CombiMatrix Receives Patent for "Virtual Reactor" Biochip System

The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued CombiMatrix Corp. (Burlingame, CA), a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corp. (Pasadena, CA), a Notice of Allowance for the core patent on the company's biochip. The chip was developed by Donald Montgomery, CombiMatrix's founder and VP of research and development.

The CombiMatrix biochip system utilizes a unique buffering system to create "virtual reactors"—tiny chemical flasks the size of a human hair that are separated from each other without glass walls. The CombiMatrix technology synthesizes DNA, peptides, and other chemicals in these miniaturized electrochemical flasks on a tiny semiconductor chip.

CombiMatrix's first application of the chip is in genomics. The company has also initiated research programs in proteomics and combinatorial chemistry for pharmaceutical research, and in new materials for batteries and fuel cells.

Acacia Research Corp. is a diversified company with interests in several enterprises: CombiMatrix Corporation (biochips/drug discovery technology), Greenwich Information Technologies (video- and audio-on-demand technology), MerkWerks Corp. (software development), Signature-mail.com (personalized e-mail service), Soundview Technologies Inc. (V-chip technology), Whitewing Labs Inc. (marketer of nutritional supplements), and Acacia Capital Management (investment advisory services).

For more information: Acacia Research Corp., 12 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105. Tel: 626-449-6431. Fax: 626-449-7189.