CA1302247C - Sliding valve for vent of liquid collecting compartment - Google Patents
Sliding valve for vent of liquid collecting compartmentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1302247C CA1302247C CA000563473A CA563473A CA1302247C CA 1302247 C CA1302247 C CA 1302247C CA 000563473 A CA000563473 A CA 000563473A CA 563473 A CA563473 A CA 563473A CA 1302247 C CA1302247 C CA 1302247C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- aperture
- compartment
- slide valve
- liquid
- vent
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
- B01L3/5025—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures for parallel transport of multiple samples
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
- B01L3/5025—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures for parallel transport of multiple samples
- B01L3/50255—Multi-well filtration
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
- Measuring And Recording Apparatus For Diagnosis (AREA)
- Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
Abstract
SLIDING VALVE FOR VENT OF
LIQUID COLLECTING COMPARTMENT
ABSTRACT
There is disclosed a liquid-collecting compartment that is vented to allow air to escape.
The compartment is improved in that a closure member is provided constructed so as to be slidable onto and off of the vent aperture with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons. To achieve this, an elastomeric member is provided in the closure member or the wall at the aperture, with selected properties of durometer, cold flow and static coefficient of friction against polystyrene.
LIQUID COLLECTING COMPARTMENT
ABSTRACT
There is disclosed a liquid-collecting compartment that is vented to allow air to escape.
The compartment is improved in that a closure member is provided constructed so as to be slidable onto and off of the vent aperture with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons. To achieve this, an elastomeric member is provided in the closure member or the wall at the aperture, with selected properties of durometer, cold flow and static coefficient of friction against polystyrene.
Description
-`-` 13C122~L7 S _ ALVE FOR VENT OF
LIQUID COL~ECTING COMPARTMENT
WC~Gg3~D OF INVENTION
Thi~ invention rsl~teY to a construction used to open and clo3e vents ~n ~ liquld-collecting compArtment, psrticul~rly such comp~rtments used ~n ass~y devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the anslysis for in$ectiou~ diseaqes or pregnancy conditlons, lt is common to do sn immuno~ssay ~n a device hsving an upper compArtment, lower comp~rtment paired with the upper one end contsinin~ ~ liquid-absorbing m~terial, ~nd ~ filter between them. Examples are shown in U.S. Patent No.
15 3, 888, 629 . In ~uch devlcesl ~ trio of such paired comp~rtments, side-by-side, allowY the patient sample to be te~ted in one, ~ posi~ive control in ~nother, ~nd a negative control in ~ third.
~ In ~uch devlces, a vent hole is commonly :~ 20 provided ln each of the lower compartment~, to allow air to eqcspe as liquid is entering. By ~ppropri~tely openlng ~nd closing ~uch vent holes, ~n fiir lvck c~n be created which will ~llow, or stop, respectively, liquid flow into the lower compartment from ~bove. (A~r cannot p~3~ out through the filter eith~r, once it i5 wetted.) The stoppsge of flow is appropriate to allow the liquid to incub~te fir~t at the filter, before passing down into the lower comp~rtment, as is well-known.
Prior to this invention, there hQs been no convenient method for msnually operatlng the opening : ~nd closing of each of the vents. The opening ~nd closing of e~ch vent separ~tely h~s not been conduclYe to ea3y uqe of ~uch devices. P~rticulsrly :~ 35 thls h~s been troublesome where the devices ~re qol~~ for home use, ~uch AS in home pregn~ncy kits.
1~ 3~ 2~L7 Addition~lly, it is neces~ary, particul~rly in the home kit~, that the vent clo~ure be operable manually. M~teri~l~ that give negligible resistance to hand movement ~lso tend to not relisbly ~eal off the vent. C~nver~ely, tho~e that provide Q 3eCUre seal tend to ~ive high re~i~t~nce to a manual opening of the vent. Such problem.Q are megnified if ~11 three compartments are vented at once.
SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION
I have con3tructed a device u~eful ln the lmmunoas~y of infectiou~ di~ea~e~ or pregnancy condition~, which overcome~ the aforementioned problem~, particul~rly by providlng a sliding valve that i~ operable manually.
More spec~fic~lly, in accord with one a3pect of the invention, there is provided a liquid-collecting device eomprising at lea.~t one liquid-collecting ~ompartment, means in that one compartment defining a vent ~perture fluidly connectin~ the compartment to the ~tmosphere, ~nd closure me~n~ for shutting off the vent sperture, the ~perture-defining mean~ including n portion of a w~ll in which the ~perture is loc~ted. The device is improved ln thst a) the clo~ure means compri e a ~lide valve, b) one of the ~lide vRlve~ and the wall portion compri~e~ an ela~tomeric member, and c) there i~ included me~ns for 31idably mounting the sllde valve ~nd the wall portion rel~tive to each other to move the slide valve between a first po_it~on covering the aperture and ~ second position which uncovers the ~perture, the member being formed of an el~stomer h~ving 8 durome~erp cold flow and a ~t~tlc coefficient of frictlon with re3pect ~o the other of the ~lide valve ~nd wall portion, th~t ~re effective to ~llow the 31ide valve to be Qlid between the positions, when a relative compres~ion i3 provided 13(~2:~4~
between the member and the wall of ~bout 0.15 mm, with a force thet i5 between ~bout 0.15 newtons ~nd ~bout 10 newtons, whereby the ~lide v~lve i~ readlly : m~nually mov~bl~ on the device.
