Appln. No.: 11/388,723
`Office Action Mailed September 5, 2008
`Office Action Reply Filed on December 5, 2008
`
`Amendments To The Claims
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`1.
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`(Currently Amended) An apparatus for detecting an analyte in a biological fluid of a subject,
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`comprising:
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`a) a sample collection unit for introducing a biological fluid in fluid communication with a
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`plurality of reaction sites through which optical signals are detected;
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`b) a plurality of reactant chambers carrying a plurality of reactants in fluid communication
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`with said reaction sites,
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`wherein said plurality of reaction sites comprise a plurality of reactants bound thereto for
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`detecting said analyte; and
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`c) a system of fluidic channels to allow said biological fluid and said plurality of reactants to
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`flow in said apparatus, wherein at least one channel leeated—betweenconnecting said plurality
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`of reaction sites comprises an optical barrier effective in reducing the amount of optical
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`cross—talk between said plurality of said reaction sites during detection of said analyte.
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`2.
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`(Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of waste
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`chambers in fluid communication with at least one of said reaction sites, positioned to receive fluid
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`that has passed through said reaction sites.
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`3.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each channel located between said plurality of
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`reaction sites comprises an optical barrier.
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`4.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biological fluid is less than about 500
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`microliters.
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`5.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical barrier comprises a nonlinear
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`fluidic channel.
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`6.
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`(Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sample collection unit is
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`configured to provide to the plurality of reaction sites a volume of fluid that is less than about 50
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`microliters.
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`7.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactants comprise immunoassay reagents.
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`350825 8_1.DOC
`
`Atty. Docket No. 30696-71220]
`
`_2_.
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`
`
`Appln. No.: 11/388,723
`Office Action Mailed September 5, 2008
`Office Action Reply Filed on December 5, 2008
`
`8.
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`(Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said apparatus is configured to
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`identify a plurality of analytes, wherein the analytes are identified by distinct signals detectable over
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`a range of 3 orders of magnitude.
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`9.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the immunoassay reagents detect a polypeptide
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`glycoprotein, polysaccharide, lipid, nucleic acid, and a combination thereof.
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`10.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the immunoassay reagents detect a member
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`selected from the group consisting of drug, drug metabolite, biomarker indicative of a disease, tissue
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`specific marker, and biomarker specific for a cell or cell type.
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`11.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detectable signal is a luminescent signal.
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`12.
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`(Withdrawn) An apparatus for detecting an analyte in a biological fluid of a subject,
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`comprising
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`a) a sample collection unit for introducing a biological fluid in fluid communication with a
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`plurality of reaction sites, wherein said plurality of reaction sites comprise a plurality of
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`bound reactants for detecting said analyte;
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`b) a plurality of reactant chambers carrying a plurality of reactants in fluid communication
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`with said reaction sites; and
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`c) a system of fluidic channels to allow said biological fluid and said plurality of reactants to
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`flow in said apparatus,
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`wherein said bound reactants in at least one reaction site are unevenly distributed.
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`13.
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`(Withdrawn) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said bound reactants in the at least one
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`reaction site are localized around the center of said reaction site.
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`14.
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`(Withdrawn) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an outer edge of the at least one reaction
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`site is at a distance sufficiently far from said bound reactants to reduce signals unrelated to the
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`presence of said analyte.
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`15.
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`(Withdrawn) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a waste chamber in fluid
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`communication with said reaction sites.
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`3508258_1.DOC
`
`Atty. Docket No. 30696—712201
`
`
`
`' Appln. No: 11/388,723
`Office Action Mailed September 5, 2008
`Office Action Reply Filed on December 5, 2008
`
`16.
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`(Withdrawn) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said unbound reactant is coupled to said
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`edge of said reaction site.
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`17.
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`(Withdrawn) A method of manufacturing a fluidic device for detecting an analyte in a
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`biological fluid of a subject, comprising:
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`a) providing a plurality of layers of a fluidic device;
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`b) ultrasonically welding said layers together such that a fluidic network exists between a
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`sample collection unit, at least one reactant chamber, at least one reaction site, and at least
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`one waste chamber.
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`18.
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`(Withdrawn) The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one reaction chamber is vacuum
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`sealed.
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`19.
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`(Withdrawn) The method of claim 17, wherein said fluidic device comprises a system of
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`fluidic channels to allow contact of said biological fluid With reactants in said at least one reaction
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`site.
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`20.
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`(Withdrawn) The method of claim 17, wherein said reaction site comprises an optical barrier
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`to reduce the amount of optical cross—talk between another reaction site on the fluidic device.
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`21.
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`(Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical barrier is coated with
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`an optically opaque material.
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`22.
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`(New) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reactants bound to an individual reaction site
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`of said plurality are located around a center of said individual reaction site.
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`23.
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`(New) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein an outer edge of said reaction site surrounding
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`said center is at a distance sufficiently far from said bound reactants to reduce the amount of optical
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`cross-talk between said reaction site and another reaction site.
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`350825 8_1.DOC
`
`Atty. Docket No. 30696-712201
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`
