Reagent container anti-evaporation tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016266156-A1
Application number	US-201415034690-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An anti-evaporation tube for use with an in vitro diagnostics automation system is provided. The anti-evaporation tube includes an anti-evaporation tube body configured to be automatically inserted in a container and to limit evaporation of one or more fluids in the container and an alignment portion disposed on the anti-evaporation tube body. The alignment portion is configured to automatically align the anti-evaporation tube body within the container and cause the anti-evaporation tube body to remain aligned within the container. The alignment portion includes one or more openings disposed on an upper area of the anti-evaporation tube body. The one or more openings are configured to provide ventilation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An anti-evaporation tube for use with an in vitro diagnostics automation system comprising:
an anti-evaporation tube body configured to be automatically inserted in a container and to limit evaporation of one or more fluids in the container; and an alignment portion disposed on the anti-evaporation tube body, the alignment portion configured to automatically align the anti-evaporation tube body within the container and cause the anti-evaporation tube body to remain aligned within the container, wherein, the alignment portion comprises one or more openings disposed on an upper area of the anti-evaporation tube body, the one or more openings configured to provide ventilation.

2 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are oblong shaped.

3 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 1 , wherein the alignment portion is configured such that when the anti-evaporation tube body is automatically inserted in the container, the one or more openings are positioned relative to a neck of the container such that a slot cross section is reduced by the neck of the container.

4 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are configured to limit one or more fluids in the container from flowing through the one or more openings and adhering to the surfaces of the anti-evaporation tube body.

5 . An anti-evaporation tube for use with an in vitro diagnostics automation system comprising:
an anti-evaporation tube body configured to be automatically inserted in a container and to limit evaporation of one or more fluids in the container; and an alignment portion disposed on the anti-evaporation tube body and having a plurality of self-alignment components, the self-alignment components comprising:
a plurality of flexible portions extending vertically away from a top of the anti-evaporation tube body; and
a plurality of slots alternating between the plurality of flexible portions;
wherein, the plurality of flexible portions are configured to move from an initial position to facilitate insertion of the alignment portion through an opening of the container and limit movement of the anti-evaporation tube body within the container.

6 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flexible portions are further configured to: (i) flex inward from the initial position to facilitate insertion of the alignment portion through the opening of the container; and (ii) deflex outward to contact an inner surface of the container and automatically align the anti-evaporation tube body at an initial anti-evaporation tube location and limit movement of the anti-evaporation tube body within the container.

7 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the alignment portion comprises four flexible portions and four slots alternating between the plurality of flexible portions, the four slots being equally spaced from each other.

8 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flexible portions are further configured to provide a friction fit against an inner surface of the container to limit movement of the anti-evaporation tube body within the container.

9 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flexible portions are further configured to provide the friction fit against a container neck portion of the inner surface.

10 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of self-alignment components are further configured to align the anti-evaporation tube body with a low portion of a bottom of the container configured to hold a remaining amount of fluid.

11 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of self-alignment components are further configured to prevent the anti-evaporation tube body from moving greater than a threshold tube displacement distance from the alignment position within the container.

12 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of self-alignment components are further configured to automatically align the anti-evaporation tube body to prevent an aspiration component from contacting the anti-evaporation tube during operation.

13 . The anti-evaporation tube of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of self-alignment components comprise at least one of: (i) one or more protrusions configured to be received by opposing recesses in the container; and (ii) one or more recesses configured to receive opposing protrusions in the container.

14 . A method of operating an in vitro diagnostics automation system, the method comprising:
automatically inserting an anti-evaporation tube into a container during a fluid filling operation by flexing a plurality of flexible portions of the anti-evaporation tube, each adjacent pair of the flexible portions being separated by a slot; and aligning the anti-evaporation tube into a container by deflexing the plurality of flexible portions to contact an inner surface of the container.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
applying a friction to the inner surface of the container with the plurality of flexible portions.

16 . An in vitro diagnostics automation system comprising:
one or more containers each configured to hold one or more fluids; one or more anti-evaporation tubes each comprising self-alignment components having a plurality of flexible portions separated by a plurality of slots, the self-alignment components configured to: (i) self-align within the one or more containers; and (ii) limit movement of the one or more anti-evaporation tubes within the one or more containers; a fluid filling assembly configured to automatically fill the one or more containers with the one or more fluids; and an anti-evaporation tube inserting component configured to automatically insert one of the one or more anti-evaporation tubes within one of the one or more containers.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc

Inventors

• Brennan Joseph
• Kegelman James
• Hudson William

Classifications

• B01L2200/16

  Reagents, handling or storing thereof · CPC title

• B01L2300/123

  Flexible; Elastomeric · CPC title

• G01N2035/00673

  of reagents · CPC title

• G01N35/1002

  Reagent dispensers · CPC title

• B01L3/527

  for a plurality of reagents · CPC title