# US 10,768,116 B2 · Multi-fluid test strip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,116 B2 - Document ID: US10768116B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/390,371 - Filed: 2019-04-22 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-02 - Applicants: Jon A. Petty - Inventors: Jon A. Petty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768116B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/78: producing a change of colour - G01N 21/80: Indicating pH value - G01N 21/8483: {Investigating reagent band (test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04)} - G01N 33/20: Metals - G01N 2021/752: {Devices comprising reaction zones} - G01N 2021/7759: {Dipstick; Test strip} - G01N 2021/7793: {Sensor comprising plural indicators} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A multi-fluid test strip may include a first zone to test a first fluid, a second zone to test a second fluid, and a third zone intermediate the first zone and the second zone. The third zone may prevent cross-contamination of the first fluid with the second zone and prevent cross-contamination of the second fluid with the first zone. The multi-fluid test strip may also include a first grip zone and a second grip zone. The first zone may be intermediate the first grip zone and the third zone and the second zone may be intermediate the second grip zone and the third zone. The first grip and second grip zones may be dimensioned to permit gripping of the first and second grip zones without touching the first or second zones. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-fluid test strip comprising: a first zone configured to test a first fluid; a second zone configured to test a second fluid; and a third zone configured to prevent cross-contamination of the first fluid with the second zone and the second fluid with the first zone, the third zone intermediate the first zone and the second zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 1, further comprising a first grip zone and a second grip zone, the first zone intermediate the first grip zone and the third zone and the second zone intermediate the second grip zone and the third zone, wherein the first grip zone is dimensioned to permit gripping of the first grip zone without touching the first zone and the second grip zone is dimensioned to permit gripping of the second grip zone without touching the second zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 2, wherein the first zone comprises a first test pad configured to test a first aspect of the first fluid and the second zone comprises a second test pad configured to test a second aspect of the second fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 3, wherein the second zone further comprises a third test pad configured to test a third aspect of the second fluid, wherein the second test pad and the third test pad are separated from each other by a barrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 4, wherein the barrier comprises a cross-hatch zone formed in the multi-fluid test strip and configured to reduce or prevent flow between the second test pad and the third test pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 4, wherein the barrier comprises a mechanical barrier configured to reduce or prevent flow between the second test pad and the third test pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 4, wherein the second test pad and the third test pad are spaced apart from each other along a length of the multi-fluid test strip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 4, wherein the second test pad and the third test pad are spaced apart from each other perpendicular to a length of the multi-fluid test strip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 4, wherein: the third zone comprises a length greater than about 2.5 inches; the first fluid comprises a brake fluid; the second fluid comprises a coolant fluid; the first test pad is configured to test a first metric associated with the brake fluid by reacting with the brake fluid to produce a first color change representative of the first metric associated with the brake fluid, wherein the first metric includes at least one of a copper level, an iron level, a DOT fluid type, and a first pH level of the brake fluid; and the second test pad and the third test pad are configured to test a second metric and a third metric associated with the coolant fluid by reacting with the coolant fluid to produce a second color change and a third color change representative of the second metric and the third metric associated with the coolant fluid, wherein the second metric and the third metric includes at least one of a glycol level, a reserve alkalinity, and a second pH level of the coolant fluid, and wherein the second test pad and the third test pad are configured to produce a substantially similar second color change and a substantially similar third color change for more than one type of coolant fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 1, wherein the third zone comprises a length ranging from about 0.6 inches to about 0.8 inches. ### Claim 11 A method of testing multiple fluids, the method comprising: utilizing a multi-fluid test strip comprising: a first zone configured to test a first fluid; a second zone configured to test a second fluid; and a third zone configured to prevent cross-contamination of the first fluid with the second zone and the second fluid with the first zone, the third zone intermediate the first zone and the second zone; bringing the first zone into contact with the first fluid such that the third zone avoids contamination of the second zone with the first fluid; bringing the second zone into contact with the second fluid such that the third zone avoids contamination of the first zone with the second fluid; observing one or more metrics associated with the first fluid created by the first zone reacting with the first fluid; and observing one or more metrics associated with the second fluid created by the second zone reacting with the second fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: utilizing a multi-fluid test strip that further includes a first grip zone and a second grip zone, the first zone intermediate the first grip zone and the third zone and the second zone intermediate the second grip zone and the third zone, wherein bringing the first zone into contact with the first fluid and bringing the second zone into contact with the second fluid further comprises: gripping the multi-fluid test strip by the first grip zone and dipping the second zone of the multi-fluid test strip into the second fluid such that the third zone avoids contamination of the first zone with the second fluid; and gripping the multi-fluid test strip by the second grip zone and dipping the first zone of the multi-fluid test strip into the first fluid such that the third zone avoids contamination of the second zone with the first fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein gripping the multi-fluid test strip comprises coupling the multi-fluid test strip to a gripping tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein bringing the first zone into contact with the first fluid and bringing the second zone into contact with the second fluid comprises: removing at least a portion of the first fluid and placing the at least a portion of the first fluid on the first zone; and removing at least a portion of the second fluid placing the at least a portion of the second fluid on the second zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: utilizing a multi-fluid test strip wherein the first zone and the second zone of the multi-fluid test strip further includes one or more test pads configured to test the one or more metrics associated with the first fluid and the second fluid, the first fluid comprising a brake fluid, the second fluid comprising a coolant fluid, and the one or more test pads configured to test the one or more metrics associated with the brake fluid and the coolant fluid by reacting with one of the brake fluid and the coolant fluid to produce one or more color changes representative of the one or more metrics associated with the brake fluid and the coolant fluid, and wherein the third zone comprises a length greater than about 2.5 inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more metrics include at least one of a copper level, an iron level, a DOT fluid type, and a first pH level of the brake fluid, and at least one of a glycol level, a reserve alkalinity, and a second pH level of the coolant fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: utilizing a multi-fluid test strip wherein the third zone comprises a length ranging from about 0.6 inches to about 0.8 inches. ### Claim 18 A multi-fluid test strip comprising: a first zone configured to test a first fluid, the first zone comprising a first test pad configured to test a first aspect of the first fluid; a second zone configured to test a second fluid, the second zone comprising a second test pad and a third test pad configured to test a second aspect and a third aspect of the second fluid; a third zone intermediate the first zone and the second zone, the third zone configured to prevent cross-contamination of the first fluid with the second zone and prevent cross-contamination of the second fluid with the first zone; a first grip zone, the first zone intermediate the first grip zone and the third zone, wherein the first grip zone is dimensioned to permit gripping of the first grip zone without touching the first zone; and a second grip zone, the second zone intermediate the second grip zone and the third zone, wherein the second grip zone is dimensioned to permit gripping of the second grip zone without touching the second zone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 18, wherein: the third zone comprises a length greater than about 2.5 inches; the first fluid comprises a brake fluid; the second fluid comprises a coolant fluid; the first test pad is configured to test a first metric associated with the brake fluid by reacting with the brake fluid to produce a first color change representative of the first metric associated with the brake fluid, wherein the first metric includes at least one of a copper level, an iron level, a DOT fluid type, and a first pH level of the brake fluid; and the second test pad and the third test pad are configured to test a second metric and a third metric associated with the coolant fluid by reacting with the coolant fluid to produce a second color change and a third color change representative of the second metric and the third metric associated with the coolant fluid, wherein the second metric and the third metric includes at least one of a glycol level, a reserve alkalinity, and a second pH level of the coolant fluid, and wherein the second test pad and the third test pad are configured to produce a substantially similar second color change and a substantially similar third color change for more than one type of coolant fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The multi-fluid test strip of claim 18, wherein the third zone comprises a length ranging from about 0.6 inches to about 0.8 inches.