×

Evanescent wave immunoassay system

  • US 5,492,674 A
  • Filed: 03/17/1995
  • Issued: 02/20/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Single use disposable apparatus for assaying a fluid sample with excitation radiation from a radiation source, which radiation is capable of exciting fluorescence in fluorescent material, said apparatus comprising:

  • a totally internally reflecting, unitary elongated substrate transmissive to both the excitation radiation and to the fluorescence, said substrate including an elongated fiber and integral refractive means into which the radiation is to be introduced and at least a portion of the surface of which is adapted to contact the sample, said refractive means being formed to guide the optical radiation into said fiber within the bounds of a critical angle to assure total internal reflectance;

    a coating of the fluorescent material on at least a portion of the surface of said fiber;

    a hollow elongated enclosure disposed about and spaced from said fiber so as to provide an interspace of capillary dimension between said fiber and said enclosure, said elongated enclosure extending from a location adjacent said lens to an extreme end distant therefrom;

    test implement means for supporting said elongated substrate and having reservoir means for receiving a fluid sample to be assayed and being movable between an inoperative position whereat the fluid sample is spaced from the elongated substrate and an operative position whereat the fluid sample is caused to flow onto said fiber and, by capillary action, into the interspace between said fiber and said enclosure.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×