Assay plates, separation sheets, filters, and sample deposition marks

A device for sample analysis facilitated by a separation sheet, comprising:

• a first plate;
• a second plate;
• a hinge;
• at least one reagent;
• and a separation sheet, wherein:
• (a) the first plate and the second plate are movable relative to each other into a different configuration, the different configuration includes an initial configuration, an open configuration, or a closed configuration, wherein:
• (i) each plate comprises an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample deposited between the plates, and
• (ii) the second plate has a thickness of 300 um or less;
• (b) the hinge is connected to the first plate and the second plate, and the hinge is configured to allow the first plate and the second plate to rotate around the hinge into a different configuration;
• (c) the at least one reagent is coated, in the initial configuration, on the sample contact area of at least one of the plates, and
• (d) the separation sheet has a thickness of 250 um or less;
• wherein:
• in the initial configuration, the separation sheet is sandwiched between the two plates and is in contact with the two plates;
• and the separation sheet is configured to reduce or prevent, in the initial configuration, the at least one regent on one plate to contact the other plate;
• in the open configuration the first plate and the second plate are partially or entirely separated, and the sample is deposited in the sample contact area on one or both of the plates, and the separation sheet is removed from any contact with one or both of the plates;
• and
• in the closed configuration at least part of the deposited sample is compressed by the two plates into a sample layer of highly uniform thickness.

A device for assaying a sample, comprising:

• a first plate, a second plate, a storage well, a sealing film, and a liquid reagent, wherein:
• (a) the first plate and the second plate are movable relative to each other into a different configuration, the different configuration includes an initial configuration, an open configuration, or a closed configuration, wherein:
• (i) the first plate and the second plate, respectively, comprise an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample deposited between the first plate and the second plate, and
• (ii) the first plate having a thickness of 1,000 microns or less,
• (b) the storage well having a depth of 250 microns less, and is on the inner surface of the second plate, and
• (c) the sealing film is a flexible sheet having a thickness of 150 um or less, wherein, in the initial configuration, the liquid reagent is substantially in the storage well and the sealing film is configured to cover the opening of the storage well to keep the liquid reagent inside the storage well,
• wherein:
• the initial configuration is a configuration in which both plates are in contact with the sealing film;
• the open configuration is a configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are partially or entirely separated, and the sample is deposited on one or both plates;
• and
• the closed configuration is a configuration in which (i) the sealing film is removed from the space between the first plate and the second plate, and (ii) at least part of the sample is compressed by the first plate and the second plate into a layer of highly uniform thickness, and the uniform thickness of the layer confined by the inner surfaces of the plates is in the range of 0.01 to 200 μm.

A device for assaying a sample, comprising:

• a first plate, a second plate, a storage well, a sealing film, and a liquid reagent, wherein:
• (a) the first plate and the second plate are movable relative to each other into a different configuration, the different configuration includes an initial configuration, an open configuration, or a closed configuration, wherein:
• (i) the first plate and the second plate, respectively, comprise an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample deposited between the first plate and the second plate, and
• (ii) the first plate having a thickness of 1,000 microns or less,
• (b) the storage well having a depth of 250 microns less, and is on the inner surface of the second plate, and
• (c) the sealing film is a flexible sheet having a thickness of 150 um or less, wherein, in the initial configuration, the liquid reagent is substantially in the storage well and the sealing film is configured to seal the opening of the storage well to keep the liquid reagent inside the storage well,
• wherein:
• the initial configuration is a configuration in which both plates are in contact with the sealing film;
• the open configuration is a configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are partially or entirely separated, and the sample is deposited on one or both plates;
• and
• the closed configuration is a configuration in which (i) at least part of the sample is compressed by the first plate and the second plate into a layer of uniform thickness, and the uniform thickness of the layer confined by the inner surfaces of the plates is in the range of 0.01 to 200 μm, and (ii) the sealing film is broken by the spacers releasing the reagent stored in the well to the sample.

A device for assaying a composite sample, comprising:

• a first collection plate having spacers attached to one surface of the collection plate and having a reagent coated on the surface of the collection plate having the spacers;
• and
• a filter member situated atop the spacers of the first collection plate, the filter member having an optical structure on the filter member surface contacting the spacers,
• wherein:
• the filter member receives a liquid containing the composite sample;
• a compression force applied to the composite sample separates components in the composite sample into the filter member and the first collection plate;
• the reagent coat, if present, contacts separated components in the first collection plate to form a product between the reagent and an analyte;
• and
• the optical structure enhances the detection of the product between the reagent and an analyte.

A device for sample analysis facilitated by a mark, comprising:

• a first plate, a second plate, and a deposition mark, wherein:
• the first plate and second plate are movable relative to each other into different configurations, including an open configuration and a closed configuration,
• each of the plates comprises an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample to be analyzed, and
• either or both of the plates has the deposition mark that indicates an approximate location on the plate for depositing the sample,
• wherein in the open configuration the plates are partially or entirely separated apart, and the average spacing between the sample contact areas of the plates is larger than 300 um;
• wherein in the closed configuration the first and second plates are compressed together to sandwich the sample into a thin layer of a thickness of 200 μm or less;
• and
• wherein the depostion mark is configured to facilitate the analysis of the sample when the plates are in the closed configuration.

A device for sample analysis facilitated by a mark, comprising:

• a first plate, a second plate, and a compression mark, wherein:
• the first plate and second plate are movable relative to each other into different configurations, including an open configuration and a closed configuration,
• each of the plates comprises an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample, and
• either or both of the plates has the compression mark that indicates an approximate location for iniating a compression of the plates into a closed configuration,
• wherein in the open configuration the plates are partially or entirely separated apart, and the average spacing between the sample contact areas of the plates is larger than 300 um, and
• wherein in the closed configuration the first and second plates are compressed together to sandwich the sample into a thin layer of a thickness of 200 um or less;
• and
• wherein the compression mark is configured to facilitate the analysis of the sample when the plates in the closed configuration.

A device for sample analysis facilitated by a mark, comprising:

• a first plate, a second plate, and a filling mark, wherein:
• the first plate and second plate are movable relative to each other into different configurations, including an open configuration and a closed configuration;
• each of the plates comprises an inner surface that has a sample contact area for contacting a sample;
• and
• either or both of the plates has the filling mark that indicates an approximate area that the sample must fill when the plates are in the closed configuration;
• wherein in the open configuration the plates are partially or entirely separated apart, and the average spacing between the sample contact areas of the plates is larger than 300 um;
• wherein in the closed configuration the first and second plates are compressed together to sandwich the sample into a thin layer of a thickness of 200 um or less;
• and
• wherein the filling mark is configured to facilitate the analysis of the sample when the plates in the closed configuration.