Title:Recent Patents on Morphometric Analysis of Eukaryotic Cells
VOLUME: 3 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Mardja Manssur Bueno e Silva, Eduardo Cremonese Filippi-Chiela and Guido Lenz
Affiliation:Department of Biophysics and Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Room #115, Porto Alegre, RS, Zip code 91501-950 Brazil.
Keywords:Eukaryotic cell imaging, general cell morphology, live cell imaging, nuclear morphology, organelles morphology,
three-dimensional imaging, tissue imaging.
Abstract:Eukaryotic cells are complex structures formed by several compartments. They present dynamic morphometry
and functions, which are assessed in basic cell research to elucidate their behavior in response to different interventions,
as well as to study several pathogenic processes and for diagnosis and therapy. Due to this wide use, new methods, tools
and designs concerning the structural and functional imaging study of eukaryotic cells have been continuously developed,
generating several patents that are deposited at the main offices of intellectual property around the world. Here, we
reviewed the recent patents on morphometric analysis of eukaryotic cells deposited in the main patent databanks, i.e. the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO). We found fifty four patents covering several morphometric aspects of eukaryotic cells,
such as general cell morphology, organelles and nuclear morphology, three-dimensional imaging and live cell imaging.
Patents related to methods in tissue imaging were also included. We further classified each patent according to its use (i.e.
in vitro or in vivo) and applicability (i.e. research, diagnosis or therapy). At the end, we discuss in an integrate manner the
main aspects and significance of the reported patents.
