Integrated exposure monitoring device

• US 4,946,705 A
• Filed: 11/23/1988
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Assay Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Assay Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Manning, Charles R., Pinto, Leroy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lusignan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/275,346
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 422/55-58, 422/83, 422/86, 422/87, 422/2, 436/1, 436/93
• US Class Current: 422/429
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2214 by sorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/142222 Hetero-O [e.g., ascorbic acid, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/202499 Formaldehyde or acetone

Abstract

A simple, inexpensive, and versatile device for measuring gaseous substances and a method for manufacture of such devices are described. The device comprises a reflectant backing which is disposed a layer which is composed of microparticles coated with a reagent and then with a diffusion layer which contains a diffusion moderator and binder, and optionally a plasticizer. A variety of useful configurations of this device are described.

Claims

1. A process for manufacturing a test strip useful for quantifying time weighted average exposure to a gaseous substance, which process comprises:

(a) casting lengthwise onto the surface of a rectangular sheet of reflectant nonporous, planar backing, a casting which comprises a microparticulate layer composed of reflectant adsorbent microparticles wherein said micro-particles are coated at their surface with a reagent specifically reactive with the gaseous substance to be quantified and wherein said reagent coated particles are further coated with a diffusion layer which permits diffusion of the gaseous substance through it to contact the specific reagent at the surface;

followed by

(b) cutting the rectangular sheet crosswise into a multiplicity of test strips.

2. A test strip prepared by the process of claim 1.

3. The process of claim 1 which further comprises, prior to step (b), applying two adhesive strips on either side of the casting of particulate layer lengthwise along the surface of the rectangular sheet of backing;

cutting the rectangular sheet of backing lengthwise in half; and

applying a cover slip material to the adhesive strip so as to extend slightly past the microparticulate layer portion.

4. A test strip having a cover slip prepared by the method of claim 3.

5. The test strip of claim 2 wherein the diffusion layer comprises a diffusion moderator and a binder, which diffusion moderator and binder may be the same or different.

6. The test strip of claim 2 wherein the layer of microparticles is 100-500 microns thick.

7. The test strip of claim 2 wherein the microparticles have a surface area of 10-1000 meter² /gram.

8. The test strip of claim 7 wherein the microparticles comprise 50-85% of the weight of the particular layer.

9. The test strip of claim 2 wherein the detection reagent is a specific reagent for ethylene oxide.