Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for preparing a serum sample for determination of a tricyclic antidepressant drug in an assay, which method comprises: (a) adding said serum sample to a chromatographic column containing silica gel alkylated with alkyl groups of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) washing the column with a wash solution comprising from about 15 to 50 volume percent of a first organic solvent of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and from 1 to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur and from about 50 to 85 volume percent of an aqueous buffered medium having a pH of about from 3.5 to 5.0, in an amount sufficient to substantially remove metabolites of the tricyclic antidepressant drug from said column but insufficient to remove the tricyclic antidepressant drug from the column; and (c) eluting the tricyclic antidepressant drug with an elution solution comprising from about 25 to 100 volume percent of a second organic solvent of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, wherein said second organic solvent may be the same or different than said first organic solvent, and from about 0 to 75 volume percent of an aqueous buffered medium having a pH of from about 6 to 8 in an amount sufficient to elute a substantial portion of the tricyclic antidepressant drug from the column.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for preparing a serum sample for determination of a tricyclic antidepressant drug in an assay, which method comprises: (a) adding said serum sample to a chromatographic column containing silica gel alkylated with alkyl groups of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) washing the column with a wash solution comprising from about 15 to 50 volume percent of a first organic solvent of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and from 1 to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur and from about 50 to 85 volume percent of an aqueous buffered medium having a pH of about from 3.5 to 5.0, in an amount sufficient to substantially remove metabolites of the tricyclic antidepressant drug from said column but insufficient to remove the tricyclic antidepressant drug from the column; and (c) eluting the tricyclic antidepressant drug with an elution solution comprising from about 25 to 100 volume percent of a second organic solvent of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, wherein said second organic solvent may be the same or different than said first organic solvent, and from about 0 to 75 volume percent of an aqueous buffered medium having a pH of from about 6 to 8 in an amount sufficient to elute a substantial portion of the tricyclic antidepressant drug from the column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the silica gel is alkylated with alkyl groups of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said alkyl group is ethyl.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and said second organic solvents is an alkylnitrile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second organic solvents is acetonitrile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous buffered medium in Step b contains a metal salt of a carboxylic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said metal salt is sodium acetate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous buffered medium in Step b additionally contains an alkyl sulfonate of from 5 to 7 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said alkyl sulfonate is heptane sulfonate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous buffered medium in Step b has a pH of about 4.0 to 4.5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of wash solution is about 0.8 to 1.0 ml.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of elution solution is about 0.5 to 1.0 ml.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the elution solution in Step c comprises two different organic solvents in the ratio of about 1:1 by volume to 1:2 by volume.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the organic solvents are an alkylnitrile and an alcohol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the organic solvents are acetonitrile and methanol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous buffered medium in Step c is an aqueous phosphate buffer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tricyclic antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, impramine, desmethylimipramine, doxepin and desmethyldoxepin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in Step b the wash solution comprises from about 25 to 35 volume percent of the organic solvent and from about 65 to 75 volume percent of the aqueous buffered medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in Step c the elution solution comprises from about 65 to 75 volume percent of the organic solvent and from about 25 to 35 volume percent of the aqueous buffered medium.