Patent ID: 6387325
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
A container assembly for use in examining formed constituents which are contained in an aqueous-based biologic fluid sample, said container assembly having a chamber of known volume, said chamber being defined by a first wall, side walls, and a transparent sample-viewing portion which is disposed opposite to said first wall; a layer of an essentially wedge-shaped expandable hydrogel layer covering said chamber first wall, said expandable hydrogel layer having a stepped planar surface which faces said sample-viewing portion of said chamber, said expandable hydrogel layer being present in an amount which will cause said hydrogel to essentially fill said chamber and trap any formed sample constituents on said planar surface of the hydrogel when said hydrogel layer is expanded due to absorption of essentially all of the aqueous fraction of the fluid sample and exclusion of the formed sample constituents; and said hydrogel including a stabilizing woven scrim embedded in said gel.