Capillary fill test device

• US 20050229722A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Inverness Medical Switzerland GmbH (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Howell, Steven, Troke, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.720
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/12 Dippers; Dredgers

Abstract

A device for receiving a sample of liquid, such as a sample of bodily liquid which is to be subjected to further analysis, may include a body having at least a major surface and a minor surface. A sample-receiving chamber may be located in the body and may have an inlet end which opens into the major and minor surfaces of the body. A conduit may be located in the body, extending from the outlet end of the chamber, and may be arranged so as to allow the liquid to pass from the outlet end into the conduit by capillary action.

Claims

1. A device for receiving a sample of liquid, comprising:

a body having at least a major surface and a minor surface;

a sample-receiving chamber located in the body and having an inlet end which opens into the major and minor surfaces of the body; and

a conduit located in the body and extending from the outlet end of the chamber, the conduit being arranged so as to allow the liquid to pass from the outlet end into the conduit by capillary action.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening of the inlet end of the sample-receiving chamber is continuous in the major and minor surfaces.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body is a generally rectilinear strip, or is wedge- or disc-shaped.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the minor surface is an end or side wall of the body and the major surface is a top surface of the body.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body is generally cylindrical.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the minor surface is an end wall and the major surface is an outer surface of the cylinder.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sample-receiving chamber tapers from the inlet end to the outlet end.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sample-receiving chamber is generally V- or U-shaped.

9. A device for receiving a sample of liquid, comprising:

a body having at least an end wall;

a generally V-shaped sample-receiving chamber located in the body and having an inlet end which opens into the end wall of the body; and

a conduit located in the body and extending from the outlet end of the chamber, the conduit being arranged so as to allow the liquid to pass from the outlet end into the conduit by capillary action.

10. A device for receiving a sample of liquid, comprising:

a rectilinear body having at least a top surface and an end wall;

a sample-receiving chamber located in the body and having;

an inlet end which opens into the top surface and the end wall of the body; and

and an outlet end, the sample-receiving chamber tapering from the inlet end to the outlet end; and

a conduit located in the body and extending from the outlet end of the chamber, the conduit being arranged so as to allow the liquid to pass from the outlet end into the conduit by capillary action;

wherein the sample-receiving chamber and the conduit are coated with a hydrophilic coating, providing a contact angle of 90 degrees or less.