S In ~ccord with another a~pect of the invent~on, there is provlded ~ liquid collecting device compri~ing three sep~rate but ud~cent liquid-collecting compartment~, mean~ in each of the comp~rtment~ de$ining ~ vent ~perture fluidly connecting eRch compartment to the htmo.~phere, ~nd closure me~n3 for e~ch of the compfirtments f~r ~hutting off the the re~pective ~perture, the &perture-defining me~n~ ineluding a portion of ~ wall in which the aperture i located. The device l~
improved in th~t e~ch of the three closure me~ns compri~es a slide vslve compri~ing sn elsstomeric member and mean~ for slid~bly mounting the member over the aperture to move between ~ first po~ition covering the Qperture and a ~econd po~ition in which the member uncover~ the aperture~ the member being formed of an ela~tomer havin~ a durometer, cold flow and a 3tatic coefficient of friction with re pect to the w~ll portion that are effective to ~llow the ~lide v~lve to be slid between the position~, when : 25 the member i~ compressed by the wall by ~bout O.15 mm, with ~ force th~t ~ between about 0.15 newtons and about lO newton , whereby each sl$de valve i9 menu~lly movsble on ~aid device.
Thu~, it is an ~dventsgeouR feature of the ~: 30 invention that ~ device useful in immunoa~y~ i3 provided with ~ v~lve for closin8 the nece-~3sry vent, that i~ manually opereble with 8 minimum of effort.
It is e further ~dvant~geou~ fe~ture of the invention that such ~ device ~ provlded wlth ~
plurali~y of liquid-collectin~ comp~rtment~, e~ch ~ndependently vented, ~nd e ~lide v~lve thst opens 13(~:29L~
and clo~e~ e~ch vent ~imult~neously, with ~ minimum of effort.
Other sdvantageou~ feature~ will become app~rent upon reference to the following Detailed Di~cu~ion9 whÆn re~d ln light of the ~ttached drewings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i9 ~ per~pective view of a device constructed ln accord with the invention;
Flgure 2 is R plan YieW, p~rtially broken away, ~nd with the ~lide velve exploded ~way, of the device;
Figure 3 is a ~ection view tQken ~long line III-III of Flgure 2;
Figure 4 i~ an enlarged ~ection v~ew of the portion of Fi~ure 3 encircled as "IV"; ~nd Figure 5 is ~ ~ection view tsken generally ~long line V-V of Figure 4, of only the sl~de valve 50.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
: The invention is de3cribed herein in the context of thP preferred embodiment~, in which the device has three pair~ of upper/lower comp~rtments, to ~Qy ~) the patient sRmple, b) ~ po~itive control and c) ~ negative control, Qll more or le~
simultaneou~ly. In ~ddltion, ~Rpects of the inventl~n ~re u3eful with only ~ ~ingle pQir of compartment~, ~nd even without the upper compsrtment if one ~imply de~ire~ control over the r~te of flow lnto ~ liquid-receiving comp&rtment.
The actual chemi~trie~ of the ~say sre not ; described in detail, prim~rily becau~e the mechanic~
~: of the device sre eppllcable to ~ny, or even no, chemi~tryt provided lt 1~ ~ppropriate tha~ flow not take place in3t~ntaneou ly into the liquid-receiving compsrtment. If ~he flow should proceed ~3 [1;~47 instantaneously, there is no need to have a valve to close the vents, as provided for by this invention.
In the most preferred embodiment, the chemistries provide for an immunoassay, in which there is separately received at three filters in three compartments, a patient antigen complexed with an antigen, a positive control for the complex so formed, and a negative control for the complex so formed, respectively.
A device 10 constructed in accord with at least one aspect of the invention comprises, Figure 1, a frame 12 having a top surface 14, and a front edge 16. Mounted on edge 16 is a slide valve 50 in accord with the invention. Top surface 14 has three wells or upper compartments 17, 18 and 19. At the bottom of each of the compartments is a filter 24, Figures 2 and 3, of appropriate pore size and pore volume. Filters 24 have an upper surface 25 and an under surface 26, Fig. 3. Surface 26 is in li~uid-flow contact with an absorbent material 28 that preferably occupies each of three lower compartments 30, 32 and 34, Fig. 2, paired with the upper ones. As used herein, "liquid-flow contact"
means, in sufficient proximity such that a li~uid meniscus emanating from surface 26 will also wet materials 28 and flow into it, if no air lock exists in the lower compartment. Material 28 is any bibulous material, having a sufficient pore vo]ume to soak up about 2 cc of li~uid. Useful materials include cellulose acetate, cotton, and rayon. Useful materials for filters 24 include polyamides, such as nylons, and for example nylon-66 microporous membranes manufactured under the trademarks BIODYNE A
or ULTIPOR N-66 by Pall Corporation. Most preferably, the membranes are precoated (prior to use) with one or more water-soluble proteins, such as A
13~D~2~7 casein derivations obtained from acylation, alkylation, or sulfonylation of the casein.
Optionally the device can contain (between the filter and the absorbent material) a porous member which restricts flow back up to the filter, but allows flow from the filter to the absorbent material.
Various optional treatments can be given the filterls upper surface 25, depending on the assays to be used. One such treatment is spelled out in commonly owned, Canadian Application S.N. 564,624 entitled "Immunoassay Filter and Test Device Containing Same, With Flow-Delaying Polymer", filed by Roger Nelson. Specifically, the filter is treated with a water-soluble polymeric overcoat selected to provide an incubation time of from about 30 to about 300 seconds of delay, for a liquid head of pressure of about 6 mm of water. This treatment allows aqueous-based reagents to be coated thereafter onto the filter, and dried in less than 30 seconds, without having the reagents pass through the filter.
Useful examples of such polymers include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, caboxymethyl cellulose, and carboxvethyl cellulose.
Optionally, a liquid level indicator ridge 38, Figure 3, is provided in the wall 40 of each well, as a circular ring. Alternatively, such an indicator can be one or two fragments of a ring vertically spaced on wall 40, or a vertical bar (not shown).
~ ent aperture 44 is provided in each compartment 30, 32 and 34, Figures 2 and 3, to allow air passage out of the compartment as liquid flows in. Without such vents, or when the vent apertures are closed, an air lock precludes liquid from flowing through filter 24 into the lower compartment. The 130~24~
., .~
vent apertur~s extend to a wall ~urf~ce 46~ Figure~ 3 ~nd 4 9 esch of which comprises the end face of a stud 47 extending from edge 16. Stud 47 ls grooved at 48 And 49, Fig. 4, to slidably ~ccommod~te mating lips from v~lve 50, as will be apparent. There ~re three studs 47, one for e~ch aperture, F~gur~ 2.
To ln~ure that ~bsorbent m~teri~l 28 doe~
not come in contact with aperture 47, and ~hu~ leak liquld, stops 51 ~re pendent from frame 1~, Figure 3, ~o in a po~ition interposed between material 28 and ~perture 44.
In accord with the invention, ~lide valve 50 ia provided to sltern~tely open ~nd clo~e vent ~perture~ 44. Valve 50 compri~es mounting member 52, 15 and three vAlve seat~ 54 t 56 and 58 thst correspond to each of ~tuds 47. Lips 60, 6~ are provided at the side edges of member 52, to ride ln groove~ 48 snd ~: 49, rexpectively, and to force stud 47 ~gainst the valYe ~e~t~.
In eikher the valve seats or the ront~cting wall ~urface 46, there is an el~stomeric material, : and in the other contacting member there i~ a rel~tively rigid m~teri~l 3uch as polyatyrene. The ~lastomeric member is preferably in the valve aeats ænd is especially seleoted for durometer hardne3s, cold flow, ~nd coefficient of frictlon that will ensure that, when the v~lve sests sre to be 31id to the ~lde of ~tuds 47, hsving been co~pressed by the RtUd3 an amount of about 0.15 mm, they can be slid with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons snd about 10 newtons. (Anything le c than about 0.15 newtons will c~u~e member 52 to slide uncontrollably under it~ own weight. A force in excess ~f 10 newton~ ha~ been found to be too high for easy manual manlpulat10n.) ~302247 The above test is not intended to imply that seats 54-58 are only to be compressed 0.15 mm when member 52 is mounted on studs 47. Instead, the compression can be distance "d", Figure 4, which can be from about 0 to as much as 0.3 mm, measured at surface 64 of the seat shown in phantom for its uncompressed position. Practically speaking, however, some compression is preferred to ensure that surface 60 of seats 54-58 is in fact sealed over aperture 44. For the measurement of the force required to slide the valve, 0.15 mm compression is preferred.
To achieve the sliding force of from 0.15 to about 10 newtons, the noted properties for the elastomeric material are preferably within the following ranges: Durometer (a measure of hardness) of no greater than about 70 Shore A, and most preferably from 55 to 65 Shore A. Cold flow (a measure of loss of recovery after being deformed, also known as "compression set") of between about 10 and about 40% lost recovery when compressed at 77C, and most preferably, 23% lost recovery. Coefficient of friction (static) against polystyrene (the preferred material for stud 47) of between about 0.3 and about 0.6, and most preferably about 0.35.
Useful materials falling within these ranges include thermoplastic rubber available under the trademarks Santoprene Meutral 201-55 and 201-64, from Monsanto Corp. These two rubbers have .~
~3~224~7 _ 9 _ the following speci$ic propertie~:
Neutr~1 201-55 201-~4 H~rdne~Y S5 Shore A 64 Shore A
Spec. Gravity 0.97 0.97 Tensile Strength 47 Kg/cm2 70 Ks/cm2 Ultimate Elon~tion 330% 400~
10 100~ Modulu~ 21 Kg/cm2 25 Kg/cm2 Tear Strength 19 kN/m 24.5 kN/m (~5C) Tension Set 6~ 10~
: Cold Flow at 25C 23% 23%
Flex Fatigue >3.4 million >3.4 million ~cycle~ to f~il) Brittle Point Not Av~ileble <60C
St~tic Coefflcient 0.59 0.35 20 of Friction (ag~ln~
poly~tyrene) Option~lly, ~eats 54, 56 ~nd 58 sre e~ch ch~mfered ~t 70, Figure 5, to ~id in sllding the 8e8t~ onto studs 47. Addition~lly, Ctud~ 47 ~re optionally ch~mfered at 72, Figure 2, to ~id in : ~sembllng slide valve 50 onto the studs during msnufRctur~ng.
To ~s l~t in keepin~ ~lide vslve 50 from : bein8 slid too f~r in either direction, 8~0p~ 80 ~nd 82 ~re preferably provided ~t edge 16. The~e stop~
coop~r~te with ~urf~ces 84 ~nd 86 on mounting member 52, Figure 5.
