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US4756884A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Capillary flow device

Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc
•
Filing: 1986-07-01
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Granted: 1988-07-12
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Expires: 2006-07-01
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Abstract

Abstract Methods and devices are provided involving at least one chamber, at least one capillary, and at least one reagent involved in a system providing for a detectable signal. As appropriate, the devices provide for measuring a sample, mixing the sample with reagents, defining a flow path, and reading the result. Of particular interest is the use of combinations of specific binding pair members which result in agglutination information, where the resulting agglutination particles may provide for changes in flow rate, light patterns of a flowing medium, or light absorption or scattering. A fabrication technique particularly suited for forming internal chambers in plastic devices is also described along with various control devices for use with the device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert S. Hillman
  • 👤 Michael E. Cobb
  • 👤 Jim Allen
  • 👤 Ian Gibbons
  • 👤 Vladimir Ostoich
  • 👤 Laura J. Winfrey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 20:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/4905; B; B01; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/40; B01F25/42; B01F25/43; B01F25/431; B01F25/4316; B01F25/433; B01F25/4338; B01F33/00; B01F33/30; B01F35/00; B01F35/71; B01F35/717; B01F35/7172; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01L3/50273; B01L3/502746; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/302; B29C66/3022; B29C66/30223; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/77; G01N21/82; B01F21/00; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/23; B01F23/00; B01F23/50; B01F23/56; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/06; B01L2200/0689; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0816; B01L2300/0861; B01L2300/0887; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; B01L2400/06; B01L2400/0694; B29C45/00; B29C59/00; B29C59/16; B29C65/48; B29C65/4895; B29C66/90; B29C66/95; B29C66/951; B29C66/9513; B29K; B29K2055/00; B29K2055/02; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/756; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1012; G01N2015/1016; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N2021/0346; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00514; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S366/00; Y10S366/03; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/81

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
An analytical device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a physiological fluid sample, comprising: a housing containing an inlet port, a chamber unit, an exit port, a first capillary unit for independently pumping a liquid from said inlet port to said chamber unit, and a second capillary unit positioned between and operatively connected to said chamber unit and said exit port for independently pumping a liquid from said chamber unit to said exit port; wherein said inlet port, first capillary unit, chamber unit, second capillary unit, and exit port are present in a continuous capillary pathway; said housing further containing a reagent in said capillary pathway comprising a member selected from the group consisting of compounds affecting blood clotting and antibodies capable of causing a change in flow rate of said fluid sample in said pathway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
An analytical device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a physiological fluid sample, comprising: a housing containing an inlet port, a chamber unit, an exit port, a first capillary unit for independently pumping a liquid from said inlet port to said chamber unit, and a second capillary unit positioned between and operatively connected to said chamber unit and said exit port for independently pumping a liquid from said chamber unit to said exit port; wherein said inlet port, first capillary unit, chamber unit, second capillary unit, and exit port are present in a continuous capillary pathway; said housing further containing a reagent in said capillary pathway comprising a member selected from the group consisting of compounds affecting blood clotting and antibodies capable of causing a change in flow rate of said fluid sample in said pathway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said reagent comprises an antibody.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least two chamber units in said pathway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealable vent in said capillary pathway proximal to a juncture between a chamber unit and a capillary unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising a third capillary unit substantially in parallel with said first capillary unit and directing fluid into said chamber unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said reagent comprises a member selected from the group consisting of components of natural blood clotting cascades and reagents which activate a components of a natural clotting cascade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 10 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said reagent is thromboplastin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a substantially hydrophobic material having at least a portion of the walls of said capillary pathway treated to provide hydrophilicity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said material is a plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 78 words
The device of claim 1, said device being fabricated from at least two sheets of a substantially hydrophobic plastic, at least one of which is molded to provide depressions for production of said capillary and chamber units, said depressions being treated to provide hydrophilicity, wherein at least one sheet has means defining an orifice forming said inlet port or exit port, said capillary and chamber units being formed by the joining of said sheets to form said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said chamber unit contains said reagent and said reagent comprises a member selected from the group consisting of components of natural clotting cascades and reagents which activate a component of a natural clotting cascade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said reagent comprises thromboplastin in said chamber unit.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-07-12 1992-01-11 1992-07-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-07-12 1996-01-11 1996-07-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-07-12 2000-01-11 2000-07-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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