EM) grid; and contacting the crystal with a second sample comprising the small molecule to introduce the small molecule into the crystal. 2. The method of claim l, wherein the EM grid has a carbon side and a copper side, and wherein both said applying the first sample and said contacting with the second sample are on the carbon side. 3. The method of claim 2, lilrther comprising blotting the EM grid from the copper side alter applying said first sample but before contacting with said second sample. 4. The method of claim 2 or 3, further comprising blotting the EM grid from the copper side after contacting with said second sample. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising plunging the EM grid into a cryogenic liquid. The method of claim 5, wherein the cryogenic liquid is liquid ethane On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 7:07 PM Dale Tronrud <de...@daletronrud.com> wrote: > There are certainly a large number of bad patents being issued, > particularly in the US. The patent office here seems to have decided > that it is easier (for them) to just approve most every application and > let the courts filter out the bad ones, which requires years of work for > lawyers and boatloads of money. There is a serious need for reform of > the process. > > On the other hand, my experience with the technology transfer people > at the University of Oregon (when I used to work there) is that they, > (and most universities) are very careful to ensure the proposed patent's > utility and validity when making an application because the cost of > filing is quite high relative to their budget. > > The patent application in the current discussion begins with a > detailed description of techniques that we all have used for many years > and are obvious to us. This description, however, is just the > introduction to the patent and not a listing of the methods being > patented. The first section just gives the context in which the methods > should be considered. > > On page 7 there is the section "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE > INVENTION" and that description is "A method for soaking ligands into > macromolecule (e.g. protein) crystals (e.g. microcrystals) on EM (e.g. > TEM) grids is presented. One or more crystals on the grid are soaked > simultaneously using standard cryo-EM vitrification equipment." So, the > only claim of novelty is for soaking in the ligand in a specific way > after the crystals are placed on the grid. I'm not qualified to say if > this is actually novel and unobvious, but the application seems to me to > be very narrow and specific and NOT a blanket claim of performing > structural biology using electron scattering. > > Dale Tronrud > > On 7/28/2023 12:45 AM, Winter, Graeme (DLSLtd,RAL,LSCI) wrote: > > Interesting > > > > https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230228695.pdf > > <https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230228695.pdf> > > > > Patent for use of electron diffraction to assess ligand binding > > > > Stumbled across this because the patent application cites my work - felt > > that this would be of interest to the community > > > > … discuss? > > > > Graeme > > > > -- > > > > This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential, copyright and > > or privileged material, and are for the use of the intended addressee > > only. If you are not the intended addressee or an authorised recipient > > of the addressee please notify us of receipt by returning the e-mail and > > do not use, copy, retain, distribute or disclose the information in or > > attached to the e-mail. > > Any opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the individual > > and not necessarily of Diamond Light Source Ltd. > > Diamond Light Source Ltd. cannot guarantee that this e-mail or any > > attachments are free from viruses and we cannot accept liability for any > > damage which you may sustain as a result of software viruses which may > > be transmitted in or with the message. > > Diamond Light Source Limited (company no. 4375679). Registered in > > England and Wales with its registered office at Diamond House, Harwell > > Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United > Kingdom > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: > > https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 > > <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1> > > > > ######################################################################## > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: > https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 > > This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a > mailing list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are > available at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ > -- patr...@douglas.co.uk Douglas Instruments Ltd. Douglas House, East Garston, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 7HD, UK Directors: Patrick Shaw Stewart, Peter Baldock, Stefan Kolek http://www.douglas.co.uk Tel: 44 (0) 148-864-9090 US toll-free 1-877-225-2034 Regd. England 2177994, VAT Reg. GB 480 7371 36 ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a mailing list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are available at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/
