Capillary flow device
First Claim
1. A method for determining the presence of amount of an analyte in, or a property of, a fluid sample, comprising:
- applying said sample to device comprising an entry port for said sample, a vent, a capillary pathway connecting said entry port to said vent, and a reagent in said capillary pathway, wherein said sample flows through said capillary pathway under the sum of gravitational and capillary forces and interaction of said reagent with said sample modifies a characteristic of said sample associated with said flow;
allowing said sample to interact with said reagent and traverse at least a portion of said capillary pathway;
detecting said flow characteristic; and
relating said flow characteristic to the presence or amount of said analyte in, or to said property of, said fluid sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel methods and devices are provided involving at least one chamber, at least one capillary, and at least one reagent involved in a system providing for a detectable signal. As appropriate, the devices provide for measuring a sample, mixing the sample with reagents, defining a flow path, and reading the result. Of particular interest is the use of combinations of specific binding pair members which result in agglutination information, where the resulting agglutination particles may provide for changes in flow rate, light patterns of a flowing medium, or light absorption or scattering. A fabrication technique particularly suited for forming internal chambers in plastic devices is also described along with various control devices for use with the device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining the presence of amount of an analyte in, or a property of, a fluid sample, comprising:
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applying said sample to device comprising an entry port for said sample, a vent, a capillary pathway connecting said entry port to said vent, and a reagent in said capillary pathway, wherein said sample flows through said capillary pathway under the sum of gravitational and capillary forces and interaction of said reagent with said sample modifies a characteristic of said sample associated with said flow; allowing said sample to interact with said reagent and traverse at least a portion of said capillary pathway; detecting said flow characteristic; and relating said flow characteristic to the presence or amount of said analyte in, or to said property of, said fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 7. The method of claim 31, wherein said change in particle size distribution results from particle agglutination.
Specification