Disposable chamber for analyzing biologic fluids

• US 8,241,572 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Point Of Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMMOND, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US13/206,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 422/73, 436/10
• US Class Current: 422/73
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2813 Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on G01N1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/36 Embedding or analogous mounting of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0364 flexible, compressible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48764 Test tape taken off a spool
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/101666 : Particle count or volume standard or control [e.g., platelet count standards, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid is provided that includes first and second planar members, and at least three separators. At least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent. The separators are disposed between the planar members, and each individually has a height. The separators collectively having a mean height, and separate the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members. At least one of the first planar member, second planar member, or separators is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from a biologic fluid quiescently residing within the chamber to cause the mean chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid, comprising:

a first planar member;

a second planar member, wherein at least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent; and

at least three separators disposed between the planar members, each separator individually having a height and the separators collectively having a mean height, separating the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members;

wherein the separators are independent of the first planar member and second planar member, and are randomly distributed within the chamber; and

wherein at least one of the first planar member, second planar member, or separators is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from a biologic fluid quiescently residing within the chamber to cause the mean chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first planar member and the second planar member comprise plastic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both of the first planar member and the second planar member comprise plastic.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first planar member has a greater deformability than the second planar member and the separators.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separators are attached to at least one of the first planar member or the second planar member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of separators randomly disposed in a given area of the chamber is such that additional separators of the same type do not appreciably change the chamber height within the area.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separators within the chamber have a concentration, and the number of separators randomly disposed within the chamber is such that increasing the concentration does not appreciably change the chamber height.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first planar member has an interior surface contiguous with the chamber, and the second planar member has an interior surface contiguous with the chamber, and the interior surfaces are substantially parallel with one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the separators are independent of the first planar member and second planar member, and the at least three separators are attached to one of the interior surfaces.

10. An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid, comprising:

a first planar member;

a second planar member, wherein at least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent; and

at least three separators disposed between the planar members, each separator individually having a height and the separators collectively having a mean height, separating the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members;

wherein the separators are independent of the first planar member and second planar member, and are randomly distributed within the chamber; and

wherein the first planar member is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from a biologic fluid quiescently residing within the chamber to cause the mean chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein both of the first planar member and the second planar member comprise plastic.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the number of separators randomly disposed in a given area of the chamber is such that additional separators of the same type do not appreciably change the chamber height within the area.

13. An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid, comprising:

a first planar member;

a second planar member, wherein at least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent; and

at least three separators disposed between the planar members, each separator individually having a height and the separators collectively having a mean height, separating the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members, and wherein the separators are randomly distributed within the chamber;

wherein the first planar member is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from a biologic fluid quiescently residing within the chamber to cause the mean chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the first planar member is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from the biologic fluid quiescently residing within, which fluid does not completely fill the chamber.