MXPA00007738A - Analytic plate and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An analytical plate such as a microscope slide (10) having an upper surface (12) and a lower surface (14). Disposed upon a portion of the upper surface (12) is a liquid containment border (16).

Description

ANALYTICAL PLATE AND METHOD BACKGROUND The present invention relates generally to the field of analytical plates such as microscope slides or diagnostic plates and more particularly to such analytical plates having edges therein. Normal microscope slides and diagnostic glass plates are thin rectangular sheets of glass or plastic. In use, a sample comprising an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, liquid reagent, biological fluid and / or section (s) of biological tissue is placed on a portion of the slide or diagnostic glass plate. Before analysis, the specimen on the slide or plate can be dried, placed in a fixative or remain fresh before treatment for enhanced visualization using a light, electron or fluorescent microscope, and / or even gross analysis with the eye human. The sample can be analyzed in its natural state or it may need a treatment with one or more liquid dyes to increase the visualization. Additional treatment with biological, molecular techniques may include, for example, treatment by monoclonal antibodies, REF: 122199 polyclonal, in situ hybridization by molecular probes, and / or its liquid detection reagents. During the routine analysis or manipulation of a slide or plate, the sample or liquid reagent may spill from the slide, run off or become attenuated in other portions of the slide, and / or "absoberse" if the slide touches another object, this results in a loss of all or part of the sample or liquid reagent. It is desired to avoid this mixture or inadvertent or undesired contamination of different samples or liquid reagents. Therefore, it is beneficial for the slide to have a means to confine the sample or the liquid used in the treatment of the sample to a specific area on the slide or plate. This has been done previously by creating a slide or plate having one or more depressions, or "wells" therein. Alternatively, a physical barrier or hydrophobic material may be applied to the surface of the slide in a flanged pattern to confine the liquid applied to the plate within the area enclosed by the rim. Such ridges may comprise a coating of Teflon, paint, wax, paraffin, epoxy resin, or other resinous material, or a paint. Each of these materials results in a rim having a thickness that results in a raised ridge extending a distance above the surface of the glass, for example, a teflon layer is generally from about 0.00254 to about 0.00635 cm ( approximately .001 to approximately .0025 inches) in height. These raised areas are opaque in general and the end result is a loss of the transparent nature of the slide. Despite the fact that these raised ridges may be somewhat effective in confining the liquid, there remains a need for a slide or plate that achieves confinement of the liquid on a slide while maintaining the transparency of the glass or plate. It is the object of the present invention to provide such a slide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an analytical plate such as a microscope slide or a diagnostic plate having a containment rim to inhibit the migration of liquids or liquid samples therein, wherein the rim is substantially transparent and it is substantially flush with the surface of the slide or plate and which covers only a portion of the surface of the slide or the plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a plan view of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure IB is a side view of the slide of Figure 1A. Figure 2A is a plan view of another version of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2B is a side view of the slide of Figure 2A. Figure 3 is a plan view of another version of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 is a plan view of another version of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is a plan view of another version of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of another version of a microscope slide constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a plan view of a pen used in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an analytical plate such as a microscope slide or a diagnostic plate having a containment rim to inhibit the migration of liquids or liquid samples therein, wherein the rim is substantially transparent and it is substantially flush with the surface of the slide or plate and which covers only a portion of the surface of the slide or the plate. Where used herein, the term "analytical plate" refers to those types of plates such as microscope slides and diagnostic plates that are used, for example, in microscope analysis or diagnostic analysis or comparison of samples The analytical plates are generally comprised of clear glass or plastic but may also comprise ceramic materials. When used in the present, the terms, "plate" and "slide" which proposes that they are interchangeable. Referring now to FIGS. 1A and IB, a glass microscope slide having the general reference number 10 is shown. The slide 10 has conventional length, width and thickness as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The slide 10 has an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 14. Positioned on a portion of the upper surface 12 is a liquid containment rim 16 which, in the version of Figure 1A, has a rectangular shape. As used herein, the term "liquid containment rim" or "containment rim" refers to a transparent rim which prevents the passage of an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid therethrough. The containment rim 16 surrounds a contaminated area 18 of the upper surface 12 of the slide 10. The containment rim 16 forms a liquid barrier around the containment area 18. When a liquid or a liquid sample (not shown) is placed in the containment area 18 of the slide 10 for analysis, the containment rim 16 prevents dispersion, leakage or migration of the liquid or liquid sample from the containment area 18, thereby causing the sample to be retained in a discrete location and confined to the slide 10. Where used herein, the term liquid or liquid sample is intended to refer to a liquid material, or a biological, liquid sample (eg, blood, urine, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid) which you want it to be placed on the slide. The coating material which is used to form the containment rim 16 comprises a material which when applied to the slide 10 is preferably transparent or clear although it may have a color to indicate its position on the slide or have printed, one of ordinary skill in the art, on the lower surface 14 and / or upper surface 12 of the information carrier 10 (lines or numbers or symbols) indicating the position of the liquid bead 16 on the upper surface. The flange 16 forms a molecular layer when it dries and is therefore substantially flush (level) with the upper surface 12 of the slide 10. Therefore, the flange 16 does not rise on the upper surface 12 to a degree that is visible naked eye. In fact, the containment rim 16 preferably has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (approximately 0.00001 inch). After the coating is applied to the slide, because of this the containment rim is formed and the slide is dried, the slide can be polished or chemically treated (for example, by xylene, alcohol, or acetone or other laboratory solvents commonly used) where the containment rim becomes clear and invisible, because of this, the ridge leaves the refractive index of the slide unaltered when viewed through a microscope. In a preferred embodiment, the coating material which forms the containment rim 16 is a composition comprising a liquid repellent compound dissolved in a volatile solvent. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the composition comprises an alkyl polysiloxane and a mineral acid mixed with a solvent in a manner well known in the art. This mixture is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,579,540, the specification of which by this act is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other polysiloxanes, silicones and silicone fluids which can be permanently or at least substantially permanently attached to a glass surface and function in accordance with the present invention are also contemplated and are well known in the art, and are commercially available for use in the present. Although a mixture of polysiloxane acid is particularly preferred, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any material that can adhere to the surface of at least one slide or a glass, plastic or ceramic plate and which forms a layer molecular substantially non-elevated as described and claimed herein and is suitable for use in the present invention. The coating can be applied to the slide 10 in any manner known in the art to apply a liquid to a surface, for example, by brushing, brushing, using a stamping device, by spraying or by applying a device (similar to a pen) filled with the coating to be applied to the slides or plates (described in more detail below). In an alternative method of applying the coating to the containment rim 16, the analytical slide can be provided with a high, removable layer of a material such as a silicone rubber which is applied as a raised strip on a portion of the surface top 12 of the slide 10 (not shown). Prior to the application of the liquid or liquid sample for treatment, the raised silicone strip is peeled off from the upper surface 12 of the slide 10, leaving a residual coating comprising a containment rim 16 according to the present invention. After the elevated silicone rubber strip has been peeled away leaving the containment rim 16, the analytical plate can be used in accordance with the present invention. It is another distinguishing feature of the present invention that after the coating is applied to the slide 10 to form the containment rim 16 and the coating material has been dried therein, the containment rim 16 is highly resistant to abrasion and for chemical removal and physical removal by washing, scrubbing, impregnation in acids, alkaline substances, organic solvents and aqueous solvents. Therefore, the slide 10 can be used repeatedly without losing its functionality. The containment rim 16 of the present slide 10 is further distinguished from the prior art slides with the rims which have Teflon rims or other physical barriers because the surface of these prior art slides must be treated before they can be treated. the Teflon coating can adhere to the slide (eg, using an adhesive) thereby causing the solvents to dissolve the adhesive and the subsequent loss of flange efficiency due to detachment and / or loss of liquid confinement integrity. flange. The rims of the slides using Teflon, epoxy or paint coatings are generally opaque and raised on the surface of the slide, different from the rims on the slides of the present invention. In the present invention, there is no intermediate layer (e.g., an adhesive) between the glass and the coating comprising the containment rim 16. In addition, the rims of these prior art slides also suffer from a non-specific binding of the reactants as described above. along its edges, because of that interference with the specimen is caused. An example is the interference of non-specific fluorescence. Although the microscope slide of the present invention may consist solely of a slide 10 with the containment rim 16 therein, in some embodiments the slide may further have a distinct or separate marking surface thereon for writing on or to attach a label to it. Figures 2A and 2B show this slide, designated therein by the general reference number 10a. The slide 10a has a marking surface 20 which is a "frosted" portion of the slide 10a (i.e., a portion of the slide 10a which has been etched or abraded). In an alternative version of this slide, the marking surface 20 can be an opaque painted or epoxy coating. Another means for forming a marking surface will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Figure 2A also shows an alternative version of the invention wherein the containment rim, designated by the general reference number 22, comprises a pair of strips extending from one edge of the slide to the other, preferably forming a square pattern as it is shown on the slide 10a. Figure 3 shows a slide 10b which is essentially the same as the slide 10a, except that the containment rim is a ridge 24 which forms a complete "frame" on the surface 12 of the slide 10b. Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, a slide 10c having a containment rim 26 which comprises a pair of spaced containment areas 28. Thus, the separate containment areas 28 may contain separate samples which are prevents them from mixing by the portion 30 of the containment rim 26 which separates the two containment areas 28. Although not specifically shown in the figure, the slide 10c can be constructed to comprise a plurality of spaced apart containment areas 28 more than two to maintain a plurality of samples, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Figure 5 shows a slide lOd having a pair of circular containment beads 32 which enclose the containment areas 34. Alternative versions of the slide lOd may have only a single circular containment flange 32, or may have a plurality of circular containment rims 32. Figure 6 shows a slide lOe comprising a containment rim 36 having a diagonal rim 38 extending transversely to form a pair of triangular-shaped containment areas 40. Alternative versions of the lOe carrier can have only a triangular, individual containment containment area 40, or may have a plurality of areas 40. In addition, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the shapes of the containment areas are not limited only to those shown in the figures in the present. The containment areas may have other shapes, such as ovals, stars, ellipses, pentagons, hexagons, trapezoids, or even non-geometric or capricious shapes. In addition, a single slide can have more than one particular shape of containment rim disposed therein, for example, a circle and a frame or a pair of circles and a pair of frames. As is evident from the foregoing, each slide contemplated herein has only a portion of the surface thereof coated with the coating material., with the specific purpose of retaining a liquid or a liquid sample in a discrete and predetermined portion of the slide. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, one or more of the slides or microscope plates contemplated herein may be provided as a kit together with other components used in the microscopic analysis of the samples. The other components may comprise dyes and reagents commonly used by those of ordinary experience, including but not limited to, dyes, coloring matters, molecular biological reagents including monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies and molecular probes and their detection reagents, and other aqueous processing reagents or non-aqueous. Examples of aqueous or non-aqueous processing reagents include xylene, toluene, acetone and other organic and inorganic solvents, and alcohols, biological buffers and aqueous reagents for use with antibodies, and molecular probes and their detection reagents. As mentioned above, the containment rim can be applied by means of a pen, or device similar to a pen, an example of which is shown in Figure 7. The pen is designated by the reference number 50 and comprises a body 52 having a reservoir therein (not shown) which contains a quantity of the liquid coating described elsewhere herein (for example, polysiloxane). The pen 50 further comprises an applicator end 54, and a cap 56 for inhibiting evaporation of the coating material or drying of the tip 54. The pen 50 or cap 56 may comprise a means for securing, for example, a pocket . The applicator end may be a brush, a swab, a rubber tip, or any other device known to one of ordinary skill in the art of applicator pens.

As contemplated herein, a user may use the pen 50 to tailor his own "flanged slides" having a containment rim as described herein. The flange is applied in such a way that it is substantially permanent and resistant to removal by means of organic solvents such as xylene, as described above. In use, the user applies a layer of the polysiloxane material to a slide, allows it to dry, then applies the aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or histological material, or other biological sample, and performs several processing steps known in the art. to analyze the specimen (for example, treatment with dyes and organic solvents). The treatment with the organic solvents used in the processing steps has no effect substantially on the durable containment rim claimed herein. The pen-shaped applicator of the present invention differs from other pen-shaped applicators known in the art (e.g., PAP Feather) because these prior art pens are used only to apply a greasy or oily layer to the slide. which is not resistant to abrasion or rubbing nor is it resistant to organic solvents, i.e., the layer can be physically scrubbed or worn and is not resistant to most organic solvents such as xylene. The containment rims provided when using the boom 50 described herein are resistant to abrasion or removal by means of organic solvents. The user may wish to apply the polysiloxane material to a slide previously treated with a coating which gives a positive charge to the slide. Preferably before the application of the polysiloxane, this loaded coating will be separated from that area of the slide in which it is desired that the containment rim be located. The loaded coating can be separated by physical abrasion or by chemical removal. The chemical for removing the loaded coating (eg, organic or inorganic acids +, or bases) can be applied to the slide prior to the application of the polysiloxane material. Alternatively, the chemical for separating the loaded coating, and the polysiloxane, can be applied simultaneously. For example, the chemical for separating the coating and the polysiloxane can be applied together in a single composition.

The examples described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the following claims .

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims (40)

1. An analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: a glass, plastic, or ceramic plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, the containment rim surrounding an area of containment for retaining an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or a liquid sample and which substantially prevents the migration of the aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or the liquid sample from the containment area to the portions of the upper surface of the plate outside the containment rim, and wherein the containment rim has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (approximately 0.00001 inch).

2. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment rim is transparent.

3. The analytical plate according to claim 2, characterized in that the containment rim is colored.

4. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment rim is invisible.

5. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment rim comprises a coating comprising a polysiloxane composition.

6. The analytical plate according to claim 5, characterized in that the polysiloxane composition comprises an alkyl polysiloxane.

7. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment ridge does not alter the refractive index of the analytical plate when viewed through a microscope.

8. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment rim is resistant to abrasion and resistant to removal by means of organic solvents.

9. - The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the containment rim has a thickness of a molecular layer.

10. The analytical plate according to claim 1, characterized in that it has information printed on it that indicates the position of the containment rim, the printed information further comprises lines, numbers or other symbols.

11- An analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: a glass, plastic or ceramic plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim in a portion of the upper surface, the containment rim surrounding an area containment to retain an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or a liquid sample and which substantially prevents the migration of the aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or the liquid sample from the containment area to the portions of the upper surface of the plate outside the containment rim , and wherein the containment rim has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (approximately 0.00001 inch) and wherein the refractive index of the plate is not altered by the containment rim when viewed through a microscope.

12. An equipment for microscopic analysis, characterized in that it comprises: at least one analytical plate comprising: a glass, plastic or ceramic plate having an upper surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, the rim of containment surrounding a containment area for retaining an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or a liquid sample and which substantially prevents the migration of liquid or liquid sample from the containment area to the portions of the upper surface of the plate outside the rim containment, and wherein the containment rim has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (approximately 0.00001 inch); and a reagent for the treatment of a biological sample arranged in the analytical plate.

13. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate is transparent.

14. The equipment according to claim 12 ,. characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate comprises a coating comprising a polysiloxane composition.

15. The equipment according to claim 14, characterized in that the polysiloxane composition comprises an alkyl polysiloxane.

16. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate is colored.

17. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate is invisible.

18. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate does not alter the refractive index of the analytical plate when viewed through a microscope.

19. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate is resistant to abrasion and resistant to removal by means of organic solvents.

20. The equipment according to claim. 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate has a molecular layer thickness.

21. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the containment rim of the analytical plate has information printed thereon which indicates the position of the containment rim, the printed information further comprising lines, numbers or other symbols.

22. The equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the reagent is selected from a group of dyes and biological reagents consistent with medical diagnosis comprising dyes, coloring matters, aqueous or non-aqueous processing reagents, and biological, molecular reagents and their detection reagents.

23. The equipment according to claim 22, characterized in that the aqueous or non-aqueous processing reagents further comprise xylene, toluene, acetone, alcohols, biological buffers, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, molecular probes and their detection reagents.

24. A method for using an analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a glass, plastic or ceramic plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, and wherein the rim of containment encloses a containment area for retaining an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid or a biological sample, the containment rim is capable of substantially preventing migration of the liquid or biological sample from the containment area to portions of the upper surface of the plate outside the containment area, and wherein the containment rim has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (approximately 0.00001 inch) and apply the liquid or biological sample to the containment area of the glass, plastic or ceramic plate.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the liquid or liquid sample applied to the plate is selected from a group of dyes and biological reagents consistent with medical diagnosis comprising dyes, coloring matters, aqueous and non-aqueous processing reagents. , and biological, molecular reagents and their detection reagents.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the liquid or the liquid sample is an aqueous or non-aqueous processing reagent selected from the group consisting of xylene, toluene, acetone, alcohols, biological buffers, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, molecular probes -and its detection reagents.

