Claims
- 1. An analytical device for detecting a clotting or agglutinating event in a clottable or agglutinatable biological fluid comprising:
a. a capillary flow channel means through which the fluid may flow and in which the clotting or agglutinating event can occur; b. a reagent to react with the clottable or agglutinatable biological fluid to produce a clot or agglutination; and c. a control means for controlling the flow rate of the clottable or agglutinatable biological fluid and the usual appearance of the clot or agglutination.
- 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the control means is a precision woven fabric.
- 3. The analytical device according to claim 2 wherein the precision woven fabric has a mesh size of from about 105 microns to about 526 microns.
- 4. The analytical device according to claim 1 wherein the capillary channel is about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm in width, from about 0.08 to about 0.12 mm in height, and from about 5 to about 15 cm in length.
- 5. The analytical device according to claim 4 wherein the capillary channel is about 1 mm in width, about 0.1 mm in height, and about 10 cm in length.
- 6. The analytical device according to claim 1 wherein the surface energy of at least one surface of the capillary flow channel is from about 35 to about 70 dynes per cm.
- 7. The analytical device according to claim 1 wherein the reagent is carried in a reagent pad.
- 8. A method for measuring the clotting or agglutination time of a sample comprising:
a. introducing a sample into an analytical device according to claim 1;b. allowing the sample to contact the reagent and flow through the capillary flow channel forming a colored bar until clotting or agglutination occurs; c. measuring the length of the colored bar.
- 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein prothrombin time is measured.
- 10. The method according to claim 8 wherein agglutination of latex beads in a sample is measured.
- 11. In an analytical device for detecting a clotting or agglutination event, the improvement comprising detecting the event in a capillary flow channel which provides a fabric means for controlling the flow rate of the fluid.
- 12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the fabric means is a precision woven fabric.
- 13. The device according to claim 11 wherein the precision woven fabric has a mesh of from about 105 microns to about 526 microns.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims priority from provisional application No. 60/288,495, filed May 4, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
MENTION OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
[0002] This invention was made with government support under grant #lR43HL67001-01 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60288495 |
May 2001 |
US |