US 11566276

Patent Analyst Report: US 11,566,276 B2

Date of Analysis: 2026-05-12

Subject: United States Patent 11,566,276 B2, "Compositions and methods for analyte detection"

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1. Patent Identification

• Title: Compositions and methods for analyte detection
• Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
• Inventors: George M. Church, Jehyuk Lee, Daniel Levner, Michael Super
• Filing Date: July 2, 2021
• Issue Date: January 31, 2023
• Application Number: 17/366,151

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2. Abstract

The inventions provided herein relate to detection reagents, compositions, methods, and kits comprising the detection reagents for use in detection, identification, and/or quantification of analytes in a sample. Such detection reagents and methods described herein allow multiplexing of many more labeled species in the same procedure than conventional methods, in which multiplexing is limited by the number of available and practically usable colors.

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3. Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

This patent has three independent claims: claim 1, claim 19, and claim 28. Below is a plain-language explanation of the core invention protected by each.

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a method for detecting multiple different types of molecules (analytes) in a biological sample at the same time. The core of the method involves using a set of "detection reagents." Each reagent is designed to stick to a specific molecule of interest. The key feature is that each of these reagents is also attached to a unique, pre-determined DNA or RNA sequence (a nucleic acid label). After these reagents have bound to their targets in the sample, their locations are fixed. The unique nucleic acid labels are then amplified (copied many times) and sequenced. By reading these sequences, the user can identify which molecules were present in the sample and where they were located.

• Independent Claim 19: This claim focuses on a specific type of "detection reagent" composition. It's a collection of different reagents, each designed to find a particular target molecule. Like the method in claim 1, each reagent in this collection has a unique, pre-assigned DNA or RNA tag. A crucial part of this claim is that these nucleic acid tags are designed to not be naturally present in the biological sample being tested. This prevents confusion between the artificial labels and the sample's own genetic material.

• Independent Claim 28: This claim covers a kit for detecting multiple molecules. The kit includes a set of detection reagents, where each reagent has a probe that binds to a target and a unique, pre-assigned nucleic acid label that is not found in the sample. The kit also contains a reagent for amplifying these nucleic acid labels.

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4. Litigation Status

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) 2026 dockets for "US Patent 11,566,276" did not yield any specific results.

However, a news report from May 2026 indicates that Harvard College and 10x Genomics, Inc. have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Element Biosciences, Inc. in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that Element Biosciences' AVITI24 platform and Teton chemistry infringe upon US Patent 11,566,276, among others.

Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation of patent claims and litigation status is complex and should be performed by a qualified patent attorney.