EP0171148B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Devices for use in chemical test procedures
Assignee: Applied Research Systems ARS Holding NV
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Filing: 1985-06-12
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Granted: 1991-04-17
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Expires: 2005-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A specifically-reactive sample-collecting and testing device possessing a cavity or cavities each having a dimension small enough to enable sample liquid to be drawn into the cavity by capillary action, wherein said cavity includes an electrode structure for making measurements of one or more electrically measurable characteristics of the sample, and wherein a surface of a wall of the cavity optionally also carries a coating of a material appropriate to the test to be carried out in the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Alexander Shanks
- 👤 Alan Martin Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/648; G01N21/75; G01N21/77; G01N21/7703; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N33/54373; G01N2021/0346; G01N2021/7769; G01N2021/7786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A process of manufacturing specifically-reactive sample-collecting and testing devices, comprising the steps of (a) forming an immobilised specifically-reactive coating on the surface of a transparent sheet material which is capable of acting as a light transmissive waveguide and which is to provide a part of a multiplicity of the devices, (b) attaching to the said sheet material an additional structure which together with said coated sheet material provides for each device of the multiplicity of devices a cavity of capillary dimension for collecting and retaining by capillarity a volume of sample liquid in contact with the specifically-reactive coating and (c) separating the assembled laminate into portions each providing one or a plurality of the sample-collecting and testing devices, such that the transparent sheet material of each device has at least one edge transverse to the plane of the sheet which is substantially optically smooth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1, in which the specifically-reactive coating is provided as a pattern of discrete patches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 2, in which patches forming the pattern are made by first forming a continuous coating and then removing portions of it to leave the desired pattern of the discrete patches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specifically-reactive coating is selected from an antigen, an antibody or a derivative thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more ancillary reagents are applied to the sheet material or to the additional structure such that in each device obtained a part of the device to be contacted in use by sample liquid carries the ancillary reagent(s) in dry releasable form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein fluorescent ancillary reagent is applied to the sheet material or to the additional structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein prior to application of the immobilised coating, a thin coating of conductive material capable of showing a surface plasmon resonance effect is applied to the surface of the said sheet material which is to carry the said immobilised coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the thin coating of conductive material is a coating of silver up to about 50 nm thick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein prior to application of the immobilised specifically-reactive coating a thin dielectric layer is deposited on the surface of the transparent sheet material which is to carry the said immobilised coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 9, wherein the thin dielectric layer comprises magnesium fluoride or silica.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the additional structure is a further sheet material and is bonded to the first sheet material by a suitable bonding adhesive, and spaced therefrom by a capillary space to allow uptake of sample liquid between the sheets by capillarity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the device is provided with an external surface to which sample liquid can be loaded or applied and from which it can be drawn into the cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the further step of providing each device with an electrode structure for making electrical measurements, in use, on the contents of the capillary cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0170375A2
Cited
EP0170376A1
Cited
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