Microchip Biotechnologies secures patent rights from Pathwork Diagnostics

Microchip Biotechnologies, Inc. has announced that it has secured key patent rights from Pathwork Diagnostics for sample injection structures in microfluidic separations.

The pending patent relates to improved sample injection structures and methods for defining accurate volumes of material for microfluidic separations. Financial terms of the transaction were not released.

"The addition of this intellectual property to our patent portfolio builds upon our strong patent position in microfluidic devices for life science, applied sciences, and diagnostic products," said Dr. Stevan Jovanovich, President and CEO of MBI. "Microfluidic devices will play a critical role in next-generation instrumentation to deliver fully automated, cost effective solutions for laboratory and field based applications."

The acquired pending patent was held previously by Predicant Biosciences, which in a June 2006 merger became Pathwork Diagnostics, a genomics-based diagnostics company focused on oncology.