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Publication Number
US-9168526-B2
Publication Date
2015-10-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A hinged cap for engaging a housing of a diagnostic device comprises a central body; two arms extending from opposing sides of one end of said central body, said arms being substantially parallel; each of said arms comprising a cap hinge member for engaging a housing hinge member on said housing, wherein said cap hinge member and said housing hinge member define a hinge axis around which said cap is pivotable between an open and a closed position with respect to said housing.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a diagnostic device for assaying a biological sample that includes a housing and a hinged cap for engaging the housing. The hinged cap includes a central body and two substantially parallel flexible arms extending from opposing sides of one end of the central body, and each arm comprises a cap hinge member for engaging a corresponding housing hinge member on the housing. The cap and housing hinge members define a hinge axis around which the cap is pivotable between a first open position, a closed position, and a second open position different from the first open position and beyond the closed position with respect to the housing.
The housing defines a sample flow channel with an opening at a proximal end of the housing, and the opening is protected by the cap when the cap is in the closed position and exposed when the cap is in the first or second open position. The housing further comprises a diagnostic membrane in fluid communication with the sample flow channel. In this configuration, the diagnostic membrane is enclosed by the housing, and the housing has two hinge members disposed on opposing sides of the housing.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00025, and they present two main inventive feature sets. Both claims cover a diagnostic device in which a hinged cap pivots about a hinge axis between a first open position, a closed position, and a second open position beyond the closed position relative to the housing.
Hinged cap defining hinge axis for three pivot positions
a hinged cap for engaging the housing, the hinged cap comprising a central body; two arms extending from opposing sides of one end of said central body, said arms being substantially parallel; each of said arms comprising a cap hinge member for engaging a corresponding housing hinge member on said housing; wherein said cap and housing hinge members define a hinge axis around which said cap is pivotable in order between a first open position, a closed position and a second open position different from said first open position and beyond said closed position with respect to said housing.
Proximal sample-flow opening protected in closed position and exposed in open positions
the housing defining a sample flow channel with an opening at a proximal end of said housing, wherein said opening is protected by said cap when said cap is in the closed position and said opening is exposed when said cap is in the first or second open position.
Diagnostic membrane in fluid communication with sample flow channel
said housing further comprising a diagnostic membrane in fluid communication with said sample flow channel.
Housing enclosing diagnostic membrane with hinge members on opposing sides
a housing enclosing the diagnostic membrane, the housing defining a sample flow channel with an opening in a proximal end of said housing for applying a biological sample to the membrane and comprising two housing hinge members disposed on opposing sides of the housing; and a cap for engaging the housing, the cap comprising a central body, two flexible arms extending from opposing sides of one end of said central body, said arms being substantially parallel, each of said arms comprising a cap hinge member for engaging one of said housing hinge members on said housing; wherein said cap hinge members and said housing hinge members define a hinge axis around which said cap is pivotable in order between a first open position, a closed position and a second open position different from said first open position and beyond said closed position with respect to said housing.
Claim clm-00001 further specifies that the cap protects the proximal opening to the sample flow channel when closed and exposes it in the open positions, while also requiring a diagnostic membrane in fluid communication with the sample flow channel. Claim clm-00025 requires a housing enclosing the diagnostic membrane and defining the sample flow channel opening for applying a biological sample, with housing hinge members on opposing sides and cap hinge members on substantially parallel flexible arms engaging them to define the hinge axis pivot.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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