Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory...
Patent
1996-10-10
1998-06-30
Alexander, Lyle A.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
422 61, G01N 3348
Patent
active
057729611
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a diagnostic device of a kind which is particularly, but not exclusively, for use in the diagnosis of disease, for example autoimmune diseases. However, the device may also be used in the detection of contaminants, such as bacteria or other extraneous matter, in a sample and may thus be used, for example, in detecting contamination in foodstuffs.
Many diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, may be diagnosed by detecting the presence of the relevant antibodies in the patient's serum. In general terms the presence of the antibodies may be detected by treating the patient's serum with one or more reactants selected to produce a colour reaction which is related to the amount of antibodies present in the sample. The present invention relates to a diagnostic device suitable for use in carrying out tests of this general nature.
The nature of the reactants and the reactions involved do not form a part of the present invention and will not therefore be described in detail, since the precise details of such tests will be known to those skilled in this area.
Diagnostic tests of the general nature referred to are often carried out by adding the sample to be tested to reactants in liquid form and noting colour changes in the liquid, or by applying the sample to a solid support to which the appropriate reactant or reactants have been bound and noting the colour change, if any, on the surface.
For example, one form of diagnostic device comprises a container defining an internal cavity accessible through an aperture in the container. A porous support is located within the cavity so that at least a portion thereof is accessible through the aperture, and a body of fluid-absorbent material is also located within the cavity in contact with the porous support. A test is carried out by applying a sample to the portion of the porous support which is accessible through the aperture. Both the sample and the necessary reactants may be applied to the support through the aperture, or the support may be already pre-treated with the appropriate reactants so that it is merely necessary to apply the sample through the aperture. Depending on the nature of the reaction between the sample and the reactants, any colour change occurring on the support may be observed and will give the appropriate indication of the presence or otherwise in the sample of the antigen, antibody or contaminant which the test is seeking to detect. Liquid samples or reactants applied to the support pass through the support, due to its porosity, and are absorbed by the underlying body of fluid-absorbent material.
By locating the support and fluid-absorbent material within a sealed cavity the materials, and any reactants which they may carry, are protected from contamination at all times prior to use and the device may conveniently be stored and transported without any further packaging. Also, after use of the device in a diagnostic test, the substances involved in the test are retained on the fluid-absorbent material within the device which makes for convenient storage and disposal.
In known devices of this type, the fluid-absorbent material normally comprises cellulose fibres, glass fibres, or similar fibrous material where the fibres are not themselves fluid-absorbent but where absorption of the fluid into the body of material is effected by capillary action and the flow of fluid in and along the spaces between adjacent fibres. The composition of the material is usually substantially uniform and there is therefore no significant control of the rate of flow of fluid from the porous support into and through the underlying body of fluid-absorbent material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel form of diagnostic device where the body of fluid-absorbent material is of such a kind that the rate of flow of fluid into and through the body of material can be controlled by varying the composition and arrangement of the material.
According to this aspect of
REFERENCES:
patent: 4128692 (1978-12-01), Reid
patent: 4239853 (1980-12-01), Bradley
patent: 4635488 (1987-01-01), Kremer
patent: 5110727 (1992-05-01), Oberhardt
patent: 5182191 (1993-01-01), Fan et al.
patent: 5196302 (1993-03-01), Kidwell
patent: 5200321 (1993-04-01), Kidwell
patent: 5244630 (1993-09-01), Khalil et al.
patent: 5435970 (1995-07-01), Mamenta et al.
Alexander Lyle A.
Bio-Diagnostics Limited
LandOfFree
Device for use in diagnosis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for use in diagnosis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for use in diagnosis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1855959