EP0106662B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-fluorescent vessels for holding test samples in fluorescent assays
Assignee: Dynatech Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1983-10-12
•
Granted: 1988-11-23
•
Expires: 2003-10-12
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith E. Nelson
- 👤 Claude C. Crawford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/508; B01L3/5085; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6452; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/5302; G01N33/5304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A microtest well structure (20, 70) having a plurality of integral open top wells (26, 72) for receiving and holding microliter quantities of fluid samples during a fluorometric measurement in which each of the samples is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluorescently excited thereby, said wells (26, 72) being arranged in at least one straight row and being formed as a one-piece molding from a plastics material having a native fluorescence, characterised by means (32, 36) forming a barrier (34) which blocks or at least reduces the extent of penetration of the exciting radiation into the molding at least to reduce the extent to which the plastics material is fluorescently excited by the exciting radiation during said measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into each well (26, 72) through the open top thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A microtest well structure (20, 70) having a plurality of integral open top wells (26, 72) for receiving and holding microliter quantities of fluid samples during a fluorometric measurement in which each of the samples is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluorescently excited thereby, said wells (26, 72) being arranged in at least one straight row and being formed as a one-piece molding from a plastics material having a native fluorescence, characterised by means (32, 36) forming a barrier (34) which blocks or at least reduces the extent of penetration of the exciting radiation into the molding at least to reduce the extent to which the plastics material is fluorescently excited by the exciting radiation during said measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into each well (26, 72) through the open top thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the barrier-forming means comprises a particulate material (32) disposed in the molding, said particulate material being at least substantially opaque at least to the peak wave length of the exciting radiation, and said particulate material being substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibiting lesser fluorescence than that of the plastic material at least at the peak wave length or wave lengths of the light emitted by the fluorescently excited test sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 2, characterised in that the particulate material (32) is a pigment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 3, characterised in that the pigment is dispersed throughout the molding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the barrier-forming means comprises a coating (36) of material covering at least those surfaces of the molding which is exposed to the exciting radiation and any reflections thereof during a fluorometric measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into each well (26, 72) through the open top thereof, said coating (36) being substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibiting lesser fluorescence than that of the plastics material at least at the peak wave length or wave lengths emitted by the fluorescently excited test sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 5, characterised in that the coating (36) contains a pigment which defines the barrier (34).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microtest well structure according to claims 3, 4 or 6, characterised in that the pigment is black or white.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 6, characterised in that the coating (36) covers the interior surface of the bottom wall (30a) of each of the wells (26, 72) and in that the pigment is black.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 6, characterised in that the coating (36) covers the interior surface of the side and bottom walls (28, 30) of each of the wells (26, 72), and in that the pigment is white.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microtest well structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the plastics material is polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A microtest well structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the wells (26) are uniformly spaced apart and are arranged in a plurality of parallel spaced apart rows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A microtest well structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the molding includes a top wall (22) and side walls (24) depending from the top wall, and in that the wells (26) depend from openings at the top wall (22), said wells being uniformly spaced apart and being arranged in a plurality of parallel spaced apart rows, and each of said wells being formed with a cylindrical side wall (28) and a bottom wall (30).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A microtest well structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the molding includes means (74) integrally interconnecting the wells (72), said interconnecting means (74) being manually frangible for selectively separating the wells from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A microtest well structure according to claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the molding includes readily severable means (74) integrally interconnecting the wells (72) for enabling said wells to be selectively separated from each other.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of making a vessel (20, 70) having at least one open top cavity (26, 72) for holding a fluid sample during a fluorometric measurement in which said sample is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluoroscently excited thereby, characterised by the steps of mixing a barrier-defining material (32) with a plastics material having a native fluorescence, said barrier-defining material being at least substantially opaque at least to the peak wave length of said exciting radiation and being substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibiting lesser fluorsecence than that of said plastics material at least at the peak wave length of the light emitted by the fluorescently excited sample, and molding said vessel from the mixture of the plastics material and the barrier-defining material, said barrier-defining material being present in a sufficient quantity to form a barrier (34) in the vessel (20, 70) which barrier blocks or at least reduces the extent of penetration of the exciting radiation into the vessel to at least reduce the extent to which said vessel is fluorescently excited by said exciting radiation during the measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into the cavity through the open top thereof.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of making a vessel (20, 70) having at least one open top cavity (26, 72) for holding a fluid sample during a fluorometric measurement in which said sample is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluoroscently excited thereby, characterised by the steps of mixing a barrier-defining material (32) with a plastics material having a native fluorescence, said barrier-defining material being at least substantially opaque at least to the peak wave length of said exciting radiation and being substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibiting lesser fluorsecence than that of said plastics material at least at the peak wave length of the light emitted by the fluorescently excited sample, and molding said vessel from the mixture of the plastics material and the barrier-defining material, said barrier-defining material being present in a sufficient quantity to form a barrier (34) in the vessel (20, 70) which barrier blocks or at least reduces the extent of penetration of the exciting radiation into the vessel to at least reduce the extent to which said vessel is fluorescently excited by said exciting radiation during the measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into the cavity through the open top thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 15, characterised in that the vessel is a microtest plate (20) having a plurality of sample holding cavities (26) in the form of uniformly spaced apart wells arranged in a plurality of parallel spaced apart rows.