Back to results
US 6,190,878 B1Granted
Device and methods for determination of analyte in a solution
AssigneeIDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsMark W. Pierson, David Townsend
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeIDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsMark W. Pierson, David Townsend
Estimating the term…
Method and assay devices for the detection of the presence or amount of biological material, analyte(s), or microorganism(s) in a sample. The method includes the steps of liquefying the sample (if necessary) and distributing the liquefied sample over the surface of the assay device. The device may comprise an incubation plate, a dip stick device, or other devices. The devices have at least one reagent provided within the devices. Some devices have a generally flat horizontal surface which is divided into a plurality of recessed wells. Others have one or more surfaces with reagent island(s) immobilized thereon. Each well or reagent island is adapted to hold an aliquot of liquid. The wells or reagent islands are sized and shaped, and formed of a suitable material, to hold the aliquot within the well or reagent island by surface tension. Any excess liquid from the liquefied sample is drained from the surface of the device. The method then involves incubating the assay device until the presence or amount of the biological material, analyte, or microorganism is determined.
A device for determining the presence or amount of an analyte or microorganism in a test solution, said device comprising:
A device for determination of the presence or amount of a microorganism or an analyte in a sample, said device comprising a solid support structure comprising at least one surface, said at least one surface defining a plurality of discrete reagent islands, each of said reagent island being adapted to hold an aliquot of liquid and being sized, shaped, and formed of a material suitable to hold said aliquot within said reagent islands, at least one of said reagent islands containing at least one reagent for the detection of a microorganism or analyte such that said device will not provide a positive response for an analyte or microorganism in the absence of a microorganism or analyte present in a sample applied to said device.
A method of manufacturing a device useful for detecting an analyte or microorganism in a test solution, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of detecting the presence or amount of an analyte or microorganism in a test solution comprising the steps of:
A method for the detection of the presence or amount of an analyte or microorganism in a test solution, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Using pins: prongs, quill pen type dispenser
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of…
Burettes; Pipettes: pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes: with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
Term ended 27 Oct 2018 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to the field of assay technology, and in particular embodiments, to devices and methods for quantification of analytes, e.g., biological material, in a sample.
Many industries need to detect and quantify the concentration and level of biological material or other analyte in a sample. For example, the determination of bacterial concentration in food and water is an essential part of food and water quality testing. EPA regulations require that no coliform such as Escherichia coli can be present in potable water. The “presence/absence” format of a testing medium, such as Colilert® chemical mixture (IDEXX Laboratories, ME) which is used as a testing medium for Escherichia coli and all coliform bacteria, is very useful in making this determination. Colilert® chemical mixture is based on the Defined Substrate Technology described in Edberg, “Method and Medium for use in Detecting Target Microbes In Situ in A Specimen Sample of A Possibly Contaminated Material,” U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,925,789 and 5,492,933.
However, there are areas where the quantification, not just the detection, of bacterial concentration is important. Examples of such areas include waste water, incoming water in water purification systems, surface water, and food testing. For example, numerous restaurant chains will only accept raw ground beef or poultry that contains less than a certain concentration of bacterial contamination. Therefore, food processing plants must carry out the necessary microbiological tests to determine the bacterial concentration of these food items before they can be released to customers.
FIG. 1A is a plan view of a first embodiment of the device for the determination of analyte in solution of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross section of FIG. 1A taken at lines 1B—1B;
FIG. 1C is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1A;
“Microorganism”—microorganisms means any microbe, including bacteria, fungi, or protists.
“Bacteria”—all organisms belonging to the Kingdom Monera.
“Biological Material”—any material derived from a biological organism.