Device and method for completing a fluidic circuit

• US 5,622,870 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Sizto, N. Chung, Patel, Rajesh D., Kurn, Nurith, Ullman, Edwin F., Becker, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ludlow, Jan M.
• Application Number:
  US08/453,860
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 422/56-61, 435/7.1, 435/970, 435/975, 436/514, 436/808, 436/180, 436/165, 436/169
• US Class Current: 436/165
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0633 with moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/97 Test strip or test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/975 Kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are assay apparatus, devices and methods that permit longitudinal capillary flow of liquid between two pieces of bibulous material which, prior to actuation, are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other. In particular, the devices utilize a distortable member which when distorted, actuates the device by creating a capillary flow relationship between the two pieces of bibulous material. In an alternative embodiment the apparatus, devices, and methods include at least one additional piece of bibulous material.

Claims

1. A method for creating a capillary flow relationship among three pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises:

(a) providing a device which comprises (i) two pieces of bibulous material each in a non-capillary flow relationship to the other, and (ii) a distortable member having affixed thereto a third piece of bibulous material, said distortable member being disposed with respect to said two pieces of bibulous material such that distortion of said distortable member brings said third piece of bibulous material into contact with said two pieces of bibulous material, and

(b) distorting said distortable member by insertion thereof into a container having limited space resulting in constriction of said distortable member, which thereby results in contact of said pieces of bibulous material so as to achieve a capillary flow relationship among said pieces.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein all three pieces of bibulous material are paper strips.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said distortable member comprises two arms in a distortable relationship to each other wherein one of said arms contains said two pieces of bibulous material and said other arm contains said third piece of bibulous material.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein upon distortion of said arms, said third piece of bibulous material contacts both of said two pieces of bibulous material thereby creating a capillary flow relationship among all three pieces.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein upon distortion of said distortable member, said third piece of bibulous material affixed to said distortable member contacts both of said two pieces of bibulous material attached to said support thereby creating a capillary flow relationship among all three pieces.

6. A kit for conducting an assay comprising in packaged combination:

(a) a device which permits longitudinal capillary flow of a liquid through three pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other, which device comprises;

(i) two pieces of bibulous material each in a non-capillary flow relationship to the other and

(ii) a distortable member having affixed thereto a third piece of bibulous material, said distortable member being disposed with respect to said two pieces of bibulous material such that distortion of said distortable member brings said third piece of bibulous material into contact with said two pieces of bibulous material,

(b) a container adapted for insertion of said device therein,

wherein said container is adapted to actuate said device, when said device is inserted into said container, by distorting said distortable member thereby bringing said third piece of bibulous material into contact with said two pieces of bibulous material and

(c) separately packaged reagents for conducting an assay, said reagents comprising at least one member of a signal producing system.

7. The kit according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said two pieces of bibulous material has a member of a specific binding pair bound thereto.

8. A device that permits capillary flow of a liquid through three pieces of bibulous material which prior to actuation are in a non-capillary flow relationship to each other which comprises:

an element comprising

(a) two pieces of bibulous material each in a non-capillary flow relationship to the other, and

(b) a distortable member having affixed thereto a third piece of bibulous material and said two pieces of bibulous material, said distortable member being disposed with respect to said two pieces of bibulous material such that distortion of said distortable member brings said third piece of bibulous material into contact with said two pieces of bibulous material; and

a container adapted for insertion of said element therein,

wherein said container is adapted to actuate said device, when said element is inserted into said container, by distorting said distortable member thereby bringing said third piece of bibulous material into contact with said two pieces of bibulous material.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein when actuated by distorting, said distortable member initiates a capillary flow relationship among said pieces.

10. The device according to claim 8 wherein all three pieces of bibulous material are paper strips.

11. The device according to claim 8 wherein said device contains two arms in a distortable relationship to each other wherein one of said arms contains said two pieces of bibulous material whereas said other arm comprises said distortable member and contains said third piece of bibulous material.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein upon distortion of said arms, said third piece of bibulous material contacts both of said pieces of bibulous material thereby creating a capillary flow relationship among all three pieces.