U.S. patent number 3,876,380 [Application Number 05/349,511] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-08 for mixing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation. Invention is credited to Bruce John Helriegel.
United States Patent |
3,876,380 |
Helriegel |
April 8, 1975 |
Mixing device
Abstract
A device for mixing test reagents comprising a curved, concave
test surface rotatably mounted on an inclined support is described.
The reagents are mixed in the cavity of the concave test surface
with a predetermined circular motion which results in uniform
mixing of the reagents.
Inventors: |
Helriegel; Bruce John (Chatham,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
Ortho Pharmaceutical
Corporation (Raritan, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23372706 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/349,511 |
Filed: |
April 9, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/220; 422/566;
422/547; 422/940; 436/807 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F
13/0016 (20130101); B01L 3/508 (20130101); B01F
2215/0037 (20130101); Y10S 436/807 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01L
3/00 (20060101); B01F 13/00 (20060101); B01l
003/00 (); B01f 009/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;23/259,23B,253R,292
;259/81R,89 ;195/140 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolk; Morris O.
Assistant Examiner: Turk; Arnold
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lambert; Benjamin F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for mixing test reagents which comprises a test surface
having at least one concave portion for the receipt of said
reagents and support means for supporting said test surface, said
support means having at least one planar surface and fixedly
supporting said test surface in a position such that the angle
formed between the planar surface of the support means and the
horizontal is no less than 5.degree. and no greater than
45.degree., said test surface being mounted on said support means
so as to be rotatable around an axis central of and normal to said
test surface.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein mechanical means for rotating the
test surface are additionally present.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the angle formed between the
planar surface of the support means and the horizontal is
15.degree..
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the angle formed between the
planar surface of the support means and the horizontal is
45.degree..
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the concave portion of the test
surface is a semi-spheroid.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the concavity of the semi-spheroid
has a depth of between 3.08 mm. and 7.30 mm.
Description
The present invention relates to a device for mixing reagents. More
particularly, the invention relates to a dial turntable device for
performing immunochemical and serodiagnostic test reactions which
utilizes a predetermined circular motion to bring about uniform
mixing of the reagents. The uniform mixing of the test reagents
results in an easy, reproducible reaction which enables the user to
achieve a more accurate reading of the test result.
Immunochemical and serodiagnostic test reactions are most commonly
laboratory tests which have as their objective the determination of
the presence or absence of antigens or antibodies in body fluids,
such as, for example serum and urine. The results of the
determination are used as an aid in the diagnosis of certain
physiological or pathological conditions in humans and animals. The
immunochemical reaction may result in the formation of a
precipitate at the end point, in which case it is known as a
precipitation reaction. Where the reaction is between substances
distributed in a liquid medium and at least one of the substances
is a solid which becomes agglomerated, the reaction is known as an
agglutination reaction. Tests for blood group, pregnancy,
mononucleosis and similar phenomena are just a few of the
immunochemical tests which may be carried out in this manner. The
difficulty encountered with most of these tests, however, is that a
trained eye is usually required to determine unequivocally whether
a proper test reading has been obtained.
It is known in the art that certain immunochemical tests, such as
pregnancy tests, for example, can be carried out on slides wherein
the end point is determined by the presence or absence of
agglutination. As indicated above, immunochemical tests carried out
in this manner often result in inconclusive readings due to the
difficulties encountered in determining the end point.
In U.S. Application Ser. No. 328,219, filed Jan. 31, 1973, a method
is described wherein the immunochemical tests are carried out on a
concave test surface which, in many cases results in the formation
of an easily discernible pattern at the end point which can be
easily detected even by an untrained eye. This is particularly true
in the case of the pregnancy test where a mosaic like pattern forms
at the end point.
In all of the immunochemical tests involving agglutination, the
reagents are mixed on the slide, usually with a rod or spatula
etc., the slide is gently rocked and the presence or absence of
agglutination is determined. The success of these tests often
depends upon the extent to which the reactants are mixed. An
inconclusive test reading may result from improper mixing of the
reagents as well as other factors. Therefore, in order to obtain
uniform results, it is desirable to have a means by which the
reagents can be uniformly mixed each time so that the results
obtained will be reproducible and, as a result, more reliable.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The uncertainty involved in obtaining a proper test reading when
performing immunochemical and serodiagnostic test reactions, due to
improper mixing of the reagents, has now been largely eliminated by
the present invention. By means of the present invention, a mixing
device is provided which achieves uniform mixing of the test
reagents via the predetermined motion of a curved, concave test
surface. The reagents are mixed on a concave surface, which is
rotatably mounted on a support, and the surface is rotated in a
circular motion so as to form a wave traversing 360.degree.. This
circular motion results in uniform mixing of the reagents
ultimately producing an end point which is easily discernible and
reproducible.
The mixing device, which is the subject of this invention, is
comprised of a curved, concave test surface for the receipt of the
reagents, and means for supporting the test surface in a position
such that the angle formed between the planar surface of the
support means and the horizontal is no less than 5.degree. and no
greater than 45.degree.. When an angle greater than 45.degree. or
less than 5.degree. is employed, generally poor or ambiguous test
results are obtained. Optimum results are obtained when the planar
surface of the support means is maintained at an angle of about
15.degree. with the horizontal. The cavity in the test surface may
be eccentrically located from the axis of rotation of the test
surface. The curved test surface is mounted on the support means so
as to be rotatable around its axis. The test surface is rotated on
the support means in a circular fashion and the angle of rotation
causes the liquid medium to form a wave-like pattern which results
in thorough mixing of the reagents.
Any means which can be used to support the test surface such that
the test surface may rotate freely will serve as the support means.
For example, the support means may comprise a planar surface having
a raised portion set at an angle between 5.degree. and 45.degree.
with the base. The raised portion should be adapted so that the
test surface can be rotatably mounted thereon. The test surface may
be mounted in the raised portion of the planar surface. Any
convenient way for mounting the test surface on the support may be
employed. It is only necessary that the angle formed between the
support means and the horizontal be no greater than 45.degree. and
no less than 5.degree..
Although the test surface has been described as being rotatably
mounted on a support, in another embodiment of the invention the
test surface is comprised of a single unit such as, for example, a
portion of a sphere. The sphere like test surface is then manually
or mechanically rotated at the desired angle on a hard surface such
as, a desk, for example, in order to mix the reagents.
The dimensions of the curved, concave test surface are not
critical. The surface need only be curved sufficiently to retain
the test reagents. The test surface may be any shape so long as it
contains a cavity for the receipt of the test reagents. It is
preferred, however, to use a semispheroidal test surface. The
concavity in the test surface may occupy all or only a portion of
the semispheroid. In one embodiment of the invention the test is
carried out directly in the cavity of the test surface.
Alternatively, a slide or disc, such as a watch glass, for example,
which is adapted to fit into the curvature of the test surface, may
be used for receipt of the test reagents. When such a slide is
employed, the slide rests in the cavity of the test surface while
the surface is rotated. It is advantageous to use a slide or disc
for the reaction since the slide or disc can be disposed of after
each test, thus allowing the test surface to be used
indefinitely.
The dimensions of the disposable, concave slide are not critical;
the cavity need only be large enough to receive the particular
reagents employed. Both glass and plastic materials may be employed
for the disposable slide. Where a plastic material is employed, the
surface of the plastic should be wettable. Suitable plastic
materials for this purpose are general-purpose styrene and acrylic
resins. Other materials such as waxed paper or other specially
treated paper products, for example, also may be employed as the
test surface. The test surface and the support may be made from
various materials known in the art. For example, any of the known
plastics, cardboard, metals, etc. would be suitable materials for
this purpose.
Slides having varying dimensions and concavities may be employed.
The dimensions of the particular slide employed will depend upon
the particular test to be made and the amount of material to be
employed. It is convenient, however, to employ a watch glass having
a diameter between about 40 mm. and 65 mm. and a concavity ranging
from about 3.08 mm. to about 7.30 mm. The particular dimensions of
the slide employed are not critical. Similar dimensions may be
employed conveniently for the cavity in the test surface where a
disposable slide is not employed.
The test surface may optionally contain means for effecting
rotation of the surface in a circular motion. Such means may
consist of a raised knob suitable for guiding the disc with the
finger or some instrument. The means may also consist of a small
concavity in the test surface, such as a finger hole, for example,
suitable for guiding the slide in a circular motion.
The support surface may also include means for supporting the
equipment used in carrying out the test. Such equipment may consist
of a liquid dispenser such as an eye dropper, for example, and/or a
container for the reagents to be employed. These means may consist
of a concavity in the body of the support large enough to hold the
dispenser and the container for the reagent. Neither means,
however, is essential to the operation of the device.
Although the rotatable test surface may be rotated manually, it is
also contemplated that the surface may be rotated by mechanical
means, such as, for example, by a shaft driven by a motor attached
to the support.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the
drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial view in cross section of the mixing device of
FIG. 1 taken on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial view in cross section of the mixing device of
FIG. 3 taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross section of the mixing device and illustrates the
test surface mounted so as to be operated mechanically.
Referring specifically now to the drawings, the mixing device,
illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2, comprises a test surface, 1,
rotatably mounted on a support, 3, such that the angle formed
between the planar surface of the support means and the horizontal
is no less than 5.degree. and no greater than 45.degree.. The test
surface has a curved, concavity, 2, for receipt of the reagents. A
means by which the test surface can be turned manually is depicted,
as a concavity, 5, in the plane of the test surface. It is to be
understood, however, that any suitable means may be employed for
turning the test surface.
Finger holes, 6, in FIG. 1 are not essential to the operation of
the test surface. They are generally employed in those cases where
a disposable slide or disc is employed in conjunction with the test
surface and are useful for easy removal of the slide or disc.
In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
test surface, 1, is rotatably mounted over the support, 3. Although
a support resting on three legs is shown, it is understood that the
particular support means employed is not critical as long as the
axis of the test surface forms an angle no greater than 85.degree.
and not less than 45.degree. with the horizontal, 4.
In FIG. 5, the test surface, 1, is mounted on the surface of a
support, 3, and is mechanically rotated by means of a motor, 7. In
this particular embodiment, the motor is operated by a switch, 8,
and the test surface, 1, is rotated by means of a shaft, 10,
through the opening, 9. Although a motor is shown in FIG. 5, it
should be understood that any conventional means may be employed to
effect mechanical rotation of the test surface.
In utilizing the mixing device, the user will place the reagents
and the sample of body fluid in the concavity of the test surface.
Primary mixing of reagents is done manually, by means of a mixing
stick, for example. The immunochemical reaction is then carried out
by turning the test surface in a circular motion for the prescribed
number of revolutions. The exact number of revolutions employed
will depend upon the particular test to be carried out. For
example, when the test for pregnancy is carried out on the test
surface, best results are obtained when the surface is rotated
about 25 times for about half a minute. The reaction mixture is
then observed to determine whether the result is positive or
negative.
It is also contemplated that the test surface may contain two or
more concavities for the purpose of carrying out multiple test
reactions.
* * * * *