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US006939450B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,939,450 B2
Karinka et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 6,2005
(54) DEVICE HAVING A FLOW CHANNEL
(75) Inventors: Shridhara Alva Karinka, Lowell, MA (US); Mark E. Tess, Merrimack, NH (US)
(73) Assignee: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 65 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/266,548
(22) Filed: Oct. 8, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2004/0067166 Al Apr. 8, 2004
(51) Int. CI.7 G01N 27/327; G01N 21/00;
BOIL 3/00; BOIL 3/02
(52) U.S. CI 204/409; 204/403.01; 204/403.14;
204/409; 422/58; 422/99
(58) Field of Search 422/55-58, 82.01-82.03,
422/100, 99; 204/409, 403.01, 403.14, 403.03
(56) References Cited
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 0261531 Al * 3/1988 G01N/21/07
EP 0 359 831 3/1990
EP 1 074 832 2/2001
EP 1 167 538 1/2002
EP 1 195 441 4/2002
JP 01-134242 A * 5/1989 G01N/27/30
WO WO 99/58245 Al * 11/1999 BOIL/3/00
WO 01/25138 4/2001
WO 0173124 10/2001
WO 01/73395 10/2001
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Pages 93-96 of vol. 9 of the 4th edition of the Kirk-othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology John Wiley & Sons 1994.*
JPO abstract of 01-134242 A (Kawaguri et al.).*
Pressure—Sensitive Adhesives and Products, Encyclopedia
of Polymer Science and Engineering, vol. 13, John Wiley &
Sons, 1988, pp. 345-368.
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Alex Noguerola
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David L. Weinstein
(57) ABSTRACT
A device having a flow channel, wherein at least one flow-terminating interface is used to control the flow of liquid in the flow channel. The flow-terminating interface prevents the flow of the liquid beyond the interface. In one aspect, the invention provides a sensor, such as, for example, a biosensor, in the form of a strip, the sensor being suitable for electrochemical or optical measurement. The sensor comprises a base layer and a cover layer, and the base layer is separated from the cover layer by a spacer layer. The base layer, cover layer, and spacer layer define a flow channel into which a liquid sample is drawn therein and flows therethrough by means of capillary attraction. The flow of the sample is terminated by a flow-terminating interface positioned in the flow channel.
23 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
