Patent ID: 6403384
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for separating fluid from a biologic sample, the sample having a fluid component and a non-fluid component, the device comprising:a flat base having first and second portions, said first portion being adjacent to said second portion; and a plurality of microspheres, said microspheres being located on said first portion and in fluid communication with said second portion, said microspheres further being disposed in abutting relation and forming interstitial spaces therebetween such that the interstitial spaces connect to form a plurality of capillary channels, whereby when the microspheres are disposed in fluid communication with the biologic sample, the non-fluid component is separated from the fluid component by capillary flow of the fluid component through the capillary channels onto said second portion; said plurality of microspheres comprising a plurality of smaller microspheres interspersed among a plurality of larger microspheres, the plurality of larger microspheres being disposed in substantially abutting relation and forming interstitial spaces therebetween such that the interstitial spaces connect to form a plurality of capillary channels, the plurality of smaller microspheres being sufficiently small in size such that they occupy the interstitial spaces formed by the larger microspheres and move through the capillary channels and are carried forward by the fluid component as it, flows through the capillary channels.