US4301414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable sample card and method of making same
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1979-10-29
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Granted: 1981-11-17
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Expires: 1999-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A disposable sample for use in measuring a parameter of a liquid sample such as the hematocrit and a method of making same. The disposable sample card is a micro-volume conductivity cell precision molded from plastic with built-in stainless steel electrodes. The sample card comprises a planar base portion on which is defined a capillary tube. First and second electrodes are disposed within the capillary tube in a spaced relationship and define a volume within the capillary tube. This volume constitutes a conductivity cell. The sample card may be used with an instrument which basically comprises an electronic portion for processing data obtained from the liquid sample on the sample card, a front-end mechanism for positioning the sample card within the instrument, and a digital display for displaying in eye-readable form the results of a parameter measurement made in the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeremy R. Hill
- 👤 Allen E. Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R27/22; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A sample card for use in electrically operating on a liquid sample, the card comprising: a body portion; a capillary tube defined in said body portion for receiving a liquid sample; first and second electrode means disposed within said capillary tube in a spaced relationship; measurement cell means formed by said capillary tube and bounded by said first and second electrode means for housing a predetermined volume of said liquid sample; and means adapted to operatively associate said first and second electrode means with an electrical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A sample card for use in electrically operating on a liquid sample, the card comprising: a body portion; a capillary tube defined in said body portion for receiving a liquid sample; first and second electrode means disposed within said capillary tube in a spaced relationship; measurement cell means formed by said capillary tube and bounded by said first and second electrode means for housing a predetermined volume of said liquid sample; and means adapted to operatively associate said first and second electrode means with an electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sample card of claim 1 further comprising entrance means for providing an entrance for said liquid sample into said capillary tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sample card of claim 1, wherein said entrance means is a nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The saple card of claim 1, further comprising magnifying means for allowing a user to view an enlarged image of said measurement cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sample card of claim 1, further comprising vent means for venting air in said capillary tube as said liquid sample is drawn into said tube by capillary action.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sample card of claim 1, further comprising an evacuated portion in said body portion near said capillary tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 1, further comprising guide means on said body portion, said guide means adapted to ensure proper orientation when said sample card is inserted in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 1, further comprising registering means on said body portion, said registering means adapted to ensure proper registration when said sample card is positioned in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A blood sample carrier for use in measuring conductivity of a blood sample, said carrier comprising: capillary tube means for receiving a blood sample; first and second electrode means disposed within said capillary tube means in a spaced relationship; measurement cell means, formed by said capillary tube means and bounded by said first and second electrode means, for segregating a predetermined volume of said liquid sample; and means adapted to operatively associate said first and second electrode means with an electronic conductivity measuring circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A blood sample carrier for use in measuring conductivity of a blood sample, said carrier comprising: capillary tube means for receiving a blood sample; first and second electrode means disposed within said capillary tube means in a spaced relationship; measurement cell means, formed by said capillary tube means and bounded by said first and second electrode means, for segregating a predetermined volume of said liquid sample; and means adapted to operatively associate said first and second electrode means with an electronic conductivity measuring circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The blood sample carrier of claim 9, further comprising entrance means for providing an entrance for said liquid sample into said capillary tube means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The blood sample carrier of claim 9, wherein said entrance means is a nozzle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sample card of claim 9, further comprising magnifying means for allowing a user to view an enlarged image of said measurement cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sample card of claim 9, further comprising an evacuated portion in said body portion near said capillary tube means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 9, further comprising guide means on said body portion, said guide means adapted to ensure proper orientation when said sample card is inserted in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 9, further comprising registering means on said body portion, said registering means adapted to ensure proper registration when said sample card is positioned in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
101 words
A blood sample carrier for use in electrically measuring a parameter of a blood sample, said carrier comprising: a planar base portion; a hollow tube having an interior surface that defines a capillary tube on said base; first and second electrodes disposed on a portion of said interior surface in a spaced relationship; a measurement cell defined by said interior surface and said first and second electrodes, said measurement cell segregating a predetermined volume of said blood sample being measured; and pad means, on said base, adpatd for electrically associating said first and second electrodes with a blood parameter measuring device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
A blood sample carrier for use in electrically measuring a parameter of a blood sample, said carrier comprising: a planar base portion; a hollow tube having an interior surface that defines a capillary tube on said base; first and second electrodes disposed on a portion of said interior surface in a spaced relationship; a measurement cell defined by said interior surface and said first and second electrodes, said measurement cell segregating a predetermined volume of said blood sample being measured; and pad means, on said base, adpatd for electrically associating said first and second electrodes with a blood parameter measuring device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sample carrier of claim 16, wherein said interior surface of said capillary tube, when viewed in cross-section, is in the shape of a semicircle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sample carrier of claim 17, wherein said first electrode is disposed along the flat portion of a first cross-sectional semicircle and said second electrode is disposed along the flat portion of a second cross-sectional semicircle, said first and second semicircles being substantially parallel to and spaced from each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The sample carrier of claim 16, wherein said pad means comprises a first electrically conductive disc positioned on said base and connected to said first electrode, and a second electrically conductive disc positioned on said base and connected to said second electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sample card of claim 16, further comprising vent means for venting air in said capillary tube as said liquid sample is drawn into said tube by capillary action.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sample card of claim 16, further comprising an evacuated portion in said body portion near said capillary tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 16, further comprising guide means on said body portion, said guide means adapted to ensure proper orientation when said sample card is inserted in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample card of claim 16, further comprising registering means on said body portion, said registering means adapted to ensure proper registration when said sample card is positioned in a device which electrically operates on said liquid sample.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making a disposable liquid sample carrier comprising the steps of: forming a portion of a base member into a portion of the interior surface of a capillary tube; providing an overlay having a surface; positioning and securing two electrodes in a spaced relationship on said surface of said overlay; and positioning and securing said overlay to said base member so that said surface of said overlay completes the interior surface of said capillary tube and so that said two electrodes along with the interior surface of said capillary tube segregates a volume constituting a measurement cell.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making a disposable liquid sample carrier comprising the steps of: forming a portion of a base member into a portion of the interior surface of a capillary tube; providing an overlay having a surface; positioning and securing two electrodes in a spaced relationship on said surface of said overlay; and positioning and securing said overlay to said base member so that said surface of said overlay completes the interior surface of said capillary tube and so that said two electrodes along with the interior surface of said capillary tube segregates a volume constituting a measurement cell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of configuring said interior surface of said capillary tube so that its transverse section resembles a semicircle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said providing step comprises providing an overlay having a substantially planar surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of forming a nozzle at an end of said capillary tube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said nozzle forming step includes forming a portion of the interior surface of said nozzle from said base member and the remainder of the interior surface of said nozzle from said overlay.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of making said base member from a translucent material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said translucent material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polymethacrylate, and styrene-butadiene resin.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of making said overlay from a translucent material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of making said overlay from a Mylar.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of making said electrodes of stainless steel alloy.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said electrode positioning and securing step includes securing a stainless steel alloy sheet to said overlay and etching away all of said stainless steel sheet except the portion defining said electrodes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said etching step is a photoetching step.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said overlay is secured to said base member by employing an adhesive.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said electrodes are secured to said overlay by employing an adhesive.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of forming a guide member on said base member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-16 | 1985-05-18 | 1985-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-16 | 1989-05-18 | 1989-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-16 | 1993-05-18 | 1993-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |