Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Hiroto Noda · Benedict Zin ·
Assignee(s)	Mizuho USA, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Campbell & Flores LLP ·
Primary Examiner	James C. Housel ·
Assistant Examiner	Bao-Thuy L. Nguyen ·
Application Number	US8631795
Filing date	04/11/1996
Issue date	05/04/1999
Predicted expiration date	04/11/2016
U.S. Classifications	436/518  · 436/524  ·
International Classifications	G01N 33533  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	42256;99;58;104;59;60 ·

Abstract

Independent Claims | See all claims (19)

1. 1. An analytical device comprising:a) a cassette in the form of a strip having two ends and including:a first absorbent material;an immunoassay membrane having a first end and a second end comprising at least one immobilized reagent that forms a visible reaction complex indicating the presence of an analyte in fluid and a porous carrier that wicks aqueous fluid;an optional second absorbent material; anda cassette support means, wherein:the first absorbent material, the immunoassay membrane and the optional second absorbent material are arranged on and attached to the cassette support means such that the first absorbent material is at one end of the cassette; andthe first end of the immunoassay membrane is in fluid flow contact with the first absorbent material and the second end of the membrane immunoassay is in fluid flow contact with the optional second absorbent material; andb) a casing including:a fluid constriction opening;a channel extending from the fluid constriction into the casing that is the size of or larger than the cassette;an aperture;one or more viewing areas;a sample collection opening;a stopping means; andan optional supporting means, wherein:the fluid constriction opening is a size that limits fluid flow to the immunoassay membrane such that fluid flows through the first absorption material when the cassette is inserted into the channel to the stopping means;the viewing area is on the channel;the sample collection opening is distal to the fluid constriction opening;the optional supporting means extends outward from the fluid constriction opening;the cassette is slidably inserted through the fluid constriction opening and into the channel until stopped by the stopping means;the stopping means stops the cassette such that the first absorbent material extends beyond the fluid constriction opening and the immunoassay membrane is inside the casing and the visible reaction complex is visible in the viewing area.
2. 2. An analytical device comprising:a) a cassette in the form of a strip having two ends and including:a first absorbent material;an immunoassay membrane having a first end and a second end comprising at least one immobilized reagent that forms a visible reaction complex indicating the presence of an analyte in fluid and a porous carrier that wicks aqueous fluid;an optional second absorbent material; anda cassette support means, wherein:the first absorbent material, the immunoassay membrane and the optional second absorbent material are arranged on and attached to the cassette support means such that the first absorbent material is at one end of the cassette; andthe first end of the immunoassay membrane is in fluid flow contact with the first absorbent material and the second end of the immunoassay membrane is in fluid flow contact with the optional second absorbent material; andb) a casing including:a fluid constriction opening;a channel extending from the fluid constriction into the casing that is the size of or larger than the cassette;an aperture;one or more viewing areas;a sample collection opening;a stopping means; andan optional supporting means, wherein:the fluid constriction opening is a size that limits fluid flow to the immunoassay membrane such that fluid flows through the first absorption material when the cassette is inserted into the channel to the stopping means;the aperture is an opening to the channel at the opposite end of the casing from the fluid constriction opening;the viewing area is on the channel;the sample collection opening is distal to the fluid constriction opening;the optional supporting means extends outward from the fluid constriction opening;the cassette is slidably inserted either through the fluid constriction opening or the aperture and into the channel until stopped by the stopping means;the stopping means stops the cassette such that the first absorbent material extends beyond the fluid constriction opening and the immunoassay membrane is inside the casing and the visible reaction complex is visible in the viewing area.