Systems for immunoassay tests

• US 10,345,319 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Medical Systems, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Access Medical Systems, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tan, Hong, Xia, Ming, Tan, Yushan, Chen, Jun, Cao, Erhua, Li, Genqian, Zuk, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Paul T
• Application Number:
  US15/784,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20180306829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 294 871, 294 864
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0845 Filaments, strings, fibres, i.e. not hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54353 with ligand attached to the carrier via a chemical coupling agent coatings G01N33/54393
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.

Claims

1. A probe for detecting an analyte, the probe comprising:

a rod-shaped center segment having a bottom tip;

a flange surrounding the rod-shaped center segment; and

a sleeve under the flange;

wherein the bottom tip is coated with analyte-binding molecules, and

wherein the rod-shaped center segment has a first portion extruding from a top side of the flange and a second portion extruding from a bottom side of the sleeve.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the flange comprises a plastic holder clipping on the rod-shaped center segment and a fastener ring fastening the plastic holder.

3. The probe of claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped center segment has an aspect ratio of length to width of at least 5 to 1.

4. The probe of claim 3, wherein the rod-shaped center segment has an aspect ratio of length to width of at least 10 to 1.

5. The probe of claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic cushion under the flange,

wherein the elastic cushion is configured to support the probe by securing the flange.

6. The probe of claim 5, wherein the elastic cushion is comprised of rubber, silicon, foam, or any combination thereof.

7. The probe of claim 5, wherein the elastic cushion includes a spring.

8. The probe of claim 5, wherein the elastic cushion includes a gasket ring having a diameter greater than a diameter of the flange.

9. The probe of claim 1, wherein the analyte-binding molecules are antigen molecules, antibody molecules, protein molecules, or ligand molecules.

10. The probe of claim 9, wherein the analyte-binding molecules are antibody molecules that bind to an antigen analyte in a sample.

11. The probe of claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped center segment is comprised of a segment of optical fiber, a glass rod, a metal rod, a plastic rod, or a ceramic rod.