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US 10,948,335 B2Granted
Liquid volumetric measurement device
AssigneeForward Biotech, Inc.
InventorsIan K. Glasgow, Jiangbo Tang, Cailee Dean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartridge for evaluating the volume of an aliquot of liquid is described. The cartridge can have one or more well tabs that pivot into a position in which liquid dispensed into a corresponding well is placed in contact with a capillary and surface tension draws the liquid from the well into the capillary. Comparison of the liquid-air interface with markings on or near the capillary, can reveal the volume of liquid dispensed. One or more additional features, such as well tabs that are stable in a substantially vertical orientation and/or a groove for protecting and/or self-aligning the capillary can ensure that the device operates properly.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a capillary;
- a cartridge body having a surface including means for positioning and affixing the capillary directly on the surface such that a proximal end of the capillary is located adjacent to a first end of the cartridge body, wherein the means for positioning and affixing includes an attachment region located on the surface bordered by two slots in the surface, wherein at least one of:
- the surface of the cartridge body or a protrusion located on the surface of the cartridge body extends above the capillary, and wherein the surface includes means for measuring a volume of fluid located within the capillary;
- a well tab, wherein the well tab includes a well for holding the volume of fluid;
- means for pivotally mounting the well tab to the first end of the cartridge body, wherein the means for pivotally mounting enables the well to have a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the well is located adjacent to an end of one of the capillary when the well tab is in the substantially vertical orientation to allow liquid in the well to wick into the capillary.
2 more elements
A measurement system comprising:
- a cartridge body;
- a reservoir located at a first end of the cartridge body, wherein the reservoir includes a colored liquid;
- means for sealing the reservoir;
- a capillary mounted directly on a surface of the cartridge body, wherein at least one of:
- the surface of the cartridge body or a protrusion located on the surface of the cartridge body extends above the capillary, and wherein the surface includes means for measuring a volume of fluid located within the capillary;
- a well tab, wherein the well tab includes only one well for holding a volume of fluid, wherein the cartridge body has a color near the capillary configured to provide a background for viewing the colored liquid in the capillary;
- means for pivotally mounting the well tab to the cartridge body, wherein the means for pivotally mounting enables the well tab to have a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the means for pivotally mounting includes means for stabilizing the well tab in the substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the well is located adjacent to an end of the capillary when the well tab is in the substantially vertical orientation to allow liquid in the well to wick into the capillary.
4 more elements
A measurement system comprising:
- a cartridge body having a first end wider than a second end located opposite the first end;
- a plurality of capillaries positioned directly on a surface of the cartridge body, each of the plurality of capillaries having an end located at the first end of the cartridge body, wherein the surface of the cartridge body includes, for each of the plurality of capillaries, an attachment region located on the surface bordered by two slots in the surface, wherein at least one of:
- the surface of the cartridge body or a protrusion located on the surface of the cartridge body extends above each of the plurality of capillaries, and wherein the surface includes means for measuring a volume of fluid located within the capillary;
- a set of well tabs including a plurality of wells, wherein each of the plurality of wells is aligned with one of the plurality of capillaries, wherein each of the plurality of wells is configured to hold a unique volume of fluid;
- and
- means for pivotally mounting the set of well tabs to the cartridge body, wherein the means for pivotally mounting each well tab in the set of well tabs allows at least one of the plurality of wells to be pivoted between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the at least one of the plurality of wells is located adjacent to an end of one of the plurality of capillaries in the substantially vertical orientation to allow liquid in the well to wick into the capillary.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.