Fluid cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527080-B2
Application number	US-201414210182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

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 cartridge consisting of:
a plurality of adjacently-positioned wells;
a top surface that is integrally molded with the wells, each of the wells depending from the top surface and having a bottom surface and a discrete opening at the top surface, wherein at least a first well and a second well of the plurality of wells are sealed, wherein at least a portion of the wells contain a fluid, and wherein the first and second wells contain the same fluid;
a first fluid path connecting the first well with the second well, wherein the first fluid path is disposed adjacent a lower portion of each of the first and second wells and above the respective bottom surfaces of the first and second wells;
a second fluid path connecting the first well with the second well, wherein the second fluid path is disposed adjacent an upper portion of each of the first and second wells; and
optionally, an outer wall depending from a perimeter of the top surface.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the height of each well from a bottom wall of the well to the top surface is substantially the same.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first well and the second well are sealed with a single frangible foil seal.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first well has a greater volumetric capacity than the second well and the opening of the first well is larger than the opening of the second well.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid path consists of a channel formed between an opening formed in a wall forming the first well and an opening formed in a wall forming the second well, and the second fluid path consists of a slot in a wall separating the first well from the second well.

6. The cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the channel is a laterally extending channel.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top surface is a flat surface.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the top surface has a generally rectangular perimeter.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge has a flat bottom enabling the cartridge to be supported in an upright orientation on a supporting flat surface.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the flat bottom of the cartridge is defined by bottom walls of the wells.

11. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge further consists of the optional outer wall, and wherein the flat bottom of the cartridge is defined by a bottom end of the outer wall.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid path consists of a channel formed between an opening formed in a wall forming the first well and an opening formed in a wall forming the second well.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid path consists of a slot in a wall separating the first well from the second well.

14. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is a molded plastic.

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Knight Byron J
• Groeli Julian

Classifications

• B01L2200/142

  Preventing evaporation · CPC title

• B01L2200/0668

  Trapping microscopic beads · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2200/16

  Reagents, handling or storing thereof · CPC title

• B01L2400/0406

  capillary forces · CPC title