1. An analytical test device comprising a hollow casing constructed of moisture impervious solid material containing a dry porous carrier which communicates directly or indirectly with the exterior of the casing such that a liquid test sample can be applied to the porous carrier, the device also containing a labelled specific binding reagent for an analyte or which can participate in a competition reaction in the presence of an analyte, which labelled specific binding reagent is freely mobile within the porous carrier when in the moist state, and unlabelled specific binding reagent for the same analyte which unlabelled reagent is permanently immobilised in a detection zone on the carrier material and is therefore not mobile in the moist state, the relative positioning of the labelled reagent and detection zone being such that liquid sample applied to the device can pick up labelled reagent and thereafter permeate into the detection zone, and the device incorporating means enabling the extent (if any) to which the labelled reagent becomes bound in the detection zone to be observed.
2. An analytical test device comprising a hollow casing constructed of moisture-impervious solid material containing a dry porous carrier which communicates directly or indirectly with the exterior of the casing such that a liquid test sample can be applied to the porous carrier, the carrier containing in a first zone a labelled specific binding reagent for an analyte or which can participate in a competition reaction in the presence of an analyte, which labelled specific binding reagent is freely mobile within the porous carrier when in the moist state, and in a second zone spatially distinct from the first zone unlabelled specific binding reagent for the same analyte which unlabelled reagent is permanently immobilised on the carrier material and is therefore not mobile in the moist state, the two zones being arranged such that liquid sample applied to the porous carrier can permeate via the first zone into the second zone, and the device incorporating means enabling the extent (if any) to which the labelled reagent becomes bound in the second zone to be observed.
3. A test device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the label on the first specific binding reagent is a direct label.
4. A test device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the casing is constructed of opaque or translucent material, and is provided with at least one aperture through which the analytical result may be observed.
5. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, within the porous carrier communicates with the exterior of the device via a bibulous sample receiving member which protrudes from the casing and which can act as a reservoir to receive the liquid sample and release it into the porous carrier.
6. A test device according to claim 5, it incorporates a removable and replaceable moisture-impervious cover for the protruding bibulous sample receiving member.
7. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, within the casing, and cover if present, is molded from plastics material.
8. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the porous carrier comprises a strip or sheet of porous material backed with a layer of transparent moisture-impervious material, the transparent layer being in contact with the inside of the casing adjacent the aperture(s) to inhibit ingress of moisture or sample.
9. A test device according to claim 7, wherein the porous carrier material is nitrocellulose.
10. A test device according to claim 8, wherein the nitrocellulose has a pore size of greater than about 1 micron.
11. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises colored latex particles having a maximum dimension of not greater than about 0.5 micron.
12. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, incorporating a control zone downstream from the second zone in the porous carrier to indicate that the liquid sample has permeated beyond the second zone, the control zone also being observable from outside the casing.
13. A test device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the analyte is hCG.
14. A test device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the analyte is LH.
15. A pregnancy testing device comprising a hollow elongated casing containing a dry porous nitrocellulose carrier which communicates indirectly with the exterior of the casing via a bibulous urine receiving member which protrudes from the casing and which can act as a reservoir from which urine is released into the porous carrier, the carrier containing in a first zone a highly-specific anti-hCG antibody bearing a colored direct label, the labelled antibody being freely mobile within the porous carrier when in the moist state, and in a second zone spatially distinct from the first zone an highly-specific unlabelled anti-hCG antibody which is permanently immobilised on the carrier material and is therefore not mobile in the moist state, the labelled and unlabelled antibodies having specificities for different hCG epitopes, the two zones being arranged such that a urine sample applied to the porous carrier can permeate via the first zone into the second zone, and the casing being constructed of opaque or translucent material incorporating at least one aperture through which the analytical result may be observed, together with a removable and replaceable cover for the protruding bibulous urine receiving member.
16. A fertile period prediction device, as claimed in claim 15 except that the analyte is LH.
17. A dry porous carrier useful in a device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a strip or sheet of nitrocellulose.
18. A carrier according to claim 17, wherein the nitrocellulose has a pore size of at least about 1 micron.
19. A carrier according to claim 18, wherein the pore size is greater than about 5 microns.
20. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein the pore size is about 8-12 microns.
21. A carrier according to any one of claims 17 to 20 which is backed by a layer of solid water-impervious material.
22. A carrier according to claim 21, wherein the backing material is transparent plastics material.
23. A carrier according to any one of claims 17-22, carrying in a zone thereof an immobilised specific binding reagent for an analyte.