In use, slide v~lve 50 is fir~t kept in pl~ce with ce~ts 54, 56 and 58 se~led over aperture3 44, the position shown in Figures 1-4. Thi~ posltion ~.3~ L7 prevents liquid from enterlng compRrtments 30, 32 and 34 becsu~e of the ~ir lock. (Each lower comp~rtment i~ fluidly i~olated from the others.3 To uncover aperture~ 44, member 52 i~ slid to the left, Figure~
1 ~nd ~, to the po~itinn shown on studs 47 in phantom, Figure 5n A~ is readily app~rent, RpPrtures 44 ~re uncovered ~imultaneously in this po~ition, so that ~lr c~n flow out. At the ~ame time, ~ny liquld on filter 24 flows lnto the lower compartment.
Filter~ 24 act as follows, in the preferred embodiment: In compartment 18, the patlent s~mple's ~ntigen~ Qny, complex with antibodie~ coated on wall 4D or added by the u~er, ~ome of which ~re labeled, ~o that the complex is un~ble to pass through the filter. If no antigen i~ present, All the labeled antibodie~ p~ss through and ~re not available for detection. In compartment 19, ~ntigen 19 ~upplied on the filter or on upper chamber wall 40 as manufactured, ~nd when antibody is ~dded by the filter, a complex form~ ~s ~ positive control, snd remsin~ on the filter for detection. In compartment 17, no complexing will occur unle~ the test cDndition are lmproper, ~uch ~s due tc the presence of hi~h ~mounts of salt, in which caae a special ~nti-complexing aBent 3uch a~
N-scetylglucosamine i overcome ~nd complexing ~orms ~or detection a~ ~ neg~tive control.
Devlce lO ig not a l~rge device, having E
length for v~lve 50, Figure 2, ~nd thu~ for the entire device, of no more than ~bout 6.5 cm. Thus, with the propertle~ of the valve seats 54, 56 and 58 : de~crlbed ~bove, lt ls readily feasible tc slid~
lide valYe 50 b~ck ~nd forth manu~lly, by using finger presqure.
Altern tlvely (not shown), the elastomeric member can comprise Rt lea3t the surface portion 46 ~31D;~:~47 of stud 47, Figure 4, with the member 56 being formed of ~ rel~tively ri~id m~terial, for exsmple, polystyrene. In thst c~e, $t 1~ the surf~ce portion 46 that is preferably compre~sed di~tance "d" when the ~lide v~lve is on the studs.
The invention has been described in det~il with par~icular refer~nce to preferred embodiment~
thereof, but lt will be under~tood that vQriatlons ~nd modifications can be effected ~ithln the spirit and ~cope of the invention.
~ 30 : 35
LIQUID COL~ECTING COMPARTMENT
WC~Gg3~D OF INVENTION
Thi~ invention rsl~teY to a construction used to open and clo3e vents ~n ~ liquld-collecting compArtment, psrticul~rly such comp~rtments used ~n ass~y devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the anslysis for in$ectiou~ diseaqes or pregnancy conditlons, lt is common to do sn immuno~ssay ~n a device hsving an upper compArtment, lower comp~rtment paired with the upper one end contsinin~ ~ liquid-absorbing m~terial, ~nd ~ filter between them. Examples are shown in U.S. Patent No.
15 3, 888, 629 . In ~uch devlcesl ~ trio of such paired comp~rtments, side-by-side, allowY the patient sample to be te~ted in one, ~ posi~ive control in ~nother, ~nd a negative control in ~ third.
~ In ~uch devlces, a vent hole is commonly :~ 20 provided ln each of the lower compartment~, to allow air to eqcspe as liquid is entering. By ~ppropri~tely openlng ~nd closing ~uch vent holes, ~n fiir lvck c~n be created which will ~llow, or stop, respectively, liquid flow into the lower compartment from ~bove. (A~r cannot p~3~ out through the filter eith~r, once it i5 wetted.) The stoppsge of flow is appropriate to allow the liquid to incub~te fir~t at the filter, before passing down into the lower comp~rtment, as is well-known.
Prior to this invention, there hQs been no convenient method for msnually operatlng the opening : ~nd closing of each of the vents. The opening ~nd closing of e~ch vent separ~tely h~s not been conduclYe to ea3y uqe of ~uch devices. P~rticulsrly :~ 35 thls h~s been troublesome where the devices ~re qol~~ for home use, ~uch AS in home pregn~ncy kits.
1~ 3~ 2~L7 Addition~lly, it is neces~ary, particul~rly in the home kit~, that the vent clo~ure be operable manually. M~teri~l~ that give negligible resistance to hand movement ~lso tend to not relisbly ~eal off the vent. C~nver~ely, tho~e that provide Q 3eCUre seal tend to ~ive high re~i~t~nce to a manual opening of the vent. Such problem.Q are megnified if ~11 three compartments are vented at once.
SUMMARY OF THE INYENTION
I have con3tructed a device u~eful ln the lmmunoas~y of infectiou~ di~ea~e~ or pregnancy condition~, which overcome~ the aforementioned problem~, particul~rly by providlng a sliding valve that i~ operable manually.
More spec~fic~lly, in accord with one a3pect of the invention, there is provided a liquid-collecting device eomprising at lea.~t one liquid-collecting ~ompartment, means in that one compartment defining a vent ~perture fluidly connectin~ the compartment to the ~tmosphere, ~nd closure me~n~ for shutting off the vent sperture, the ~perture-defining mean~ including n portion of a w~ll in which the ~perture is loc~ted. The device is improved ln thst a) the clo~ure means compri e a ~lide valve, b) one of the ~lide vRlve~ and the wall portion compri~e~ an ela~tomeric member, and c) there i~ included me~ns for 31idably mounting the sllde valve ~nd the wall portion rel~tive to each other to move the slide valve between a first po_it~on covering the aperture and ~ second position which uncovers the ~perture, the member being formed of an el~stomer h~ving 8 durome~erp cold flow and a ~t~tlc coefficient of frictlon with re3pect ~o the other of the ~lide valve ~nd wall portion, th~t ~re effective to ~llow the 31ide valve to be Qlid between the positions, when a relative compres~ion i3 provided 13(~2:~4~
between the member and the wall of ~bout 0.15 mm, with a force thet i5 between ~bout 0.15 newtons ~nd ~bout 10 newtons, whereby the ~lide v~lve i~ readlly : m~nually mov~bl~ on the device.
S In ~ccord with another a~pect of the invent~on, there is provlded ~ liquid collecting device compri~ing three sep~rate but ud~cent liquid-collecting compartment~, mean~ in each of the comp~rtment~ de$ining ~ vent ~perture fluidly connecting eRch compartment to the htmo.~phere, ~nd closure me~n3 for e~ch of the compfirtments f~r ~hutting off the the re~pective ~perture, the &perture-defining me~n~ ineluding a portion of ~ wall in which the aperture i located. The device l~
improved in th~t e~ch of the three closure me~ns compri~es a slide vslve compri~ing sn elsstomeric member and mean~ for slid~bly mounting the member over the aperture to move between ~ first po~ition covering the Qperture and a ~econd po~ition in which the member uncover~ the aperture~ the member being formed of an ela~tomer havin~ a durometer, cold flow and a 3tatic coefficient of friction with re pect to the w~ll portion that are effective to ~llow the ~lide v~lve to be slid between the position~, when : 25 the member i~ compressed by the wall by ~bout O.15 mm, with ~ force th~t ~ between about 0.15 newtons and about lO newton , whereby each sl$de valve i9 menu~lly movsble on ~aid device.
Thu~, it is an ~dventsgeouR feature of the ~: 30 invention that ~ device useful in immunoa~y~ i3 provided with ~ v~lve for closin8 the nece-~3sry vent, that i~ manually opereble with 8 minimum of effort.
It is e further ~dvant~geou~ fe~ture of the invention that such ~ device ~ provlded wlth ~
plurali~y of liquid-collectin~ comp~rtment~, e~ch ~ndependently vented, ~nd e ~lide v~lve thst opens 13(~:29L~
and clo~e~ e~ch vent ~imult~neously, with ~ minimum of effort.
Other sdvantageou~ feature~ will become app~rent upon reference to the following Detailed Di~cu~ion9 whÆn re~d ln light of the ~ttached drewings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i9 ~ per~pective view of a device constructed ln accord with the invention;
Flgure 2 is R plan YieW, p~rtially broken away, ~nd with the ~lide velve exploded ~way, of the device;
Figure 3 is a ~ection view tQken ~long line III-III of Flgure 2;
Figure 4 i~ an enlarged ~ection v~ew of the portion of Fi~ure 3 encircled as "IV"; ~nd Figure 5 is ~ ~ection view tsken generally ~long line V-V of Figure 4, of only the sl~de valve 50.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
: The invention is de3cribed herein in the context of thP preferred embodiment~, in which the device has three pair~ of upper/lower comp~rtments, to ~Qy ~) the patient sRmple, b) ~ po~itive control and c) ~ negative control, Qll more or le~
simultaneou~ly. In ~ddltion, ~Rpects of the inventl~n ~re u3eful with only ~ ~ingle pQir of compartment~, ~nd even without the upper compsrtment if one ~imply de~ire~ control over the r~te of flow lnto ~ liquid-receiving comp&rtment.
The actual chemi~trie~ of the ~say sre not ; described in detail, prim~rily becau~e the mechanic~
~: of the device sre eppllcable to ~ny, or even no, chemi~tryt provided lt 1~ ~ppropriate tha~ flow not take place in3t~ntaneou ly into the liquid-receiving compsrtment. If ~he flow should proceed ~3 [1;~47 instantaneously, there is no need to have a valve to close the vents, as provided for by this invention.
In the most preferred embodiment, the chemistries provide for an immunoassay, in which there is separately received at three filters in three compartments, a patient antigen complexed with an antigen, a positive control for the complex so formed, and a negative control for the complex so formed, respectively.
A device 10 constructed in accord with at least one aspect of the invention comprises, Figure 1, a frame 12 having a top surface 14, and a front edge 16. Mounted on edge 16 is a slide valve 50 in accord with the invention. Top surface 14 has three wells or upper compartments 17, 18 and 19. At the bottom of each of the compartments is a filter 24, Figures 2 and 3, of appropriate pore size and pore volume. Filters 24 have an upper surface 25 and an under surface 26, Fig. 3. Surface 26 is in li~uid-flow contact with an absorbent material 28 that preferably occupies each of three lower compartments 30, 32 and 34, Fig. 2, paired with the upper ones. As used herein, "liquid-flow contact"
means, in sufficient proximity such that a li~uid meniscus emanating from surface 26 will also wet materials 28 and flow into it, if no air lock exists in the lower compartment. Material 28 is any bibulous material, having a sufficient pore vo]ume to soak up about 2 cc of li~uid. Useful materials include cellulose acetate, cotton, and rayon. Useful materials for filters 24 include polyamides, such as nylons, and for example nylon-66 microporous membranes manufactured under the trademarks BIODYNE A
or ULTIPOR N-66 by Pall Corporation. Most preferably, the membranes are precoated (prior to use) with one or more water-soluble proteins, such as A
13~D~2~7 casein derivations obtained from acylation, alkylation, or sulfonylation of the casein.
