Patent US5222808A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5222808A
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Capillary mixing device
Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc
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Filing: 1992-04-10
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Granted: 1993-06-29
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Expires: 2012-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A capillary mixing device, comprising a liquid impervious housing; an interior space in the housing comprising a chamber in the housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in the chamber. The chamber is normally accessed through one or more capillary passageways leading to a surface of the housing and is adapted to be retained by a magnetic device that comprises means for generating a moving magnetic field and means for retaining the chamber device in an orientation so that the magnetic field has a field vector that intersects the capillary chamber perpendicular to the dimension having capillary spacing.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey Sugarman
- 👤 Ian Gibbons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/30; B01F33/45; B01F33/451; B01F35/00; B01F35/71; B01F35/717; B01F35/7172; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A system capable of carrying out mixing in a capillary chamber, comprising: a. a chamber device, comprising: i. a liquid impervious housing; ii. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and iii. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber; and b. a magnetic device, comprising: i. means for generating a moving magnetic field; and ii. means for retaining said chamber device in an orientation so that said moving magnetic field causes said particle to move in said chamber over a distance sufficient to effect mixing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A system capable of carrying out mixing in a capillary chamber, comprising: a. a chamber device, comprising: i. a liquid impervious housing; ii. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and iii. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber; and b. a magnetic device, comprising: i. means for generating a moving magnetic field; and ii. means for retaining said chamber device in an orientation so that said moving magnetic field causes said particle to move in said chamber over a distance sufficient to effect mixing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1, wherein in said chamber device, said chamber is part of a capillary passageway comprising an entry port in a surface of said housing, a pre-chamber passageway leading from said entry port to said capillary chamber, and a vent, wherein said vent is located in said chamber or in a post-chamber passageway that is connects said vent to said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic device further comprises an optical detection system oriented to interrogate said chamber device at a location in said post-chamber passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic device comprises means for generating a magnetic field that imparts rotational motion to said particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic device comprises means for generating a magnetic field that imparts linear motion to said particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said magnetic means comprises collection means for causing said magnetic field to collect said particles into a sub-region of said y chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said chamber device further comprises a stop flow junction that prevents flow of a liquid in said chamber past said junction when said liquid is under the influence of solely capillary and gravitational forces and said linear motion is selected to cause a liquid in said capillary passageway to flow past said stop flow junction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A capillary mixing device, comprising: a. a liquid impervious housing; b. an interior space in said housing comprising: i. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and, ii. first and second capillary passageways in said housing connected to said chamber; and c. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A capillary mixing device, comprising: a. a liquid impervious housing; b. an interior space in said housing comprising: i. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and, ii. first and second capillary passageways in said housing connected to said chamber; and c. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 8, wherein substantially all of said particles are smaller than a magnetic domain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said capillary spacing is from 0.01 to 2 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said particles occupy from 1 to 5% of the volume of said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said particles have a density of at least 4 g/cc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said particles comprise magnetite in a polymeric coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said particle consist essentially of magnetite or barium ferrite.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of mixing in a capillary chamber, comprising: a. adding a liquid to be mixed to a mixing device comprising: i. a liquid impervious housing; ii. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and iii. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber; and b. generating a rotating magnetic field in said chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of mixing in a capillary chamber, comprising: a. adding a liquid to be mixed to a mixing device comprising: i. a liquid impervious housing; ii. a chamber in said housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and iii. a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in said chamber; and b. generating a rotating magnetic field in said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said magnetic field rotates at an angular velocity of from 400 to 3000 rpm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said magnetic field is generated by physically rotating a permanent magnet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the axis of said rotating magnetic passes through said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said particles are present in said capillary chamber prior to adding said liquid to be mixed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said particles are present in a reagent composition soluble or dispersible in said liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said particles are introduced into said chamber concurrently with a liquid to be mixed in said capillary chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-28 | 1996-12-28 | 1997-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-28 | 2000-12-28 | 2001-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-28 | 2004-12-28 | 2005-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |