Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of performing hybridization of nucleotide sequences on a solid phase, comprising: a) on a porous medium capable of transporting a solution by capillarity, immobilizing a single stranded nucleotide sequence at a site remote from a contact site of the medium; and b) under hybridizing conditions, contacting the remote site with a solution containing or suspected of containing a complementary nucleotide sequence, the complementary nucleotide sequence being transported by capillarity to the remote site, whereby hybridization can occur between complementary base pairs of the nucleotide sequences.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of performing hybridization of nucleotide sequences on a solid phase, comprising: a) on a porous medium capable of transporting a solution by capillarity, immobilizing a single stranded nucleotide sequence at a site remote from a contact site of the medium; and b) under hybridizing conditions, contacting the remote site with a solution containing or suspected of containing a complementary nucleotide sequence, the complementary nucleotide sequence being transported by capillarity to the remote site, whereby hybridization can occur between complementary base pairs of the nucleotide sequences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the solution containing or suspected of containing complementary nucleotide sequence is contacted with the medium at the contact site and is transport to the remote site in the solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1, comprising an additional step of drying the complementary nucleotide sequence onto the medium at a location between the contact site and the remote site, so that the complementary nucleotide sequence is mobilized and transported to the remote site in solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3, comprising a step of contacting the contact site with a solvent capable of mobilizing the complementary nucleotide sequence and transporting it to the remote site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 and comprising a step of detecting the complementary nucleotide sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the solution containing the complementary nucleotide sequence is transported through the medium at a rate such that a solution front contacts the remote site for less than about 10 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the solution containing the complementary nucleotide sequence is transported through the medium at a rate such that a solution front contacts the remote site for less than about 2 minutes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
75 words
A device for performing solid phase hybridizations of soluble, single stranded nucleotide sequences, comprising a porous medium having: a contact site; a site remote from the contact site whereat a single stranded nucleotide sequence complementary to a predetermined soluble nucleotide sequence is immobilized; and capillary means for transporting a solution containing the predetermined soluble nucleotide sequence under hybridizing conditions to the remote site whereby hybridization can occur between complementary base pairs of the nucleotide sequences.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
A device for performing solid phase hybridizations of soluble, single stranded nucleotide sequences, comprising a porous medium having: a contact site; a site remote from the contact site whereat a single stranded nucleotide sequence complementary to a predetermined soluble nucleotide sequence is immobilized; and capillary means for transporting a solution containing the predetermined soluble nucleotide sequence under hybridizing conditions to the remote site whereby hybridization can occur between complementary base pairs of the nucleotide sequences.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 8, further comprising soluble nucleotide sequence dried on the medium at a location between the contact site and the remote site, such that it can be mobilized by the solution and transported to the remote site by capillarity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein the porous medium comprises a strip of nitrocellulose having a pore size of about 5.0 microns.