Patents Assigned to La Mina Ltd.
  • Patent number: 5998214
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting fluids and holding samples taken from the fluid for qualitative and quantitative testing. The apparatus comprises a tubular container open at both ends with a quantitative test storage unit removably secured to one of said tubular container ends. The quantitative test storage unit has an open end, a cytology membrane mounted in the storage unit and a retaining rib. A shuttle assembly is slidably mounted in the tubular container comprising a cylindrical hollow piston defining a chamber, a thumb cover covering one end of the piston and a fluid flow aperture formed in the piston and a qualitative sample container assembly removably secured to the piston. The qualitative sample container assembly comprises a clip on membrane assembly including a membrane containing immobilized antibodies and a filter housing mounted to the clip on membrane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: La Mina, Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5224489
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus and a method which can use immunoassay in sample treatment apparatus for diagnostic and testing purposes of urine by concentrating specific urine antigen in a small volume area and concentrating the urinary sediments in a separate small volume area. Urine is transported through the tubular container under pressure to flow through the sample container which screens off the urinary sediments and the beads so that antigens carried in the urine are collected and concentrated on the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5215102
    Abstract: A fluid testing apparatus comprising a housing, a structure defining a well located in housing, a container rotatably mounted in the housing and positioned over the well. The container has a housing with a fluid flow aperture in which a filter is mounted to filter fluid passing therethrough into the well. A capillary ligand test assembly is secured to said container housing and comprises a capillary tube, a membrane strip mounted in the capillary tube and absorbent material mounted in the capillary tube adjacent the membrane strip. The membrane strip is divided into a testing zone and a control zone provided with designated ligands to capture other specific predetermined ligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5139031
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an apparatus and a method which can use immunoassay in sample treatment apparatus for diagnostic and testing purposes of dialysis fluid or urine by concentrating the urinary sediments on a first membrane and concentrating bacteria on a second membrane. Urine is transported through the tubular container under pressure to flow through the sample container which separately screens off the urinary sediments and the bacteria for collection and testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5137031
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing molecular specimens in a biological fluid and collecting cellular components from the fluid comprising a container housing defining a chamber with a fluid inlet and outlet. A filter membrane is mounted in the housing chamber dividing the chamber into two compartments with the filter membrane allowing a biological fluid flow and antigens carried therein to flow therethrough into one compartment while concentrating the cellular components in another compartment by preventing the flow therethrough. Chromatography beads are contained in a compartment opposing the cellular component compartment and a cellular component collection cup with an inlet and outlet is removably mounted to the container housing in fluid communication with the compartment opposite the chromatography bead compartment. A cytology membrane is mounted in the collection cup to prevent passage of cellular components when biological fluid is being discharged from the collection cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5133363
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and testing multiple biological markers comprising a tubular compartmentalized container holding covalently bound antigen beads and correlating anti-antibody beads contained in separated compartments. The biological fluid, namely urine, is collected in the tubular container and is forced to flow through the separated compartment of the compartmentalized container so that predetermined ligands become attached to the bead ligands to obtain a plurality of biological markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5077012
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting biological fluids and holding samples taken from a biological fluid for qualitative and quantitative testing. The apparatus comprises a tubular container open at both ends with a quantitative test storage unit removably secured to one of said tubular container ends. The quantitative test storage unit has an open end, a cytology membrane mounted in the storage unit and a retaining rib. A shuttle assembly is slidably mounted in the tubular container comprising a cylindrical hollow piston defining a chamber, a thumb cover covering one end of the piston and a fluid flow aperture formed in the piston and a qualitative sample container assembly removable secured to the piston. The qualitative sample container assembly comprises a clip on membrane assembly including a membrane containing immobilized antibodies and a filter housing mounted to the clip on membrane asssembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5042502
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus and a method which can use immunoassay in sample treatment apparatus for diagnostic and testing purposes of urine by concentrating specific urine antigen in a small volume area and concentrating the urinary sediments in a separate small volume area. Urine is transported through the tubular container under pressure to flow through the sample container which screens off the urinary sediments and the beads so that antigens carried in the urine are collected and concentrated on the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5038793
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing biological molecular indicators in blood comprising a tubular container, and a sample compartmentalized removable container holding a membrane with immobilized ligands. Blood is collected in the tubular container under pressure to flow through the sample compartmentalized container which screens off the blood cells so that specific ligands carried by the blood can be captured by the immobilized ligands on the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5024237
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and testing biological molecular indicators in a biological fluid comprising a tubular container having an open end, and a compartmentalized container holding beads with immobilized ligands. The biological fluid namely urine is collected in the tubular container and is forced to flow through the sample compartmentalized container so that predetermined molecules of opposite matching charges to immobilized ligands become attached to the bead ligands for easy color testing to obtain specified medical tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5022411
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing biological molecular indicators in urine comprising a tubular container with a plunger assembly and associated testing assembly. Urine is collected in the tubular container mixed with labelled antibodies and is caused by the plunger assembly to flow against a testing surface provided with immobilized antibodies which capture antigens complexed with labelled antibodies. The enzymes of the labelled antibodies are colored by a reactant solution to indicate the presence or absence of specific antigens in the tested urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5016644
    Abstract: A method for testing for biological molecular indicators in urine. Urine is transported through a sample container under pressure to flow through the sample container so that antigens in the urine are collected and bound on antibodies immobilized on the beads to form antigen-antibody complex. The beads are washed to remove cell debris and charged molecules and a specific prelabelled antibody solution is passed through the sample container with the prelabelled antibodies attaching to a receptor site on the captured antigen to form an antibody-antigen-prelabelled antibody sandwich complex. This sandwich complex is washed to remove cell debris and charged molecules and mixed with a color reagent solution which reacts with the prelabelled antibody to produce an color indicating the presence of a specific cancer antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5003988
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and testing multiple biological markers comprising a tubular compartmentalized container holding covalently bound antigen beads and correlating anti-antibody beads contained in separated compartments. The biological fluid, namely urine, is collected in the tubular container and is forced to flow through the separated compartment of the compartmentalized container so that predetermined ligands become attached to the bead ligands to obtain a plurality of biological markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: La Mina Ltd.
    Inventor: Raouf A. Guirguis