Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An analysis apparatus comprising: a fluid conduit; means for feeding a stream of fluid capsules in the conduit for flow therethrough comprising means forming a film of isolating liquid on an inner surface of the conduit, means for randomly accessing each of a plurality of liquids selected from a sample liquid, reagents and a magnetic particle suspension to form each capsule in said conduit with a plurality of isolated segments from said plurality of isolated segments from said plurality of liquids; means for effecting the flow of the fluid capsules in at least one longitudinal direction of the conduit; magnetic means disposed along the conduit for selectively retaining the suspended magnetic particles from one segment in one capsule at a location adjacent to the magnetic means for placement into another segment in said one capsule during the flow of the one capsule through the conduit; and means disposed along the conduit for measuring the fluid capsules therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means has means for transferring the magnetic particles of one capsule into the liquid of at least one other segment of that capsule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The analysis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic means has means for varying the magnetic field at the conduit to agitate the suspended particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the plurality of liquids include washes for the magnetic particles, wherein the means for randomly accessing comprises means for forming isolated wash segments in the capsules and wherein the magnetic means comprises means for effecting the washing of the magnetic particles of one capsule in each of the wash segments of that capsule.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the means for effecting the flow of the fluid capsules comprises means for effecting reversible flow in the conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
An analysis method comprising the steps of: feeding a stream of fluid capsules in a fluid conduit for flow therethrough by forming a film of isolating liquid on an inner surface of the conduit and randomly accessing each of a plurality of liquids selected from a sample liquid, reagents and a magnetic particle suspension to form a plurality of isolated segments from said plurality of liquids in each capsule in said conduit; effecting the flow of the fluid capsules in at least one longitudinal direction of the conduit; selectively magnetically retaining the suspended magnetic particles from one segment in one capsule at a given location for placement of the magnetic particles into another segment in said one capsule during the flow of the one capsule through the conduit; and measuring the fluid capsules in the conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The analysis method according to claim 6, wherein the step of magnetically retaining comprises transferring the magnetic particles of one capsule in the liquid of at least one other segment of that capsule.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The analysis method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising the step of varying the magnetic field at the conduit to agitate the suspended particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The analysis method according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein the plurality of liquids include washes for the magnetic particles, wherein the step of randomly accessing comprises producing isolated wash segments in the capsules and wherein the step of magnetically retaining comprises effecting the washing of the magnetic particles of one capsule in each of the wash segments of that capsule.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The analysis method according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the step of effecting the flow of the fluid capsules comprises effecting reversible flow in the conduit.