US4963498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capillary flow device
Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc
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Filing: 1988-01-15
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Granted: 1990-10-16
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Expires: 2008-01-15
Abstract
Abstract Novel methods and devices are provided involving at least one chamber, at least one capillary, and at least one reagent involved in a system providing for a detectable signal. As appropriate, the devices provide for measuring a sample, mixing the sample with reagents, defining a flow path, and reading the result. Of particular interest is the use of combinations of specific binding pair members which result in agglutination information, where the resulting agglutination particles may provide for changes in flow rate, light patterns of a flowing medium, or light absorption or scattering. A fabrication technique particularly suited for forming internal chambers in plastic devices is also described along with various control devices for use with the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Hillman
- 👤 Michael E. Cobb
- 👤 Jimmy D. Allen
- 👤 Ian Gibbons
- 👤 Vladimir E. Ostoich
- 👤 Laura J. Winfrey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:44
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/40; B01F25/42; B01F25/43; B01F25/431; B01F25/4316; B01F25/433; B01F25/4338; B01F33/00; B01F33/30; B01F35/00; B01F35/71; B01F35/717; B01F35/7172; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/302; B29C66/3022; B29C66/30223; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/77; G01N21/82; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4905; B01F21/00; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/23; B01F23/00; B01F23/50; B01F23/56; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/06; B01L2200/0621; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0816; B01L2300/0825; B01L2300/0887; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; B01L2400/06; B01L2400/0688; B01L2400/0694; B29C45/00; B29C59/00; B29C59/16; B29C65/48; B29C65/4895; B29C66/71; B29C66/90; B29C66/95; B29C66/951; B29C66/9513; B29K; B29K2055/00; B29K2055/02; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/756; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1012; G01N2015/1016; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N2021/0346; G01N2021/825; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00514; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S366/00; Y10S366/03; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/81; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for determining the presence of amount of an analyte in, or a property of, a fluid sample, comprising: applying said sample to device comprising an entry port for said sample, a vent, a capillary pathway connecting said entry port to said vent, and a reagent in said capillary pathway, wherein said sample flows through said capillary pathway under the sum of gravitational and capillary forces and interaction of said reagent with said sample modifies a characteristic of said sample associated with said flow; allowing said sample to interact with said reagent and traverse at least a portion of said capillary pathway; detecting said flow characteristic; and relating said flow characteristic to the presence or amount of said analyte in, or to said property of, said fluid sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for determining the presence of amount of an analyte in, or a property of, a fluid sample, comprising: applying said sample to device comprising an entry port for said sample, a vent, a capillary pathway connecting said entry port to said vent, and a reagent in said capillary pathway, wherein said sample flows through said capillary pathway under the sum of gravitational and capillary forces and interaction of said reagent with said sample modifies a characteristic of said sample associated with said flow; allowing said sample to interact with said reagent and traverse at least a portion of said capillary pathway; detecting said flow characteristic; and relating said flow characteristic to the presence or amount of said analyte in, or to said property of, said fluid sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein either said sample or said reagent comprises particles and said flow characteristic comprises passage of particles through said capillary pathway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, wherein particles are present in said sample.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, wherein particles are present in said reagent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said flow characteristic comprises a change in rate of passage of particles through said pathway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said flow characteristic comprises a change in particle size distribution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31, wherein said change in particle size distribution results from particle agglutination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 7, wherein red cells in a whole blood sample function as particles in said capillary pathway and said flow characteristic comprises interruption of a light beam directed through said capillary pathway by said red cells as said red cells through said capillary pathway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said flow characteristic is a change in flow rate of sample through said capillary pathway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said sample comprises whole blood.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said flow change is flow slowing or cessation as a result of clot formation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said flow change is starting flow as a result of clot dissolution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said sample comprises whole blood and said reagent induces clotting of said sample.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said capillary pathway comprises at least one chamber containing said reagent and at least one capillary unit having a cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of said chamber unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said capillary pathway comprises said inlet port, a chamber unit, a first capillary unit connecting said inlet port to said chamber unit, a vent, and a second capillary unit connecting said chamber unit to said vent, wherein a sample applied to said entry port is transported by said first capillary to said chamber unit and is transported by said second capillary unit from said chamber unit toward said vent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said device has a third port proximal to a connection of said chamber to said second capillary unit, wherein transmit of said sample terminates at said third port to permit an incubation of said sample with said reagent, and said method further comprising the step of sealing said third port after said incubation to permit continued movement of said sample from said chamber unit into said second capillary unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein more than one capillary pathway receives sample from a single entry port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17, wherein each of said capillary pathways contains a different reagent.
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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) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |