Liquid shield for cartridge

• US 4,952,373 A
• Filed: 04/21/1989
• Issued: 08/28/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Biotrack, Inc. (Novartis Ag)
• Inventors: Sugarman, Jeff, Harding, Ian, Cobb, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRYZA, LYNN M
• Application Number:
  US07/341,757
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/61, 422/68, 422/99, 422/102, 422/117, 422/55, 436/165, 435/287, 435/293, 435/301, 435/291, 435/808, 356/246
• US Class Current: 422/554
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/082 Handling hazardous material
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)

Abstract

A shield is provided for isolating excess liquid on the surface of a diagnostic cartridge from a monitor with which the cartridge is used. In a preferred embodiment the shield is a strip of flexible, resilient material which can lie flat while the cartridge is in its packaged condition but which automatically springs up to serve as a shielding surface when the cartridge is unpackaged and inserted into the monitor.

Claims

1. In combination a liquid diagnostic cartridge for use with liquids and a liquid shield,

the liquid diagnostic cartridge comprising a first portion for insertion into a monitor and a second portion having a liquid receiving well in one surface thereof,

the liquid shield being attached to the one surface of the cartridge at a location between the first and second portions of the cartridge, the liquid shield comprising a resilient flap which, in a free state, stands away from the surface but which will flex into close proximity to the surface of the cartridge in response to the application of a force normal to the surface of the cartridge,

whereby the shield serves to isolate liquid applied to the first portion of the cartridge from the second portion of the cartridge when unrestrained, yet deflects to minimize the overall thickness of the cartridge and shield, as when packaged.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the flap, when unrestrained, stands away from the surface of the diagnostic device at an angle of between about 10°

and 45°

.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shield is fabricated from an opaque plastic film.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the liquid shield is fabricated from a polysulfone film.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shield is fabricated from a polyester film.