Blood plasma test method
First Claim
1. A process of testing whole blood to determine the concentration of certain plasma components thereof comprising the steps of:
- treating an expanded hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene containing semipermeable membrane with a surfactant to make the membrane hydrophilic and capable of passing plasma components of whole blood while retaining cellular and particulate components of whole blood, the semipermeable membrane having pores which are made hydrophilic by treatment with the surfactant;
superposing the semipermeable membrane over a blood plasma component reactive area;
subjecting the semipermeable membrane to a whole blood sample so that plasma components of the sample pass through the membrane and onto the reactive area while cellular and particulate blood components are blocked by the membrane;
separating the polytetrafluoroethylene containing membrane from the reactive area; and
determining the concentration of plasma components in the sample by measuring the extent of any plasma component induced change in the reactive area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Single or multiple blood plasma component concentrations are measured by a disposable stick having one or more blood plasma component reactive areas covered by a semipermeable membrane which is permeable by blood plasma or serum components and inpermeable by blood cellular and particulate matter. A second overlap may be superposed with the semipermeable membrane over the reactive areas to receive a blood sample and meter and distribute that sample uniformly to the semipermeable membrane which in turn passes the plasma components uniformly to the reactive areas. The overlays are subsequently separable from the reactive area to remove the cellular components and particulate matter and expose the reactive areas for inspection by, for example, color comparison to standardized charts.
91 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A process of testing whole blood to determine the concentration of certain plasma components thereof comprising the steps of:
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treating an expanded hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene containing semipermeable membrane with a surfactant to make the membrane hydrophilic and capable of passing plasma components of whole blood while retaining cellular and particulate components of whole blood, the semipermeable membrane having pores which are made hydrophilic by treatment with the surfactant; superposing the semipermeable membrane over a blood plasma component reactive area; subjecting the semipermeable membrane to a whole blood sample so that plasma components of the sample pass through the membrane and onto the reactive area while cellular and particulate blood components are blocked by the membrane; separating the polytetrafluoroethylene containing membrane from the reactive area; and determining the concentration of plasma components in the sample by measuring the extent of any plasma component induced change in the reactive area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification