Moving droplet diagnostic assay
US8586349B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2525
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention concerns a method for the detection of an analyte in a droplet of fluid comprising the steps of providing a solid phase with a hydrophobic surface comprising at least one capture zone on which at least one binding agent with affinity for the analyte is immobilized, applying said droplet to the surface of said solid phase, applying a force that makes the droplet travel along the surface of said solid phase along a predetermined path thereby allowing the droplet to repeatedly contact said binding agent on the capture zone, applying conditions wherein said analyte is allowed to bind to said binding agent and detecting a complex of analyte and binding reagent at the position of the capture zone. The effect of a moving droplet is that the reactants in the droplet are well mixed which eliminates the risk of diffusion limitation. Such advantageous mixing is not obtained with conventional assays in which the surface is continuously exposed to the liquid. The use of a droplet eliminates the need for external mixing and also circumvents the need to dilute the sample in order to obtain sufficient volume to wet a large surface area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.