MXPA96001831A - Best sampling card - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved sample card. The improved card, commonly used in biochemical analyzes, achieves high sample source capacity and improved fluid flow, including by a plurality of transverse channels that conduct fluid flow of samples along the front and back surfaces of the card. High bubble traps are provided, as well as integral interruption slots to sense the position and alignment of the card. A bevelled guide edge facilitates insertion

Description

"CARD FOR SAMPLES IMPROVED" GAUSAHABIENTE: bíoMérieux Vitek, Inc. NATIONALITY: NORTH AMERICAN DOMICILE: 595 ANGLUM DRIVE, HAZELWOOD, MISSOURI 63042, E. U. A INVENTOR: RAYMOND E. O'BEAR NATIONALITY: NORTH AMERICAN DOMICILE: 89 CATALPA, GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS 62040, E. U. A INVENTOR: BRUNO COLÍN NACIONALIDAD: NORTH AMERICAN DOMICILE: 23 CHEMIN DES GARENNES, MARCY L'ETOILE 69280, E. U. A.

INVENTOR: GARRY R. TEGELER NATIONALITY: NORTH AMERICAN DOMICILE: 918 TOWNHOUSE LA E, HAZELWOOD, MISSOURI 63042, E. U. A INVENTOR: JOHN STAPLES NATIONALITY: NORTH AMERICAN DOMICILE: 1295 BLUEBIRD DRIVE, FLORISSANT, MISSOURI 63031, E. U. A CARD FOR IMPROVED SAMPLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an improved sample card for analyzing biological or other samples.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Biotacards have been used to analyze blood or other biological samples in a spectroscopic or other automatic reading machine. Said machines receive a small bi-card, barely the size of a card, in which biological tactives, nutrients or other material are deposited and sealed, before injecting patient samples.

The bi-card contains the reagents and receives the samples from the patients in a series of small sources, formed on the card in rows and columns and sealed, usually with tape on both sides. The biomarkers are filled with sample material from the patient through fine hydraulic channels formed in the card. It may be allowed to grow microorganisms in the samples or allow reactions to proceed, usually for a period of up to several hours, although the period varies with the type of bacteria or other substance being analyzed and which sample is used.

After incubation, the samples contained in the sources are placed in front of a laser, fluorescent light or other source of illumination. The content of the sample in a given source can then be deduced in accordance with the readings on the spectrum, intensity or other characteristics of the transmitted or reflected radiation, since the culture of the different bacteria or other agents leaves distinctive signatures related to the turbidity, density, bioproducts, coloration, fluorescence and so on. Bi-cards and reading machines of this type in general for use in these biological applications can be seen, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,318,994; 4,118,280; 4,116,775; 4,038,151; 4,018,652; and 3,957,583.

Despite the overall success of the biomarkers in this area, there is a current desire to improve the performance of these cards and the readings of their samples. It is, for example, an advantage to print more reaction sources on a given card, so that a greater variety of reactions and therefore card discrimination can be achieved. A given installation may have only one of these machines or it may be pressed for continuous analysis of samples from many patients, such as in a large hospital. Carrying out as many Reaction Identifications as possible of each sample is desirable, allowing for greater overall performance.

However, biotags that have been commercially exploited have often been limited to a total of 30 sample sources (or 45 sources in some designs). By Compatibility with existing reading machines, the cards generally can not be enlarged beyond a certain standard profile (just 3 Vi. "Per 2V"). The total capacity of sources as a consequence has not grown beyond these levels, limiting the performance of the machines.

It has also been the case that the total number of reaction sources on a given card has increased, while the size of the card has remained constant, the sources have necessarily been formed progressively closer together. With the sources of samples stacking each other on the card, it has become more likely that the sample contained in one source may travel to the next source, to contaminate the second source. The threat of increased contamination comes into play especially when the capacity of the card's sources increases beyond the 30 sources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is consequently an objective of the invention to provide a bi-card having an increased number of sample sources. & ~ Another objective of the invention is to provide a bi-card with greater capacity, still maintaining the total sizes of the standard cards.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a bi-card that can be loaded with samples quickly and easily and with a minimum of sample corruption.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bi-card with an improved disposition of injection bubbles that rise during the loading of samples.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a bi-card that increases the effective distance of fluid flow between adjacent sources, reducing source-source contamination.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a bi-card with a better, smoother and more reliable flow of fluids through the card.

The invention that achieves these and other objectives is an improved bi-card that has a significantly improved sample source capacity, easily reaching 45 sources and reaching 64 sources and possibly more. The bi-card of the invention also provides carefully structured flow channels that improve fluid flow, reduce bubble formation while improving the disposal of any bubbles that are in fact formed by specially designed bubble traps. ßr "The biomarket of the invention also provides improved security against contamination from source to source, in part by increasing the effective distance that samples in adjacent sample sources must travel to corrupt surrounding sites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which like parts are labeled with similar numbers. The drawings are briefly described in the definition. • Figure 1 illustrates an improved bi-card according to the invention, in a planar front view.

Figure 2 illustrates the improved bi-card according to the invention, in a planar posterior view.

Figure 3 illustrates the improved bi-card according to the invention, in a view, of the upper edge. F Figure 4 illustrates the improved bi-card according to the invention, in a view of the lower edge.

Figure 5 illustrates the improved bi-card according to the invention, in a side edge view.

Figure 6 illustrates the improved bi-card according to the invention, in a view of the opposite lateral end.

Figure 7 illustrates a sample source with the associated fill channel and the bubble trap, in accordance with the improved bi-card of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DUCTS 'BT A preferred exemplary of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 through 7. This exemplary provides an improved biotack 100, which has a regularly rectangular shape and standard 110 fountains, each of the which receives a sample, for example a biological sample drawn from blood, other fluids, tissue or other material of a patient, for spectroscopic analysis or some other automatic. The biological sample can be a direct sample of the patient or a sample of the patient that is extracted, diluted, suspended or treated in some other way, in solution or otherwise. Other types of sample, including doses of antibiotics or other material, can also be entered for analysis. It will be understood that capacities from sources other than 64 can be used. The 100 is generally used in a horizontal orientation to the floor.

In terms of material, the bi-card can be made of polystyrene, PET or any other suitable plastic material or other material. The bi-card 100 can be forged during its manufacture with a soft material, so that the crystalline rigidity and resulting tendency to break or crack is reduced. The bi-card 100 for example can be manufactured from a polystyrene blend, approximately 90% or more, together with a butyl rubber additive to make the card a little more flexible and resistant to damage. The "ß card 100 can also be altered with coloring agents, for example titanium oxide to produce a white color, when desired.

The biotache 100 of the invention can be used in the identification and / or enumeration of any number of microorganisms, such as for example bacterial and / or other biological agents. Several bacteria lend themselves to spectroscopic, fluorescent and similar analysis after incubation, as is known in the art. The transmission and osorption of light is affected by the turbidity, density and colorimetric characteristics of the sample. The fluorescent reactions can also be carried out independently or together with spectroscopic or different measurements. If the fluorescent data is put together, the use of a coloring agent in the biotache 100 is preferred, since an opaque card reduces or eliminates the dispersion of fluorescent emissions in the card, as can occur with a translucent material, other types of detection and analyzes can be made on the biotache 100, including tests of susceptibility of microorganisms to antibiotics of different types and in different concentrations, so that the biotache 100 is a general purpose instrument.

To receive the flow of samples, the bi-card 100 includes a port or filled space 120 for admission of the sample into a right upper corner of the card 100, placed on the peripheral end of the card. The sample sources of the card 100 contain dry biological reagents that are placed in their place previously in the sources, by means of evaporative, freeze drying or others, before being dissolved in the solution with the sample of the patient injected for its analysis. Each of the sources ß Sede hold a deposit of a different reagent, to identify different biological agents, if desired.

The intake port 120 receives the tip of a fluid needle and related assembly (illustrated schematically as 130), through which the sample fluid or other solution that is present to dissolve the biological reagent as it is injected, under a Vacuum suction on the biotache 100 (normally .7 - .9 PSIA), and then released at atmospheric pressure. The injection port 120 includes a small feed reservoir 140 formed slightly like a rectangular hole through the card, which receives the incoming flow and acts as a flow regulator.

The fluid (patient sample or other solution) enters through the intake port 120, meets in the entry tank 140 and travels along the first distribution channel 150, placed on the front or front side of the card 100. The first distribution channel 150 consists of a relatively long channel formed in the surface of the card 100, which extends substantially across the width of the card and can have a cross section of about .1 - .2 mm2. The first distribution channel 150 is derived in int Fervalos along its length by a series of parallel fillings or channels 160, which generally descend from the channel 150 to the sample sources 110 in each of the eight illustrated columns. When the sample is injected into the card, a small segment of the tip of the sample can be pinched or heat sealed and left in place at port 120, acting as a sealant plug. wf The filling channels 160 are relatively short channels (which may be linked) that extend downwardly from the first distribution channel 140 within the respective sample sources 110 placed in the first row of the card 100 and having a section cross section of approximately .1 - .2 mm2.

It will be appreciated that each of the filling channels 160 descend to and enter the sample sources 110 at an angle, which results in the natural flow of the sample fluid down through the filling channels 160 by gravity and resistance to small pieces of undissolved material float back to the flow circuit. When the sample fluid actually enters the source 110 and the fluid fills the source by the action of gravity and a vortex-like flow effect within that source. As well, any of the filling channels 160, as illustrated schematically in Figure 7, as well as other flow channels that are connected in the invention can preferably be formed in full radius style, that is, as a semicircular conduit, in instead of a square channel like in other previous designs. It has been discovered by the inventors that the full-radius characteristic reduces friction and turbulence of the flow, improving all the more the performance of the bi-card 100. F Each of the sample sources 110 in the first and the other rows includes an associated bubble trap 170, connected to the sample source 110 in an upper corner of the source and placed at a height slightly above the source on the surface of the card. As illustrated in Figure 7, each bubble trap 170 is connected to its respective source by a short connecting conduit of the trap 180, formed as a hollow passage partially inside the card and forming a driving path for the operator. trapped gaseous bubbles that may have formed in, or in connection with, the source 110 during the operation of the injection, by bacterial reaction or other biological reason, or in any other way. The bubble trap 170 does not pass through the card completely, but consists of a depression or source of a slightly cylindrical shape, with a rounded lower contour and a volume of approximately 4.2 mm3 in the illustrated example.

'W? Because the bubble trap 170 is placed in an elevated position on each respective source 110, any gaseous bubble will have a tendency to rise and will be trapped in the depression of the trap 170. With the gaseous waste directed towards the bubble trap 170 , the analytical readings in the biological sample can be done with more reliability, since the spreading and other corruption of the reading of the microbial radiation by the gas is reduced or eliminated.

It will also be understood in light of the following, the two-sided nature of the former bubble traps of cards penetrating through the card, thus eliminating the possibility of surface channels being routed in their vicinity.

In addition to the introduction of the fluid through the path of the first distribution channel 150, the fluid also travels to sources below the first row of sources through other directions. More specifically, the intake port 120 also connects # a second distribution channel 190 formed on the opposite or rear surface of biotagge 100, the second distribution channel 190 also leads in the opposite direction of the entry tank 140. The second distribution channel 190 also extends substantially along the width of the card 100, but on the back surface of the card. The second distribution channel 190 has a cross-sectional area of approximately .2 - .3 mm2.

The second distribution channel 190 is derived on each of the eight illustrated columns of the sample sources by a third of branches or additional distribution channels 200. Each of the derivation thirds 200 contains three relatively short connecting channels which they lead down from the second distribution channel to a set of three transverse channels 200 which in turn are connected to filling channels of additional sources 200, forming a short link to the three additional respective sample sources 110.

However, the filling channels 220 deliver the fluid to the sample sources from the opposite side of the card 100, ie the back, creating a different flow circuit that extends from the input port 120. This is, this path involves the second distribution channel on the back surface of the card, through the card body in the form of transverse channels 210, then to connection fill channels 220 that deliver the sample to source 110 (again in an inclined angle, providing gravity resistance to the entry of waste).

The sample sources that the fluid receives from the second channel circuit < ßfensversal, as the sample sources that receive the fluid from the (front plane) first distribution channel, also have bubble traps 170 related to them, in the same general configuration as the higher sources.

The bi-card 100 therefore includes four rows per eight columns of sample sources constructed by connection channels through the first and second distribution channels. This provides a set of 32 sample sources. In addition, the adjacent source set, which makes the 32 remaining sources for the total of 64, is also deployed along the underside of the card body using cross channels.

More specifically, a third distribution channel is in fluid connection with the inlet port 120, but follows a generally vertical path downwardly from the port to a third transverse distribution channel 240, placed in a lower right section of the card 100. The third distribution channel 230 and its corresponding third distribution transverse channel 240 have slightly larger cross sections than the first two distribution channels and their transverse channels 210, to accommodate a greater fluid flow for a greater total number of destination sources (32, against 8 and 24, respectively).

The fluid flows down through the third distribution channel 230, into the third transverse distribution channel 240 and then separates into two subchannels. The first sub-channel 250 in the third distribution channel 230, placed on the back side of the card 100, is a channel the width extending along the lower base of the card, having a cross-section of approximately .2 - .3 mm2. Going up from the first sub-channel 250 is another set of third leads 260, which generally resemble the first tercia 200 but which extends upwards from the first sub-channel 230, instead of downwards.

However, the third of leads 260 performs the same basic function, delivering the fluid to another set of cross channels 270, identical to the "backward" channels 210. The cross channels 270 in turn lead through the body of the card , that is, on the front of the card, to connect the filling channels 280, and the sources 110. The filling channels 280 also enter the sample sources 110 at an inclined angle, from above.

The last fluid flow path is the second sub-channel 290, which leads outside the third transverse distribution channel 240 along the front of the card 100, generally horizontally or otherwise. The second sub-channel 290 is connected to the last (eight), lower row of eight sample sources 110 by another set of vertical connecting conduits 300, single conduits that are connected to single-ended terminals. The conduits 300 are generally in a dog-like leg structure, enter the source at a slightly inclined angle and the associated sources, each also including an associated bubble trap 170.

It can thus be seen that by using transverse channels penetrating the card body 110, together with carefully distributed links through a plurality of distribution channels, the valuable surface area of the invention is released on the card, allowing that the necessary connection channels are divided between the front and back surfaces of the card.

The fluid flow paths disposed throughout the card 100, including both the front and back surfaces, also result in a longer linear travel of flow fluid than in conventional cards. This leads to the significant advantage that the possibility of contamination between sources is reduced. The distance between source and source made in illustrated exemplary Wß reaches approximately 35 mm, significantly more than the 12 mm or so of several previous card designs.

The inventors have also observed that the rate of contamination between sources varies with square of the linear distance, so that the elongated paths significantly increase the integrity of the readings in the card. The contamination itself is a function of simple mixing (density of the solution coming out of the sources) and liquid molecular diffusion, which lose thrust through the cross sections of the relatively thin channels in various sections of the flow circuit in general, as well as also the lon qgmittu ?? d total of the road. ? The rate of contamination is also reduced by the fact that the volume of the channels along the flow circuit varies slightly along the total circuit traveled by a given sample. This is, the transversal channels, the three main distribution channels and other segments of the roads have transversal areas that, although relatively thin, may vary slightly. The change in volume on the road tends to retard the progress of contamination, as do the twisted legs or P-shaped sections of the connecting conduits.

All these structural adaptations cooperate in reducing the rate of contamination between sources in the biotache 100. The inventors have, as an indication of contamination handling, measured the time required by a test dye to infiltrate a neighboring source in conventional biotajettes and the card of the invention. Contamination in a conventional, low capacity card with non-transverse card body has been observed in approximately 2 - 4 hours. In the bi-card of the invention under similar conditions, in contrast, the time of contamination has been observed in 16-18 hours.

In addition to the kinematic of contamination, upper bubble traps 170 also more efficiently purify sample sources 110 of gas bubbles formed after sample injection. The samples are injected normally as noted by the evacuation of the card, introducing the fluid into the inlet and then releasing the vacuum, so that the entire flow circuit returns to atmospheric pressure. The vacuum filling of the card can be done normally for a period of 3 to 6? 0 seconds, slower rhythms help to reduce the tendency for bubbles to form.

These bubbles can ruin the reading of the samples, so that reducing them results in a smoother, more efficient, larger capacity and more reliable bi-card.

In addition, the improved flow circuit of the bi-card 100, including full-radius and other filling channels, channels generally thinner than previous card designs, wide variation and other characteristics result in a high percentage of the admitted samples that reach the sample sources 110, which the inventors have calculated as high as 90-95%. This is compared to a capture percentage in the 80s for the previous card designs.

For mechanical interaction with the automatic reading machine, bi-card 100 can also be provided with a series of braking holes with sensors 310, placed along the lowermost end of the card. Braking recesses with sensors 310, illustrated with regular spaces, rectangular transverse recesses, allow the pre-detectors to detect when a bi-card 100 mounted on a reading machine has reached an appropriate alignment for an optimal reading. The braking gaps with sensors 310 are arranged in a vertical register with the vertical columns of the sources 110, so that the optical detection of the braking gap 310 corresponds exactly to the position of the sample sources 110 in front of the reading devices. optics. The previous cards have been aligned by gaps with sensors that are formed not integrally with the card, but in carriages or other bras that are attached to the card at some point in the reading process, as for example discovered in the United States Patent. United number 4,118,280. These structures have, however, been propens to a maintenance that consumes time, which requires in particular the mechanical calibration and alignment of the carriage with the cards and photodetectors. Braking holes with integral sensors 310 eliminate this type of difficulty.

The bi-card 100 of the invention is formed in the illustrated example, as shown in Figure 7, with a die starting line 320 being formed most of the way into the sample source 110, towards the bottom of the sample. the card as the molding ^ Jedge opposing molds found during its manufacture. The above card designs often have the mold starting line, which forms a tiny lip in a flow cavity, at an upper (top half) point of the card. The upper mold leader lines could tend to induce the formation of annular bubble rings during filling, as well as to reduce the drying efficiency of antibiotics or other materials during manufacture. The use of the downstream pressure mold die line 320 avoids these difficulties, as well as improves the efficiency of ~ ^ Ha dehydration of chemicals or antibiotics during incubation and can act as a small opening during luminous and fluorescent reading operations. As illustrated in Figure 7, the walls of the sample source and other features are normally formed at a slight angle or inclination (usually 1-4 °), as an artifact of conventional molding processes in which the separation of the molded part of the opposite molded parts is facilitated with slightly inclined surfaces. The change from the starting line of the mold 320 to the lower area of the biotag card 100 also results in a smaller inclined (slightly speaking, trapezoidal) area at the bottom of the sample source which may tend to capture material, slightly. F Another advantage of the bi-card 100 of the invention is that the sample of the patient and other signs are not introduced directly into the card, in preformed segments, as for example illustrated in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 4,116,775 and others. These punctures and markings on the card can contribute to waste, bad handling and other problems. In the invention, instead of the above, the card may be provided with bar codes or other data marks by means of adhesive, but I did not need the pre-formed information markers or segments (although some could be printed if so is desired) and problems of waste, mishandling and loss of surfaces can be avoided.

The bi-card 100 further includes, in a lower left corner of the card as illustrated in Figure 1, a narrow beveled edge 330. The beveled narrow edge 330 provides an inclined surface for easier insertion of the biotagcard 100 into the inside. carousels or cassettes, inside openings or slots to read the cards and other loading points in the process of the card. The beveled narrow edge 330 provides a slightly sloped surface, which exempts the need for tight tolerances during loading operations.

The bi-card 100 also includes a lower rail 360 and an upper rail 370, which are light structural protrusions along the upper and lower areas of the card to reinforce the force and improve handling and loading of the bi-card 100. The Extra thickness of the upper and lower rails 360 and 370 also exceeds the thickness of the material. co.no cbta a.esiva, which is set to ta ^ e «** and bidder of, to Ho ^ a 100 to seal during manufacturing and impregnation with reagents. The raised rails therefore protect the tape, especially the edges, to avoid peeling, during the manufacture of the bi-card 100, as well as during the handling of the card, including during the reading operations.

The upper rail 370 has teeth 390 formed along its upper edge, to provide more friction when the bi-card 100 is transported in reading machines or is used in other ways in transmission mechanisms per band. The lower rail 360 may also have formed in the reduction cavities 380, which are small elongated depressions that reduce the material, weight and cost of the card by eliminating space where no material is needed to reinforce the rail 360.

In terms of sealing the bi-card 100 to contain reagents and other materials, it has been noted that the sealing tapes are normally used to seal against the bi-card 100 from either side, with rail protection. The bi-card 100 also includes a guide lip 340 on the lower rail 360 of the card and on the upper rail 370 of the card which protect slightly on the front edge of the card. Conversely, at the opposite end of the bi-card 100 there is a truncation of rails 350 on both rails. This structure allows the sealing tape to be applied in the process of preparing the card continuously, applying tape to card after card, then cutting the tape between successive cards without the tape of the successive cards sticking with the others. The guide lip 340 and the truncation of rails 350 provide

Claims (23)

a clearance to separate the cards and their applied tape, which can be cut into the rail truncation 350 and wrapped around the edge of the card, to increase security against interference between neighboring cards.
1. The present description of the improved bi-card of the invention as illustrated and variations in cin aspects of the inventive system will occur to persons skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited only by the following claims. * ^ p The claims are: 1. An improved sample card, comprising: a card body with first and second surfaces; an entry port formed in said card body; a plurality of sample sources formed in said body; and at least one fluid flow distribution path, operatively connected to said inlet port, traversing at least a portion of the first and second and in fluid communication with said sample sources.
2. 2. An improved sample card according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are flat parallel surfaces of said card body and said fluid flow distribution path passes through said card body.
3. 3. An improved sample card according to claim 2, the fluid flow distribution path comprises a plurality of filling channels in fluid communication with said sample sources by one or more transverse channels passing through said card body .
4. 4. An improved sample card according to claim 1, further comprising bubble traps in fluid communication with said sample sources, said traps being at least partially opposed on said sources.
5. 5. An improved sample card according to claim 4, wherein each sample source has associated with it a bubble trap, connected to the sample source via a connector channel.
6. 6. An improved sample card according to claim 1, further comprising integral interruption slots for aligning the card to take a reading.
7. 7. An improved sample card according to claim 6, wherein said interruption openings are configured to activate photoelectric detectors.
8. 8. An improved sample card according to claim 3, wherein said filling channels have a full radius configuration over at least a portion of their length.
9. ^^ 9. An improved sample card according to claim 1, wherein said sample card is formed by molding and the part of the mold is separated from the center line of the sample card.
10. 10. An improved sample card according to claim 1, wherein said bi-card is sealed with an adhesive sealant on one or more surfaces of the card.
11. * 11. An improved sample card according to claim 10, further comprising: a guide lip on a front edge of the bi-card; and a guide truncation edge on a rear end of the bi-card, said guide lip and said guide truncation edge prevent the sealant adhesive from sticking to neighboring cards.
12. 12. A sample card for tests having a plurality of sample sources in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port, said sample card for testing to contain a fluid sample subject for analysis by an optical system, the improvement comprises: less a braking gap with sensors in said card placed in register with said sources of samples, by means of which the optical detection of said brake gap with sensors by the optical system allows an accurate alignment of said sources with said optical system as that said sample card for tests moves in relation to said optical system for reading said sources.
13. 13. The sample card for evidence of claim 12, wherein said sources are arranged in a plurality of source columns and wherein said improvement comprises a braking gap with sensors placed in register with each of said source columns.
14. 14. The sample card for testing of claim 12, wherein said Sample Card for testing further comprises a peripheral edge portion and wherein said at least one brake gap is positioned in said peripheral edge portion.
15. 15. The sample card for evidence of claim 13, wherein said sample card for testing further comprises a peripheral edge portion, said source columns being equidistantly spaced from each in an array of of sample and wherein said braking recesses with sensors are placed on said peripheral edge portion and equidistantly spaced from each other.
16. 16. A test sample card for use in a reading machine having a transport system for the test sample cards, the sample card for testing comprises: a card body defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a input port for fluids and at least one edge region, said body defines a plurality of sample sources positioned between said first and second regions and said and second side regions, wherein edge region has a surface of textured texture that increases the friction between said sample card for testing and said transportation system.
17. 17. The sample card for evidence of claim 16, wherein said edge region comprises first and second edge regions parallel to each other between said first and second regions and arranged on opposite sides of said card body, wherein said region of The textured texture is disposed on said first edge region and wherein said second edge region is characterized by a serrated portion at the intersection of said second edge region with one of at least said first and second regions.
18. 18. A sample card for testing comprising: a card body defining a top surface and a bottom surface, a inlet for fluids and a plurality of sample sources positioned between said first and second end regions and said first and second side regions, a network of fluid channels comprising a first distribution channel in communication with said inlet port for fluids and a second distribution channel connecting said first distribution channel to at least two of said plurality of sample sources, said first and second distribution channels having different cross-sectional areas, thereby inhibiting cross-contamination between said sources.
19. 19. A sample card for tests comprising: a card body defining a first surface and a second surface, an inlet port for fluids and a plurality of sample sources positioned between said first and second end regions and said first and second regions lateral, a network of fluid channels comprising a first channel of distribution and communication with said input port for fluids and a second distribution channel connecting said first distribution channel with at least two of said plurality of sample sources, said first and second channels provided in said first card surface; said network of fluid channels further comprises a third fluid distribution channel in communication with said fluid inlet port, a fourth distribution channel connected to said third distribution channel and a fluid channel passing through the card connected to said room fluid channel and linking said fourth fluid channel with one of said plurality of sample sources, said third and fourth channels provided in said second surface of said card, Vpi where said first and second fluid channels in said first surface of said card and said third and fourth fluid channels in said second surface of said card increase the separation distance between said sources of said card, reducing the risk of contamination between said sources.
20. 20. A sample card for testing, comprising: a card body defining a first surface and a second surface, an inlet port for fluids and a plurality of sample sources disposed between said first and second surfaces, a network of channels fluid connecting said fluid inlet port to said sources, each of said sample sources comprises a bubble trap connected to said sample sources by a connecting conduit with said connecting conduit formed on said first surface of said card but not in said second surface, said bubble traps comprise depressions in said first "card" surface extending partially through said card, said bubble traps thus formed in an elevated position with respect to said sample sources .
21. 21. The test sample card of claim 19, wherein each of said sample sources comprises a bubble trap connected to said sample sources by a connector conduit with said connector conduit formed therein. If the surface of said card but not on said second surface, said bubble traps comprise depressions in said first surface of said card extending partially through said card, said bubble traps thus formed in an elevated position with respect to said card. to said sample sources.
22. 22. A sample card for tests to contain a subject shows fluid for analysis by an optical system, comprising a card body defining a first surface and a second surface, a fluid inlet and a plurality of sources of fluid. Samples placed between said first and second end regions and said first and second side regions, a network of fluid channels comprising a first distribution network on said first side of said card and a second distribution network on said second side of said card, said first and second distribution networks for conducting fluid samples from said port of entry for fluids to said sample sources; Each of said sample sources comprises a bubble trap connected to said sample sources by a connecting conduit with said connecting conduit formed on said first surface of said card but not on said second surface, said bubble traps comprising depressions in said first surface of said card partially extending through said card, said bubble traps thus formed in an elevated position with respect to said sample sources and at least one braking gap with sensors in said card placed in register with said sample sources, wherein the optical detection of said braking gap with sensors by said optical system allows an accurate alignment of said sources with said optical system as said sample card for tests moves in relation to said optical system for reading said sources.
23. 23. The test sample card of claim 22, wherein said forces are arranged in a plurality of source columns and wherein a braking gap with sensors is placed in register with each of said source columns. ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION An improved sample card is provided. The improved card, commonly used in biochemical analyzes, achieves high sample source capacity and improved fluid flow, including by a plurality of transverse channels that conduct fluid flow of samples along the front and back surfaces of High bubble traps, as well as integral interruption slots are provided to sense the position and alignment of the card. A beveled guiding edge facilitates insertion. IN WITNESS OF THE FOREGOING, I sign the present description and claims in Mexico, D.F. this day, May 8, one thousand nine hundred and ninety six. * P.P. BIOMERJEUX VITEK, INC ^ JCAQRLOMS PÉRE? Z D LA SIERRA