Test strip with vent opening
First Claim
1. A test strip, comprising:
- a base substrate having a reagent layer disposed thereon;
a chamber cover connected to the base substrate and overlying the base substrate and the reagent layer;
a body cover connected to and overlying the base substrate, the body cover being horizontally separated from the chamber cover to form a horizontal gap between the body cover and the chamber cover;
a sample receiving chamber disposed between the base substrate and the chamber cover, the gap being in communication with the sample receiving chamber and defining a vent opening that allows air to escape as fluid enters the sample receiving chamber;
wherein the test strip includes two spaced-apart edges defining a width of the test strip, the gap extending across the full width of the test strip to define a slot extending from one of the edges to the other; and
wherein the gap is bordered by a hydrophobic region adjacent to the body cover, further wherein sample fluid entering the sample receiving chamber will progress to the gap but no farther.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test strip with a covering layer having a novel vent. The vent divides the inventive covering layer into two parts and provides an opening that allows air to escape as fluid enters a cavity or sample receiving chamber formed in the test strip. In preferred embodiments, the covering layer is clear such that the user can see through it and the vent doubles as a “fill line.” The user can thus watch the fluid sample enter the test strip, progress through the capillary cavity, and then stop at the slot or fill-line. This provides positive assurance to the user that the sample size is sufficient and the test strip has been filled properly. The present invention also provides an advantageous method of mass-producing the inventive test strips without having to align the vent opening laterally with respect to the test strips and without having to punch a vent opening. The method is also well suited to mass production by roll processing techniques.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A test strip, comprising:
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a base substrate having a reagent layer disposed thereon; a chamber cover connected to the base substrate and overlying the base substrate and the reagent layer; a body cover connected to and overlying the base substrate, the body cover being horizontally separated from the chamber cover to form a horizontal gap between the body cover and the chamber cover; a sample receiving chamber disposed between the base substrate and the chamber cover, the gap being in communication with the sample receiving chamber and defining a vent opening that allows air to escape as fluid enters the sample receiving chamber; wherein the test strip includes two spaced-apart edges defining a width of the test strip, the gap extending across the full width of the test strip to define a slot extending from one of the edges to the other; and wherein the gap is bordered by a hydrophobic region adjacent to the body cover, further wherein sample fluid entering the sample receiving chamber will progress to the gap but no farther. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 32, 33, 34, 35, 43)
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22. A test strip, comprising:
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a base substrate having a reagent layer disposed thereon; a chamber cover disposed in a horizontal plane; a body cover disposed in the same horizontal plane as the chamber cover, the body cover and the chamber cover having a gap therebetween; a sample receiving chamber disposed between the base substrate and the chamber cover, the gap being in communication with the sample receiving chamber and defining a vent opening that allows air to escape as fluid enters the sample receiving chamber; wherein the gap extends across the width of the chamber cover to define a slot extending from one edge to another; and wherein the gap is bordered by a hydrophobic region adjacent to the body cover, further wherein sample fluid entering the sample receiving chamber will progress to the gap but no farther. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification