US4619904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Agglutinating immunoassay using protein-coated liquid droplets
Assignee: National Foundation for Cancer Research
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Filing: 1984-10-29
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Granted: 1986-10-28
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Expires: 2004-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Small liquid droplets, coated with protein, the protein coating containing molecules of protein that will interact specifically with a select protein, are contacted with a liquid sample to determine the presence or absence of the select protein therein depending upon whether the droplets agglutinate.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivar Giaever
- 👤 Charles R. Keese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/58; G01N33/585; G01N33/586; G01N33/53; G01N33/531; G01N33/532; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/80; Y10S436/804; Y10S436/829; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2984
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
The diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of select protein in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion in which a first liquid is dispersed as a large number of small protein-coated liquid droplets in a second liquid, said second liquid being an aqueous medium, said first liquid being relatively immiscible with said second liquid, and the protein coating said droplets including molecules of a protein having the property of interacting specifically with said select protein; (b) contacting the protein-coated droplets in said emulsion with a solution containing proteinaceous material and (c) determining the presence or absence of agglutination of the protein-coated droplets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
The diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of select protein in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion in which a first liquid is dispersed as a large number of small protein-coated liquid droplets in a second liquid, said second liquid being an aqueous medium, said first liquid being relatively immiscible with said second liquid, and the protein coating said droplets including molecules of a protein having the property of interacting specifically with said select protein; (b) contacting the protein-coated droplets in said emulsion with a solution containing proteinaceous material and (c) determining the presence or absence of agglutination of the protein-coated droplets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the proteinaceous material is contained in serum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the diameters of the droplets are in the range of from about 0.1 micrometers to about 5 micrometers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the droplet density is in the range of from about 10 6 to about 10 10 droplets per cubic centimeter of emulsion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second liquid is a fluorocarbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second liquid is silicone oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the protein coating the droplets comprises antibody molecules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the protein coating the droplets comprises antigen molecules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein protein molecules comprising the protein coating on said droplets have detectable tag moieties affixed thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the tag moieties are fluorescent tags.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the tag moieties are radioactive tags.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A diagnostic device for determining the presence or absence of a select protein in a liquid sample comprising in combination a container, a plurality of small protein-coated liquid droplets dispersed in an aqueous medium in said container, the protein coating said droplets including molecules of a protein having the property of interacting specifically with said select protein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A diagnostic device for determining the presence or absence of a select protein in a liquid sample comprising in combination a container, a plurality of small protein-coated liquid droplets dispersed in an aqueous medium in said container, the protein coating said droplets including molecules of a protein having the property of interacting specifically with said select protein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein the protein coating comprises antibody molecules.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein the protein coating comprises antigen molecules.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein the average diameter of the droplets is about 1 micrometer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein the droplet density is in the range of from about 10 6 to about 10 10 droplets per cubic centimeter of aqueous medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein protein molecules comprising the protein coating on said droplets have detectable tag moieties affixed thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diagnostic device of claim 17 wherein the tag moieties are fluorescent tags.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The diagnostic device of claim 17 wherein the tag moieties are radioactive tags.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The diagnostic device of claim 12 wherein the protein coating consists of a mixture of molecules of protein able to interact specifically and molecules of non-specific protein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The diagnostic device of claim 20 wherein the ratio of the molecules of protein able to interact specifically to the molecules of non-specific protein is in the range of from about 1:30 to about 1:1000.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-27 | 1990-04-28 | 1990-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-27 | 1994-04-28 | 1994-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-27 | 1998-04-28 | 1998-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |