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US5135873A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device and method for completing a fluidic circuit which employs a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material

Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH Germany
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Filing: 1989-11-27
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Granted: 1992-08-04
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Expires: 2009-11-27
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed are methods and devices for permitting capillary flow of liquid between two or more pieces of bibulous material which, prior to actuation, are in a non-capillary flow relationship. In particular, the device is actuated and a capillary flow relationship is initiated between the two or more pieces of bibulous material in non-capillary flow relationship by utilizing a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rajesh D. Patel
  • 👤 Nurith Kurn
  • 👤 Martin Becker
  • 👤 Edwin F. Ullman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 08:02
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5023; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0672; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0825; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; B01L2400/06; B01L2400/0633; B01L2400/0661; B01L2400/0677; B01L2400/0683; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A device for permitting capillary flow of a liquid between two or more pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises: (a) a housing have a compressible member confined therein; (b) a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material within said housing; and (c) two or more pieces of bibulous material, affixed to said compressible member, in a non-capillary flow relationship with each other and with said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material being positioned in said housing such that upon expansion said compressible member is compressed and said two or more pieces of bibulous material are brought into capillary flow relationship with each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 122 words
A device for permitting capillary flow of a liquid between two or more pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises: (a) a housing have a compressible member confined therein; (b) a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material within said housing; and (c) two or more pieces of bibulous material, affixed to said compressible member, in a non-capillary flow relationship with each other and with said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material being positioned in said housing such that upon expansion said compressible member is compressed and said two or more pieces of bibulous material are brought into capillary flow relationship with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material is affixed to said compressible member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material is affixed to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material expands when wetted and thereby results in two of said pieces of bibulous material directly physically contacting one another in such a manner so as to achieve said capillary flow relationship between said two or more pieces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
The device according to claim 1 comprising two pieces of said bibulous material in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other wherein upon expansion of said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, said two pieces of bibulous material directly physically contact each other thereby creating said capillary flow relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 58 words
The device according to claim 1 comprising three pieces of said bibulous material in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other wherein upon expansion of said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, one of said three pieces of bibulous material directly physically contacts said remaining two other pieces thereby creating a capillary flow relationship among all three pieces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said two or more pieces of bibulous material are paper strips.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 158 words
A method for creating a capillary flow relationship between two or more pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises: (a) providing a device which comprises (i) a housing have a compressible member confined therein; and (ii) two or more pieces of bibulous material affixed to said compressible member in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other; and (iii) a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material within said housing which is in a non-capillary flow relationship with said two or more pieces of bibulous material and which is positioned in said housing such that upon expansion said compressible member is compressed and said two or more pieces of bibulous material are brought into a capillary flow relationship; (b) contacting said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material with a sufficient quantity of a liquid to wet said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material and cause it to expand.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 158 words
A method for creating a capillary flow relationship between two or more pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises: (a) providing a device which comprises (i) a housing have a compressible member confined therein; and (ii) two or more pieces of bibulous material affixed to said compressible member in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other; and (iii) a liquid expandable piece of bibulous material within said housing which is in a non-capillary flow relationship with said two or more pieces of bibulous material and which is positioned in said housing such that upon expansion said compressible member is compressed and said two or more pieces of bibulous material are brought into a capillary flow relationship; (b) contacting said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material with a sufficient quantity of a liquid to wet said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material and cause it to expand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material is affixed to said compressible member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material is affixed to said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein two of said pieces of bibulous material directly physically contact one another in such a manner so as to achieve said capillary flow relationship between said two or more pieces when said liquid expandable piece is contacted with said liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said device comprises two pieces of said bibulous material in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other wherein upon expansion of said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, said two pieces of bibulous material directly physically contact each other thereby creating said capillary flow relationship between said pieces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said device comprises three pieces of said bibulous material in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other wherein upon expansion of said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, one of said three pieces of bibulous material directly physically contacts said remaining two other pieces thereby creating a capillary flow relationship among all three pieces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said two or more pieces of bibulous material are paper.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 31 words
The method according to any one of claims 11, 12 and 13 wherein upon expansion of said liquid expandable piece of bibulous material, said compressible member compresses thereby permitting said contact.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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EP0146691A2 Cited
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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) 1995-08-04 1996-02-03 1996-08-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-04 2000-02-03 2000-08-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-04 2004-02-03 2004-08-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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