Test apparatus and method for testing cuvette accommodated samples
First Claim
1. A device for testing a fluid sample, comprising:
- a cuvette that defines at least one conduit therein, said at least one conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end has an inlet port opening to a surface of said cuvette for receiving said test fluid;
at least one reagent compound disposed within said at least one conduit between said first end and said second end;
means for introducing a predetermined volume of said fluid sample into each said conduit through said inlet port;
pumping means for selectively moving said predetermined volume of said fluid sample from a first position in said conduit to a second position;
mixing means disposed in said conduit disposed between a first position and a second position for physically mixing said fluid sample in said conduit with said at least one reagent, said mixing means taking effect when said pumping means moves said fluid sample from said first position, past said mixing means, to said second position in said conduit; and
testing means for testing a characteristic associated with said predetermined volume of fluid sample.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cuvette based testing device for use in testing or otherwise analyzing a fluid sample. A cuvette is provided that defines at least one conduit, wherein the fluid sample is introduced into the various conduits. Reagents are disposed within the conduits that are intended to be mixed with the fluid sample. The fluid sample is drawn into the conduits by the force of a pneumatic pump. As the fluid sample contacts the various reagents, the reagents mix with the sample. Mixing is further conducted by moving the fluid sample back and forth across an obstruction in the conduit. The obstruction causes turbulent flow in the fluid sample, thereby mixing the sample with any reagent also present. The conduit is preferably transparent. The fluid sample is brought to a point in the cuvette where it is disposed below a detector. The detector is used to measure a characteristic of the fluid sample such as optical density, nephelometry, fluorescence, chemical luminescence, photoemittions or the like. By knowing the reagents mixed with the sample and measuring one or more characteristics of the fluid sample, the sample can be accurately analyzed for many differing tests.
412 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device for testing a fluid sample, comprising:
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a cuvette that defines at least one conduit therein, said at least one conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end has an inlet port opening to a surface of said cuvette for receiving said test fluid; at least one reagent compound disposed within said at least one conduit between said first end and said second end; means for introducing a predetermined volume of said fluid sample into each said conduit through said inlet port; pumping means for selectively moving said predetermined volume of said fluid sample from a first position in said conduit to a second position; mixing means disposed in said conduit disposed between a first position and a second position for physically mixing said fluid sample in said conduit with said at least one reagent, said mixing means taking effect when said pumping means moves said fluid sample from said first position, past said mixing means, to said second position in said conduit; and testing means for testing a characteristic associated with said predetermined volume of fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for testing blood, comprising:
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a cuvette that defines at least one conduit therein, said at least one conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end has an inlet port opening to a surface of said cuvette for receiving said test fluid; at least one reagent compound disposed within said at least one conduit between said first end and said second end; means for introducing a predetermined volume of said fluid sample into each said conduit through said inlet port; pumping means for selectively moving said predetermined volume of said fluid sample from a first position in said conduit to a second position; mixing means disposed in said conduit disposed between a first position and a second position for physically mixing said fluid sample in said conduit with said at least one reagent; testing means for testing a characteristic associated with said predetermined volume of fluid sample, wherein said at least one reagent compound includes magnetic particles and capture antibodies attached to said magnetic particles, whereby said magnetic particles and capture antibodies bond to target antigens if present in the blood. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A cuvette for use in testing a fluid sample, said cuvette comprising:
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a plurality of conduits within said cuvette, each of said conduits terminating at a first end at separate pumping ports and terminating at a second end at a common supply port, wherein said conduits are of a predetermined size that is sufficiently wide such that capillary action is avoided and whereby the fluid sample is introduced into each of said conduits via said supply port; at least one reagent disposed in at least one of said conduits, wherein said at least one reagent mixes with the fluid sample when brought in contact therewith and; at least one mixing obstruction disposed in at least one of said conduits, wherein said mixing obstruction creates turbulence in the fluid sample when the fluid sample flows therepast such that the fluid mixes within said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a blood sample, said device comprising:
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a) a cuvette that includes; i) at least one conduit that extends from a supply port to a pumping port for receiving the blood sample, wherein a certain air pressure is created within the conduit; ii) a reagent disposed within said conduit having a magnetic particle coupled to an antibody, wherein said antibody will bind to the analyte when mixed with the blood sample if the analyte is present in the blood sample; iii) a photoemitter means for emitting photons when impinged upon by the magnetic particle; b) a testing machine having at least one pump for increasing or decreasing the pressure in said at least one conduit, wherein said at least one pump on said testing machine is aligned to couple to at least one conduit of said cuvette;
wherein said testing machine further comprises;i) means for selectively exposing the blood sample in said cuvette to an electromagnetic field, wherein said electromagnetic field causes the magnetic particles to impinge upon said photoemitter means; ii) a photodetector for detecting photons emitted by said photoemitter.
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26. A cuvette for use in testing a fluid sample, said cuvette comprising:
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a manifold assembly having a plurality of ports thereon said ports being radially aligned relative to the center of the manifold assembly, wherein the orientation associated with said plurality of ports will change when said manifold assembly is rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise position; and a plurality of conduits leading to said manifold assembly wherein said manifold assembly selectively couples selected sets of said conduits to said plurality of ports depending upon how said manifold assembly is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of testing a fluid sample for the presence of a targeted substance, comprising the steps of:
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providing a cuvette having at least one conduit therein, wherein said at least one conduit has a reagent disposed therein, said reagent having a predetermined characteristic relative to the targeted substance; introducing the fluid sample into the cuvette; pneumatically pumping the fluid sample within said at least one conduit between a first position and a second position, whereby the fluid sample is caused to mix with said reagent; measuring a characteristic associated with the fluid sample to determine the effect of said reagent on the fluid sample, wherein said effect serves as an indicator whether the fluid sample contains the targeted substance. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification