Device for testing a fluid

• US 7,955,558 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Prins, Menno Willem Jose, Weekamp, Johannes Wilhelmus, Immink, Albert Hendrik Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammond; Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/092,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/065 sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs

Abstract

A device for testing a fluid including an elongated carrier; two foam members for absorbing the fluid, which are arranged at an end of the carrier; a positioning member having a sleeve which is slidably arranged on the carrier; and a diagnostic device, which is arranged in the positioning member having a sensor die adapted to detecting at least one property of the fluid and means for supplying the fluid to a sensor surface of the sensor die. After the fluid has been supplied to the foam members, the positioning member is moved towards the end of the carrier where the foam members are located. When the diagnostic device comes into contact with one of the foam members, the fluid is squeezed from the foam member and supplied to the sensor surface of the sensor die through the fluid supplying means of the diagnostic device.

Claims

1. A device for testing a fluid, comprising:

a carrier having two opposite surfaces and distal and proximal ends;

a fluid receiving member for receiving the fluid, which is arranged on both of the two opposite surfaces of the carrier between the distal and proximal ends;

a positioning member which is slidably arranged on the carrier; and

a diagnostic device, which is arranged in the positioning member, and which comprises

a sensor adapted to detect at least one property of the fluid, and

one of a cover plate and a microfluidic plate having a first side facing one of the two opposite surfaces of the carrier and adapted to supply the fluid from the fluid receiving member to a surface of the sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plate is adapted to take in the fluid from the fluid receiving member when the first side contacts the fluid receiving member as the positioning member including the diagnostic device and the plate and the fluid receiving member are moved with respect to each other.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plate is adapted to convey the fluid on the basis of capillary forces.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a pattern of channels for conducting the fluid, which is present at one side of the plate.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device comprises at least one reagent, and wherein the plate is adapted to put the fluid into contact with the at least one reagent.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member forms a sleeve which is slidably arranged around a portion of the carrier between the distal and proximal ends.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is adapted to enclose the fluid receiving member on both of the two opposite surfaces of the carrier.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device comprises at least one electrically conductive connection pad for connection of the diagnostic device to another electric device, and wherein the positioning member comprises at least one hole for providing access to the at least one connection pad.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a display for generating a visual representation of output provided by the sensor during operation of the testing device.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device comprises at least one processor die for processing output provided by the sensor during operation of the testing device.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device comprises a body member having

a recess in which the sensor is arranged,

a pattern of electrically conductive connection pads and electrically conductive tracks arranged on the body member, at the side where the recess is present, the sensor is connected to at least one of the connection pads, and

at least one hole providing access to the sensor from a side of the body member other than the side where the recess and the electrically conductive pattern are present.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the body member of the diagnostic device comprises at least one other recess, arranged perpendicular to the recess in which the sensor is present, and wherein the at least one hole providing access to the sensor is present at a bottom of the at least one other recess.

13. A method of determining a presence and/or a quantity of a compound of a fluid that is supplied to a testing device, the method comprising acts of:

providing a device including a carrier having two opposite surfaces and distal and proximal ends, a fluid receiving member for receiving the fluid, which is arranged on both of the two opposite surfaces of the carrier between the distal and proximal ends, a positioning member which is slidably arranged on the carrier, and a diagnostic device, which is arranged in the positioning member, and which comprises a sensor adapted to detect at least one property of the fluid, and one of a cover plate and a microfluidic plate having a first side facing one of the two opposite surfaces of the carrier and adapted to supply the fluid from the fluid receiving member to a surface of the sensor;

supplying the fluid to the fluid receiving member;

moving the positioning member such that the first side is in contact with the fluid receiving member; and

the plate conducting the fluid to the sensor surface.