Hygeia Sciences, Inc.

Tecan Trading Ag

Gamera Bioscience Corp.

Tecan Boston

Gene A Davis

Gregory John Kellogg

Bruce L Carvalho

John P Willis

Stephen G Kieffer-Higgins

Alec Mian

Shari Ommert

Mikayla Kob

Ted Minior

Sarah D Oeltjen

Laura L Chapman

Francis X Cole

Eric C Sigillo

L Edward Cannon

Charles C Ditlow

Alicia G Danti

This invention provides methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. Specifically, the invention provides a microsystem platform for use with a micromanipulation device to manipulate the platform by rotation, thereby utilizing the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels embedded in the microplatform. The microsystem platforms of the invention are also provided having microfluidics components, resistive heating elements, temperature sensing elements, mixing structures, capillary and sacrificial valves, and methods for using these microsystems platforms for performing biological, enzymatic, immunological and chemical assays. An electronic spindle designed rotor capable of transferring electrical signals to and from the microsystem platforms of the invention is also provided.

Electronic spindle for using centripetal acceleration to drive fluid movement in a microfluidics system

This system provides methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. Specifically, the system provides a microsystem platform for use with a micromanipulation device to manipulate the platform by rotation, thereby utilizing the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels embedded in the microplatform. The microsystem platforms of the system are also provided having microfluidics components, resistive heating elements, temperature sensing elements, mixing structures, capillary and sacrificial valves, and methods for using these microsystems platforms for performing biological, enzymatic, immunological and chemical assays. An electronic spindle designed rotor capable of transferring electrical signals to and from the microsystem platforms of the system is also provided.

Devices and methods for using centripetal acceleration to drive fluid movement in a microfluidics system

Device and method for using centripetal acceleration to device fluid movement on a microfluidics system

An immunoassay procedure for detection of analytes in urine wherein an immunological reaction is conducted in an aqueous phase containing the urine and a filterable immunocomposite containing an inherently colored gold sol particle is formed if the assay is positive. The colored, gold sol particle containing immunocomposite is collected for direct visual observation on a filter element. False positive readings are minimized by (1) removing contaminants from the urine to prevent clogging of the filter element and non-specific binding of unreacted reactants thereto by contacting the urine with a porous contact element having a detergent material dispersed on its external and interstitial surfaces; (2) preventing non-specific binding of unreacted immunoreactive substances to the filter element by blocking the latter with polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and/or (3) including a green dye material in the aqueous reaction phase to improve the optical distinction after washing the collection filter between negative and positive results on the filter.

Sol capture immunoassay kit and procedure

Devices and methods for using centripetal acceleration to drive fluid

Antibody coated gold sol particles and antibody coated solid phase particles dispersed in an aqueous system react immunologically as a function of the presence of an analyte in a sample to be analyzed to produce a collectible, solid phase, gold-containing composite. The composite is collected on a filter or at the bottom of a test tube by centrifugation or gravitation and the analyte in the sample is determined or detected by direct visual examination of the collected solid phase composite which has a pink or red or purplish coloration as a result of the gold contained thereby. The materials required for conducting the assay comprise coated gold particles, coated solid phase particles and a collector element such as a filter. The collected, solid phase, metal-containing composite, which may be directly visually examined to determine or detect the gold therein and thus the analyte in the sample, is stable and remains available for confirmation of test results at a later time.

Metal sol capture immunoassay procedure, kit for use therewith and

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Lexington, MA, United States of America

Gene A Davis