Devices and methods for separating cellular components of blood from liquid portion of blood
First Claim
1. A device for separating the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of blood comprising:
- (a) a first opposable component including;
(i) a first porous separating matrix permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood;
(ii) a second porous matrix including a membrane for chromatographic separation in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix that permits the liquid portion of the blood to flow in a first direction by capillary action through the second porous matrix; and
(iii) a conductor in operable contact with the second porous matrix at an end of the second porous matrix opposite that which is in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix; and
(b) a second opposable component attachable to the first opposable component, the second opposable component including thereon;
(i) an applicator; and
(ii) an absorber separated from the applicator;
such that the first and second opposable components are brought into opposition to transfer a reagent, in the applicator, from the second opposable component to the first opposable component by operable contact of the applicator on the second opposable component and the conductor on the first opposable component by pressure so that bringing the first and second opposable components into opposition causes the reagent transferred from the second opposable component to the first opposable component to migrate through the second porous matrix in a second direction opposite to the first direction with flow being driven by the absorber to perform bidirectional immunochromatography;
whereby the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood occurs by flow through the first and second matrices of the first opposable component without significant hemolysis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of blood comprises: (1) a pad of porous material permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood; (2) a substrate supporting the pad; and (3) means, attached to the pad, for facilitating the flow of the liquid portion of the blood: (i) through interstices around the trapped cellular components of the blood and (ii) from the pad of porous material. The separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood occurs by flow through the pad of porous material without significant hemolysis. The device can be incorporated into a device for the performance of specific binding assays such as immunoassays. The pad of porous material can contain an agglutinating agent such as a lectin or an anti-blood cell antibody, or a carbohydrate such as mannitol. Other devices and methods for the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood are also disclosed.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A device for separating the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of blood comprising:
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(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a first porous separating matrix permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood; (ii) a second porous matrix including a membrane for chromatographic separation in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix that permits the liquid portion of the blood to flow in a first direction by capillary action through the second porous matrix; and (iii) a conductor in operable contact with the second porous matrix at an end of the second porous matrix opposite that which is in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix; and (b) a second opposable component attachable to the first opposable component, the second opposable component including thereon; (i) an applicator; and (ii) an absorber separated from the applicator; such that the first and second opposable components are brought into opposition to transfer a reagent, in the applicator, from the second opposable component to the first opposable component by operable contact of the applicator on the second opposable component and the conductor on the first opposable component by pressure so that bringing the first and second opposable components into opposition causes the reagent transferred from the second opposable component to the first opposable component to migrate through the second porous matrix in a second direction opposite to the first direction with flow being driven by the absorber to perform bidirectional immunochromatography; whereby the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood occurs by flow through the first and second matrices of the first opposable component without significant hemolysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for separating the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of blood comprising:
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(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a first porous separating matrix permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood; (ii) a second porous separating matrix permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood, the second porous separating matrix being in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix; (iii) a third porous matrix including a membrane for chromatographic separation in operable contact with the second porous separating matrix, the third porous matrix permitting the liquid portion of the blood to flow in a first direction by capillary action through the third porous matrix; and (iv) a conductor in operable contact with the third porous matrix at an end of the third porous matrix opposite that which is in operable contact with the second porous separating matrix; and (b) a second opposable component attachable to the first opposable component, the second opposable component including thereon; (i) an applicator; and (ii) an absorber separated from the applicator; such that the first and second opposable components can be brought into opposition to transfer a reagent, in the applicator, from the second opposable component to the first opposable component by pressure by operable contact of the applicator on the second opposable component and the conductor on the first opposable component so that bringing the first and second opposable components into opposition causes the reagent transferred from the second opposable component to the first opposable component to migrate through the third porous matrix in a second direction opposite to the first direction with flow being driven by the absorber to perform bidirectional immunochromatography; whereby the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood occurs by flow through the first and second matrices of the first opposable component without significant hemolysis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device for separating the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of blood comprising:
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(a) a first opposable component including; (i) a first porous separating matrix permeable to the liquid portion of blood but capable of trapping the cellular components of blood; (ii) at least two second porous matrices each including a membrane for chromatographic separation, each second porous matrix in operable conduct with the first porous separating matrix in order to permit the liquid portion of the blood to flow in a first direction by capillary action through the second porous matrices; and (iii) at least two conductors, each conductor in operable contact with one of the second porous matrices at the end of each of the second porous matrices opposite that which is in operable contact with the first porous separating matrix; and (b) a second opposable component attachable to the first opposable component such that the first and second opposable components can be brought into opposition to transfer a reagent from the second opposable component to the first opposable component by pressure, the second opposable component including thereon; (i) at least one applicator; and (ii) at least one absorber separated from the at least one applicator; so that bringing the first and second opposable components into opposition causes a reagent, in the at least one applicator, transferred from the second opposable component to the first opposable component to migrate through the second porous matrices in a second direction opposite to the first direction by bringing the at least one applicator on the second opposable component into operable contact with the conductors on the first opposable component, the flow being driven by the at least one absorber to perform bidirectional immunochromatography; whereby the separation of the liquid portion of blood from the cellular components of the blood occurs by flow through the first and second matrices of the first opposable component without significant hemolysis. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification