US4995402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical droplet whole blood and like monitoring
Assignee: Thorne Smith Astill Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1988-10-12
•
Granted: 1991-02-26
•
Expires: 2008-10-12
Abstract
Abstract An assay employing a tracer comprising a ligand having a mercury label wherein mercury label is released from at least one of a bound or free tracer phase and iunteracts with a metal. Analyte is determined by a change in at least one property of the metal caused by such interaction. The invention also relates to a device for such an assay wherein mercury ions released from a free or bound tracer are caused to eventually amalgamate with a metal, and the presence and/or amount of analyte is determined by changes in the metal resulting from the eventual amalgamation which may be measured electrically or by other means. The invention also relates to novel assay instruments, novel lancets, assay sensors, assay sensor packets, instrumentation and combinations of assay components, and related methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger E. Smith
- 👤 Mark E. Astill
- 👤 Jay L. Smith
- 👤 Gale H. Thorne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/66; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/15; A61B5/150007; A61B5/150015; A61B5/150022; A61B5/150374; A61B5/150381; A61B5/150412; A61B5/150435; A61B5/150503; A61B5/150511; A61B5/151; A61B5/15101; A61B5/15103; A61B5/15107; A61B5/15113; A61B5/15115; A61B5/15117; A61B5/15146; A61B5/15148; A61B5/15149; A61B5/15155; A61B5/15157; A61B5/15174; A61B5/157; C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/68; C12Q1/6813; C12Q1/6816; C12Q1/6823; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N33/54373; G01N33/5438; G01N33/58; G01N33/581; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure comprising: packet means comprising a plurality of disposable analyte sensor means for respective sequential use in testing of samples of whole blood for a predetermined analyte, the packet means comprising means by which the sensor means are contemporaneously loaded into an analyte instrument and means by which sensor means are sequentially disassociated from the packet means and discarded after use; each sensor means comprising testing means responsive to said predetermined whole blood analyte upon delivery of the whole blood to the testing means and means by which said response is measured.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure comprising: packet means comprising a plurality of disposable analyte sensor means for respective sequential use in testing of samples of whole blood for a predetermined analyte, the packet means comprising means by which the sensor means are contemporaneously loaded into an analyte instrument and means by which sensor means are sequentially disassociated from the packet means and discarded after use; each sensor means comprising testing means responsive to said predetermined whole blood analyte upon delivery of the whole blood to the testing means and means by which said response is measured.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein the sensor means of the packet means are joined one to the next in series by frangible linkage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 2 wherein the load means comprise distally disposed insertion tab means for manual grasping and manipulation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 further comprising proximal end connector means by which the packet means are accurately matched to, aligned with and releasibly attached to the analyte instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein the testing means of each sensor means comprise mercury-aluminum interacting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein each measure means comprise means for ascertaining electrical responsive activity at the testing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 6 wherein each sensor means comprise electrical conductor means by which the ascertained electrical test activity is communicated to a site remote from the sensor packet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 7 wherein the electrical conductor means comprise means by which the presence and adequacy of a whole blood sample is electrically ascertained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein the whole blood analyte testing means of each sensor means comprise electrode means which are common to all sensor means by which test activity sequentially occurring at the respective whole blood analyte testing means of successively used sensor means is sensed and communicated to a site remote from the packet means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 further comprising housing means in which each testing means are disposed in substantially concealed relation, the housing means comprising means by which whole blood is displaced to the testing means of each sensor means
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein the sensor means of the packet means are serially connected by linkage means, the packet means further comprising detent means by which the packet means are held in a selected position in respect to the instrument, the detent means accommodating indexing of the packet means in respect to the instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 11 wherein the detent mean comprise spaced notches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1, the packet means further comprising electrical communicating means and proximal end means by which the packet means are physically and electrically connected in matched and aligned relation to the analyte instrument.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 wherein the packet means comprise electrical communicating means extending through each sensor testing means, the packet means further comprising electrical calibration means in electrical contact with the electrical communicating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 1 further comprising lancet means carried by each sensor means comprising means for piercing the skin and subcutaneous tissue of a medical patient to obtain a liquid whole blood sample for delivery to the testing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 15 wherein the lancet means comprise means precocking the piercing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 16 further comprising means encapsulating the testing means and each precocked lancet means of each sensor means of the packet means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 17 comprising actuator means juxtaposed the lancet means for releasing the lancet means from its precocked condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
Whole blood analyte sensor structure according to claim 18 wherein the actuator means comprise frangible means of the encapsulating means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure comprising: packet means comprising a plurality of disposable analyte sensor means for respective sequential testing of liquid for analyte, the packet means comprising means by which the sensor means are contemporaneously loaded into analyte instrument means; each sensor comprising testing means to which analyte liquid is delivered, the testing means being carried by support structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure comprising: packet means comprising a plurality of disposable analyte sensor means for respective sequential testing of liquid for analyte, the packet means comprising means by which the sensor means are contemporaneously loaded into analyte instrument means; each sensor comprising testing means to which analyte liquid is delivered, the testing means being carried by support structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the sensor means of the packet means are joined one to the next in series by frangible linkage means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the load means comprise distally disposed insertion tab means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 further comprising proximal end connector means by which the packet means are accurately matched to and aligned with the analyte instrument.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the testing means of each sensor means comprise means measuring test activity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 24 wherein each measuring means comprise means for ascertaining electrical activity at the testing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 25 wherein each sensor means comprise electrical conductor means by which the ascertained electrical test activity is communicated to a site remote from the testing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the testing means of each sensor means comprise electrode means which are common to all sensor means by which test activity sequentially occurring at the respective analyte testing means of successively used sensor means is sensed and communicated to a site remote from the packet means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein each sensor means comprise mercury-aluminum testing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the support structure comprises housing means in which each testing means are disposed in substantially concealed relation, the housing means comprising means by which liquid sample is displaced to the testing means of each sensor means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the sensor means of the packet means are serially releasibly linked together, the packet means further comprising detent means by which the packet means are held in a selected position in respect to the instrument, the detent means accommodating indexing of the packet means in respect to the instrument.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 30 wherein the detent means comprise spaced notches in the support means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20, the packet means further comprising electrical communicating means and proximal end means by which the packet means are physically and electrically connected in matched and aligned relation to the instrument.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 wherein the packet means comprise electrical communicating means extending through each sensor testing means, the packet means further comprising electrical calibration means in electrical contact with the electrical communicating means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
44 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 20 further comprising lancet means carried by each sensor means comprising means for piercing the skin and subcutaneous tissue of a medical patient to obtain a liquid sample comprising whole blood for delivery to the testing means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 34 wherein the lancet means comprise means precocking the piercing means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 35 wherein the support structure comprises means encapsulating the testing means and the precocked lancet means of each sensor means of the packet means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 36 comprising actuator means juxtaposed the lancet means for releasing the lancet means from its precocked condition.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
Liquid analyte sensor structure according to claim 37 wherein the actuator means comprise frangible means of the encapsulating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3123212A
Cited
US3633566A
Cited
US3853467A
Cited
US4077395A
Cited
US4313734A
Cited
US4344438A
Cited
US4627445A
Cited
US4637403A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |