Biotrack, LLC

Michael M Gorin

Ian Gibbons

Robert S Hillman

Donald M Besemer

Michael E Cobb

Laura J Winfrey

James L Hill

Katheryne M McDonald

Po C Hsu

Don Besemer

A capillary stop-flow junction located in a housing at an end of a capillary passageway used to transport a liquid and at the beginning of a non-capillary internal chamber in the housing, in which the stop-flow junction contains an improvement which comprises 1) means for selectively trapping a gas in the capillary passageway and non-capillary chamber, wherein when the means for trapping is activated and the liquid enters the capillary passageway, the gas is compressed by the liquid as the liquid flows through the capillary channel and stops flowing at the stop-flow junction; or 2) a stop-flow nozzle surrounding the capillary passageway and projecting into the chamber; or 3) the stop-flow junction being formed from a single housing body member; or 4) a rupture junction in the capillary pathway, wherein the rupture junction is a stop-flow junction providing less maximum available back pressure than the capillary stop-flow junction. Diluters capable of serial dilution that use the stop-flow junctions of the invention are also described.

Capillary stop-flow junction having improved stability against

A dilution and mixing cartridge is provided that allows single (or multiple) dilutions of a sample with a diluent in a disposable cartridge in which a measurement, such as optical density, is made. Addition of sample to the device automatically measures the sample, and addition of diluent automatically causes a fixed ratio of sample and diluent to enter a receiving chamber, in which mixing and measurement can take place. A number of preferred embodiments are provided in which the diluent application site is located at a vertical height below the sample application site, flow directing chambers are provided to control flow of desired volumes of sample or diluted sample at the appropriate locations in the device and to direct excess sample and diluent to waste locations, or control mechanism are provided at flow directing chambers and other internal locations to verify correct operation of the device.

Dilution and mixing cartridge

A dilution and mixing cartridge comprising a sample application site, a mixing chamber in fluid receiving relationship to the sample application site, a diluent application site in fluid donating relationship to the mixing chamber, a first valve means selectively preventing flow from the diluent application site to the mixing chamber, and a mixture isolating chamber hydrostatically connected to the mixing chamber is provided along with a method for using this cartridge to sequentially dilute a sample with the same or different diluents.

Integrated serial dilution and mixing cartridge

Methods and devices are provided for carrying out activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) analysis on a whole blood sample to which no anticoagulant has been added by applying the sample to a capillary track contained in a housing, wherein the capillary track comprises sample entry and venting ports, at least one capillary track connecting the entry and venting ports, and reagents capable of initiating an APTT analysis, wherein clotting time is measured by the cessation of blood flow in the capillary track.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Michael M Gorin