Analysis implement with opening in insulation film

• US 7,699,967 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Bach T
• Application Number:
  US10/560,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40315, 2057775-778, 205/792
• US Class Current: 204/403.14
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/52 Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent B01L3/02 takes precedence; containers for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; containers in general B65D; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

The present invention relates to an analytical tool (X) which includes a substrate (1), a flow path for moving a sample along the substrate (1), a reagent portion (14) provided in the flow path, and an insulating film (13) covering the substrate (1) and including an opening (15a) for defining a region for forming the reagent portion (14). The insulating film (13) further includes at least one additional opening (15b) positioned in a longitudinal direction (N1) relative to the opening (15a). For instance, the flow path is configured to move the sample by capillary force.

Claims

1. An analytical tool with opening in insulating film, the tool comprising:

a substrate;

a flow path for moving a sample along the substrate;

a reagent portion provided in the flow path;

an insulating film covering the substrate and including a first opening for defining a region for forming the reagent portion and at least one additional opening positioned downstream from the first opening in a movement direction in which the sample moves, said at least one additional opening being connected to the first opening; and

an island portion separated from the insulating film and including a control edge defining a downstream edge of the region for forming the reagent portion in the movement direction.

2. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is configured to move the sample by capillary force.

3. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein the sample is blood.

4. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, further comprising a first and a second electrodes provided at the substrate;

wherein the insulating film covers the first and the second electrodes, with part of the first and the second electrodes exposed.

5. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein said at least one additional opening is connected to the first opening at a portion of the control edge adjoining in a direction which is perpendicular to the movement direction.

6. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein the control edge is in a form of a straight line extending in a direction which is perpendicular to the movement direction.

7. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 6, wherein the first opening is rectangular;

and

wherein a dimension of the control edge in the perpendicular direction is set to 60 to 95% of a dimension of the first opening in the perpendicular direction.

8. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein the control edge is in a form of a curved line dented toward a downstream side in the movement direction.

9. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 1, wherein the island portion has a width which decreases as the island portion extends downstream in the movement direction.

10. The analytical tool with opening in insulating film according to claim 9, wherein the island portion is triangular or semicircular.

11. An analytical tool with opening in insulating film, the tool comprising:

a substrate;

a flow path for moving a sample along the substrate;

a reagent portion provided in the flow path; and

an insulating film covering the substrate and including a first opening for defining a region for forming the reagent portion and a pair of additional openings positioned downstream from the first opening in a movement direction in which the sample moves, the additional openings being connected to the first opening;

wherein the insulating film is formed with a peninsula portion including a control edge defining a downstream edge of the region for forming the reagent portion in the movement direction, the additional openings being arranged to adjoin the peninsula portion in a width direction,

wherein each of the additional openings includes a narrow portion positioned relatively upstream in the movement direction and a wide portion positioned downstream from the narrow portion.