Housing for test strip device and test strip therefor

• US 6,740,293 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immunostics Inc. (Boditech Med Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biotech Atlantic, Inc.
• Inventors: Deng, Fangling
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Lyle A.
• Application Number:
  US09/906,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 422/56, 422/58, 422/61, 436/164, 436/169
• US Class Current: 422/412
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0003 including means for analysis by an unskilled person
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis

Abstract

Testing devices for detecting a physical condition from a fluid specimen having, a housing movable from open to closed position for access to a test strip holding channel for a test strip, said housing has an enlarged end section for receiving the fluid to be tested thereon, with a plurality of serially disposed transverse channels on the exterior for catching fluid to be tested, an inlet port in each of said channels coacts with the test strip to enable the test strip to absorb a predetermined quantity of the fluid, and an outlet on said end section enables any excess fluid to overflow the end section. A sealing line when the housing is in the closed position has openings to prevent capillary action by the fluid from contaminating the test strip. A sealed viewing window on the housing enables the results by the test strip to be read.

Claims

1. A testing device for detecting a physical condition from a fluid specimen or stream to be tested comprising:

a. a housing movable from an open to a closed position and vice versa having, a test strip therein,

b. an enlarged end section on said housing for receiving and capturing at least a portion of the fluid to be tested has, inlet port means occluded by and coacting with one end of the test strip to permit a predetermined quantity of fluid to be absorbed by this associated end of the test strip, and

c. said housing having, a viewing window for reading the results, if any, signaled by the test strip during use of the test device.

4. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the inlet port means includes:

a. at least one opening in the enlarged end section disposed for coaction with the test strip when in assembled position in the housing, and

b. said test strip made of a highly absorbent material and in assembled position in said strip holding channel when the housing is in the closed position disposed to occlude the at least one opening to prevent the fluid being tested from flooding into the housing.

5. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the enlarged end section includes:

a. at least one operatively associated pair of transverse partitions defining, a sized transverse guide channel therebetween for catching and holding a predetermined quantity of the fluid to be tested when the testing device is being used, and

b. said guide channel having, the inlet port means therein disposed for coaction with the test strip.

6. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the enlarged end section is sized and shaped to provide at least one substantially large surface area for contact with the fluid to be tested.

9. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing has a plurality of vent openings to allow excess moisture to escape from the interior of the housing to insure continuing capillary action in the test strip and prevent the test strip and viewing window from becoming blurred during operation of the testing device.

10. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 where the housing includes:

a. at least one vent opening on the side of the viewing window opposite from the enlarged end section to allow excess moisture to escape from the interior of the housing,

b. a desiccant in the housing to absorb excess moisture, and

c. said vent openings and the desiccant coacting with each other to maintain the test strip and viewing window clear during operation of the testing device.

11. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing includes, a plurality of test strip holding projections for operatively maintaining the test strip in assembled position when the housing is in the closed position.

12. In the testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing is fabricated from a plastic material.

13. In a testing device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing is fabricated from a plastic material from the group polypropylene and polyethylene.

20. In a test device as in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the viewing window in the housing includes, means for sealing the viewing window.

2. A testing device for detecting a physical condition from a fluid specimen or stream to be tested comprising:

a. a housing movable from an open to a closed position and vice versa having, a test strip therein,

b. an enlarged end section on said housing for receiving and capturing at least a portion of the fluid to be tested has, inlet port means occluded by and coacting with one end of the test strip to permit a predetermined quantity of fluid to be absorbed by this associated end of the test strip,

c. means on the enlarged end section to enable excess fluid to overflow off the enlarged end section, and

d. said housing having, a viewing window for reading the results, if any, signaled by the test strip during use of the test device.

7. In the testing device as in claim 2 wherein the means to enable excess fluid to be tested to overflow off the enlarged end section is at least one sized and shaped outlet disposed on the exterior of the enlarged end section.

