Method and apparatus for conducting multiple chemical assays
First Claim
1. A method for conducting multiple chemical assays on a liquid sample in the same time and temperature dimension, comprising the following steps:
- placing a volume of liquid sample about a test area on a supporting analytical media;
adding smaller separate volumes of a plurality of liquid reagents to the liquid sample at predetermined spaced-apart locations about the test area on the supporting analytical media;
causing the liquid reagents and liquid sample to mix with one another within the test area on the supporting analytical media;
simultaneously capturing at least one complete digital image of the test area;
storing each digital image of the test area; and
processing each digital image of the test area to yield quantitative test results with respect to sample/reagent reactions at each spaced-apart location about the test area as a function of optical changes that have occurred at the spaced-apart locations within the test area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for high performance automated chemical analysis includes a video camera photometer with a computer-controlled interference filter wheel. A fluidics system delivers ultramicro sample and reagent volumes in the 0.05 to 5.0 microliter range to a supporting analytical media. The media is precisely positioned relative to the photometer by an x-y axis reaction media holder capable of accurate and precise positioning of the ultramicro reaction spots. The reaction media can consist of absorbent cellulose sample/reaction strips or microscopic sized multiple wells. A data and reduction system monitors multiple simultaneous reactions within a common test area of the analytical media to provide final quantitative reports. The method for conducting multiple chemical assays involves placing small volumes of sample/reagent combinations at discrete locations about a common test area on the analytical media and simultaneously measuring resulting optical changes at each discrete location.
442 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for conducting multiple chemical assays on a liquid sample in the same time and temperature dimension, comprising the following steps:
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placing a volume of liquid sample about a test area on a supporting analytical media; adding smaller separate volumes of a plurality of liquid reagents to the liquid sample at predetermined spaced-apart locations about the test area on the supporting analytical media; causing the liquid reagents and liquid sample to mix with one another within the test area on the supporting analytical media; simultaneously capturing at least one complete digital image of the test area; storing each digital image of the test area; and processing each digital image of the test area to yield quantitative test results with respect to sample/reagent reactions at each spaced-apart location about the test area as a function of optical changes that have occurred at the spaced-apart locations within the test area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for conducting multiple chemical assays on a liquid sample in the same time and temperature dimension, comprising:
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a supporting analytical media; dispensing means for placing multiple combinations of a sample and selected reagents at predetermined spaced-apart locations about a test area on the supporting analytical media; detection means for simultaneously capturing at least one complete digital image of the test area; storage means for storing each digital image of the test area; and means for processing each digital image of the test area to yield quantitative test results with respect to sample/reagent reactions at each spaced-apart location about the test area as a function of optical changes that have occurred at the spaced-apart locations within the test area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for conducting multiple chemical assays on a liquid sample in the same time and temperature dimension, comprising the following steps:
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placing a volume of a liquid reagent to a test area on a supporting analytical media; adding smaller separate volumes of a plurality of liquid samples to the liquid reagent at predetermined spaced-apart locations about the test area on the supporting analytical media; causing the liquid reagent and liquid samples to mix with one another within the test area on the supporting analytical media; simultaneously capturing at least one complete digital image of the test area; storing each digital image of the test area; and processing each digital image of the test area to yield quantitative test results with respect to sample/reagent reactions at each spaced-apart location about the test area as a function of optical changes that have occurred at the spaced-apart locations within the test area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification