Analyzing cartridge and liquid feed control device
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analyzing cartridge and method for using it to analyze a sample having a plurality of reservoirs and capillaries connected for communication between these reservoirs and is provided therein with a reagent required for analysis. The reservoirs are provided with openings leading to the outside of the cartridge, and the openings are covered with vents each consisting of a gas-permeable/non-liquid-permeable, hydrophobic, porous membrane. The analyzing cartridge requires only trace amounts of a sample and a reagent and no maintenance. It is provided with a non-fluid reagent in vent-carrying reservoirs thereby making it possible to formulate a very trace amount of reagent solution in the cartridge by injecting a reagent dissolving liquid into the reservoirs immediately before analyzing. A liquid feed control device controls the feeding of the liquid between the reservoirs via the capillaries when it is attached to the cartridge to allow or control the entry/exit of air via the vents.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A method of analyzing a sample comprising the steps of:
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feeding a reagent dissolving liquid from a reagent dissolving liquid storing reservoir in an analyzing cartridge in which said reagent dissolving liquid for dissolving a reagent is stored to a reagent storing reservoir in said analyzing cartridge in which a reagent for use in the analysis is stored through capillaries connected for communication between these reservoirs, at least one of said reservoirs having an opening leading to the outside of the analyzing cartridge, at least one of the reservoirs having an opening being covered with a gas-permeable/non-liquid-permeable vent, the reagent being located in at least one of said reservoirs having an opening covered with a vent;
dissolving said reagent, at least a part of which is a non-fluid reagent, in said reagent dissolving liquid to prepare a reagent solution immediately before analysis is carried out;
introducing a sample into said reagent solution in said reagent storing reservoir; and
carrying out an analysis of said sample in said reagent solution in said reagent storing reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification