Fluid sample testing system

• US 7,337,072 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems Inc (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: CHEN Ching-Too
• Inventors: Chen, Shuqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TEIXEIRA MOFFAT, JONATHAN CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/863,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20040223878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/55 the materials to be mixed being contained in a flexible bag submitted to periodical deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/75425 using pistons or plungers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7543 using pneumatic pressure, overpressure or gas pressure in a closed receptacle or circuit system
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7546 using squeezing means on a deformable container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 with formation of a segmented stream

Abstract

A sample testing system may include a housing, a cavity in the housing to receive a chamber, two contact members, and a sensor. The contact members may be positioned to be engageable with respective portions of the chamber inserted in the cavity, and to compress those respective portions, thereby driving fluid flow. A sample testing system may include a housing, a cavity in the housing to receive a chamber, at least one contact member, and a sensor. The at least one contact member may be positioned to be engageable with a first segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity, and to compress the first segment, thereby defining a gap of the first segment of the chamber and a reservoir in at least a second segment of the chamber.

Claims

1. A sample testing system, comprising:

a housing;

a cavity in the housing, so sized and shaped to receive a chamber;

a first contact member, so positioned;

as to be engageable with a first flexible segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress the first flexible segment, thereby driving fluid flow from the first flexible segment through a central segment of the chamber to a second flexible segment of the chamber;

a second contact member so positioned;

as to be engageable with the second flexible segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress the second flexible segment, thereby driving fluid flow from the second flexible segment through the central segment to the first flexible segment; and

a sensor to sense a condition of a fluid sample in the chamber and to generate an output signal indicative of that condition.

2. The sample testing system of claim 1, wherein the central segment defines a gap to control a thickness of a fluid layer in the central segment of the chamber.

3. The sample testing system of claim 1, wherein the first segment, the central segment, and the second segment of the chamber are arranged to be substantially linear.

4. The sample testing system of claim 1, further comprising a third contact member so positioned:

as to be engageable with the central segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress the central segment, thereby defining a gap of the central segment of the chamber.

5. The sample testing system of claim 1, further comprising a base member so positioned as to support the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity, at least of the contact members being so movable toward the base member as to compress the respective segment of the chamber against the base member.

6. The sample testing system of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the base member is transparent.

7. The sample testing system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one contact member is transparent.

8. The sample testing system of claim 1, further comprising a light source so positioned as to project light through a wall of the chamber.

9. The sample testing system of claim 8, wherein the light source projects light through a first wall of the chamber, and the sensor detects light through a second wall of the chamber.

10. The sample testing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light detector so positioned as to receive light emanating from the fluid sample through a wall of the chamber, the output signal being in response to the light received.

11. The sample testing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is so positioned as to sense a condition of a fluid sample located in the central segment, the output signal being indicative of the condition of the fluid sample located in the central segment.

12. The sample testing system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature control device to control the temperature of at least one segment of the chamber.

13. A sample testing system, comprising:

a housing;

a cavity in the housing, so sized and shaped to receive a chamber;

a first contact member, so positioned;

as to be engageable with a first segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress the first segment, thereby defining a gap of the first segment of the chamber and a reservoir in at least a second segment of the chamber;

a second contact member, so positioned;

as to be engageable with a segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress that segment, thereby driving fluid flow from the reservoir in the second segment to the first segment of the chamber; and

a sensor to sense a condition of a fluid sample in the chamber and to generate an output signal indicative of that condition.

14. The sample testing system of claim 13, further comprising a base member so positioned as to support the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity, the at least one contact member being so movable towards the base member as to compress at least one portion of the chamber against the base member.

15. A sample testing system, comprising:

a housing;

a cavity in the housing, so sized and shaped to receive a chamber;

at least one contact member, so positioned;

as to be engageable with a first segment of the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity; and

as to compress the first segment, thereby defining a gap of the first segment of the chamber and a reservoir in at least a second segment of the chamber;

a base member so positioned as to support the chamber when the chamber is in the cavity, the at least one contact member being so movable towards the base member as to compress at least one portion of the chamber against the base member; and

a sensor to sense a condition of a fluid sample in the chamber and to generate an output signal indicative of that condition.

16. The sample testing system of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the base member is transparent.

17. The sample testing system of claim 15, wherein the at least one contact member has a substantially convex profile to impress a corresponding segment profile.

18. The sample testing system of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the at least one contact member is transparent.

19. The sample testing system of claim 15, further comprising a light source so positioned as to project light through a wall of the chamber.

20. The sample testing system of claim 19, wherein the light source projects light through a first wall of the chamber, and the sensor detects light through a second wall of the chamber.

21. The sample testing system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a light detector so positioned as to receive light emanating from the fluid sample through a wall of the chamber, the output signal being in response to the light received.

22. The sample testing system of claim 15, further comprising a temperature control device to control the temperature of at least one segment of the chamber.