초록 ▼

This invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of analyte particles in a sample fluid also comprising larger particles, particularly blood. It exploits diffusion to provide simultaneous filtering of the larger particles and reaction of the analyte particles. A sample strea

This invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of analyte particles in a sample fluid also comprising larger particles, particularly blood. It exploits diffusion to provide simultaneous filtering of the larger particles and reaction of the analyte particles. A sample stream and a reagent stream join on the upstream end of a laminar flow reaction channel and flow in adjacent laminar streams. The reagents can be in solution or immobilized on a bead. The analyte particles diffuse from the sample stream into the reagent stream, leaving behind the larger particles in the residual sample stream. In the reagent stream the analyte particles react with reagent particles and form product particles, thereby creating a product stream. At the downstream end of the reaction channel, the residual sample stream and the product stream are divided. The product particles are then detected, preferably optically, in the product stream. Prior to detection, the product stream can undergo further filtering or separation, or can join a second reagent stream to form secondary product particles. This apparatus and method can be used to implement competitive immunoassays or sandwich immunoassays using enzymatically or fluorescently labeled immunoreagents. The apparatus and method can also be used to synthesize products, in which case two reagent streams join in the laminar flow reaction channel.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A microchannel system comprising:a first laminar flow channel having an upstream end and a downstream end and having first and second sides;a primary stream inlet channel, containing a flowing primary stream, connected to said first side of said upstream end of said first laminar

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A microchannel system comprising:a first laminar flow channel having an upstream end and a downstream end and having first and second sides;a primary stream inlet channel, containing a flowing primary stream, connected to said first side of said upstream end of said first laminar flow channel;a first companion stream inlet channel, containing a flowing first companion stream, connected to said second side of said upstream end of said first laminar flow channel;a residual primary stream outlet channel, containing a flowing residual primary stream, connected to said first side of said downstream end of said first laminar flow channel;a first product stream channel, containing a flowing first product stream having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end of said product stream channel connected to said second side of said downstream end of said first laminar flow channel;a second laminar flow channel having an upstream end and a downstream end, and connected at said upstream end to said downstream end of said first product stream channel; anda second companion stream inlet channel, containing a flowing second companion stream, connected to said upstream end of said second laminar flow channel, whereby said first product stream, and said second companion stream flowing into said second laminar flow channel through said second companion stream inlet channel, flow in adjacent laminar streams in said second laminar flow channel.