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US5084240A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Centrifuge vessel for automated solid-phase immunoassay

Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-13
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-07-13
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Abstract

Abstract A centrifuge vessel (10) for performing automated immunoassays is disclosed. The centrifuge vessel (10) comprises a center tube (11) and an outer waste chamber (15). A biomaterial (18) is held within the center tube (11) and is capable of binding specific analytes in test samples. In operation, the centrifuge vessel (10) is rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis, thereby causing all fluid within the center tube (11) to be transported into the outer waste chamber (15) while the analyte of interest remains bound to the biomaterial (18) positioned within the center tube (11).

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur L. Babson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/5302; G01N33/5304

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 258 words
A fluid transfer vessel designed for rotation at high speed about a central vertical axis for use in performing assays on liquid biological samples introduced into said fluid transfer vessel, comprising: a tube having a conical interior wall tapering outwardly from said central vertical axis as said wall extends from a closed bottom end of said tube to an open top end of said tube, wherein centrifugal force generated as said fluid transfer vessel rotates at high speed about said central vertical axis urges said liquid biological sample to flow along said tapered wall toward said open top end and causes said liquid biological sample to spray from said open top end outwardly away from said central vertical axis; a solid support having a biomaterial attached thereto for binding an analyte in said biological sample, said solid support positioned inside said tube but not attached to said tube; means, secured to said tube, for catching and holding said liquid biological sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube when said fluid transfer vessel is at rest with respect to rotation about said central vertical axis, said means for catching and holding said liquid biological sample preventing said liquid bioligical sample sprayed from said open tube end of said tube from flowing back into said tube when said fluid transfer vessel is at rest; and means for preventing said solid support from being transported from said tube into said means for catching and holding said liquid bioligical sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 258 words
A fluid transfer vessel designed for rotation at high speed about a central vertical axis for use in performing assays on liquid biological samples introduced into said fluid transfer vessel, comprising: a tube having a conical interior wall tapering outwardly from said central vertical axis as said wall extends from a closed bottom end of said tube to an open top end of said tube, wherein centrifugal force generated as said fluid transfer vessel rotates at high speed about said central vertical axis urges said liquid biological sample to flow along said tapered wall toward said open top end and causes said liquid biological sample to spray from said open top end outwardly away from said central vertical axis; a solid support having a biomaterial attached thereto for binding an analyte in said biological sample, said solid support positioned inside said tube but not attached to said tube; means, secured to said tube, for catching and holding said liquid biological sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube when said fluid transfer vessel is at rest with respect to rotation about said central vertical axis, said means for catching and holding said liquid biological sample preventing said liquid bioligical sample sprayed from said open tube end of said tube from flowing back into said tube when said fluid transfer vessel is at rest; and means for preventing said solid support from being transported from said tube into said means for catching and holding said liquid bioligical sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 73 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing said solid support from being transported from said tube into said mans for catching and holding said liquid biological sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube comprises a cap positioned a fixed distance from said open top end of said tube, said fixed distance from aid tube being smaller than a diameter of said solid support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 2 wherein said cap is a puncturable material wherein said biological sample is introduced into said tube of said fluid transfer vessel through said puncturable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 3 wherein said puncturable material is foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 3 wherein said puncturable material is a plastic membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 2 wherein said cap is a plastic material having an opening therethrough wherein said biological sample is introduced into said tube of said fluid transfer vessel through said opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for catching and holding said biological sample sprayed from said top end of said tube comprises a waste chamber connected to said tube having a side wall cooaxial with said tube and a closed bottom end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 7 wherein said waste chamber is connected to aid tube on an outside wall of said tube at a point approximately half way between said closed bottom end and said open top end of said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 85 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for preventing said solid support from being transported from said tube into said means for catching and holding said liquid biological sample sprayed from said open top end of said tube comprises a cap positioned a fixed distance from said open tube end of said tube, said fixed distance from said tube being smaller than a diameter of said solid support, said cap being secured to said side wall of said waste chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A fluid transfer vessel as recited in claim 9 wherein said cap is secured to said side wall of said waste chamber by a weld.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1995-01-27 1995-07-29 1996-01-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-27 1999-07-29 2000-01-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-27 2003-07-29 2004-01-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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