Methods and apparatus using hydrogels
First Claim
1. A method of concentrating a solution, comprisingcontacting the solution with one side of a porous gel barrier material and contacting the other side of the porous gel barrier material with a substance including a water-insoluble hydrogel forming polymer, andallowing liquid to pass through the porous gel barrier material to concentrate the solution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The hydrogel-forming polymers are used as absorbents for collecting and concentrating solutions. A solution to be concentrated can be contained in a dialysis membrane, with the hydrogel-forming polymer, or mixture thereof, on the outer surface of the membrane. A hydrogel-forming polymer can be added directly to the solution to be concentrated and the resulting concentrate separated from the gel by filtration of decanting. A hydrogel-forming polymer can be placed in a container formed of porous material and the container can be added to the solution to be concentrated and physically removed after concentration has occurred. Hydrogel-forming polymer can be used as a liquid collection in diagnostic membrane assay cartridges.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of concentrating a solution, comprising
contacting the solution with one side of a porous gel barrier material and contacting the other side of the porous gel barrier material with a substance including a water-insoluble hydrogel forming polymer, and allowing liquid to pass through the porous gel barrier material to concentrate the solution.
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3. A method of obtaining a desired concentration of a suspension including particulates and a solution, comprising
placing a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer in contact with the suspension and allowing the hydrogel-forming polymer to absorb the solution until the desired concentration is obtained, and separating the hydrogel-forming polymer and absorbed solution from the desired concentration of solution and particulates to provide the desired concentration of the suspension for further use.
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4. A method of concentrating a solution or suspension, comprising
placing a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer in a container formed from a porous gel barrier material, placing the container of water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer into the solution, allowing liquid to pass through the porous gel barrier material for absorption by the water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer to concentrate the solution or suspension, and removing the container of water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer and absorbed liquid from the container of concentrated solution or suspension.
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10. A method of concentrating a suspension containing particulates and a solution, comprising
placing the suspension to be concentrated into a container formed with a semi-permeable membrane having pores smaller than the particulates, placing the container in contact with a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer for a time sufficient to allow solution to be absorbed by the water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer thereby concentrating the suspension.
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11. A method of concentrating a solute-containing solution by direct addition of a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer to the solution to be concentrated and subsequent removal of the water insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer from the concentrated solution upon obtaining a desired concentration so that the concentrated solution is available for further use.
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12. A method of concentrating a suspension by direct addition of a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer to the suspension to be concentrated, and subsequent removal of the water insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer from the concentrated suspension upon obtaining a desired concentration so that the concentrated solution is available for further use.
- 13. In a cartridge for conducting immunoassay procedures including a porous membrane carrying a member of an antigen/antibody pair of interest and providing a test detection site and means for absorbing from the porous membrane a liquid sample to be tested for the other member of the antigen/antibody pair of interest, the improvement comprising a water-insoluble hydrogel-forming polymer supported in contact with the porous membrane and providing said means to absorb said liquid sample from the porous membrane.
Specification