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GoogleGranted patentHealth & bodyInterest 6/10

Google patents blood test strip that measures hemoglobin levels

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This device uses a vertical flow design to measure hemoglobin in a blood sample. It features a membrane that breaks open red blood cells and a detection layer that reacts to the released hemoglobin.

Why it mattersIt offers a potential method for quick, point-of-care hemoglobin testing using a simple strip-based format.

In the filing’s own words

The present disclosure provides an assay device for determining a concentration of hemoglobin in a sample. The device includes a separation membrane containing a cell lysing reagent that is present on the separation membrane in an amount greater than 200 micrograms/square centimeter to less than 675 micrograms/square centimeter. Further, the device includes a downstream detection membrane configured to elicit a quantifiable response in the presence of hemoglobin. The detection membrane includes an asymmetric membrane having a first plurality of pores located towards an upstream side of the detection membrane and a second plurality of pores located towards a downstream side of the detection membrane. The first plurality of pores are larger than the second plurality of pores. The present disclosure also provides methods for using a vertical flow assay device to lyse the red blood cells in the sample to quantify the level of hemoglobin present via reflectance spectroscopy.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An assay device for determining a concentration of hemoglobin in a blood fluid sample, wherein the assay device comprises: a separation membrane, wherein the separation membrane contains a cell lysing reagent, wherein the cell lysing reagent is present on the separation membrane in an amount greater than 200 micrograms/square centimeter to less than 675 micrograms/square centimeter based on the dry weight of the cell lysing reagent on the separation membrane; and a detection membrane located downstream from the separation membrane and configured to elicit a quantifiable response in the presence of hemoglobin in the blood fluid sample, wherein the quantifiable response corresponds to an amount of hemoglobin present in the blood fluid sample, wherein the detection membrane is asymmetric and has a first plurality of pores located towards an upstream side of the detection membrane and a second plurality of pores located towards a downstream side of the detection membrane, wherein the first plurality of pores have an average pore size that is larger than an average pore size of the second plurality of pores.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Vertical flow assay device and method for determination of hemoglobin concentration
Patent number
US12754179B2
Application number
18013682
Filed
Oct 19, 2021
Granted
Oct 6, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

G01N 33/491 Physics & computingB01L 3/5023 Operations & transportG01N 33/726 Physics & computingB01L 2200/0652 Operations & transportB01L 2200/16 Operations & transportB01L 2300/0681 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.