Liquid transport device and method

A passive liquid spreading device for controlled fluid flow comprising

• two opposed generally coplanar surfaces substantially all portions of which are fixedly spaced apart throughout a zone of intended liquid transport a distance no greater than that effective to induce capillary flow of an introduced liquid, and access means to permit the introduction of liquid between said surfaces,
• said surfaces each including, across at least portions thereof, a plurality of exposed grooves formed in a predetermined pattern, at least a substantial portion of said grooves of one of said surfaces being disposed at positive angles with respect to the directly opposed grooves of the other surface to controllably induce the menisci of liquid introduced between said surfaces to advance with a predetermined peripheral configuration.

A device for controlled distribution of liquid across a zone of intended liquid transport by means of induced capillary forces, said device comprising

• two surfaces respectively having fixedly mounted opposing surface areas substantially all portions of which are spaced throughout a transport zone a distance no greater than that effective to induce capillary flow and to define said transport zone, and access means to permit the introduction of liquid into said zone,
• each of said surface areas having a plurality of grooves constructed in a predetermined pattern, a substantial portion of the grooves of one surface area forming positive angles with respect to the directly opposed grooves of the other surface area,
• whereby liquid introduced into said zone flows with a controlled, predetermined peripheral configuration.

A method of transporting a liquid with a controlled peripheral configuration, comprising the steps of

• introducing liquid between two fixedly mounted opposing surfaces substantially all portions of which are spaced apart throughout a zone of intended liquid transport a distance no greater than that effective to induce capillary flow in the liquid across said zone between said surfaces,
• directing a portion of the introduced liquid to flow across one of said surfaces along a predetermined first pattern of paths,
• and simultaneously directing another portion of the introduced liquid to flow across the other of said surfaces along a predetermined second pattern of paths, the paths of one surface forming positive angles with respect to the directly opposing paths of flow directed by the other surface.

In a method of analyzing a liquid, wherein a property of the liquid is detected after it is spread through a defined zone of intended liquid transport,

• the process of transporting said liquid across the zone with a controlled peripheral configuration, comprising introducing the liquid between two surfaces having opposed surface areas substantially all portions of which are fixedly spaced throughout said zone a distance no greater than that effective to induce capillary flow and to define said transport zone, each of said surface areas having a plurality of grooves constructed in a predetermined pattern, at least a portion of the grooves of one surface area forming a positive angle with respect to the directly opposed grooves of the other surface area.

In a test element for analyzing a liquid at a test site, a liquid transport device for controlling liquid flow to said site, said device comprising

• two fixedly mounted opposing surfaces substantially all portions of which are spaced apart throughout a zone of intended liquid transport a distance no greater than that distance effective to induce capillary flow of introduced liquid, and means to permit the introduction of liquid between said surfaces,
• each of said surfaces including, across at least a portion thereof, means for directing capillary flow of introduced liquid along predetermined paths, said directing means on the respective surfaces being relatively oriented so that the paths directed by a substantial portion of one of said surfaces form positive angles with respect to the paths directed by the directly opposing portion of the other surface,
• whereby capillary flow of liquid between said surfaces occurs in a controlled multidirectional manner with a predetermined peripheral configuration.

A liquid transport device for controlled fluid flow comprising

• two fixedly mounted opposing surfaces substantially all portions of which are spaced apart throughout a zone of intended liquid transport a distance no greater than that effective to induce capillary flow of introduced liquid, and means to permit the introduction of liquid between said surfaces,
• each of said surfaces including, across at least a portion thereof, a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart energy barriers to the capillary flow of liquid between said surfaces, at least a substantial portion of the barriers of one of said surfaces being disposed at positive angles with respect to the directly opposed barriers of the other surface to controllably induce the menisci of liquid introduced between said surfaces to advance with a predetermined, peripheral configuration.