Patent US5079170A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5079170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of sample transfer using a filter applicator
Assignee: Quidel Corp
•
Filing: 1990-10-25
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A sample applicator for use in performing immunoassays comprises a tube defining an internal lumen and having a filter matrix at one end thereof. Sample is drawn into the applicator tube, either using a vacuum bulb or an automated assay device. The sample is filtered as it enters the tube, and is again filtered as it discharged from the tube in the opposite flow direction. By removing particulates from the liquid sample, assay performance can be greatly improved. The applicator may also comprise a reagent dispersed within a permeable matrix, which is useful for introducing reagent to a sample or other liquid assay component. As a liquid assay component is drawn into the applicator tube, the reagent is reconstituted by and mixed with the liquid, thereby reducing the number of steps required for the assay.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel B. Rosman
- 👤 Douglas D. Rundle
- 👤 Gary A. Ascani
- 👤 Richard B. Mortensen
- 👤 Henry Tom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:07
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/02; B01L3/0241; B01L3/0272; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/5302; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/16; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0627; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0475; B01L2400/0481; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/1048; G01N2035/1055; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/255; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for transferring a liquid biological sample including an analyte in the presence of particulate contaminants from a reservoir to an assay device, said method employing an applicator tube having an internal filter matrix at one end thereof, the filter matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid biological sample from the reservoir into the applicator tube through said filter matrix; and discharging said liquid biological sample including said analyte from the applicator tube to the assay device through said filter matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid biological sample containing particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube, whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid biological sample are entrapped by said filter matrix and separated from said discharged liquid biological sample including said analyte.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for transferring a liquid biological sample including an analyte in the presence of particulate contaminants from a reservoir to an assay device, said method employing an applicator tube having an internal filter matrix at one end thereof, the filter matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid biological sample from the reservoir into the applicator tube through said filter matrix; and discharging said liquid biological sample including said analyte from the applicator tube to the assay device through said filter matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid biological sample containing particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube, whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid biological sample are entrapped by said filter matrix and separated from said discharged liquid biological sample including said analyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said liquid biological sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, serum, blood, plasma, cerebral fluid, spinal fluid, ocular lens liquid, saliva, sputum, semen, cervical mucus, liquified scrapings, and swab samples.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said liquid biological sample is urine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said filter matrix is composed of a fiber material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose acetate, and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said liquid biological sample is drawn into the applicator tube using a vacuum bulb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the liquid sample is drawn into the applicator by a vacuum source on said assay device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein a first part of said liquid biological sample drawn into the applicator tube is disposed of prior to discharging to said assay device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for introducing a reagent to a liquid assay component including an analyte and particulate contaminants, where the method employs an applicator tube comprising at one end thereof an internal permeable matrix having the reagent dispersed therein, the internal permeable matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte and reagent to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants from a reservoir into the applicator tube through said permeable matrix, whereby said reagent is reconstituted by and mixed with said liquid assay component including said analyte; and discharging said liquid assay component including said analyte and reagent from the applicator tube to an assay medium or device through said permeable matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid assay component are entrapped by said permeable matrix and separated from said discharged liquid including said analyte and reagent.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for introducing a reagent to a liquid assay component including an analyte and particulate contaminants, where the method employs an applicator tube comprising at one end thereof an internal permeable matrix having the reagent dispersed therein, the internal permeable matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte and reagent to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants from a reservoir into the applicator tube through said permeable matrix, whereby said reagent is reconstituted by and mixed with said liquid assay component including said analyte; and discharging said liquid assay component including said analyte and reagent from the applicator tube to an assay medium or device through said permeable matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid assay component are entrapped by said permeable matrix and separated from said discharged liquid including said analyte and reagent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said liquid assay component is a liquid sample selected from the group consisting of urine, serum, blood, plasma, cerebral fluid, spinal fluid, ocular lens liquid, saliva, sputum, semen, cervical mucus, liquified scrapings, and swab samples.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said liquid assay component is urine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said permeable matrix is composed of a fiber material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose acetate, and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said reagent is an immunologically active substance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein said reagent is selected from the group consisting of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody and monoclonal or polyclonal antibody conjugates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said liquid assay component is drawn into the applicator tube using a vacuum bulb.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said liquid assay component is drawn into the applicator tube by a vacuum source on said assay device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said reagent is in liquid form and absorbed within the matrix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said reagent is in solid form and physically entrapped or absorbed within the matrix.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for introducing a reagent to a liquid assay component including an analyte and particulate contaminants, where the method employes an applicator tube comprising at one end thereof an internal permeable matrix having the reagent dispersed therein, the internal permeable matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte and reagent to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants from a reservoir into the applicator tube through said permeable matrix, whereby, said reagent is reconstituted by and mixed with said liquid assay component including said analyte; introducing air in the form of bubbles into the applicator tube to improve reaction kinetics of reaction between said analyte and reagent; and discharging said liquid assay component including said analyte and reagent from the applicator tube to an assay medium or device through said permeable matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid assay component containing said analyte and particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid assay component are entrapped by said permeable matrix and separated from said discharged liquid including said analyte and reagent.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for introducing a reagent to a liquid assay component including an analyte and particulate contaminants, where the method employes an applicator tube comprising at one end thereof an internal permeable matrix having the reagent dispersed therein, the internal permeable matrix is constructed so as to filter substantially all of said particulate contaminants but allow said analyte and reagent to flow therethrough, said method comprising: drawing at least a portion of said liquid assay component including said analyte and particulate contaminants from a reservoir into the applicator tube through said permeable matrix, whereby, said reagent is reconstituted by and mixed with said liquid assay component including said analyte; introducing air in the form of bubbles into the applicator tube to improve reaction kinetics of reaction between said analyte and reagent; and discharging said liquid assay component including said analyte and reagent from the applicator tube to an assay medium or device through said permeable matrix in a flow direction opposite to that in which said liquid assay component containing said analyte and particulate contaminants was drawn into the applicator tube whereby said particulate contaminants within said liquid assay component are entrapped by said permeable matrix and separated from said discharged liquid including said analyte and reagent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said air is introduced by drawing air through said permeable matrix after a predetermined volume of said liquid assay component has been drawn into the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said liquid assay component is a liquid sample selected from the group consisting of urine, serum, blood, plasma, cerebral fluid, spinal fluid, ocular lens liquid, saliva, sputum, semen, cervical mucus, liquified scrapings, and swab samples.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 20, wherein said liquid assay component is urine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said permeable matrix is composed of a fiber material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose acetate, and polyacrylonitrile.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said reagent is an immunologically active substance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 23, wherein said reagent is selected from the group consisting of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody and monoclonal or polyclonal antibody conjugates.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said liquid assay component is drawn into the applicator tube using a vacuum bulb.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said liquid assay component is drawn into the applicator by a vacuum source on said assay device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said reagent is in liquid form and absorbed within the matrix.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 18, wherein said reagent is in solid form and physically entrapped or absorbed within the matrix.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |