Claims
- 1. A method for preparing a medical diagnostic reagent device, comprising the steps of
a) providing a non-absorbent substrate, having on its surface at least one hydrophilic target area, b) providing from a nonimpact print head onto a point within the target area a pulsed stream of microdroplets of a diagnostic reagent liquid. c) moving the stream relative to the substrate, and d) repeating steps b) and c) at least enough times to provide a substantially uniform layer of the liquid over the target area.
- 2. The method of claim 1, in which the substrate comprises a substantially planar sheet.
- 3. The method of claim 1, in which the substrate comprises a thermoplastic sheet.
- 4. The method of claim 1, in which each of the at least one target areas has a water contact angle of no more than about 60°.
- 5. The method of claim 1, in which the print head is a thermal ink-jet print head.
- 6. The method of claim 1, in which the reagent liquid comprises thromboplastin.
- 7. The method of claim 2, in which the stream travels in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate, and the stream is moved relative to the substrate by moving the substrate in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of stream travel.
- 8. The method of claim 1, in which the stream passes through a hole in a sheet that is positioned between the dispenser and substrate.
- 9. The method of claim 8, in which the sheet has a hydrophobic surface that faces the dispenser.
- 10. The method of claim 9, in which the reagent comprises a colorant.
- 11. A diagnostic reagent device for measuring an analyte concentration or characteristic of a biological fluid, including a non-absorbent substrate comprising
a) a sample application area for accepting a sample of the biological fluid for analysis and b) a predetermined hydrophilic reagent area, onto which has been applied, by nonimpact printing, a diagnostic reagent liquid that interacts with the sample to cause in the sample a physically-measurable change that can be related to the analyte concentration or characteristic of the fluid.
- 12. The device of claim 11, in which the sample application area and reagent area substantially coincide.
- 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising means for conveying the sample from the application area to the reagent area.
- 14. The device of claim 11, in which the sample application area is hydrophilic.
- 15. The device of claim 11, in which the substrate comprises a substantially transparent planar sheet.
- 16. The device of claim 11, in which the substrate comprises a substantially transparent thermoplastic sheet.
- 17. The device of claim 11, in which the reagent liquid comprises thromboplastin.
- 18. The device of claim 11, in which the reagent liquid comprises a colorant.
- 19. The device of claim 13, in which the means for conveying the sample from the application area to the reagent area comprises a top layer, separated from the substrate by an intermediate layer that has a through hole and adjoining channel cut into it, the top layer, intermediate layer, and substrate forming a bladder that, when compressed, and released causes in the channel a reduced pressure that draws blood into the reagent area.
- 20. The device of claim 19, in which the top layer has a hydrophobic surface facing the substrate, at least in the channel and reagent area.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/333,765, filed Jun. 15, 1999.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60093421 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09454196 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
10461219 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09333765 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09454196 |
Dec 1999 |
US |