Patent ID: 6113855
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
A device for use in an assay procedure, comprising:a generally flat base, the base including at least one proximal region and at least one distal region, said at least one proximal region including a pair of opposite lateral walls and a floor, said at least one distal region including a pair of opposite lateral walls and a floor;a generally flat lid, the lid including a lower surface;at least one proximal region channel in said at least one proximal region defined by said opposite lateral walls of the base in the at least one proximal region, said floor in the at least one proximal region, and said lower surface of said lid;at least one distal region channel in said at least one distal region in fluid communication with said at least one proximal region channel at a junction, said at least one distal region channel defined by said pair of opposite lateral walls in the at least one distal region, said floor in the at least one distal region, and said lower surface of said lid;an array of capillarity inducing structures having lateral surfaces located in said at least one distal region channel and spaced from said junction,wherein the at least one proximal region channel adapted to induce an effective capillarity in the vertical direction by the floor of the base and the lower surface of the lid, and the at least one distal region channel adapted to induce an effective capillarity in a horizontal direction by the lateral surfaces of the capillarity inducing structures so as to cause a fluid to flow between the proximal region and the distal region.