Apparatus and methods for separating components of particulate suspension
First Claim
1. An optical bio-disc for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
- a separation chamber for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component;
a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by a first conduit, the first conduit having an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber; and
a fluid assay chamber communicating with the fluid metering chamber by a second conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical bio-disc used in separating components of particulate suspension has separation, fluid metering, and fluid assay chambers. The separation chamber contains a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component. The fluid metering chamber communicates with the separation chamber by a first conduit that has an entry point at the separation chamber. The entry point is accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber. The fluid assay chamber communicates with the fluid metering chamber by a second conduit.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An optical bio-disc for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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a separation chamber for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component;
a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by a first conduit, the first conduit having an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber; and
a fluid assay chamber communicating with the fluid metering chamber by a second conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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11. An optical bio-disc, comprising:
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a substrate having encoded information associated therewith, the encoded information being readable by a disc drive assembly to control rotation of the disc;
an antechamber associated with the substrate;
a separation tube associated with the substrate, the separation tube in fluid communication with the antechamber;
a metering chamber associated with the substrate, the metering chamber in fluid communication with the separation tube; and
an assay zone associated with the substrate, the assay zone in fluid communication with the metering chamber so that when a particulate suspension including a particulate matter component and a liquid component is deposited into the antechamber, rotating the substrate in a predetermined manner delivers a metered amount of the liquid component to the assay zone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39)
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12. An optical bio-disc, comprising:
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a substrate having a center and an outer edge;
an antechamber associated with the substrate;
a separation tube associated with the substrate, the separation tube in fluid communication with the antechamber;
a metering chamber associated with the substrate, the metering chamber in fluid communication with the separation tube;
an assay zone associated with the substrate, the assay zone in fluid communication with the metering chamber; and
a waste chamber associated with the substrate, the waste chamber in fluid communication with the meeting chamber so that when a particulate suspension including a particulate matter component and a liquid component is deposited into the antechamber, rotating the substrate in a predetermined manner delivers a metered amount of the liquid component to the assay zone while an excess amount of the liquid component is delivered to the waste chamber.
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15. A fluidic circuit in a substrate for separating and metering a liquid component of a particulate suspension from particulate matter associated therewith, the fluidic circuit comprising:
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an antechamber;
a separation tube in fluid communication with the antechamber;
a metering chamber in fluid communication with the separation tube;
an assay zone in fluid communication with the metering chamber; and
a waste chamber in fluid communication with the meeting chamber so that when a particulate suspension including a particulate matter component and a liquid component is deposited into the antechamber, causing the particulate suspension flow through the separation tube and the metering chamber delivers a metered amount of the liquid component to the assay zone while an excess amount of the liquid component is delivered to the waste chamber.
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28. An optical bio-disc drive assembly, comprising:
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a motor for rotating a respective optical bio-disc;
means for controlling the motor so that the bio-disc is rotated in a predetermined manner;
a source of electromagnetic radiation;
means for focusing the electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined location on the optical bio-disc;
means for receiving a return beam returned from an assay zone associated with the bio-optical disc, the assay zone including a liquid component of a particulate suspension which was separated from particulate matter associated therewith by rotating the optical bio-disc in the predetermined manner; and
means for analyzing the return beam so that desired characteristics of the liquid component are determined.
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36. A rotatable disc for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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an separation chamber, elongated along a line, for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component, the separation chamber being oriented at an angle that is in a range of 0-45 degrees relative to a vector of rotation-induced centrifugal force extending through the center of the separation chamber; and
a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber.
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37. A rotatable disc for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
a metering chamber formed in a substrate of the disc for receiving a liquid during a first rotation phase, and for delivering the liquid to another chamber in the substrate in a second rotating phase.
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40. A method for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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at a first sustained speed, rotating an apparatus including a fluidic circuit having a separation component for holding the particulate suspension, a metering component communicating with the separation component, and an assay component communicating with the metering component, wherein centrifugal force resulting from the first sustained speed is insufficient to cause fluid of the particulate suspension to move from the separation component to the metering component;
rotating the apparatus at a second sustained speed causing centrifugal force that is sufficient to cause the fluid to move from the separation component to the metering component and being insufficient to cause the fluid to move from the metering component to the assay component; and
rotating the apparatus at a third sustained speed causing centrifugal force that is sufficient to cause the fluid to move from the metering component to the assay component.
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41. An optical disc for separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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a main chamber having a separation chamber for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component and a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by a first conduit, the first conduit having an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber;
a reaction chamber in communication with the main chamber; and
a capture area in communication with the reaction chamber.
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42. An optical disc for separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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a main chamber;
a reaction chamber in communication with the main chamber, the reaction chamber having a separation chamber for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component and a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by a first conduit, the first conduit having an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber; and
a capture area in communication with the reaction chamber.
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43. A rotatable disc for use in separating components of particulate suspension, comprising:
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an separation chamber, elongated along a line, for containing a particulate suspension having a fluid component and a particulate matter component, the separation chamber being oriented at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to a vector of rotation-induced centrifugal force extending through the center of the separation chamber; and
a fluid metering chamber communicating with the separation chamber by an entry point at the separation chamber, the entry point being accessible to the fluid component when the bio-disc is rotated causing separation of the fluid component and the particulate matter component in the separation chamber.
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Specification