Optionally the device can contain (between the filter and the absorbent material) a porous member which restricts flow back up to the filter, but allows flow from the filter to the absorbent material.
Various optional treatments can be given the filterls upper surface 25, depending on the assays to be used. One such treatment is spelled out in commonly owned, Canadian Application S.N. 564,624 entitled "Immunoassay Filter and Test Device Containing Same, With Flow-Delaying Polymer", filed by Roger Nelson. Specifically, the filter is treated with a water-soluble polymeric overcoat selected to provide an incubation time of from about 30 to about 300 seconds of delay, for a liquid head of pressure of about 6 mm of water. This treatment allows aqueous-based reagents to be coated thereafter onto the filter, and dried in less than 30 seconds, without having the reagents pass through the filter.
Useful examples of such polymers include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, caboxymethyl cellulose, and carboxvethyl cellulose.
Optionally, a liquid level indicator ridge 38, Figure 3, is provided in the wall 40 of each well, as a circular ring. Alternatively, such an indicator can be one or two fragments of a ring vertically spaced on wall 40, or a vertical bar (not shown).
~ ent aperture 44 is provided in each compartment 30, 32 and 34, Figures 2 and 3, to allow air passage out of the compartment as liquid flows in. Without such vents, or when the vent apertures are closed, an air lock precludes liquid from flowing through filter 24 into the lower compartment. The 130~24~
., .~
vent apertur~s extend to a wall ~urf~ce 46~ Figure~ 3 ~nd 4 9 esch of which comprises the end face of a stud 47 extending from edge 16. Stud 47 ls grooved at 48 And 49, Fig. 4, to slidably ~ccommod~te mating lips from v~lve 50, as will be apparent. There ~re three studs 47, one for e~ch aperture, F~gur~ 2.
To ln~ure that ~bsorbent m~teri~l 28 doe~
not come in contact with aperture 47, and ~hu~ leak liquld, stops 51 ~re pendent from frame 1~, Figure 3, ~o in a po~ition interposed between material 28 and ~perture 44.
In accord with the invention, ~lide valve 50 ia provided to sltern~tely open ~nd clo~e vent ~perture~ 44. Valve 50 compri~es mounting member 52, 15 and three vAlve seat~ 54 t 56 and 58 thst correspond to each of ~tuds 47. Lips 60, 6~ are provided at the side edges of member 52, to ride ln groove~ 48 snd ~: 49, rexpectively, and to force stud 47 ~gainst the valYe ~e~t~.
In eikher the valve seats or the ront~cting wall ~urface 46, there is an el~stomeric material, : and in the other contacting member there i~ a rel~tively rigid m~teri~l 3uch as polyatyrene. The ~lastomeric member is preferably in the valve aeats ænd is especially seleoted for durometer hardne3s, cold flow, ~nd coefficient of frictlon that will ensure that, when the v~lve sests sre to be 31id to the ~lde of ~tuds 47, hsving been co~pressed by the RtUd3 an amount of about 0.15 mm, they can be slid with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons snd about 10 newtons. (Anything le c than about 0.15 newtons will c~u~e member 52 to slide uncontrollably under it~ own weight. A force in excess ~f 10 newton~ ha~ been found to be too high for easy manual manlpulat10n.) ~302247 The above test is not intended to imply that seats 54-58 are only to be compressed 0.15 mm when member 52 is mounted on studs 47. Instead, the compression can be distance "d", Figure 4, which can be from about 0 to as much as 0.3 mm, measured at surface 64 of the seat shown in phantom for its uncompressed position. Practically speaking, however, some compression is preferred to ensure that surface 60 of seats 54-58 is in fact sealed over aperture 44. For the measurement of the force required to slide the valve, 0.15 mm compression is preferred.
To achieve the sliding force of from 0.15 to about 10 newtons, the noted properties for the elastomeric material are preferably within the following ranges: Durometer (a measure of hardness) of no greater than about 70 Shore A, and most preferably from 55 to 65 Shore A. Cold flow (a measure of loss of recovery after being deformed, also known as "compression set") of between about 10 and about 40% lost recovery when compressed at 77C, and most preferably, 23% lost recovery. Coefficient of friction (static) against polystyrene (the preferred material for stud 47) of between about 0.3 and about 0.6, and most preferably about 0.35.
