Method of making a capillary channel
First Claim
1. A method of making an optical reagent format with a capillary gap, the method comprising the acts of:
- providing a carrier with an insert, said insert being of a predetermined thickness;
placing said carrier in a mold;
molding a format onto said insert, said format having a first length greater than a first width, said insert having a second length oriented along a plane generally parallel to said first length and a second width oriented along a plane generally parallel to said first width, said second width being at least equal to said first width;
separating said insert from said carrier after molding said format onto said insert; and
removing said insert from said format leaving a capillary gap in said format, said capillary gap open on three sides, said capillary gap capable of sampling a fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical reagent format with a precise capillary channel is made by molding a format on a carrier of a precise predetermined thickness. The carrier includes an insert at least a portion of which is molded in the format. Once the format is made, the insert is detached from the carrier and removed from the format leaving a precisely dimensioned capillary channel with an inlet and vent. A reagent may be applied in the capillary channel and the format used to measure the analyte in a fluid such as blood.
An electrochemical sensor with a capillary channel is formed by placing a sacrificial insert and electrodes on a sensor base and applying plastic material. After the plastic material is cured, the sacrificial is removed leaving a capillary channel in the sensor. The inserts may be removed by a tool including a clamp for clamping and holding each insert stationary and a sliding block to which the sensor is secured.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of making an optical reagent format with a capillary gap, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a carrier with an insert, said insert being of a predetermined thickness; placing said carrier in a mold; molding a format onto said insert, said format having a first length greater than a first width, said insert having a second length oriented along a plane generally parallel to said first length and a second width oriented along a plane generally parallel to said first width, said second width being at least equal to said first width; separating said insert from said carrier after molding said format onto said insert; and removing said insert from said format leaving a capillary gap in said format, said capillary gap open on three sides, said capillary gap capable of sampling a fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of making an optical reagent format with a capillary channel, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a carrier of a predetermined thickness; providing an insert on said carrier, said insert having a first length and a first width; molding a format onto said insert with a portion of said insert extending out of said format, said format having a second length greater than a second width, said first length oriented along a plane generally parallel to said second length and a first width oriented along a plane generally parallel to said second width, said first width being at least equal to said second width; and removing said insert from said format to provide a capillary channel having three open sides formed by said insert, said capillary channel extending across said format. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of making a part having a small channel disposed therein, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a carrier with a sacrificial insert;
placing the carrier in a mold;molding the part onto the sacrificial insert, the part having a first side, a second side and a third side, the sacrificial insert extending beyond the first side, the second side and the third side; separating the sacrificial insert from the carrier; and removing the sacrificial insert from the part leaving a small channel in the part, the small channel having a cross-sectional size corresponding to the cross-sectional size of the sacrificial insert, the small channel extending across the part, the small channel having three open sides. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of making parts having small channels disposed therein, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a plurality of carriers, each of the plurality of carriers having a sacrificial insert of the same size; placing the carriers in a mold; molding a part onto each sacrificial insert, the part having a first length greater than a first width, the sacrificial insert having a second length oriented along a plane generally parallel to the first length and a second width oriented along a plane generally parallel to the first width, the second width being at least equal to the first width; separating the sacrificial inserts from the carriers; and removing the sacrificial inserts from the parts leaving a small channel in each part, each of the small channels being of the same size and thickness with each of the small channels having three open sides. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification