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A capturing device (20) and method for use in capturing a substance in a liquid, by feeding the liquid through a capturing device (20) including: a lateral capillary flow matrix (13) and a capturing matrix (26) in fluid communication with the lateral capillary flow matrix (13) such as to produce a l

A capturing device (20) and method for use in capturing a substance in a liquid, by feeding the liquid through a capturing device (20) including: a lateral capillary flow matrix (13) and a capturing matrix (26) in fluid communication with the lateral capillary flow matrix (13) such as to produce a lateral capillary flow in the capturing matrix having a lower velocity than that in the lateral capillary flow matrix. This produces by the Bernoulli effect, a lower pressure with respect to the two lateral flows sufficient to impart transverse oscillations to the lateral flow in the capturing matrix, such oscillations driving the liquid into the interior of the capturing matrix thereby exposing its interior, rather than merely a surface thereof, to the liquid. In the described preferred embodiments, the capturing device is a biological assay device, and each substance in the liquid to be captured in the capture zone of the capturing matrix is a biological substance.

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1. A biological assay device for assaying a substance in a liquid, comprising: a housing comprising a liquid inlet,a lateral capillary flow matrix positioned within the housing,at least one liquid-transfer matrix positioned within the housing, andan absorbent material positioned within the housing;

1. A biological assay device for assaying a substance in a liquid, comprising: a housing comprising a liquid inlet,a lateral capillary flow matrix positioned within the housing,at least one liquid-transfer matrix positioned within the housing, andan absorbent material positioned within the housing; wherein: the lateral capillary flow matrix comprises a first material having a pore size ranging from 1 μm to 15 μm,the lateral capillary flow matrix has a first end located proximate the liquid inlet, and the absorbent material is located at a second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix opposite the first end,the lateral capillary flow matrix defines a lateral capillary flow path within the lateral capillary flow matrix, the lateral capillary flow path extending continuously along a length of the lateral capillary flow matrix between the first end and the second end, the lateral capillary flow matrix being configured to produce a first lateral capillary flow through said lateral capillary flow path at a first lateral flow rate; andthe at least one liquid-transfer matrix is positioned within the housing between the liquid inlet and the absorbent material, wherein: the at least one liquid transfer matrix comprises a second material having a pore size ranging from 0.1 μm to 5 μm, the pore size of the second material being less than the pore size of the first material such that the liquid-transfer matrix is configured to produce a second lateral capillary flow through said liquid-transfer matrix at a second lateral flow rate, the second lateral flow rate being lower than the first lateral flow rate;wherein: the lateral capillary flow matrix and the at least one liquid-transfer matrix are arranged within the housing such that an entire upper face or an entire under face of the liquid-transfer matrix is in contact with an upper face or a lower face of the lateral capillary flow matrix, such that capillary passageways of the at least one liquid-transfer matrix are in fluid communication with said lateral capillary flow matrix, and such thatduring lateral capillary flow of a liquid along the lateral capillary flow path of the lateral capillary flow matrix, the arrangement and lateral flow rates of the lateral capillary flow matrix and the liquid-transfer matrix cause flow of the liquid in the capillary passageways of the liquid-transfer matrix, the flow of the liquid in the liquid-transfer matrix exhibiting transverse oscillations driving the liquid into the interior of the liquid-transfer matrix, andwherein said liquid-transfer matrix is a capturing matrix defining at least one capture zone capable of capturing the substance in the liquid from the oscillations that drive the liquid into the interior of said liquid-transfer matrix. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is at a downstream end of the lateral capillary flow path. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said substance in the liquid is a biological substance to be captured in said capture zone of the capturing matrix. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said capture zone comprises a capturing molecule capable of immobilizing said biological substance in said capture zone of the capturing matrix. 5. The device of claim 3, wherein said capture zone comprises an immobile reactant to produce a solid phase reaction with said biological substance when captured in said capture zone of the capturing matrix. 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said capturing molecule is comprised in a biological component selected from the group consisting of a cell, an organelle and a tissue. 7. The device of claim 3, wherein said biological substance in said liquid is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, a polynucleotide and a carbohydrate. 8. The device of claim 3, wherein said biological substance comprises a detectable moiety or a catalytic moiety. 9. The device of claim 3, wherein said biological substance in said liquid is an organelle or a cell. 10. The device of claim 3, wherein the capture zone of the capturing matrix is capable of capturing said substance in the liquid by an affinity of said capturing matrix with respect to said substance in the liquid. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said capturing matrix is on or beneath said lateral capillary flow path of the lateral capillary flow matrix, said capturing matrix comprising a plurality of capture zones sequentially spaced along a path which is parallel to said capillary flow path. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first material is selected from glass fibers, plastic, cellulose, and nitrocellulose, the first material having a higher lateral capillary flow property with respect to said liquid than that of the second material. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the second material is selected from glass, plastic, silicone, ceramics, polymers, nylon, cellulose and nitrocellulose, the second material having a lower capillary flow property with respect to said liquid than that of the first material. 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plastic layer underlying said lateral capillary flow matrix. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is in fluid communication with an under face of said lateral capillary flow matrix and is interposed between it and said plastic layer. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is in fluid communication with an upper face of said lateral capillary flow matrix. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is in fluid communication with an upper face of said lateral capillary flow matrix, and wherein the device comprises a second liquid-transfer matrix in fluid communication with an under face of said lateral capillary flow matrix. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device further comprises a plastic layer underlying said lateral capillary flow matrix. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top wall including the liquid inlet, a bottom wall underlying said lateral capillary flow matrix, an upstream end wall at an upstream end of said lateral capillary flow path adjacent to said liquid inlet, a downstream end wall at a downstream end of said lateral capillary flow path, wherein the absorbent material is between said downstream end of the lateral capillary flow path and said downstream end wall. 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said absorbent material comprises a plurality of sections sandwiching the downstream end of said lateral capillary flow path. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein said top wall of the housing comprises ribs on its inner surface engaging the uppermost section of said absorbent material and pressing the absorbent material toward said lateral capillary flow matrix to firmly sandwich the downstream end of said lateral capillary flow path between said absorbent material sections. 22. The device of claim 19, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is interposed between the top wall of the housing and said lateral capillary flow matrix. 23. The device of claim 19, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is interposed between said lateral capillary flow matrix and the bottom wall of said housing. 24. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of inlets at the first end of said capillary flow matrix, the plurality of inlets sequentially spaced from each other in a direction from the first end toward the second end of the capillary flow matrix, the plurality of inlets being configured for introducing a plurality of liquids. 25. The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid-transfer matrix is in fluid communication with said lower face of said lateral capillary flow matrix. 26. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top wall including the liquid inlet, a bottom wall underlying said lateral capillary flow matrix, an upstream end wall at the upstream end of said lateral capillary flow path adjacent to said liquid inlet and a downstream end wall at the downstream end of said lateral capillary flow path. 27. The device of claim 1, wherein the capillary flow path is from the first end of the lateral capillary flow matrix to the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix, and wherein the lateral capillary flow through the capillary passageways of the at least one liquid transfer matrix is toward the second end of the lateral flow matrix. 28. The device of claim 1, wherein the lateral capillary flow through the capillary passageways of the at least one liquid transfer matrix transfers at least some of the liquid in the liquid transfer matrix to the lateral capillary flow matrix. 29. The device of claim 1, wherein the lateral capillary flow through the capillary passageways of the at least one liquid transfer matrix transfers all the liquid to the lateral capillary flow matrix. 30. The device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix is in contact with the absorbent material. 31. The device of claim 1, wherein the lateral capillary flow matrix is longer than the at least one liquid transfer matrix. 32. The device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix extends beyond the at least one liquid transfer matrix. 33. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid includes a first affinity molecule, and said liquid-transfer matrix is carrying a second affinity molecule having an affinity to said first affinity molecule and adapted to allow affinity interaction between said first affinity molecule and said second affinity molecule. 34. The device of claim 33, wherein said first affinity molecule is an antibody; and said second affinity molecule is an antigen. 35. The device of claim 33, wherein said first affinity molecule is a nucleic acid and second affinity molecule is a complementary nucleic acid. 36. The device of claim 33, wherein said first affinity molecule is an antigen; and second affinity molecule is an antibody. 37. The device of claim 33, wherein said first affinity molecule is a receptor; and second affinity molecule is a ligand. 38. The device of claim 33, wherein said first affinity molecule is a ligand; and second affinity molecule is a receptor. 39. The device of claim 1, wherein the capillary flow path is from the first end to the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix and wherein the lateral capillary flow through the capillary passageways of the at least one liquid-transfer matrix is toward the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix. 40. The device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is integral with the lateral capillary flow matrix. 41. The device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is a separate body in contact with the second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix. 42. The device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises a cellulose pad. 43. The device of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises glass fibers. 44. The device of claim 43, wherein the second material comprises nitrocellulose. 45. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lateral flow rate is at least twice the second lateral flow rate. 46. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lateral flow rate is at least five times the second lateral flow rate. 47. A biological assay device for use in assaying a substance in a liquid, comprising: a housing comprising a liquid inlet,a lateral capillary flow matrix positioned within the housing,at least one liquid-transfer matrix positioned within the housing, andan absorbent material positioned within the housing; wherein: the lateral capillary flow matrix comprises glass fibers,the lateral capillary flow matrix has a first end located proximate the liquid inlet, and the absorbent material is located at a second end of the lateral capillary flow matrix opposite the first end,the lateral capillary flow matrix defines a lateral capillary flow path within the lateral capillary flow matrix, the lateral capillary flow path extending continuously along a length of the lateral capillary flow matrix between the first end and the second end, the lateral capillary flow matrix being configured to produce a first lateral capillary flow through said lateral capillary flow path at a first lateral flow rate; andthe at least one liquid-transfer matrix is positioned within the housing between the liquid inlet and the absorbent material, wherein: the at least one liquid transfer matrix comprises nitrocellulose or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and has a pore size that is less than a pore size of the glass fibers in the lateral capillary flow matrix such thatthe liquid-transfer matrix is configured to produce a second lateral capillary flow through said capillary passageways in said liquid-transfer matrix at a second lateral flow rate, the second lateral flow rate being lower than the first lateral flow rate; wherein, the lateral capillary flow matrix and the at least one liquid-transfer matrix are arranged within the housing such that an entire upper face or an entire under face of the liquid-transfer matrix is in contact with an upper face or a lower face of the lateral capillary flow matrix, such that capillary passageways of the at least one liquid-transfer matrix are in fluid communication with said lateral capillary flow matrix, and such thatduring lateral capillary flow of a liquid along the lateral capillary flow path of the lateral capillary flow matrix, the arrangement and lateral flow rates of the lateral capillary flow matrix and the liquid-transfer matrix cause flow of the liquid in the capillary passageways of the liquid-transfer matrix, the flow of the liquid in the liquid-transfer matrix exhibiting transverse oscillations driving the liquid into the interior of the liquid-transfer matrix, andwherein said liquid-transfer matrix is a capturing matrix defining at least one capture zone capable of capturing the substance in the liquid from the oscillations that drive the liquid into the interior of said liquid-transfer matrix.