Detecting human or animal immunoglobin-e
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsNicolaos Christodoulides, Pierre N. Floriano, Karri Ballard, John T. McDevitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting the presence of human or animal immunoglobin-E are described. A fluid or gas sample may pass through a particle-based detection system of a cartridge. Detection and analysis techniques may be applied to determine the identity and quantity of the captured IgE.
Claims41
A method of detecting human or animal IgE in blood materials, the method comprising:
- providing one or more beads at least partially contained within a microchip structure, the bead or beads coated with one or more isolating substances selected to bond to animal IgE;
- exposing the bead or beads to a blood sample material containing animal IgE, such that the one or more isolating substances bond with the animal IgE;
- applying a marker agent to the bead or beads, the marker agent selected to bind to the bonded animal IgE;
- and
- determining the presence of animal IgE on the bead or beads by detecting the marker agent.
An allergen sensitivity analysis cartridge comprising
- a cartridge housing sized to be received into a blood analyzer, the housing defining a blood sample material collection region of the cartridge, the collection region being coupled to the microchip structure such that the blood sample material flows to the microchip structure from the collection region;
- a microchip contained within the cartridge housing and hydraulically connected to the blood sample material collection region such that blood sample material deposited at the collection region flows to the microchip, the microchip containing one or more beads coated with one or more isolating substances selected to bond to animal IgE;
- and
- a marker agent selected to bind with animal IgE and contained within a marker agent chamber of the cartridge, the cartridge housing defining a channel from the cavity to the microchip for exposure of the marker agent to the coated beads.
A method of detecting allergen specific IgE comprising:
- coating one or more beads with analyte specific capturing ligands, wherein the beads are at least partially contained in one or more wells on a microchip contained in or on a cartridge;
- passing a sample to be analyzed for the presence of an analyte over the beads;
- and
- applying an agent which attaches to the bound analyte and enhance detection of a bound analyte.
A method of diagnosis of an allergen sensitivity comprising:
- obtaining a sample of blood;
- and
- introducing all or part of the blood sample into a receptacle, that is located at least partially in a cartridge and is coupled to a chamber in the cartridge having at least a microchip comprising one or more wells, each well at least partially containing a bead that is coated with an analyte-specific ligand which binds to the analyte contained in the sample as it flows into the chamber from the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.