Controlled flow assay device and method
AssigneeAmic AB
InventorsPer Ove Ohman, Ib Mendel-Hartvig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for handling liquid samples, comprising a flow path with at least one zone for receiving the sample, and a transport or incubation zone, said zones connected by or comprising an area having projections substantially vertical to its surface, said device provided with a sink with a capacity of receiving said liquid sample, said sink comprising an area having projections substantially vertical to its surface, and said sink being adapted to respond to an external influence regulating its capacity to receive said liquid sample.
Claims15
1-15. (canceled)
A method of performing an assay on a liquid sample for the detection of one or more analytes of interest, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a non-porous support surface, said non-porous support surface having at least one capillary flow zone, said at least one capillary flow zone being defined by at least one plurality of microstructures projecting from said support surface of said substrate that induce lateral capillary flow of an introduced liquid sample along at least one flow path;
- providing a sample receiving zone defined on said substrate for receiving said liquid sample;
- providing a reaction or incubation zone defined on said substrate in relation to said at least one capillary flow zone, and having a material having at least one of a chemical or biological functionality, wherein said sample receiving zone is disposed in relation to said at least one capillary flow zone and said reaction or incubation zone for producing an initial lateral capillary flow of said liquid sample;
- providing a sink disposed distal to the sample receiving zone having a capacity to receive the liquid sample along said at least one flow path and to support or control the flow rate of the sample through the reaction or incubation zone;
- dispensing the sample onto the sample receiving zone, whereby the sample flows by capillary action along said at least one flow path through the reaction or incubation zone and into the sink;
- taking a reading to determine the presence or concentration of the one or more analyte;
- and
- providing an external influence to the sink to regulate the capacity of the sink to receive the liquid sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.