The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 20, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 16, 2008
Brandon T. Johnson, Cambridge, MA (US);
Tom Zappia, Somerville, MA (US);
David A. Vogler, Rochester, NY (US);
Brandon T. Johnson, Cambridge, MA (US);
Tom Zappia, Somerville, MA (US);
David A. Vogler, Rochester, NY (US);
Boston Microfluidics, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems to perform point-of-care, user-initiated fluidic assays, using substantially self-contained, portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems. Exemplary assays include diagnostic assays and chemical detection assays. Diagnostic assays may include, without limitation, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA), and may include one or more sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnostic assays. An exemplary assay system includes a housing having one or more fluid chambers, a fluid controller system to dispense fluid from the one or more fluid chambers, and a user-initiated actuator to control the fluid controller system. The actuator may be configured to move fluid controllers from functionally closed positions to functionally open positions, to control fluid flow from the fluid chambers. The fluid controller system may be configured to dispense fluids serially, and may be configured to mix a plurality of fluids. The housing may include one or more fluid paths amongst the fluid chambers and/or between the fluid chambers and an assay portion, and the fluid controller system may be configured to serially align fluid chamber outlets with corresponding fluid paths. The user-initiated actuator system may include an external user-operated trigger mechanism to initiate the actuator system. The actuator system may include a mechanical actuator system, and may include a compressible spring actuator system. The assay apparatus may include a display window to view assay results. Exemplary methods of preparing portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems, and methods of using portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems are disclosed.