PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED SAMPLE ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. An improved sample analysis apparatus of the type having a removable component with (a) a membrane, said membrane having an upper and lower surface, (b) an analyte-specific binding agent attached to said membrane, (c) a means for absorbing liquid located adjacent to the lower surface of said membrane, and (d) a piston means located adjacent to said means for absorbing liquid, wherein said piston means draws analytes in a sample through the membrane into the means for absorbing liquid, the improvement comprisinga chamber for housing at least two removable components in their entirety,a detector adjacent to said chamber and arranged to detect analyte-specific binding to the analyte-specific binding agent on the upper surface of membranes of the at least two removable components housed in their entirety in the chamber,a plurality of data acquisition components for acquiring data,an interface for wired or wireless data transfer, anda computer, wherein the computer integrates, analyzes and stores the detected analyte-specific binding and acquired data thereby providing improved sample analysis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an improved apparatus for sample analysis. The apparatus employs an assay component containing a membrane having one or a plurality of analyte-specific binding agents attached thereto, a means for absorbing liquid, and a piston means for drawing analytes through said membrane into said means for absorbing liquid. The apparatus is configured to be portable and provide a detector for detecting binding of an analyte to an analyte-specific binding agent, a plurality of data acquisition components, and a computer for integrating, analyzing and storing the detected analyte specific binding and acquired data.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An improved sample analysis apparatus of the type having a removable component with (a) a membrane, said membrane having an upper and lower surface, (b) an analyte-specific binding agent attached to said membrane, (c) a means for absorbing liquid located adjacent to the lower surface of said membrane, and (d) a piston means located adjacent to said means for absorbing liquid, wherein said piston means draws analytes in a sample through the membrane into the means for absorbing liquid, the improvement comprising
a chamber for housing at least two removable components in their entirety, a detector adjacent to said chamber and arranged to detect analyte-specific binding to the analyte-specific binding agent on the upper surface of membranes of the at least two removable components housed in their entirety in the chamber, a plurality of data acquisition components for acquiring data, an interface for wired or wireless data transfer, and a computer, wherein the computer integrates, analyzes and stores the detected analyte-specific binding and acquired data thereby providing improved sample analysis.
Specification