Useful materials falling within these ranges include thermoplastic rubber available under the trademarks Santoprene Meutral 201-55 and 201-64, from Monsanto Corp. These two rubbers have .~
~3~224~7 _ 9 _ the following speci$ic propertie~:
Neutr~1 201-55 201-~4 H~rdne~Y S5 Shore A 64 Shore A
Spec. Gravity 0.97 0.97 Tensile Strength 47 Kg/cm2 70 Ks/cm2 Ultimate Elon~tion 330% 400~
10 100~ Modulu~ 21 Kg/cm2 25 Kg/cm2 Tear Strength 19 kN/m 24.5 kN/m (~5C) Tension Set 6~ 10~
: Cold Flow at 25C 23% 23%
Flex Fatigue >3.4 million >3.4 million ~cycle~ to f~il) Brittle Point Not Av~ileble <60C
St~tic Coefflcient 0.59 0.35 20 of Friction (ag~ln~
poly~tyrene) Option~lly, ~eats 54, 56 ~nd 58 sre e~ch ch~mfered ~t 70, Figure 5, to ~id in sllding the 8e8t~ onto studs 47. Addition~lly, Ctud~ 47 ~re optionally ch~mfered at 72, Figure 2, to ~id in : ~sembllng slide valve 50 onto the studs during msnufRctur~ng.
To ~s l~t in keepin~ ~lide vslve 50 from : bein8 slid too f~r in either direction, 8~0p~ 80 ~nd 82 ~re preferably provided ~t edge 16. The~e stop~
coop~r~te with ~urf~ces 84 ~nd 86 on mounting member 52, Figure 5.
In use, slide v~lve 50 is fir~t kept in pl~ce with ce~ts 54, 56 and 58 se~led over aperture3 44, the position shown in Figures 1-4. Thi~ posltion ~.3~ L7 prevents liquid from enterlng compRrtments 30, 32 and 34 becsu~e of the ~ir lock. (Each lower comp~rtment i~ fluidly i~olated from the others.3 To uncover aperture~ 44, member 52 i~ slid to the left, Figure~
1 ~nd ~, to the po~itinn shown on studs 47 in phantom, Figure 5n A~ is readily app~rent, RpPrtures 44 ~re uncovered ~imultaneously in this po~ition, so that ~lr c~n flow out. At the ~ame time, ~ny liquld on filter 24 flows lnto the lower compartment.
Filter~ 24 act as follows, in the preferred embodiment: In compartment 18, the patlent s~mple's ~ntigen~ Qny, complex with antibodie~ coated on wall 4D or added by the u~er, ~ome of which ~re labeled, ~o that the complex is un~ble to pass through the filter. If no antigen i~ present, All the labeled antibodie~ p~ss through and ~re not available for detection. In compartment 19, ~ntigen 19 ~upplied on the filter or on upper chamber wall 40 as manufactured, ~nd when antibody is ~dded by the filter, a complex form~ ~s ~ positive control, snd remsin~ on the filter for detection. In compartment 17, no complexing will occur unle~ the test cDndition are lmproper, ~uch ~s due tc the presence of hi~h ~mounts of salt, in which caae a special ~nti-complexing aBent 3uch a~
N-scetylglucosamine i overcome ~nd complexing ~orms ~or detection a~ ~ neg~tive control.
Devlce lO ig not a l~rge device, having E
length for v~lve 50, Figure 2, ~nd thu~ for the entire device, of no more than ~bout 6.5 cm. Thus, with the propertle~ of the valve seats 54, 56 and 58 : de~crlbed ~bove, lt ls readily feasible tc slid~
lide valYe 50 b~ck ~nd forth manu~lly, by using finger presqure.
Altern tlvely (not shown), the elastomeric member can comprise Rt lea3t the surface portion 46 ~31D;~:~47 of stud 47, Figure 4, with the member 56 being formed of ~ rel~tively ri~id m~terial, for exsmple, polystyrene. In thst c~e, $t 1~ the surf~ce portion 46 that is preferably compre~sed di~tance "d" when the ~lide v~lve is on the studs.
The invention has been described in det~il with par~icular refer~nce to preferred embodiment~
thereof, but lt will be under~tood that vQriatlons ~nd modifications can be effected ~ithln the spirit and ~cope of the invention.
~ 30 : 35
Claims (16)
1. In a liquid-collecting device comprising at least one liquid-collecting compartment, means in said at least one compartment defining a vent aperture fluidly connecting said compartment to the atmosphere, said aperture-defining means including a portion of a wall in which said aperture is located, and closure means for shutting off said vent aperture;
the improvement wherein a) said closure means comprise a slide valve, b) one of said slide valve and said wall portion comprises an elastomeric member, and c) further including means for slidably mounting said slide valve and said slide portion relative to each other to move said slide valve between a first position covering said aperture and a second position which uncovers said aperture, said member being formed of an elastomer having a durometer, cold flow and a static coefficient of friction with respect to the other of said slide valve and said wall portion, that are effective to allow said slide valve to be slid between said positions, when a relative compression is provided between said member and said wall of about 0.15 mm, with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons, whereby the slide valve is readily manually movable on said device.
the improvement wherein a) said closure means comprise a slide valve, b) one of said slide valve and said wall portion comprises an elastomeric member, and c) further including means for slidably mounting said slide valve and said slide portion relative to each other to move said slide valve between a first position covering said aperture and a second position which uncovers said aperture, said member being formed of an elastomer having a durometer, cold flow and a static coefficient of friction with respect to the other of said slide valve and said wall portion, that are effective to allow said slide valve to be slid between said positions, when a relative compression is provided between said member and said wall of about 0.15 mm, with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons, whereby the slide valve is readily manually movable on said device.
2. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elastomeric member is in said slide valve.
3. A device as defined in Claim 2, and further including at least one additional liquid collecting compartment, means in said at least one additional compartment defining a vent aperture fluidly connecting said compartment to the atmosphere, said aperture-defining means including a portion of a wall in which said aperture is located, and closure means for shutting off said vent aperture; said closure means of said additional compartment comprising a slide valve substantially identical to said slide valve of said at least one compartment.
