Device for collection and assay of oral fluids
First Claim
1. A method for rapid collection and assay of oral fluids, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing an assay device into an oral cavity, said assay device comprising;
(i) an assay portion housing a lateral flow assay strip, said lateral flow assay strip containing at least one reagent that is used to detect one of the presence or absence of at least one analyte in a fluid;
(ii) a neck portion extending from said assay portion, said neck portion forming a channel for delivery of fluid to said assay strip and said channel being defined by a first, narrow part proximal to the assay portion and a second part including an opening for receiving the oral fluid, wherein said second part includes a channel width that is substantially wider than the channel width at the narrow end;
(iii) a collection strip in fluid communication with said lateral flow assay strip, said collection strip having a first portion disposed within the channel and a second portion protruding outwardly from the neck portion opening; and
(iv) a blocking strip coupled between and in flow communication with said lateral flow assay strip and said collection strip;
(b) removing said assay device from said oral cavity; and
(c) determining the presence or absence of at least one analyte.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for collecting and transporting aqueous fluid from the oral cavity to a lateral chromatographic strip for test is disclosed. The lateral chromatographic strip is placed within and extend along a cavity defined in a housing. At least one inspection site to the lateral chromatographic strip is provided to enable inspection of selected sites on the lateral chromatographic strip for test results. A porous wick material protrudes from the housing to a collection site exterior of the housing at one end and communicates to the lateral chromatographic strip at the other end. The porous wick material has particulate construction, the particles adsorbing aqueous oral fluid to transport the fluid from the mouth to the lateral chromatographic strip without substantial absorption. The particles of the porous wick material are bound together to define a continuous interstitial volume for the flow of oral fluid to be transported and are treated to be hydrophilic to the adsorbed oral fluids. The porous wick material readily releases oral fluid to the lateral chromatographic strip. Prevention of reverse flow to the oral cavity from the lateral chromatographic strip naturally occurs due to the circuitous flow path of the porous wick material. A bite plate is coupled to the housing and insertable between the teeth of the patient to position the porous wick in the oral cavity for collecting the oral fluid. The bite plate is typically held in place by the occlusal force of the teeth, preferably the molars and/or the bicuspids, to position the porous wick in the buccal space. By observing the lateral chromatographic strip while the test device is in the mouth immediate test results are obtained.
84 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for rapid collection and assay of oral fluids, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing an assay device into an oral cavity, said assay device comprising; (i) an assay portion housing a lateral flow assay strip, said lateral flow assay strip containing at least one reagent that is used to detect one of the presence or absence of at least one analyte in a fluid; (ii) a neck portion extending from said assay portion, said neck portion forming a channel for delivery of fluid to said assay strip and said channel being defined by a first, narrow part proximal to the assay portion and a second part including an opening for receiving the oral fluid, wherein said second part includes a channel width that is substantially wider than the channel width at the narrow end; (iii) a collection strip in fluid communication with said lateral flow assay strip, said collection strip having a first portion disposed within the channel and a second portion protruding outwardly from the neck portion opening; and (iv) a blocking strip coupled between and in flow communication with said lateral flow assay strip and said collection strip; (b) removing said assay device from said oral cavity; and (c) determining the presence or absence of at least one analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An assay method for HIV using oral fluids, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing an assay device into an oral cavity, said assay device comprising; (i) an assay portion housing a lateral flow assay strip, said lateral flow assay strip containing at least one reagent that is used to detect one of the presence or absence of at least one HIV antibody in the fluid; (ii) a neck portion extending from said assay portion, said neck portion forming a channel for delivery of fluid to said assay strip and said channel being defined by a first, narrow part proximal to the assay portion and a second part including an opening for receiving the oral fluid, wherein said second part includes a channel width that is substantially wider than the channel width at the narrow end; (iii) a collection strip in fluid communication with said lateral flow assay strip, said collection strip having a first portion disposed within the channel and a second portion protruding outwardly from the neck portion opening; and (iv) a blocking strip coupled between and in flow communication with said lateral flow assay strip and said collection strip; (b) removing the assay device from the oral cavity; and (c) determining the presence or absence of HIV antibodies. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification