Filtration device for assays

Abstract

A device and method for filtering blood is disclosed herein. The device can filter blood and attach analytes within the blood to magnetic particles. The analytes can then be strongly bound to an analyzing device by a magnetic force. The analytes can then be counted by the analyzing device and the result can be displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for analyzing a biological fluid sample comprising:
 a porous material configured to receive and filter the biological fluid resulting in a filtrate comprising a first target analyte, wherein the porous material comprises a membrane filter;   dried reagents comprising functionalized magnetic particles that react with the first target analyte,   wherein the resulting filtrate rehydrates the dry reagents allowing the magnetic particles to react with the first analyte;   an exposed surface of an integrated circuit having a sensor area, wherein the sensor area of the surface is functionalized to react with the first target analyte; and   a capillary that delivers filtrate to the surface of the integrated circuit;   wherein the integrated circuit comprises integrated conductors and integrated sensors, and   wherein sensors integrated in the integrated circuit are used to detect specifically bound magnetic particles without necessitating another detecting device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles sediment to the surface of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the biological fluid sample comprises whole blood, and wherein the filter is further configured to block blood cells in the whole blood. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the porous material, the bottom of the porous material, the inside of the capillary, or the surface of the integrated circuit comprises dried anticoagulant. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized dry magnetic particles that react with the first analyte are localized on the side of the porous material below the side receiving the biological fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a first porous material configured to receive and filter the biological fluid sample is in contact with a second porous material carrying the dry magnetic particles that react with the first target analyte. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to perform a biological assay by counting the number of magnetic particles bound to the sensor area, processing, and displaying the result. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein positive and negative controls are performed alongside the measurement of the target analyte. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the assay results can be numerically combined with on-chip calibration curves and the product can be encrypted and transmitted. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the integrated circuit comprises multiple sensor areas that are spatially segregated portions of the surface coated with different detection chemicals for the detection of multiple target analytes in parallel. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the filtrate flows through multiple unconnected capillaries to multiple unconnected sensor areas for performing more than one assay in parallel. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the filtrate from multiple filters flows through multiple unconnected capillaries to multiple unconnected sensor areas for performing more than one assay in parallel. 
     
     
         15 . A stand-alone device for analyzing a biological fluid sample comprising:
 a membrane filter configured to receive and filter the biological fluid resulting in a filtrate comprising a first target analyte;   dried reagents comprising functionalized magnetic particles that react with the first target analyte,   wherein the resulting filtrate rehydrates the dry reagents allowing the magnetic particles to react with the first analyte;   an exposed surface of an integrated circuit having a sensor area,   wherein the surface of the integrated circuit is functionalized to react with the first target analyte;   a capillary that delivers filtrate to the surface of the integrated circuit,   wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor,   wherein sensors integrated in the integrated circuit are used to detect specifically bound magnetic particles;   a digital display to report the results; and   a battery.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , the magnetic particles sediment to the surface of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the device is configured to perform a biological assay by counting the number of magnetic particles bound to the sensor area. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the integrated circuit comprises multiple sensor areas that are spatially segregated portions of the surface coated with different detection chemicals for the detection of multiple target analytes in parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the filtrate flows through multiple unconnected capillaries to multiple unconnected sensor areas for performing more than one assay in parallel.