US4115535A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diagnostic method employing a mixture of normally separable protein-coated particles
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1977-06-22
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Granted: 1978-09-19
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Expires: 1997-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A mixture of two different kinds of particles having distinctive, different properties is employed for determining the presence of a select protein in, or the absence of a select protein from, a solution. The first kind of particle provides a property facilitating separation, while the second kind of particle provides a property facilitating detection. The particles are coated with the same protein, a protein able to interact specifically with the select protein.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivar Giaever
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/58; G01N33/585; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54313; G01N33/54326; G01N33/54333; G01N33/74; G01N33/76; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/804; Y10S436/805; Y10S436/806; Y10S436/811; Y10S436/814; Y10S436/815; Y10S436/817; Y10S436/818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of select protein in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: dispersing a plurality of finely divided inert first particles and a plurality of finely divided inert second particles in the sample liquid, said first particles possessing a property facilitating separation thereof from said sample liquid, said second particles possessing a property facilitating detection thereof, said first and second particles both being coated with protein material specific to said select protein; separating said first particles from said sample liquid utilizing the separation-facilitating property thereof, and determining whether a substantial portion of said plurality of second particles have accompanied said separated first particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of select protein in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: dispersing a plurality of finely divided inert first particles and a plurality of finely divided inert second particles in the sample liquid, said first particles possessing a property facilitating separation thereof from said sample liquid, said second particles possessing a property facilitating detection thereof, said first and second particles both being coated with protein material specific to said select protein; separating said first particles from said sample liquid utilizing the separation-facilitating property thereof, and determining whether a substantial portion of said plurality of second particles have accompanied said separated first particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein said first particles are metallic and said second particles are plastic beads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 2 wherein the metal particles are magnetically responsive and the plastic beads are fluorescent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 3 wherein the metal particles are nickel and the fluorescent plastic beads comprise polystyrene containing anthracene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 3 wherein the metal particles are nickel and the fluorescent plastic beads comprise polystyrene containing fluorescein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 2 wherein the plastic beads are distinctly colored.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 2 wherein the plastic beads are radioactively tagged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 7 wherein the metal is magnetically responsive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second particles have a size of less than about one micron.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 1 wherein the concentration by volume of first particles is approximately equal to the concentration by volume of the second particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 1 wherein the total concentration of said particles per milliliter of final liquid volume is in the range of from about 10 7 to about 10 10 particles/ml.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 11 wherein the concentration of particles per milliliter is about 10 9 particles/ml.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 1 wherein the bonding of the protein material to the second particles is by means of a coupling agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 1 wherein the bonding of the protein material to the first particles is by means of a coupling agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein the protein material with which the particles are coated is antigenic in nature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein the protein material with which the particles are coated is made up of antibodies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The diagnostic method recited in claim 16 wherein the select protein is the antibody to human chorionic gonadotropin and the protein layer bonded to the particles is human chorionic gonadotropin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a substantial portion of the plurality of second particles has accompanied the separated first particles is accomplished by examining said separated first particles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a substantial portion of the plurality of second particles has accompanied the separated first particles is accomplished by examining the sample liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |