Capillary flow device

• US 5,144,139 A
• Filed: 07/19/1991
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Biotrack, Inc. (Novartis Ag)
• Inventors: Gibbons, Ian, Ostoich, Vladimir E., Allen, Jimmy D., Hillman, Robert S., Cobb, Michael E., Winfrey, Laura J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Janice A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIG, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/732,596
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 250/341, 250/343, 356/39, 356/442, 422/73, 436/69
• US Class Current: 250/341.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/00 Dissolving separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/56 by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4316 the baffles being flat pieces of material, e.g. intermeshing, fixed to the wall or fixed on a central rod
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/433 Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4338 Mixers with a succession of converging-diverging cross-sections, i.e. undulating cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7172 using capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/16 by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. infrared heating B29C59/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4895 : Solvent bonding, i.e. the surfaces of the parts to be joined being treated with solvents, swelling or softening agents, without adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 : said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 : Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 : characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 : characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 : PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/08 : Copolymers of styrene, e.g. AS or SAN, i.e. acrylonitrile styrene B29K2055/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 : ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 : Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/756 : Microarticles, nanoarticles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1016 : Particle flow simulating, e.g. liquid crystal cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 : Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00514 : Stationary mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 : Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/49 : within a body or fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/82 : producing a precipitate or turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4905 : Determining clotting time of blood by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/86 : involving blood coagulating time or factors, or their receptors

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 basic device.

Claims

1. A method for detecting agglutination of particles, which comprises:

adding a fluid sample to a capillary passageway in a cartridge containing a diagnostic reagent that interacts with said sample to produce an agglutination system comprising said particles;

passing a beam of light through said sample in said capillary passageway while said particles are in motion relative to said beam; and

detecting in said fluid the presence of agglutinated particles.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said detection is by measuring an amount of fluctuation in light transmitted through said fluid sample caused by the presence of said individual particles relative to an amount of fluctuation in light transmitted through said fluid sample caused by the presence of said agglutinated particles.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser.