Detection of agglutination of assays
First Claim
1. An apparatus for conducting an assay having an agglutination or size separation step, comprising:
- a first section disposed to receive a fluid to be assayed; and
a second section disposed to receive the fluid from the first section upon application of a motive force to the fluid, the second section comprising elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the fluid and trap agglutinated particles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for conducting an assay having an agglutination or size separation step, includes: a first section disposed to receive a fluid to be assayed; and a second section disposed to receive the fluid from the first section upon application of a motive force, preferably centrifugal force, to the fluid, the second section comprising elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the fluid and trap agglutinated particles. In a preferred embodiment, the elements are shaped as pillars. In another preferred embodiment, a third section is provided after the second section and the apparatus is in the form of a disk, preferably an optical disk, having a central axis, and wherein the first, second and third section are arranged in the disk as channels in a direction away from the central axis, respectively. A method for assaying a fluid that has particles to be separated or agglutinated includes: providing a fluid to be assayed into a first section of an apparatus as described above; applying a motive force to the fluid to move the fluid from the first section into a second section, wherein said second section comprises elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the fluid and trap particles in the fluid; and measuring a property of the fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid to be assayed is blood.
56 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for conducting an assay having an agglutination or size separation step, comprising:
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a first section disposed to receive a fluid to be assayed; and
a second section disposed to receive the fluid from the first section upon application of a motive force to the fluid, the second section comprising elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the fluid and trap agglutinated particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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31. An apparatus for conducting an assay having an agglutination or size separation step, comprising:
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an optical disk having a central axis;
a first section disposed to receive a fluid to be assayed, said first section including a fluid entry port to provide the fluid to be assayed;
a second section disposed to receive the fluid from the first section upon application of a motive force to the fluid, the second section comprising elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the fluid and trap agglutinated particles;
a third section disposed to receive fluid from the second section, wherein the first, second and third section are arranged in the disk as channels in a direction away from the central axis, respectively;
a drive for rotating the apparatus around the central axis; and
an optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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38. A method for agglutination blood, comprising:
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(a) providing blood or into a first chamber;
(b) providing a reagent;
(c) combining the reagent and the blood;
(d) applying a motive force to move the combined reagent and blood from the first section into a second chamber, wherein said second chamber comprises elements fixed to a substrate and adapted to mix the blood and reagent and trap agglutinated blood cells.
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Specification