Agglutination reaction device utilizing selectively impregnated porous material

• US 5,209,904 A
• Filed: 11/16/1990
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Robert G., Basore, Bob O., Ropella, Paul J., O'Connell, Michael B., Forney, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRYZA, LYNN M
• Application Number:
  US07/614,762
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 422/73, 422/58, 422/61, 422/101, 422/102, 436/46, 436/165, 436/177, 436/178, 436/63, 436/69, 356/244, 356/246, 350/534, 350/536
• US Class Current: 422/73
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• 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 33/5302 Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5304 Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates for solid-phase systems G01N33/543
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

An improved device for performing agglutination reactions is disclosed. The device has at least one chamber with a proximate zone and a distal zone in which chamber agglutination reactions can be performed. The improvement comprises utilization in the device of a layer of liquid absorbent material for controlling overall rate of liquid flow through the chamber. The layer of liquid absorbent material is selectively impregnated with a substance to form an impregnated region and a non-impregnated region wherein the non-impregnated region is liquid absorbent and the impregnated region is liquid-occlusive. A portion of the non-impregnated region is positioned within the distal zone of the chamber so that the non-impregnated region is in liquid communication with that zone.

Claims

1. A device for performing agglutination reactions comprising:

in adherent relationship, a first hydrophilic layer, a second layer parallel to and overlying said first layer, and a third layer parallel to and overlying said second layer and having a window for observing agglutinated particles, said second layer interposed between and in adherent relationship to said first and third layers, said second layer comprising a liquid-absorbent material selectively impregnated with a substance to form an impregnated region and a non-impregnated region wherein said non-impregnated region is liquid-absorbent and said impregnated region is liquid-occlusive, said second layer including means defining a slot in said impregnated region and defining a channel for directing liquid conducted by capillary action through a chamber defined by said slot in conjunction with said first and third layers and within which chamber agglutination reactions can be performed, said chamber having a proximate zone and a distal zone and means for controlling overall rate of liquid flow through said chamber, said means for controlling comprising said non-impregnated region of said second layer which non-impregnated region is in liquid communication with said chamber and wherein a portion of the non-impregnated region is positioned within the distal zone of said chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said liquid absorbent material comprises a cellulosic material.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said cellulosic material comprises paper.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said paper comprises filter paper.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said third layer is hydrophobic.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot is substantially formed within said impregnated, liquid-occlusive region and defines at least approximately parallel walls in said proximate zone thereby defining a first path of approximately constant width and defining walls in said distal zone which are spaced to define a second path of increased width compared to said first path whereby agglutination reactions in said chamber result in the formation of one or more bands of agglutinated particles in said distal zone of said chamber which bands are visibly observable through said window of said third layer.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said slot defines walls in said distal zone which are spaced to provide said second path such that agglutination reactions in said chamber result in said bands of agglutinated particles being approximately semicircular in configuration.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein said slot defines walls in said distal zone which are spaced to provide a decreased flow rate per unit area of liquid along said second path.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein said slot defines walls in said distal zone which are spaced to provide said second path with a flared configuration relative to said first path.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said flared configuration is approximately deltoid in shape.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said flared configuration is approximately semicircular in shape.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein said slot defines walls in said distal zone which are spaced to provide said second path with an approximately rectangular shape.

13. The device of claim 1 in which said third layer contains a well-defining slot and said second layer contains a corresponding second well-defining slot of the same size and configuration as said well-defining slot in said third layer and positioned directly below said well-defining slot in said third layer, wherein said second well-defining slot in conjunction with said well-defining slot in said third layer and said first layer define a well for receiving liquid, said well being in liquid communication with said proximate zone of said chamber.

14. A device for performing simultaneously a plurality of agglutination reactions comprising:

in adherent relationship, a first hydrophilic layer, a second layer parallel to and overlying said first layer, and a third layer parallel to and overlying said second layer and having windows for observing agglutinated particles, said second layer interposed between and in adherent relationship to said first and third layers, said second layer comprising a liquid-absorbent material selectively impregnated with a substance to form an impregnated region and a plurality of non-impregnated regions wherein said non-impregnated regions are liquid-absorbent and said impregnated region is liquid-occlusive, said second layer including means defining a plurality of slots in radial spatial relationship to each other in said impregnated region and defining channels for directing liquid conducted by capillary action through chambers defined by said slots in conjunction with said first and third layers and within which chambers agglutination reactions can be performed simultaneously, each of said chambers having a proximate zone and a distal zone and means for controlling overall rate of liquid flow through said chamber, said means for controlling comprising a non-impregnated region of said second layer which non-impregnated region is in liquid communication with said chamber and wherein a portion of the non-impregnated impregnated region is positioned within the distal zone of said chamber.

15. The device of claim 14 in which said third layer has a well-defining slot and said second layer has a corresponding second well-defining slot of the same size and configuration as said well-defining slot in said third layer and positioned in said impregnated region directly below said well-defining slot in said third layer, wherein said second well-defining slot in conjunction with said well-defining slot in said third layer and said first layer define a well for receiving liquid, said well being in liquid communication with said proximate zone of each of said chambers.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said third layer is hydrophobic.

17. An improved device for performing agglutination reactions having at least one chamber having a proximate zone and a distal zone in which chamber agglutination reactions can be performed, the improvement comprising utilization in said device of means for controlling overall rate of liquid flow through said chamber, said means for controlling comprising a layer of liquid-absorbent material selectively impregnated through a thickness thereof with a substance to form an impregnated region and a non-impregnated region wherein said non-impregnated region is liquid-absorbent and said impregnated region is liquid-occlusive and wherein a portion of said non-impregnated region is positioned within said distal zone of said chamber so that said non-impregnated region is in liquid communication with said distal zone of said chamber.

18. The improvement device of claim 17 having a plurality of said chambers and including fluid flow control means comprising said layer of liquid-absorbent material selectively impregnated through a thickness thereof with a substance to form a plurality of impregnated regions and non-impregnated regions, wherein said impregnated regions are liquid-occlusive and said non-impregnated regions are liquid-absorbent and at least one of said non-impregnated regions is in liquid communication and positioned within the distal zone of at least one of said chambers.

19. The improved device of claim 18 wherein said plurality of non-impregnated regions are separated by impregnated regions.

20. The improved device of claim 17 wherein said liquid absorbent material comprises paper.