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US 9,804,091 B2Granted
Assay test card
AssigneeL3 Technology Limited
InventorsAnthony Nicholls, Laura Garcia, Mark Hudson, Gareth Jones, David Clarke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of surfaces that exhibit different surface energies wherein the difference in surface energies is configured to disrupt capillary laminar flow of a fluid travelling between the two surfaces. The invention further relates to the use of such surfaces in assay methods including a device utilising same.
Claims18
An assay device comprising:
- a first region;
- a second region;
- and
- at least one fluid flow pathway operatively connecting the first region to the second region and configured to transfer a fluid sample from the first region to the second region via capillary flow;
- wherein the fluid flow pathway comprises two substantially flat opposing surfaces with a gap between, wherein the two surfaces are formed of a hydrophobic plastic and wherein at least one of the two surfaces includes a printed amphipathic polymer, the gap between the opposing surfaces defining a volume through which the fluid sample is transferred from the first region via the fluid flow pathway to the second region, and wherein the two substantially flat opposing surfaces of the fluid flow pathway exhibit different hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity at least partly as a result of the printed amphipathic polymer, thereby disrupting capillary laminar flow while enhancing capillary flow rate of the fluid sample in the volume travelling between, and in simultaneous contact with, the two substantially flat opposing surfaces;
- and wherein the fluid flow pathway further comprises at least one reagent.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing an assay device comprising
- a first region;
- a second region;
- and
- at least one fluid flow pathway operatively connecting the first region to the second region and configured to transfer a fluid sample from the first region to the second region via capillary flow;
- wherein the fluid flow pathway comprises two substantially flat opposing surfaces with a gap between, where the two opposing surfaces are hydrophobic plastics and one of the two surfaces includes a printed amphipathic polymer, the gap between the opposing surfaces defining a volume through which the fluid sample is transferred from the first region via the fluid flow pathway to the second region, and wherein the two substantially flat opposing surfaces of the fluid flow pathway exhibit different hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity at least partly as a result of the printed amphipathic polymer, thereby disrupting capillary laminar flow while enhancing capillary flow rate of the fluid sample in the volume travelling between, and in simultaneous contact with, the two substantially flat opposing surfaces,
- and wherein the at least one fluid flow pathway comprises at least one reagent, and the disruption in the capillary laminar flow increases mixing between the fluid sample and the at least one reagent, and wherein the assay device further comprises an application area in fluid communication with the first region of the device for introduction of a fluid sample, and at least one detection zone configured for measurement of the result and/or progress of a reaction between at least a part of a fluid sample and the at least one reagent;
- introducing a fluid sample into the application area to allow a reaction to occur between the at least a part of the fluid sample and the at least one reagent in the fluid flow pathway;
- and
- detecting the result or the progress of the reaction via the detection zone.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.