Description

• US 20040038422A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories Deeside Ltd. (Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories Deeside Ltd. (Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Plumptre, David Aubrey, Percival, David Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0457 passive flow or gravitation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0328 Arrangement of two or more cells having different functions for the measurement of reactions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/07 Centrifugal type cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor

Abstract

A device for fluid assay comprising a carousel (12), mounted about a hub (14), disposed in a complementary shaped housing (16). The carousel (12) is divided into a plurality of chambers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) disposed radially about the hub (14). The chambers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged into pairs which are disposed diametrically opposite one another and which communicate with each other via the hub (14).

Claims

1. A device for fluid assay comprising a carousel mounted on a hub comprising an assay component separation zone, the carousel being rotatable about the hub to provide multiple configurations of the device, the carousel having a plurality of chambers being non-communicating in a first configuration of the device, a first chamber communicating through the separation zone with at least one other chamber in a second configuration of the device.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second chamber communicates through the separation zone with at least one other chamber in a third configuration.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a third chamber communicates through the separation zone with at least one other chamber in a fourth configuration of the device.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device is cooperable with drive means for automated fluid assay.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid is a body fluid which includes blood, blood components and urine.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the separation zone comprises a transverse channel in the hub.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the channel is slanted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hub.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the separation zone is a chromatographic separation zone.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the channel is at least partially blocked by a filter material or binding retaining material effective for chromatographic separation.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filter means or binding retaining means is a frit.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the chambers are disposed radially about the hub.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said communicating chambers are disposed diametrically opposite one another about the hub.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an openable port disposed in the first chamber.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one chamber is or comprises an optical material.

15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the carousel and hub are manufactured from different materials.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one chamber comprises at least one aperture releasably sealed, such that at least one chamber is airtight.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for breaking said seal.

18. An apparatus for fluid assay comprising means for vertically mounting a device as claimed in any preceding claim whereby the flow of fluid through the separation zone in the second configuration is facilitated by gravity.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further comprising means for assaying the assay component of the fluid.

20. A method for fluid assay comprising the use of a device or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a body fluid to be assayed in the first chamber with assaying reagent in the first configuration;

(b) rotating the carousel to the second configuration;

(c) collecting a component to be assayed in at least one other chamber; and

(d) assaying the component.