Microdroplet dispensing for a medical diagnostic device
First Claim
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1. A diagnostic reagent device for measuring an analyte concentration or characteristic of a biological fluid, including a non-absorbent substrate comprising:
- a) a sample application area for accepting a sample of the biological fluid for analysis; and
b) a predetermined hydrophilic surface area for receiving, by nonimpact printing, a pulsed stream of microdroplets of a diagnostic reagent liquid comprising thromboplastin that interacts with the sample to cause in the sample a physically-measurable change that can be related to the analyte concentration or characteristic of the fluid.
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Abstract
A medical diagnostic device has a non-absorbent substrate that has a hydrophilic target area on which a reagent is deposited by non-impact printing of microdroplets. During deposition, the device is moved relative to the stream of microdroplets to form a substantially uniform reagent layer on the substrate. The device is particularly well adapted for measuring blood coagulation times. In a preferred embodiment, coagulation times are determined by monitoring the optical transmission of light through the target area as an applied blood sample interacts with the reagent.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A diagnostic reagent device for measuring an analyte concentration or characteristic of a biological fluid, including a non-absorbent substrate comprising:
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a) a sample application area for accepting a sample of the biological fluid for analysis; and
b) a predetermined hydrophilic surface area for receiving, by nonimpact printing, a pulsed stream of microdroplets of a diagnostic reagent liquid comprising thromboplastin that interacts with the sample to cause in the sample a physically-measurable change that can be related to the analyte concentration or characteristic of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for preparing a medical diagnostic reagent device, comprising the steps of
(a) providing a non-absorbent substrate having at least one hydrophilic target surface area, (b) providing from a nonimpact print head onto a point within the hydrophilic surface area a pulsed stream of microdroplets of a diagnostic reagent liquid, in which the reagent liquid comprises thromboplastin, (c) moving the substrate relative to the steam, and (d) repeating steps b) and c) at least enough times to provide a substantially uniform layer of the liquid over the hydrophilic surface area.
Specification