Opposable-element assay devices, kits, and methods employing them
First Claim
1. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
- (a) a first opposable component including a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and
(b) a second opposable component including a chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so as to cause the sample preparation means to apply the sample to be tested to the chromatographic medium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A chromatographic assay device for use with immunoassays allows rapid and convenient assays of analytes of biological interest, and permits extractions to be carried out in situ, avoiding the use of separate extraction vessels. The device has a wide dynamic range and avoids interference from particulates or colored components. In one form, the device comprises: (1) a first opposable component comprising a sample preparation means adapted to receive a sample to be assayed; and (2) a second opposable component comprising a chromatographic medium. The first and second opposable components can be brought into opposition so as to cause the sample preparation means to apply the sample to be tested to the chromatographic medium. Preferably, the analyte is detected with a visually detectable label. Other variations of the device vary the arrangement of components to provide optimal chromatography for a variety of analytes, as well as to permit bi-directional chromatography. The devices can be incorporated in test kits, and assay methods using the devices are also disclosed.
452 Citations
71 Claims
-
1. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (b) a second opposable component including a chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so as to cause the sample preparation means to apply the sample to be tested to the chromatographic medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (b) a second opposable component including a chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone of an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so as to cause the sample preparation means to apply the sample to be tested to the chromatographic medium and wherein the first and second opposable components each further include engaging means for securing the first and second opposable components in opposition.
-
-
13. A chromatographic assay device for detecting and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (b) a second opposable component including a chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so as to cause the sample preparation means to apply the sample to be tested to the chromatographic medium and wherein the first and second opposable components are joined by a hinge.
-
-
14. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; and (ii) a first application means at the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component including; (i) a second application means for receiving a second liquid; and (ii) an absorbing means separated from the second application means;
wherein addition of a first liquid to the first application means causes the first liquid to be applied to the first end of the chromatographic medium; and
wherein bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact;
(i) causes the second application means to come into operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium so as to apply a second liquid to the second end of the chromatographic medium; and
(ii) causes the absorbing means to come into operable contact with the first application means so as to withdraw fluid from the chromatographic medium via the first application means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (ii) a chromatographic medium that is not in operable contact with the sample preparation means, the chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; and (b) a second opposable component including a fluid-conducting connecting member;
wherein, when the first and second opposable components are brought into operable contact, the connecting member is brought into operable contact with both the sample preparation means and the chromatographic medium to result in the application of the sample to the chromatographic medium. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (ii) a chromatographic medium that is not in operable contact with the sample preparation means, the chromatographic medium including a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte that is to be detected and/or determined; and (b) a second opposable component including a fluid-conducting connecting member;
wherein, when the first and second opposable components are brought into operable contact, the connecting member is brought into operable contact with both the sample preparation means and the chromatographic medium so as to result in the application of the sample to the chromatographic medium and wherein the first and second opposable components each further comprise engaging means for securing the first and second opposable components in operable contact.
