Devices comprising multiple capillary inducing surfaces

Abstract

Assay device structures for a device where fluid flows from a one region to another. The device structures comprising one or more capillarity-inducing structures; where the capillarity-inducing structure induces capillary force along an axis that is essentially perpendicular to the axis along which capillary force induced in another region of the device.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 612,815, filed on Jul. 10, 2000 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 749,702, filed on Nov. 15, 1996. The content of both applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application concerns capillarity, also referred to as capillary action or capillary force. In a particular embodiment, the invention concerns an assay device that comprises multiple capillary force-inducing surfaces having distinct positional orientations. BACKGROUND ART

[0003] With the advent of field-based testing and point of care testing in hospitals, it has become increasingly important to develop diagnostic products which are simple, rapid and convenient for use. In these contexts, results are generally needed rapidly, with a minimum of time given to the performance of a test. Providing an assay result in minutes allows prompt act...

Examples

example 1

[0069] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures as depicted in FIG. 7B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 8B. The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 10.2 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0070] The proximal region comprised a height of 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height of the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal region had a greater capacity than ...

example 2

[0071] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures such as found in FIG. 6B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 9B.

[0072] The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0073] The proximal region comprised a height of 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height of the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal region had a greater capacit...

example 3

[0074] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures such as depicted in FIG. 5B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 8B.

[0075] The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 10.2 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0076] In this embodiment, the height of the first distal region was 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height in the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal reg...

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 612,815, filed on Jul. 10, 2000 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 749,702, filed on Nov. 15, 1996. The content of both applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application concerns capillarity, also referred to as capillary action or capillary force. In a particular embodiment, the invention concerns an assay device that comprises multiple capillary force-inducing surfaces having distinct positional orientations. BACKGROUND ART

[0003] With the advent of field-based testing and point of care testing in hospitals, it has become increasingly important to develop diagnostic products which are simple, rapid and convenient for use. In these contexts, results are generally needed rapidly, with a minimum of time given to the performance of a test. Providing an assay result in minutes allows prompt act...

Examples

example 1

[0069] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures as depicted in FIG. 7B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 8B. The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 10.2 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0070] The proximal region comprised a height of 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height of the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal region had a greater capacity than ...

example 2

[0071] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures such as found in FIG. 6B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 9B.

[0072] The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0073] The proximal region comprised a height of 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height of the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal region had a greater capacit...

example 3

[0074] In this embodiment, fluid was found to flow between a proximal region comprising an array of structures such as depicted in FIG. 5B, and a distal region comprising an array of capillarity-inducing structures such as depicted in FIG. 8B.

[0075] The effective capillarity of the proximal region was believed to be induced by the 12 micron distance from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base, i.e., capillary force induced in a “vertical” direction. The effective capillarity of the distal region was believed to be induced by the 10.2 micron distance between parallel walls of adjacent capillarity-inducing structures, i.e., capillary force induced in a “horizontal” direction.

[0076] In this embodiment, the height of the first distal region was 12 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base; the height in the distal region was 22 microns from the inner surface of the lid to the upper surface of the base. Accordingly, the distal reg...

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