Reagent wells containing lyophilized reagents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654041-B2
Application number	US-201414210127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

System, apparatuses, and methods for performing automated reagent-based analysis are provided. Also provided are methods for automated attachment of a cap to a reaction receptacle, and automated removal of a cap from a capped reaction receptacle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reagent well comprising:
a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open upper end defined by a top surface;
a lyophilized reagent disposed within the reagent well; and
a plurality of retention features that are integral with a side wall of the reagent well, the retention features being positioned entirely above the lyophilized reagent and extending inwardly from the side wall, and the retention features defining an opening sized to retain the lyophilized reagent within the reagent well and to permit an end of a pipette tip to be inserted into the well, wherein the retention features comprise a set of longitudinally extending and circumferentially-spaced rigid guides projecting radially from the side wall.

2. The reagent well of claim 1 , wherein the lyophilized reagent is retained within the reagent well at, or adjacent to, the bottom wall.

3. The reagent well of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well includes one or more features formed in the bottom wall to facilitate the deposit of a fluid into the reagent well and/or the collection of a fluid from the reagent well.

4. The reagent well of claim 3 , wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall are located at the axial center of the reagent well.

5. The reagent well of claim 3 , wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more grooves.

6. The reagent well of claim 5 , wherein the one or more grooves consist of a pair of crisscrossed grooves.

7. The reagent well of claim 3 , wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more ridges.

8. The reagent well of claim 7 , wherein the one or more ridges consist of a pair of crisscrossed ridges.

9. The reagent well of claim 8 , wherein the one or more ridges consist of an annular ridge.

10. The reagent well of claim 3 , wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a plurality of bumps.

11. The reagent well of claim 1 further including a frangible seal affixed to the top surface and covering the open upper end.

12. The reagent well of claim 1 , wherein the retention features consist of from 2 to 8 of the rigid guides.

13. The reagent well of claim 1 , wherein the side wall is tapered.

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Knight Byron J

Classifications

• B01L3/527

  for a plurality of reagents · CPC title

• Y10T436/11

  Automated chemical analysis · CPC title

• B01L2300/048

  enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents · CPC title

• G01N35/1079

  with means for piercing stoppers or septums · CPC title

• B01L2200/0668

  Trapping microscopic beads · CPC title