Capillary test strip to separate particulates
First Claim
1. A test strip device for testing a fluid containing an analyte, comprising a collection component comprising an inlet, a collection capillary structured to draw said fluid into said collection component via said inlet by exerting capillary forces upon said fluid applied to said inlet, and a film operable to collect said analyte from said fluid as said fluid is drawn over said film;
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniaturized, vented capillary channel test strip device for estimating the concentration of an analyte in a fluid is disclosed. The channel transports analysis fluid through interior capillary space defined by the plastic casing of the device. The casing is preferably manufactured by flow injection molding. The capillary channel includes a reaction and a wicking component. Movement of analysis fluid from sampling to reaction to wicking site is enabled by a gradient of capillary force. The gradient is generated by a differential in surface/volume ratio between reaction and wicking component. The reaction component is comprised of a thin reagent film embodying the reactive chemicals, as well as a rehydrating polymer. The polymer absorbs a defined volume of analysis fluid. When the analysis fluid is whole blood, the polymer absorbs blood plasma. Surprisingly and uniquely, cellular component of blood is wholly removed from the reagent film surface by the gradient of capillary force. In this fashion, the reacted test field becomes exposed for visual or instrumented quantification of analyte.
110 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A test strip device for testing a fluid containing an analyte, comprising a collection component comprising an inlet, a collection capillary structured to draw said fluid into said collection component via said inlet by exerting capillary forces upon said fluid applied to said inlet, and a film operable to collect said analyte from said fluid as said fluid is drawn over said film;
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a wicking component coupled to said collection component and structured to draw said fluid over said film and into said wicking component by exerting capillary forces on the fluid, whereby the wicking component, without the aid of a filtration device, exerts sufficient capillary forces on the fluid to effectively sweep said film free of particulate matter contained in said fluid.
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2. A test strip device for testing a fluid containing an analyte, comprising:
- a collection component comprising an inlet, a collection capillary structured to draw said fluid into said collection component via said inlet by exerting capillary forces upon said fluid applied to said inlet, and a film operable to collect said analyte from said fluid as said fluid is drawn over said film; and
a wicking component coupled to said collection component and structured to draw said fluid over said film and into said wicking component, whereby the wicking component exerts sufficient capillary forces on the fluid to effectively sweep said film free of particulate matter of said fluid, without employing filtration materials. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a collection component comprising an inlet, a collection capillary structured to draw said fluid into said collection component via said inlet by exerting capillary forces upon said fluid applied to said inlet, and a film operable to collect said analyte from said fluid as said fluid is drawn over said film; and
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18. A test strip device for testing a fluid containing an analyte, comprising:
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a collection component comprising an inlet, a collection capillary structured to draw said fluid into said collection component via said inlet by exerting capillary forces upon said fluid applied to said inlet, and a film operable to collect said analyte from said fluid as said fluid is drawn over said film; and
a wicking component coupled to said collection component and structured to draw said fluid over said film and into said wicking component by exerting capillary forces on the analyte fluid, wherein said collection component and said wicking component are collectively structured with a particular dimension that progressively decreases cross sectional area from said inlet to said wicking component in order to facilitate a general increase in capillary force exerted upon said fluid as said fluid flows from said inlet to said wicking component, whereby the wicking component without the aid of a filtration device exerts sufficient capillary forces on the fluid to effectively sweep said film free of particulate matter contained in said fluid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A test strip device for testing blood glucose levels, comprising a first translucent plate coupled to a second translucent plate that collectively include:
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a collection component comprising an entry capillary comprising an inlet and an entry vessel that are structured to exert capillary forces on whole blood applied to said inlet in order to draw said whole blood into said entry vessel, a collection capillary comprising a collection inlet coupled to said entry vessel and a collection vessel that are structured to draw blood from said entry capillary into said collection vessel by exerting capillary forces on said whole blood in said entry vessel, and a translucent reagent film on at least one wall of said collection capillary, said translucent reagent film comprising a glucose oxidase reagent that reacts with glucose in said whole blood as said glucose diffuses into said translucent reagent film; and
a wicking capillary comprising a wicking inlet coupled to said collection vessel and a wicking vessel that are structured to effectively sweep said translucent reagent film free of red blood cells as said whole blood is drawn over said film and into said wicking vessel, without filtration materials. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification