Self-contained assay device for rapid detection of biohazardous agents
First Claim
1. A device for detecting the presence of a ligand in a sample, comprising,a cassette having a first and a second end, and comprising an inlet port at the first end which is in fluid communication with at least one flow channel, said flow channel(s) comprising, one or more mixing chambers, one or more assay components, and a detection chamber delineated on at least two sides by low or non birefringent glass and in fluid communication with the one or more mixing chambers,wherein said assay components comprise:
- a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand, a microparticle that exhibits specificity for the receptor, and a liquid crystalline material,wherein said assay components are contained within said mixing chamber(s) or within a holding chamber in fluid communication with said mixing chamber(s),wherein the detection chamber that is located at the second end of the cassette provides for the detection of distortion in the liquid crystalline material, andwherein the inlet port, the one or more mixing chambers, and the detection chamber are arranged in series, and define a substantially linear flow path from the first end to the second end of the cassette.
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Abstract
The invention relates to self-contained assay cassette for detecting a ligand in a sample. The assay cassette provides for turbulent flow and mixing of the sample with assay components, including receptors that bind to a ligand, optional microspheres capable of binding the receptors or to which other secondary receptors are attached, and liquid crystalline materials. The assay cassette also provides for laminar flow of the mixed sample into a detection chamber where complexes between a receptor, ligand, and optional microspheres, is detected as transmission of polarized light through the detection chambers. The invention also relates to methods for detecting a ligand in a sample using turbulent flow to mix the sample with assay components, including liquid crystalline materials, and laminar flow of the mixed sample such that the liquid crystalline material assumes an ordered conformation in absence of a ligand.
40 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for detecting the presence of a ligand in a sample, comprising,
a cassette having a first and a second end, and comprising an inlet port at the first end which is in fluid communication with at least one flow channel, said flow channel(s) comprising, one or more mixing chambers, one or more assay components, and a detection chamber delineated on at least two sides by low or non birefringent glass and in fluid communication with the one or more mixing chambers, wherein said assay components comprise: - a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand, a microparticle that exhibits specificity for the receptor, and a liquid crystalline material,
wherein said assay components are contained within said mixing chamber(s) or within a holding chamber in fluid communication with said mixing chamber(s), wherein the detection chamber that is located at the second end of the cassette provides for the detection of distortion in the liquid crystalline material, and wherein the inlet port, the one or more mixing chambers, and the detection chamber are arranged in series, and define a substantially linear flow path from the first end to the second end of the cassette. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand, a microparticle that exhibits specificity for the receptor, and a liquid crystalline material,
Specification