Multi-well tray and rack therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718059-B2
Application number	US-201414210105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

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 multi-well tray for use in an automated process comprising:
a base;
a card insert removably securable to the base;
one or more sets of wells, wherein each set comprises:
a receptacle cap well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle cap;
a receptacle well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle; and
a reagent well formed in the card insert and containing a lyophilized reagent;

a receptacle disposed in at least one of the receptacle wells; and
a cap disposed in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the cap is configured for locking attachment to the receptacle.

2. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the wells of each set of wells are disposed in alignment with each other.

3. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well of each set of wells is sealed with a frangible seal.

4. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising one or more locking arms disposed on the card insert for locking engagement with the base.

5. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising a protrusion extending from a bottom wall of the receptacle cap well of each set of wells.

6. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tabs protruding from a side wall of the receptacle cap well of each set of wells.

7. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the receptacle well and defining an annular ledge at the perimeter of the through-hole.

8. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of legs protruding from a side wall of the receptacle well.

9. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well is defined by a side wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the receptacle well further comprises one or more features selected from the group consisting of a plurality of bumps, a concave groove, a convex ridge, and a set of grooves and/or ridges comprising a crisscross pattern formed in a surface of the bottom wall.

10. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well further comprises a plurality of rigid guides radially protruding from a side wall thereof toward a center thereof.

11. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well further comprises one or more retention features selected from the group consisting of a tapered ring insert, a collar, and a fingered collar, wherein the one or more retention features are disposed within the well and are sized to retain the lyophilized reagent within the well.

12. The multi-well tray of claim 11 , wherein the one or more retention features define an opening therethrough that is too small to permit the lyophilized reagent to pass through the opening.

13. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well further comprises an annular ring or a screw thread formed in an inner wall thereof, wherein the annular ring or screw thread is sized to retain the lyophilized reagent within the well.

14. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well is sealed by a frangible foil.

15. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , further comprising one or more locking fingers disposed on a side surface of the base for releasably engaging a rack for holding a plurality of multi-well trays.

16. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the base and the card insert are formed from plastic.

17. The multi-well tray of claim 16 , wherein the card insert is formed of a plastic having lower permeability to moisture than the plastic forming the base.

18. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sets of wells and wherein at least one reagent well contains a lyophilized reagent that is different from the lyophilized reagent contained in at least one other reagent well.

19. The multi-well tray of claim 1 , wherein the reagent well further comprises a capillary insert, wherein the lyophilized reagent is retained within a capillary channel of the capillary insert.

20. An assembly for use in an automated process comprising:
a rack comprising:
a chassis having a top surface and first and second opposing ends, the chassis including locking members;
a plurality of machine readable indicia including data disposed on the chassis; and
a handle disposed on the first end surface of the chassis;

two or more multi-well trays supported on the chassis of the rack, each multi-well tray comprising:
a base including locking features;
a card insert removably securable to the base; and
one or more sets of wells, wherein each set comprises:
a receptacle cap well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle cap;
a receptacle well formed in the base and configured to receive a receptacle; and
a reagent well formed in the card insert and containing a lyophilized reagent;

wherein the locking members of the rack are operatively engaged with the locking features of the each multi-well tray to secure the multi-well tray to the chassis of the rack;

a receptacle disposed in at least one of the receptacle wells;
a cap disposed in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the cap is configured for locking attachment to the receptacle; and
a fluid cartridge comprising:
a liquid chamber and a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, the liquid chamber and the liquid reservoir containing a reconstitution solution for reconstituting the lyophilized reagent, and
a frangible seal covering the liquid chamber and the liquid reservoir of the fluid cartridge.

21. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein the rack comprises multiple positions for receiving a tray and the locking members are disposed on opposite sides of each position and are configured to be engaged by a flexible locking finger located on opposite sides of a tray.

22. The assembly of claim 21 , including at least one machine readable indicia associated with each position for receiving a tray.

23. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein the machine readable indicia comprises identifying information regarding at least one of (1) the trays attached thereto, and (2) the cartridge rack.

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Buse David
• Knight Byron J
• Groeli Julian

Classifications

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2300/044

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

• B01L3/50853

  with covers or lids (closures for test tubes B01L3/50825) · CPC title

• B01L2200/0668

  Trapping microscopic beads · CPC title

• B65B69/00

  Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for · CPC title