Mapping Tiny Features on a Chip with DNA Barcodes
This patent describes a method for precisely locating individual biological features, like cells or molecules, on a prepared surface by using unique DNA tags and imaging techniques.
Original patent title: “Resolving spatial arrays”
This patent describes a method for precisely locating individual biological features, like cells or molecules, on a prepared surface by using unique DNA tags and imaging techniques. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for finding the exact spot of a "feature" on a "spatial array" (a surface with many tiny spots). First, the array is prepared with features, each having a "capture probe" that includes a unique "spatial barcode" and a constant DNA sequence. Next, a "sequencing probe" with a fluorescent "label" attaches to the spatial barcode. An image is then taken of this label. By looking at the image, a part of the spatial barcode's sequence is figured out. Finally, the feature is linked to its exact location on the array based on where its label appeared in the image. This allows researchers to know not just what a feature is, but precisely where it is.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods for determining feature location without using specific DNA spatial barcodes.
- Does not cover identifying the full genetic sequence of a feature, only a portion of its spatial barcode.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on physical coordinates without molecular tags for localization.
- Does not cover methods where the sequencing probe does not hybridize to a spatial barcode.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in using specific, pre-assigned DNA "spatial barcodes" on a substrate, which are then read out by labeled sequencing probes and imaging to pinpoint the exact location of biological features. This links molecular identity directly to physical coordinates on a chip.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
10x Genomics Visium platform
NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler
Resolve Biosciences Molecular Cartography
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for understanding how cells and molecules are organized within tissues, which is crucial for studying diseases like cancer and for drug discovery. By knowing the precise location of different biological components, scientists can gain deeper insights into their functions and interactions. It enables a new level of detail in biological research, moving beyond simply identifying components to mapping their spatial relationships.
Filed
August 27, 2019
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like 10x Genomics, NanoString Technologies, and Resolve Biosciences are actively developing and commercializing technologies that rely on spatially resolved molecular analysis. These companies create platforms that allow researchers to map biological features within tissues using methods similar to those described. The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → is unknown, but the field is vibrant with innovation.
Market impact
This type of technology has created a new category of "spatial biology" tools, allowing researchers to study biological processes with unprecedented spatial resolution. It has significantly advanced fields like oncology, neuroscience, and developmental biology by enabling the mapping of gene expression and protein localization within intact tissues. This has led to a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and the discovery of new biomarkers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for finding the exact spot of a "feature" on a "spatial array" (a surface with many tiny spots). First, the array is prepared with features, each having a "capture probe" that includes a unique "spatial barcode" and a constant DNA sequence. Next, a "sequencing probe" with a fluorescent "label" attaches to the spatial barcode. An image is then taken of this label. By looking at the image, a part of the spatial barcode's sequence is figured out. Finally, the feature is linked to its exact location on the array based on where its label appeared in the image. This allows researchers to know not just what a feature is, but precisely where it is.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in using specific, pre-assigned DNA "spatial barcodes" on a substrate, which are then read out by labeled sequencing probes and imaging to pinpoint the exact location of biological features. This links molecular identity directly to physical coordinates on a chip.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods for determining feature location without using specific DNA spatial barcodes.
- Does not cover identifying the full genetic sequence of a feature, only a portion of its spatial barcode.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on physical coordinates without molecular tags for localization.
- Does not cover methods where the sequencing probe does not hybridize to a spatial barcode.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$36K – $115K
Midpoint $72K · 12.9 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Mapping Tiny Features on a Chip with DNA Barcodes (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,743). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735743/resolving-spatial-arrays
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mapping Tiny Features on a Chip with DNA Barcodes cover?
This patent describes a method for precisely locating individual biological features, like cells or molecules, on a prepared surface by using unique DNA tags and imaging techniques.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for understanding how cells and molecules are organized within tissues, which is crucial for studying diseases like cancer and for drug discovery. By knowing the precise location of different biological components, scientists can gain deeper insights into their functions and interactions. It enables a new level of detail in biological research, moving beyond simply identifying components to mapping their spatial relationships.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods for determining feature location without using specific DNA spatial barcodes.
Patent monitoring