27. An applicator device for the application of a containment rim to an analytical plate, the applicator device is characterized in that it comprises: a pen comprising a reservoir and an applicator end and the reservoir containing an amount of a liquid polysiloxane and wherein when the The applicator end is pressed to a surface of an analytical glass, plastic or ceramic plate, the liquid polysiloxane flows from the reservoir through the applicator end to the surface of the analytical plate, and wherein the pen is sized to be held by a hand of the user.

28. A method for applying a containment rim to an analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing an analytical plate of glass, plastic or ceramic; providing a pen comprising a reservoir and an applicator end and a quantity of a liquid contained within the reservoir; and manually holding the pen and pressing the applicator end to a surface of the analytical plate and applying a containment rim to the surface, wherein the retaining rim after drying is substantially flush with the surface of the plate, is resistant to abrasion and is resistant to removal by means of organic solvents.

29. A method for applying a containment rim to an analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing an analytical plate of glass, plastic or ceramic; providing a pen comprising a reservoir and an applicator end and an amount of a liquid polysiloxane contained within the reservoir; and manually holding the pen and pressing the applicator end to a surface of the analytical plate and applying a containment rim to the surface, wherein the retaining rim after drying is substantially flush with the surface of the plate.

30. A method for using an analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a glass, plastic or ceramic plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a layer of elevated silicone in a portion of the upper surface, wherein the layer High silicone is removable; separating the raised silicone layer to thereby leave a containment ridge on the upper surface and where the containment rim encircles a containment area to retain an aqueous or nonaqueous liquid or a liquid sample, the containment rim is capable of of substantially preventing the migration of liquid or liquid sample from the containment area to the portions of the upper surface of the plate outside the containment area, and wherein the containment rim has a thickness of less than about 0.0000254 cm (about 0.00001) inches), and apply liquid or liquid sample to the containment area of the glass, plastic or ceramic plate.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that the liquid or liquid sample applied to the plate is selected from a group of dyes and biological reagents consistent with medical diagnosis comprising dyes, coloring matters, aqueous and non-aqueous processing reagents. and biological, molecular reagents and their detection reagents.

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that the liquid or liquid sample is an aqueous or non-aqueous processing reagent selected from the group consisting of xylene, toluene, acetone, alcohols, biological buffers, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, molecular probes and its detection reagents.

33. An analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, the containment rim surrounding a containment area for retaining a liquid or a sample.

34. An analytical plate, characterized in that it comprises: a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, the containment rim surrounding a containment area for retaining a liquid or a shows, where the refractive index of the plate is not altered by the containment rim.

35. An equipment for microscopic analysis, characterized in that it comprises: at least one analytical plate comprising: a plate having an upper surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface, the containment rim surrounding an area of containment to retain a liquid or sample; and a reagent for treating a sample arranged in the analytical plate.

36. A method for using a plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a containment rim on a portion of the upper surface and wherein the containment rim encircles a containment area for retain a liquid or a sample; and apply the liquid or sample to the containment area of the plate.

37. An applicator device for the application of a containment rim to a plate, the applicator device is characterized in that it comprises: a pen comprising an applicator end and wherein when the applicator end is near a surface of a plate, the liquid flows to through the applicator end to the surface of the plate.

38. A method for applying a containment rim to a plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a plate; providing a pen comprising an applicator end; and placing the applicator end near a surface of the plate and applying a containment flange to the surface.

39. A method for applying a containment rim to a plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a plate; providing a pen comprising an applicator end; and placing the applicator end near a surface of the plate and applying a containment rim to the surface, wherein the containment rim is substantially flush with the surface of the plate.

40. A method for • using a plate, characterized in that it comprises: providing a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and having a raised layer in a portion of the upper surface, wherein the raised layer is removable; separating the raised layer, to thereby leave a containment rim on the upper surface and wherein the containment rim encircles a containment area to retain a liquid or sample; and apply the liquid or sample to the containment area of the plate.