Liquid analytical reagent dispensing apparatus and analytical kits and methods of use related thereto

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040350-B2
Application number	US-201716317951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2017
Priority date	Jul 18, 2016
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

Devices, kits, and methods for dispensing at least two liquid reagents for use in analyte(s) detection assays are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid analytical reagent dispensing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a container having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a bottom side, a top side, a first cavity being open at the top side of the container, a flange extending around the open top of the first cavity, and a second cavity being open near the second end of the container;
a first liquid reagent disposed within the first cavity;
a second liquid reagent disposed within the second cavity; and
a single flexible cover removably affixed to the flange of the container to seal the first liquid reagent in the first cavity and the second liquid reagent in the second cavity, wherein upon complete removal of the single flexible cover from the flange, the first liquid reagent flows from the first cavity, while the second liquid reagent remains and is contained in the opened second cavity when the container is oriented such that the first end of the container is positioned substantially vertically beneath the second end of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a third cavity being open near the second end of the container, further wherein a third liquid reagent is disposed within the third cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second cavity and the third cavity are positioned on opposing sides of the first cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end of the container, and wherein each of the second cavity and the third cavity is elongated and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end of the container, and wherein each of the second cavity and the third cavity is elongated and angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second cavity and the third cavity are positioned on opposing sides of the first cavity, wherein the second cavity angles away from the first cavity from the first end to the second end of the container, and wherein the third cavity angles away from the first cavity from the first end to the second end of the container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one support.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus comprises a first support and a second support, wherein the first support is shorter than the second support.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the container is angled to form an apex, wherein the apex extends longitudinally from a point of liquid discharge of the first cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid reagent and the second liquid reagent are the same chemical composition.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid reagent and the second liquid reagent are different in chemical composition.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first liquid reagent, the second liquid reagent, and the third liquid reagent are the same chemical composition.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first liquid reagent, the second liquid reagent, and the third liquid reagent are different in chemical composition.

14. An analytical reaction kit, the kit comprising:
a reaction cassette, the reaction cassette comprising:
a body, the body comprising a top perimeter side, a bottom perimeter side, a first perimeter side, a second perimeter side, a bottom portion, and a top portion thereby forming a reaction cassette chamber;
an inlet for introducing a liquid test sample into the reaction cassette chamber; and
a reaction chamber in liquid communication with the inlet;

a liquid analytical reagent dispensing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a container having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a bottom side, a top side, a first cavity being open at the top side of the container, a flange extending around the open top of the first cavity, and a second cavity being open near the second end of the container;
a first liquid reagent disposed within the first cavity;
a second liquid reagent disposed within the second cavity; and
a single flexible cover removably affixed to the flange of the container to seal the first liquid reagent in the first cavity and the second liquid reagent in the second cavity, wherein upon complete removal of the single flexible cover from the flange, the first liquid reagent flows from the first cavity, while the second liquid reagent remains and is contained in the opened second cavity when the container is oriented such that the first end of the container is positioned substantially vertically beneath the second end of the container; and

a capillary, the capillary capable of being partially inserted into the inlet of the reaction cassette to thereby introduce a liquid test sample into the reaction chamber.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the reaction cassette further comprises at least one solid reagent zone positioned along the reaction chamber, the solid reagent zone comprising at least one solid analytical reagent.

16. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the liquid analytical reagent dispensing apparatus further comprises a third cavity being open near the second end of the container, further wherein a third liquid reagent is disposed within the third cavity.

17. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the first liquid reagent and the second liquid reagent are the same chemical composition.

18. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the first liquid reagent and the second liquid reagent are different in chemical composition.

19. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the first liquid reagent, the second liquid reagent, and the third liquid reagent are the same chemical composition.

20. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the first liquid reagent, the second liquid reagent, and the third liquid reagent are different in chemical composition.

21. A method for performing analytical reactions to determine the presence of an analyte in a liquid test sample, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a reaction cassette having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, the reaction cassette comprising:
a body, the body comprising a top perimeter side, a bottom perimeter side, a first perimeter side, a second perimeter side, bottom portion, and a top portion thereby forming a reaction cassette chamber;
an inlet for introducing a liquid test sample into the reaction cassette chamber;
a reaction channel in liquid communication with the inlet; and
a liquid analytical reagent dispensing apparatus incorporated into the reaction cassette, the apparatus comprising:
a container having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a bottom side, a top side, a first cavity being open at the top side of the container, a flange extending around the open top of the first cavity, and a second cavity being open near the second end of the container;
a first liquid reagent disposed within the first cavity;
a second liquid reagent disposed within the second cavity; and
a single flexible cover removably affixed to the flange of the container to seal the first liquid reagent in the first cavity and the second liquid reagent in the second cavity, wherein upon complete removal of the single flexible cover from the flange, the first liquid reagent flows from the first cavity, while the second liquid reagent remains and is contained in the opened second cavity the first end of th

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc

Inventors

• Ledden David

Classifications

• B01L2200/0621

  Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied · CPC title

• B01L2300/044

  pierceable, e.g. films, membranes · CPC title

• B01L3/502

  with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures · CPC title

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title

• B01L2200/026

  Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details · CPC title