4. A device a defined in Claim 3, wherein said slide valves comprise a single integral member in which said valves are disposed so as to simultaneously cover and uncover said apertures as said member is slid between said first and second positions, respectively.
5. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elastomeric member has a hardness that is no greater than about 70 Shore A.
6. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elastomeric member has a cold flow that is between about 10 and about 40% loss of recovery when compressed at 25°C.
7. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said coefficient of friction is between about 0.3 and about 0.6.
8. A device as defined in Claim 1, and further including a water-absorbing material in said compartment.
9. In a liquid collecting device comprising three separate but adjacent liquid-collecting compartments, means in each of said compartments defining a vent aperture fluidly connecting said each compartment to the atmosphere, said aperture-defining means including a portion of a wall in which said aperture is located, and closure means for each of said compartments for shutting off said respective apertures;
the improvement wherein each of said three closure means comprise a slide valve comprising an elastomeric member and means for slidably mounting said member over said aperture to move between a first position covering said aperture and a second position in which said member uncovers said aperture, said member being formed of an elastomer having a durometer, cold flow and a static coefficient of friction with respect to said wall portion that are effective to allow said slide valve to be slid between said positions, when said member is compressed by said wall by about 0.15 mm, with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons, whereby each slide valve is manually movable on said device.
the improvement wherein each of said three closure means comprise a slide valve comprising an elastomeric member and means for slidably mounting said member over said aperture to move between a first position covering said aperture and a second position in which said member uncovers said aperture, said member being formed of an elastomer having a durometer, cold flow and a static coefficient of friction with respect to said wall portion that are effective to allow said slide valve to be slid between said positions, when said member is compressed by said wall by about 0.15 mm, with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 10 newtons, whereby each slide valve is manually movable on said device.
10. A device as defined in Claim 9, and further including filtering means for each of said compartments, constructed to receive on said filtering means, each at one of the respective compartments, a patient antigen complexed with an antibody, and positive and negative controls for the complex formed by the patient antigen;
whereby said device is useful in an immunoassay.
whereby said device is useful in an immunoassay.
11. A device as defined in Claim 9, wherein said elastomeric member has a hardness that is no greater than about 70 Shore A.
12. A device as defined in Claim 9, wherein said elastomeric member has a cold flow that is between about 10 and about 40% loss of recovery when compressed at 25°C.
13. A device as defined in Claim 9, wherein said coefficient of friction is between about 0.3 and about 0.6.
14. A device as defined in Claim 9, wherein said three slide valves comprise an integral member, said valves being disposed on said member to cover and uncover, simultaneously, said apertures as said integral member is moved between said first and second positions.
15. A device as defined in Claim 9, and further including a water-absorbing material in said compartment.
16. A device as defined in Claim 15, and further including a filter disposed upstream of, and in liquid-flow contact with, said water-absorbing material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US9824887A | 1987-09-18 | 1987-09-18 | |
| US098,248 | 1987-09-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1302247C true CA1302247C (en) | 1992-06-02 |
Family
ID=22268350
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000563473A Expired - Fee Related CA1302247C (en) | 1987-09-18 | 1988-04-07 | Sliding valve for vent of liquid collecting compartment |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0308231B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH021551A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE78194T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1302247C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3872811T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS6439303U (en) * | 1987-08-31 | 1989-03-09 | ||
| US5147609A (en) * | 1989-05-19 | 1992-09-15 | Pb Diagnostic Systems, Inc. | Assay element |
| CA2041050A1 (en) * | 1990-10-29 | 1992-04-30 | Kerinchan Babaoglu | Batch test apparatus with adjacent negative control and patient sample rows |
| DE19725894A1 (en) * | 1997-06-19 | 1998-12-24 | Biotechnolog Forschung Gmbh | Differential vacuum chamber |
| JP6247391B2 (en) * | 2013-07-15 | 2017-12-13 | サイトゲン カンパニー リミテッド | Slide assembly |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4246339A (en) * | 1978-11-01 | 1981-01-20 | Millipore Corporation | Test device |
| AU2991384A (en) * | 1983-06-29 | 1985-01-03 | Precision Valve Australia Pty Limited | Self sealing caps |
| US4632901A (en) * | 1984-05-11 | 1986-12-30 | Hybritech Incorporated | Method and apparatus for immunoassays |
| DE3535292A1 (en) * | 1985-10-03 | 1987-04-09 | Bramlage Gmbh | DEVICE FOR PORTIONED ISSUE OF GRINED MEDIA, TABLETS OR THE LIKE |
| US4719085A (en) * | 1985-12-24 | 1988-01-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Mount for ammonia-sensitive test elements |
-
1988
- 1988-04-07 CA CA000563473A patent/CA1302247C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-09-16 EP EP88308558A patent/EP0308231B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-09-16 DE DE8888308558T patent/DE3872811T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-09-16 AT AT88308558T patent/ATE78194T1/en active
- 1988-09-18 JP JP63234692A patent/JPH021551A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0308231A2 (en) | 1989-03-22 |
| EP0308231A3 (en) | 1989-07-19 |
| ATE78194T1 (en) | 1992-08-15 |
| DE3872811T2 (en) | 1992-12-17 |
| EP0308231B1 (en) | 1992-07-15 |
| DE3872811D1 (en) | 1992-08-20 |
| JPH021551A (en) | 1990-01-05 |
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