Disposable reaction module

• US 6,284,195 B1
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Jang, Ruei-Hung, Lai, Lih-Huey, Chen, Shih-Chou
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINES, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/236,320
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/102, 422/103, 422/63, 422/50, 422/64, 422/99, 422/111, 435/286.5, 435/91.2, 435/284, 435/287.2, 435/91.1, 436/48, 216/94, 356/246, 222/63
• US Class Current: 422/417
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5302 Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures

Abstract

This invention relates to a disposable reaction module, capable of permitting small amount of test agents to mix with a reaction agent, having at least one test agent room, a reaction chamber capable of making fluid communication with said test agent rooms, and at least a gate room, situated between the reaction chamber and the corresponding test agent room. A piston is provided for controlling the flow of test agent into the reaction chamber. Being portable, the module is suitable for field test applications, especially without direct human contact, the module offers safer operations over those using conventional tubes and glasses.

Claims

1. A disposable reaction module, comprising:

a body having a reaction chamber for containing a reaction agent, the reaction chamber having a reaction chamber bottom, at least one test agent room for containing a test agent, the test agent room having a test agent room bottom inclined toward the reaction chamber and at least one gate room, said at least one gate room having a passage communicating with the reaction chamber and the at least one test agent room, the reaction chamber bottom being lower than the test agent bottom for enabling test agent to flow from said test agent room to said reaction chamber;

a cover, located on a top of said body, the cover having a check valve opening, at least one piston opening and at least one test agent inlet;

a check valve having a reaction agent inlet and an elastic arm, wherein said elastic arm is provided below said reaction agent inlet and comprises a passive one-way valve for allowing unidirectional flow of said reaction agent into said reaction chamber; and

,

a piston provided in each of the at least one gate room, the piston having a barrel on said piston and engaging said piston movably within said gate room, the piston and barrel having a through piston passage and movable between a closed position which closes the gate room passage, and an open position which opens the gate room passage to enable test agent to enter said reaction chamber, the piston further comprising a holding stub, provided on two opposite sides thereof, and formed integrally with said piston and located so as to rest on said cover, and an O-ring on said piston and engaging said piston and said body.

2. The disposable reaction module of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sealing members located on said test agent inlet for preventing said test agent in said test agent room from spilling out.