Patents

• R. Jayne, D. Closs, B. A. Apker, and R. E. Thorne. Humidified sample preparation station for serial crystallography. US application 17397383 filed August 9, 2021.
• R. E. Thorne, D. Closs, and R. Jayne. Sample supports and sample cooling systems for cryo-electron microscopy. PCT/US20/54272, filed October 5, 2020.
• R. E. Thorne, D. Closs, R. Jayne, and B. Apker. Serial Synchrotron Crystallography Sample Holding System. PCT/US20/21458, filed March 6, 2020.
• R. E. Thorne, D. Closs, and R. Jayne. System for rapid cooling and warming of cells and other biological material. PCT/US 19/33466, filed May 22, 2019.
• R. E. Thorne. Sample cell arrays and hardware for high-throughput cryoSAXS. PCT/US18/45356, filed August 6, 2018.
• D. Closs, S. Hollabaugh, R. E. Thorne, R. Newman, and B. Apker. Cryogenic cooling apparatus, methods, and applications. US application 15/220,868 filed July 27, 2016.
• S. P. Meisburger, M. A. Warkentin, J. B. Hopkins, A. Katz, L. Pollack, and R. E. Thorne. Apparatus and Methods for Low Temperature Small Angle X-ray Scattering. US 9,927,336 (Mar. 27, 2018).
• R. E. Thorne, B. Apker, and R. Newman. Microplates and Methods for Protein Crystallization and Biotechnology. US 9,855,557 (Jan. 2, 2018).
• R. E. Thorne, B. Apker and E. Hunt. Goniometer Base Apparatus and Method. US 8,571,177 (October 29, 2013).
• R. E. Thorne and S. Macfarlane. System for increased cooling rates of large volumes of cells for optimized cryopreservation. US Application 12/443,199 filed March 27, 2009.
• R. E. Thorne, M. Warkentin and V. Berejnov. System for increased cooling rates in plunge cooling of small biological samples. US 9,417,1566 (Aug. 16, 2016).
• R. E. Thorne and G. Chew. Microtools for manipulation of fragile samples. US 8,210,057 (July 3, 2012).
• R. Thorne, V. Berejnov and E. Kalinin. Screening and crystallization plates for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth. U. S. 7,666,259 (Feb. 23, 2010).
• R. E. Thorne, Z. Stum, K. O'Neill and J. Kmetko. Sample mounts for microcrystal crystallography. U.S. 7,263,162 (August 28, 2007) and 7,542,546 (June 2, 2009). Also issued in EPC, China, Japan, Australia, Canada and Israel.
• R. E. Thorne. "Accurate toy air gun with targets." US 7,191,774 (March 20, 2007).

Commercialization

Academics have a responsiblity to deliver economic benefits to the society that supports them. In economically depressed areas like upstate New York, this should include the founding and growth of businesses. In 2004 Thorne founded MiTeGen, LLC in Ithaca, NY, to commercialize microfabricated tools for X-ray crystallography of proteins, viruses and small-molecule compounds. Self-financed by Thorne and run by Thorne and CEO Ben Apker, MiTeGen designs and manufactures products that it sells to academic, government, pharmaceutical and industrial researchers in over 40 countries and that are used on the International Space Station. MiTeGen has commercialized five Cornell technologies to date, and is widely viewed as the most innovative company in its sector. Its products have received more than 6000 journal citations. (more)