IMMUNOASSAY PRODUCT AND PROCESS

• US 20110256025A1
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Hiroko, Greenizen, Kurt, Mabuchi, Masaharu, Clark, Phillip, Emerick, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/69
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus useful in conducting detection of compounds on blotting membranes. The device is comprised of several layers including a porous support layer below the blotting membrane(s), a flow distributor above the blotting membrane(s) and optionally a well on the flow distributor to contain the liquid to the desired area and to allow for lower starting volumes of such liquid. Preferably, the flow distributor is a non-binding or low binding hydrophilic porous membrane such as a 0.22 micron membrane and the support layer is a grid or sintered porous material. The distributor and support are held together to form an envelope around the membrane(s). The use of a hinge, clips and other such devices is preferred in doing so.

Claims

1. A device for conducting immunoassays comprising a holder formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and paper, the holder having a first portion and second portion, a central opening area formed in each of the first and second portion the opening of each portion being aligned with the other opening of the opposite portion when the first portion and second portions of the holder are adjacent each other in a closed position, a porous support covers opening of the first portion and a flow distributor covers the opening of the second portion wherein the holder has a means for releasably securing the first and second portions to each other.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for releasably securing further comprising a sealing material formed outwardly and circumscribing the porous support opening.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for releasably securing the first and second portions to each other is a hinge.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the flow distributor has a lower and an upper surface and the second portion of the holder has an inner and outer surface and the flow distributor is attached to the inner surface of the second portion of the holder such that the thickness of the second portion from the inner surface to the outer surface forms one or more wells above the flow distributor.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a collection tray below the holder for the recovery of reagents.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a collection tray below the holder for the recovery of reagents and wherein the tray is subdivided into two or more separate subtrays.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the flow distributor is a membrane.

7. A device for conducting vacuum assisted immunoassays comprising a vacuum manifold and a holder formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and paper, the holder having a first portion and second portion, a central opening area formed in each of the first and second portion the opening of each portion being aligned with the other opening of the opposite portion when the first portion and second portions of the holder are adjacent each other in a closed position, a porous support covers opening of the first portion and a flow distributor covers the opening of the second portion wherein the holder has a means for releasably securing the first and second portions to each other.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the means for releasably securing is a sealing material formed outwardly and circumscribing the porous support opening.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the means for releasably securing is a hinge.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the flow distributor has a lower and an upper surface and the second portion of the holder has an inner and outer surface and the flow distributor is attached to the inner surface of the second portion of the holder such that the thickness of the first portion from the inner surface to the outer surface forms one or more wells above the upper surface of the flow distributor.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the flow distributor is a membrane.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein there are two holders which are run independently of each other.