Method for diluting a fluid and detecting analytes within a diluted fluid
AssigneeClarity Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorThomas M. Buchanan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and device for processing, sampling, and diluting a fluid and for detecting an analyte within the processed, sampled, and diluted fluid. In the method and device for processing, sampling, and diluting a fluid, an amount of fluid to be processed, sampled, and diluted is accepted by a porous membrane; a portion of the membrane saturated with the fluid is isolated thereby defining a predetermined sample volume of fluid; and the predetermined fluid volume sample is then released from the isolated membrane with a specified quantity of a fluid diluent to provide a diluted fluid sample. Analytes within the diluted fluid sample are detected by test strips in fluid contact with the diluted fluid sample.
Claims28
A method for sampling a fluid, comprising:
- (a) saturating at least a portion of a compressible porous membrane with a first fluid, wherein the first fluid is applied to the membrane at a position other than a portion of the membrane to be isolated and is migrated to saturate the portion of the membrane to be isolated;
- (b) isolating the portion of the membrane to be isolated by applying compressive force on top and bottom surfaces of the membrane along the perimeter of the area to be isolated thereby defining a non-compressed area of saturated membrane centripetal to the compressed perimeter;
- and
- (c) delivering a second fluid under pressure to the isolated portion of the membrane to release the first fluid from the isolated portion of the membrane.
A method for diluting a liquid sample, comprising:
- (a) saturating at least a portion of a compressible porous membrane with a liquid, wherein the liquid is applied to the membrane at a position other than a portion of the membrane to be isolated and is migrated to saturate the portion of the membrane to be isolated;
- (b) isolating the portion of the membrane to be isolated by applying compressive force on top arid bottom surfaces of the membrane along the perimeter of the area to be isolated thereby defining a non-compressed area of saturated membrane centripetal to the compressed perimeter;
- and
- (c) delivering a diluent under pressure to the isolated portion of the membrane to release the liquid sample from the isolated portion of the membrane to provide a diluted liquid sample.
A method for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising:
- (a) saturating at least a portion of a compressible porous sample receiving membrane with a liquid containing an analyte, wherein the liquid is applied to the membrane at a position other than a portion of the membrane to be isolated and is migrated to saturate the portion of the membrane to be isolated;
- (b) isolating the portion of the membrane to be isolated by applying compressive force on top and bottom surfaces of the membrane along the perimeter of the area to be isolated thereby defining a non-compressed area of saturated membrane centripetal to the compressed perimeter, wherein a sample of the liquid is isolated;
- and
- (c) delivering a diluent under pressure to the isolated portion of the membrane to release the liquid sample from the isolated portion of the membrane to provide a diluted liquid sample;
- and
- (d) directing the diluted liquid sample to one or more test strips that are distinct from the sample receiving membrane, wherein the presence of the analyte may be detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.