Closures which contain reservoirs and allow acoustic ejection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9610577-B2
Application number	US-201514884237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 20, 2007
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

In an aspect of this invention, a closure for a well plate is provided which has a reservoir. The closure has openings through which acoustic ejection of fluid droplets can take place without removing the closure. The reservoirs in the closure may help to maintain acceptable levels of solvent in the wells of the well plate despite the evaporation which may occur during the course of ejection.

First claim

I claim:

1. A container, comprising:
a microtube comprising a first reservoir storing a fluid sample comprising a first quantity of a solvent; and
a closure in contact with the microtube, the closure including:
a first opening extending through the closure; and
a second reservoir holding a second quantity of the solvent,
the first quantity of the solvent in the first reservoir and the second quantity of the solvent in the second reservoir being separated from one another via a gaseous interface;

a droplet of the fluid sample being ejectable out of the first reservoir of the microtube and onto a substrate through the first opening without removing the closure from contact with the microtube.

2. The container of claim 1 , the second reservoir including a second opening,
the first quantity of the solvent and the second quantity of the solvent being gaseously exchangeable between the first reservoir and the second reservoir via the second opening.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is circular.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is centered over the microtube.

5. The container of claim 1 , further comprising an absorptive material disposed within the second reservoir and absorbing the second quantity of the solvent.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the closure is sealed to the microtube.

7. An apparatus, comprising:
a microtube comprising a first reservoir storing a fluid sample comprising a first quantity of a solvent;
a closure in contact with the microtube, the closure including:
a first opening extending through the closure; and
a second reservoir holding a second quantity of the solvent,
the first quantity of the solvent in the first reservoir and the second quantity of the solvent in the second reservoir being separated from one another via a gaseous interface; and

an acoustic ejector in contact with the microtube, the acoustic ejector being configured to eject a droplet of the fluid sample out of the first reservoir of the microtube and onto a substrate through the first opening without removing the closure from contact with the microtube.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , the second reservoir including a second opening,
the first quantity of the solvent and the second quantity of the solvent being gaseously exchangeable between the first reservoir and the second reservoir via the second opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is circular.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is centered over the microtube.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising an absorptive material disposed within the second reservoir and absorbing the second quantity of the solvent.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the closure is sealed to the microtube.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is positioned over the first reservoir of the microtube.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second quantity of the solvent inhibits evaporation of the first quantity of the solvent.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is at least two times a diameter of the droplet.

16. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is positioned over the first reservoir of the microtube.

17. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second quantity of the solvent inhibits evaporation of the first quantity of the solvent.

18. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is at least two times a diameter of the droplet.

Assignees

• Labcyte Inc

Inventors

• Ellson Richard N

Classifications

• G01N1/00

  Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation · CPC title

• B01L2200/0642

  Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques · CPC title

• B01L3/0268 Primary

  using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries · CPC title

• B01L3/502 Primary

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

• B01L2400/0439

  ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements · CPC title