-
-
31. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and having thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a first application means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (iii) a first absorbing means of finite capacity in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component including; (i) a second application means; and (ii) a second absorbing means;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so that the second application means is placed in operable contact with the first absorbing means and the second absorbing means is placed in operable contact with the first application means. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a first application means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium and located in a recess of the first opposable component; and (iii) a first absorbing means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; (b) a second opposable component including; (i) a second absorbing means; and (ii) a second application means separated from the second absorbing means; and (c) a cover hingedly attached to the first opposable component so that it can be folded over the first and second opposable components when they are opposed;
wherein addition of a first liquid to the first application means causes the first liquid to be applied to the first end of the chromatographic medium; and
wherein bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact;
(i) causes the second application means to come into operable contact with the first absorbing means so as to apply a second liquid to the second end of the chromatographic medium; and
(ii) causes the second absorbing means to come into operable contact with the first application means and into direct contact with at least a portion of the chromatographic medium to withdraw fluid from the chromatographic medium via the first application means. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A chromatographic assay device for the detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a first conducting means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (iii) a second conducting means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; (b) a second opposable component hingedly attached to the first opposable component including; (i) a first absorbing means; and (ii) a first application means separated from the first absorbing means;
wherein bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact causes the first absorbing means to come into operable contact with the second conducting means to withdraw fluid from the chromatographic medium, and causes the first application means to come into operable contact with the first conducting means to apply fluid to the chromatographic medium, so that a first liquid applied to the first application means is drawn through at least a portion of the chromatographic medium including the detection zone; and(c) a third opposable component hingedly attached to the first opposable component including; (i) a second absorbing means; and (ii) a second application means separated from the second absorbing means;
wherein bringing the first and third opposable components into operable contact causes the second absorbing means to come into operable contact with the first conducting means to withdraw fluid from the chromatographic medium and causes the second application means to come into operable contact with the second conducting means to apply fluid to the chromatographic medium so that a second liquid applied to the second application means is drawn through at least a portion of the chromatographic medium overlapping the portion of the chromatographic medium through which the first liquid is drawn, including the detection zone;
the first, second, and third opposable components being in such a configuration that, when the third opposable component is brought into operable contact with the first opposable component, the second opposable component can be folded over the first and third opposable components to form a cover. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of at least one analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including a plurality of laterally separated sample preparation means, each for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (b) a second opposable component including a chromatographic medium for each sample preparation means on the first opposable component, each chromatographic medium including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for the analyte, the chromatographic media being laterally separated;
wherein the first and second opposable components can be brought into operable contact so as to cause each sample preparation means to apply each sample to be tested to the corresponding chromatographic medium. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
-
-
64. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a conducting means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (iii) an absorbing means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component comprising; (i) a first application means; and (ii) a second application means;
the first and second application means being positioned on the second opposable component such that they are not in operable contact when the first and second opposable components are not in operable contact;
wherein bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact places the conducting means in operable contact with the first application means and places the conducting means in operable contact with the second application means, thereby placing the first and second application means in operable contact with each other. - View Dependent Claims (65)
-
-
66. A chromatographic assay device for the detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a conducting means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; (iii) an absorbing means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; and (iv) a detector application pad in direct contact with the conducting means and positioned such that it is in indirect contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component including a sample application pad;
whereby bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact causes the sample application pad to apply the sample to be tested to the detector application pad and thus the first end of the chromatographic medium through the conducting means.
-
-
67. A chromatographic assay device for the detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) an absorbing means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; and (iii) a detector application pad in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component including a sample application pad; wherein the first and second opposable components are brought into operable contact, the detector application pad and the sample application pad are in contact except for the region of the detector application pair directly adjacent to the first end of the chromatographic medium, and whereby bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact causes the sample application pad to apply the sample to be tested to the detector application pad and thus to the first end of the chromatographic medium. - View Dependent Claims (68)
-
-
69. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a chromatographic medium having first and second ends and including thereon a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; (ii) a conducting means positioned such that it is not in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium when the first opposable component and second opposable component are not in operable contact; and (iii) an absorbing means in operable contact with the second end of the chromatographic medium; and (b) a second opposable component comprising; (i) a first application means for application of a first liquid; and (ii) a second application means for application of a second liquid;
the first and second application means being positioned on the second opposable component such that they are not in operable contact when the first and second opposable components are not in operable contact;
wherein bringing the first and second opposable components into operable contact places the conducting means in operable contact with the first application means, places the conducting means in operable contact with the second application means, and places the second application means in operable contact with the first end of the chromatographic medium, thereby placing-the first and second application means in operable contact with each other to apply the first and second liquids to the chromatographic medium. - View Dependent Claims (70)
-
-
71. A chromatographic assay device for detection and/or determination of an analyte comprising:
-
(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a sample preparation means for receiving a sample to be assayed; and (ii) a chromatographic medium that is not in operable contact with the sample preparation means and including a detection zone containing an immobilized specific binding partner for binding the analyte to be detected and/or determined; and (b) a second opposable component including a fluid-conducting connecting member;
wherein, when the first and second opposable components are brought into operable contact, the connecting member is brought in operable contact with both the sample preparation means and the chromatographic medium so as to result in the application of the sample to the chromatographic medium and wherein the first and second opposable components are joined by a hinge.
-
Specification