02069nas a2200133   4500008004100000245009700041210006900138520142200207100001501629700002001644700002401664700001601688856023101704       2001                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 6221677 - {Simultaneous} particle separation and chemical reaction0 aUnited States Patent 6221677 Simultaneous particle separation an3 aThis invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of analyte particles in a sample fluid also comprising larger particles, particularly blood. It exploits diffusion to provide simultaneous filtering of the larger particles and reaction of the analyte particles. A sample stream and a reagent stream join on the upstream end of a laminar flow reaction channel and flow in adjacent laminar streams. The reagents can be in solution or immobilized on a bead. The analyte particles diffuse from the sample stream into the reagent stream, leaving behind the larger particles in the residual sample stream. In the reagent stream the analyte particles react with reagent particles and form product particles, thereby creating a product stream. At the downstream end of the reaction channel, the residual sample stream and the product stream are divided. The product particles are then detected, preferably optically, in the product stream. Prior to detection, the product stream can undergo further filtering or separation, or can join a second reagent stream to form secondary product particles. This apparatus and method can be used to implement competitive immunoassays or sandwich immunoassays using enzymatically or fluorescently labeled immunoreagents. The apparatus and method can also be used to synthesize products, in which case two reagent streams join in the laminar flow reaction channel.1 aWu, Caicai1 aWeigl, Bernhard1 aKenny, Margaret, A.1 aYager, Paul  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=29&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2202089nas a2200145   4500008004100000245009700041210006900138260000800207520142200215100001501637700002001652700002401672700001601696856023101712       2001                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 6297061 - {Simultaneous} particle separation and chemical reaction0 aUnited States Patent 6297061 Simultaneous particle separation an  coct3 aThis invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of analyte particles in a sample fluid also comprising larger particles, particularly blood. It exploits diffusion to provide simultaneous filtering of the larger particles and reaction of the analyte particles. A sample stream and a reagent stream join on the upstream end of a laminar flow reaction channel and flow in adjacent laminar streams. The reagents can be in solution or immobilized on a bead. The analyte particles diffuse from the sample stream into the reagent stream, leaving behind the larger particles in the residual sample stream. In the reagent stream the analyte particles react with reagent particles and form product particles, thereby creating a product stream. At the downstream end of the reaction channel, the residual sample stream and the product stream are divided. The product particles are then detected, preferably optically, in the product stream. Prior to detection, the product stream can undergo further filtering or separation, or can join a second reagent stream to form secondary product particles. This apparatus and method can be used to implement competitive immunoassays or sandwich immunoassays using enzymatically or fluorescently labeled immunoreagents. The apparatus and method can also be used to synthesize products, in which case two reagent streams join in the laminar flow reaction channel.1 aWu, Caicai1 aWeigl, Bernhard1 aKenny, Margaret, A.1 aYager, Paul  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=27&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%2202256nas a2200133   4500008004100000245009600041210006900137260000800206520161100214100002001825700002201845700002401867856023101891       2000                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 6136272 - {Device} for rapidly joining and splitting fluid layers0 aUnited States Patent 6136272 Device for rapidly joining and spli  coct3 aA device and method for introducing a second laminar fluid layer to, or removing a second laminar fluid layer from, a first laminar fluid layer are provided. Each laminar fluid layer can contain two or more side by side laminar streams. The device includes a main flow channel, and at least one tributary channel in fluid connection with a bridge channel which is in fluid connection with main flow channel. The device can be formed in a single piece of material, which can be optically transparent. Optionally, the channels can be formed in a first plate, the first and optionally the second surfaces of which are sealed to a second and optionally a third plate. The second and third plates can be optically transparent to allow for optical detection and analysis. A first laminar fluid layer is introduced into the main flow channel. If a second laminar fluid layer is to be added to the first laminar fluid layer, then the former is introduced into the tributary channel, from whence it flows into the bridge channel and then into the main flow channel, where it flows below the first laminar fluid layer and diffusionally mixes with it. Preferably, the width of the main flow channel is relatively small, so that particles in an added second laminar fluid layer diffusionally mix into the first laminar fluid layer rapidly. If a second laminar fluid layer is to be removed from a first laminar fluid layer, then the latter is split into two portions: one portion continues flowing down the main flow channel and one portion flows into the bridge channel from whence it flows into the tributary channel.1 aWeigl, Bernhard1 aZebert, Diane, M.1 aKenny, Margaret, A.  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=32&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Weigl%3B+Bernhard%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22&RS=IN/%22Weigl;+Bernhard%22