24. A carrier according to claim 23, carrying in another zone thereof a labelled specific binding reagent for the same analyte, which labelled specific binding reagent is freely mobile within the carrier material when in the moist state.
25. A carrier according to claim 24, wherein the label Is a direct label.
26. A carrier according to claim 25, wherein the direct label is a colored latex particle having a maximum dimension of not greater than about 0.5 micron.
27. A carrier according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the zone carrying the labelled reagent has been pre-treated with a glazing material prior to the application of the labelled reagent thereto.
28. A carrier according to claim 27 wherein the glazing material is a sugar.
29. A specific binding assay involving the use of a labelled reagent which is free to migrate through a porous carrier material moistened by the application thereto a an aqueous sample suspected of containing an analyte, wherein the label is a direct label.
30. A specific binding assay according to claim 29, wherein the direct label is a colored latex particle.
31. A pregnancy test kit suitable for home use, comprising a plurality of devices as claimed in claim 15 individually wrapped in moisture-impervious wrapping and packaged together with appropriate instructions to the user.
32. A fertile period prediction kit suitable for home use, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 16 individually wrapped in moisture-impervious wrapping and packaged together with appropriate instructions to the user.
33. An analytical test device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
34. An analytical test device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
35. An analytical test device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
36. An analytical test device incorporating a test strip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 10.
37. An analytical test device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
38. An analytical test device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A receiving container for a display device comprising:
a mold frame; and
a strength enhancing means,
wherein the mold frame includes:
a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion, and
the strength enhancing means includes:
a base plate; and
a strength enhancing portion connected to at least a part of the base plate.
wherein at least a part of the second portion is surrounded by the strength enhancing portion.
2. The receiving container according to claim 1, wherein the mold frame comprises an opening formed between the first portion and the second portion.
3. The receiving container according to claim 2, wherein the strength enhancing means comprises a connecting portion passing through the opening and connecting the strength enhancing portion and the base plate.
4. The receiving container according to claim 2, wherein a width of the second portion is at least 0.5 \u03bcm.
5. The receiving container according to claim 3, wherein the strength enhancing means is formed by at least two strength enhancing portions.
6. The receiving container according to claim 5, wherein the strength enhancing means further comprises an inner wall connected to an inner side surface of the second portion and a part of the base plate.
7. The receiving container according to claim 3, wherein the strength enhancing portion is formed to surround a part of an outer sidewall of the second portion.
8. The receiving container according to claim 7, wherein the strength enhancing portion is formed between an upper part and a lower part of the outer sidewall of the second portion.
9. The receiving container according to claim 7, further comprising:
an auxiliary portion connected to the second portion and formed in a lower side of the strength enhancing portion.
10. The receiving container according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary portion is formed to have the same width as the strength enhancing portion.
11. The receiving container according to claim 3, wherein the strength enhancing portion is formed to surround a total of an outer side surface of the second portion.
12. The receiving container according to claim 11, wherein the strength enhancing portion is formed up to a lower part of the second portion.
13. The receiving container according to claim 2, wherein the mold frame further comprises a protective wall for extending from an upper side of the first portion and protecting a side surface of the liquid crystal display panel.
14. The receiving container according to claim 13, wherein the mold frame is formed in a plastic material.
15. The receiving container according to claim 2, wherein the strength enhancing means is formed in a metal material.
16. A method of manufacturing a receiving container, comprising:
forming a strength enhancing means;
fixing the strength enhancing means to a fixed mold;
connecting the fixed mold to a movable mold; and
forming a mold frame connected to the strength enhancing means.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of forming the mold frame comprises:
injecting a resin material into a space formed by the fixed mold and the movable mold;
curing the resin material; and
separating the fixed mold and the movable mold.
18. A liquid crystal display comprising:
a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image;
a backlight assembly for supplying light to the liquid crystal display panel; and
a receiving container for receiving the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly,
wherein the receiving container comprises a mold frame and a strength enhancing means,
the mold frame comprising:
a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion, and
the strength enhancing means comprising:
a base plate, and
a strength enhancing portion connected to at least a part of the base plate, wherein at least a part of the second portion is surrounded by the strength enhancing portion.
19. The liquid crystal display according to claim 18, wherein the first portion positions the backlight assembly and supports the liquid crystal display panel.
20. The liquid crystal display according to claim 18, wherein the second portion positions the liquid crystal display panel.