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15, characterised in that the vessel is a microtest strip (70) having a plurality of sample holding cavities (72) in the form of open top wells arranged in a straight row.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 15, 16 or 17 characterised in that the barrier-defining material is a particulate material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 15, 16 or 17 characterised in that the barrier-defining material is a black, white or other pigment.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of making a vessel (20, 70) having a native fluorescence suitable for holding a fluid sample in a fluorometric measurement in which the sample is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluorescently excited thereby, characterised by the step of coating those surfaces (22a, 28a, 30a) of the vessel which will be exposed to the exciting radiation and any reflections thereof with a material (36) which is at least substantially opaque to at least the peak wave length of the exciting radiation and which is substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibits lesser fluorescence than that of the vessel itself at least at the peak wave length of the light emitted on fluorescent excitation of the sample.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of making a vessel (20, 70) having a native fluorescence suitable for holding a fluid sample in a fluorometric measurement in which the sample is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluorescently excited thereby, characterised by the step of coating those surfaces (22a, 28a, 30a) of the vessel which will be exposed to the exciting radiation and any reflections thereof with a material (36) which is at least substantially opaque to at least the peak wave length of the exciting radiation and which is substantially non-fluorescent or at least exhibits lesser fluorescence than that of the vessel itself at least at the peak wave length of the light emitted on fluorescent excitation of the sample.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
149 words
A microtest well structure for conducting assays of immunological substances in a frontal approach-type energy measurement instrument, wherein a labelled reactant is immunologically reacted with an immunological substance which is directly or indirectly immobilized on a solid phase to yield a light-emitting reaction product wherein the energy release of said reaction product is measured to determine the quantity of the substance, said structure (20, 70) having a plurality of open-top wells (26, 72) for receiving and holding microliter quantities of fluid samples during a measurement, said wells being molded from a plastics material having a native fluorescence and sufficient protein-binding properties to serve as the solid phase in said assay, characterised in that said material includes substantially opaque and substantially non-fluorescent barrier means (32, 34,36) surrounding at least a portion of the interior of said wells (26, 72) for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of said system during said measurement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
149 words
A microtest well structure for conducting assays of immunological substances in a frontal approach-type energy measurement instrument, wherein a labelled reactant is immunologically reacted with an immunological substance which is directly or indirectly immobilized on a solid phase to yield a light-emitting reaction product wherein the energy release of said reaction product is measured to determine the quantity of the substance, said structure (20, 70) having a plurality of open-top wells (26, 72) for receiving and holding microliter quantities of fluid samples during a measurement, said wells being molded from a plastics material having a native fluorescence and sufficient protein-binding properties to serve as the solid phase in said assay, characterised in that said material includes substantially opaque and substantially non-fluorescent barrier means (32, 34,36) surrounding at least a portion of the interior of said wells (26, 72) for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of said system during said measurement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 21, wherein said barrier means comprises a pigment present in an amount of at least 0.01 percent by weight of the structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 21, wherein said barrier means includes a pigment and acts to block or at least reduce the extent to which said plastics material is fluorescently excited to thereby enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of said system during said measurement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A microtestwell structure according to claim 21, wherein said barrier means includes a pigment and acts to collect and reflect the energy of said reaction product thereby to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of said system during said measurement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 23, wherein said barrier means comprises a black pigment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 24, wherein said barrier means comprises a white pigment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A microtest well structure according to any one of claims 21 to 26 which comprises a plurality of integrally interconnected, open-top wells (26, 72) said wells being arranged in at least one straight row and being molded as a one-piece molding from said plastics material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A microtest well structure according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein said wells are uniformly spaced apart and are arranged in a plurality of parallel spaced apart rows.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 28, wherein said molding includes a top wall (22) and side walls (24) depending from said top wall, said wells (26) depending from and opening at said top wall and each of said wells being formed with a cylindrical side wall (28) and a bottom wall (30).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 29 wherein said barrier means comprises a coating (34) of material covering at least those surfaces of said molding which will be exposed to exciting energy and any reflections thereof during a measurement where the exciting radiation is directed to pass into each well through the open top thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
A microtestwell structure according to claim 30, wherein said coating covers the interior surface of the bottom walls (30a) of each of said wells (26), and comprises black pigment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A microtestwell structure according to claim 30, wherein said coating covers the interior surface of the side (28a) and bottom walls (30a) of each of said wells (26) and comprises white pigment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A microtest well structure according to claim 27 wherein said molding includes means (74) integrally interconnecting said wells (72), said interconnecting means being manually frangible for selectively separating said wells from each other.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A microtest well structure of claim 27, wherein said molding includes readily severable means (74) integrally interconnecting said wells (72) for enabling said wells to be selectively separated from each other.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A microtest well structure according to any one of claims 21 to 34, wherein said plastics material comprises polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
Awell structure according to any of claims 21 to 35, wherein said barrier means comprises a pigment dispersed throughout said plastics material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
114 words
Use of a microtestwell structure according to anyone of claims 1 to 14 or 21 to 36 in method of conducting a fluorescent assay in which a test sample is exposed to an exciting radiation to be fluorescently excited thereby, characterised by the steps of preparing the test sample in a well (26,27) of the microtest well structure, thereafter directing the exciting radiation through the open top of the well (26, 72) to fluorescently excite the sample therein, thereby causing the sample to emit light, and measuring the intensity of at least at one wave length of the light which is emitted by the fluorescently excited sample and which passes through said open top.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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