8. In the testing device as in claim 2 wherein the means to enable excess fluid to overflow off the enlarged end section includes:

a. an end wall formed on the exterior of the enlarged end section, and

b. at least one sized and shaped outlet formed in the end wall disposed when the test device is in use for communication with the fluid to be tested to permit said fluid to overflow off of the housing.

3. A testing device for detecting a physical condition from a fluid specimen or stream to be tested, comprising:

a. a housing movable from an open to a closed position and vice versa and having, a test strip holding channel, and a test strip mounted in said test strip holding channel in the housing,

b. an enlarged end section on said housing for communication with the fluid to be tested has, inlet port means, and said inlet port means occluded by and coacting with one end of the test strip in assembled position to permit a predetermined amount of fluid to be absorbed by this associated end of the test strip,

c. means for sealing the housing in the closed position including, means to limit capillary action of the fluid along the sealing means to prevent contamination of the test strip during use of the testing device, and

d. said housing having, a viewing window for reading the results, if any, signaled by the test strip during use of the test device.

14. In the testing device as in claim 3 wherein the means for limiting capillary action of the fluid to be tested along the sealing means is at least one opening in the line of the sealing means extending from the interior to the exterior of the housing.

15. In the testing device as in claim 3 wherein the means for limiting capillary action of the fluid to be tested along the sealing means comprises, spaced openings in the line of the sealing means on opposite sides of the housing, said openings extending from the interior to the exterior of the housing.

18. In the housing for a testing device as in claims 14 and or 15 wherein the means for limiting capillary action by the fluid specimen to be tested along the sealing means is at least one opening in the sealing means extending from the interior to the exterior of the housing.

19. In the housing for a testing device as in claims 14 and or 15 including,

a. venting openings in the housing on the side of the viewing window opposite form the enlarged end section,

b. a desiccant disposed in said housing, and

c. said venting openings and said desiccant to absorb excess moisture in the interior of the housing to improve continuity of capillary action in the test strip and to maintain the test strip and viewing window clear.

16. A testing device for detecting a physical condition from a fluid specimen to be tested comprising:

a. a housing having a first lower section and a coacting and matching upper section operatively connected for movement from an open to a closed position and vice versa, test strip holding channel, and a test strip in said test strip holding channel when in assembled position in the housing,

b. an enlarged sized and shaped end section on said housing for communication with the fluid to be tested has, inlet port means occluded by and disposed for operative coaction with the test strip to permit a predetermined quantity of fluid to be tested to be absorbed by one end of the test strip, and means to enable excess fluid to overflow off of the enlarged sized and shaped end section,

c. means for sealing the lower section and coacting and matching upper section in the closed position including, means to limit capillary action of the fluid along the sealing means to prevent contamination of the test strip and the testing device during use of the testing device, and

d. said housing having, a viewing window for reading the results, if any, signaled by the test strip during use of the test device.

17. A housing for a test device with a test strip therein comprising:

a. generally elongated housing means including, a first shaped section, and a matching second shaped section operatively connected to each other for movement from an open to a closed position, a longitudinally extending test strip holding channel, and a test strip mounted in said test strip holding channel when the housing is in the closed position,

b. said elongated housing means having, an enlarged sized and shaped section at one end for receiving a fluid specimen, and means forming an overflow section on said end section to enable excess fluid to flow off the end section,

c. said enlarged sized and shaped end section having a plurality of transversely and serially disposed guide channels on at least one surface of the housing, and sized fluid inlet ports in each of said channels extending through the surface of the housing,

d. said inlet ports occluded by and disposed for operative coaction with said test strip to permit a predetermined quantity of the fluid to come into contact with and be absorbed by the test strip,

e. sealing means between the first shaped section and the operatively connected and matching second shaped section to seal the housing against fluid penetration when the housing is in the closed position,

f. means for limiting capillary action of the fluid being tested flowing along the sealing means, and

g. said housing having, a viewing window for reading the results, if any, signaled by the test strip during use of the test device.