US 5,500,187 AGranted

Disposable optical agglutination assay device and method for use

AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.

InventorsJames H. Deoms, Daryl S. Mileaf, Kevin E. LaCour, Noe E. Rodriguez, II, Joseph M. Leginus, Scott D. Johnson, Richard C. Kapraun, Richard M. Young

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Abstract

An assay device for detecting the presence of analytes in an unknown sample including a reaction system wherein storage reservoirs containing reagent are fluidly connected to a track containing the sample. An actuation mechanism forces the reagent from the reservoirs and into the track where it mixes the reagents together and then with the sample at a first flow rate. The mechanism then reduces the force on the reagent to allow a second flow rate less then the first flow rate to force the reagent and sample mixture through the track so that reaction can occur, whereby a determination as to whether the target analyte was present may be made.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An assay device for use in analyzing a sample of unknown substance by mixing assay reagents with the sample, comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of storage reservoirs, each containing an assay reagent;
(b) an entry port for receiving a sample suspected of containing a target analyte, into said housing, said entry port having an inlet and an outlet;
(c) a controlling track for mixing and delivering the assay reagents in said reservoirs to said entry port via said inlet, and including a plurality of first portions each connected to a respective one of said reservoirs;
(d) said controlling track including a plurality of second portions each for receiving assay reagent from a respective said first portion;
(e) each said second portion including at least one discharge end in the form of a nozzle, said second portions being arranged that assay reagent discharging from a said nozzle of one of said second portions mixes with assay reagent discharging from a said nozzle of another of said second portions;
and
(f) means connected to said entry port to allow analysis of the mixed assay reagents and sample after passing through said entry port to said outlet.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/986,816Filed 8 Dec 1992
Granted: 19 Mar 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B01L 3/502
Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes: with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
G01N 33/5302
Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor: apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
G01N 33/54313
With an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals: the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
G01N 33/54366
With an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals: apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing