# US 7,632,462 B2 · Assay system

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- Number: US 7,632,462 B2
- Document ID: US7632462B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/476,185
- Filed: 2002-05-09
- Published: 2004-08-19
- Granted: 2009-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2001-05-09
- Assignees: Axis-Shield ASA
- Inventors: Jostein Holtlund; Stig Morten Borch; Thorstein Seim; Tore Janson; Hege Tøn; Jan Roger Karlson; Inger Lise Lauvstad
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7632462B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/5302: {Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures}
- B01L 3/0275: {Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips}
- B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates}
- G01N 21/0303: {Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment (G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence)}
- G01N 21/11: Filling or emptying of cuvettes
- G01N 33/723: {Glycosylated haemoglobin}
- G01N 33/86: involving blood coagulating time {or factors, or their receptors}
- G01N 35/10: Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)}
- B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
- B01L 2300/0672: Integrated piercing tool
- B01L 2300/1805: Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
- B01L 2300/1844: using fans
- G01N 2021/0325: {Cells for testing reactions, e.g. containing reagents}
- G01N 2021/0346: {Capillary cells; Microcells}
- G01N 2021/0357: {Sets of cuvettes}
- G01N 2021/0382: {Frustoconical, tapered cell}
- G01N 2035/0436: {with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs}
- G01N 2035/1053: {for separating part of the liquid, e.g. filters, extraction phase}
- Y10T 436/119163: with aspirator of claimed structure
- Y10T 436/2575: Volumetric liquid transfer
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An assay apparatus comprising: i) an assay cartridge (52,53) comprising at least one well (57-62) and a pipette (50) positionable in at least one said well; ii) a holder arranged to receive said cartridge; iii) drive means operable to position said pipette in selected wells of said cartridge; iv) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said pipette whereby to cause liquid flow through said membrane; and v) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from a well of said cartridge or from said pipette.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assay cartridge comprising at least two wells and a membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells, said membrane-tipped pipette having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being closed by a liquid permeable membrane, wherein said cartridge further comprises a capillary-tipped pipette.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane-tipped pipette is closed by a sloping liquid permeable membrane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sloping membrane lies in a plane at an angle of 20 to 40° to the axis of said membrane-tipped pipette to which it is attached.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said a membrane-tipped pipette has a membrane-tipped end is of rectangular cross section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cartridge comprises detachable base and cap members, said wells being disposed in said base member and said cap member being arranged to carry said membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cap member comprises means to receives said capillary-tipped pipette.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of said wells is sealed at its upper end by a frangible seal and wherein said cap member is provided with a cutter arranged to pierce said seal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base member comprises an absorbent wiper arranged to wipe the outside of said capillary-tipped pipette inserted therein.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane-tipped pipette the proximal end whereof is closed by a piercable self-sealing membrane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wells in said cartridge are arranged in a linear array.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said wells contains an assay reagent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capillary tip is provided with a detachable sleeve.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one said well has two parallel planar side walls joined by a base wall comprising at least one planar face a normal to the surface whereof is coplanar to and non-perpendicular to normals to the parallel planar surfaces of said side walls.

### Claim 14

An assay device comprising a) a cartridge holder capable of receiving an assay cartridge comprising at least two wells and a membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells, said membrane-tipped pipette having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being closed by a liquid permeable membrane; b) drive means operable to position said membrane-tipped pipette of said cartridge in selected wells of said cartridge; c) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said membrane-tipped pipette of said cartridge whereby to cause liquid flow therethrough; and d) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from said well of said cartridge or from said membrane-tipped pipette thereof

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said radiation detector comprises a digital camera.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a light source arranged to illuminate said cartridge.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a magnet.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a heater arranged to heat said cartridge.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a controller arranged to control assay performance by said apparatus.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said gas pressure applicator comprises a piston disposed within a cylindrical housing and a drive motor arranged to drive said piston.