Systems and methods for capacitive fluid level detection, and handling containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE50846-E
Application number	US-202318120335-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2023
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A fluid container holder includes a body having a receptacle configured to receive a container. The body has a conductive outer surface for connection to an electrical ground or voltage source, and the holder is not formed solely of an electrically conductive metal. A fluid container handling assembly includes a drawer having a holder supporting a fluid container, and a frame supporting the holder. The frame is movable between a first position providing access to the holder and a second position positioning the holder within the instrument. The assembly also includes a first lock securing the holder to the frame when the frame is at the first frame position and unlocking the holder from the frame when the frame is at the second frame position. The assembly also includes a holder transporter configured to move the holder between a first holder position and a second holder position within the instrument.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A holder for supporting one or more containers of fluid, the holder comprising:
a bottom wall comprising a first electrically nonconductive portion and a first electrically conductive metal coating (i) affixed to an outer surface of the first electrically nonconductive portion, (ii) forming an outer surface of the bottom wall, and (iii) for connection to an electrical ground or voltage source; a top surface defining one or more openings; one or more receptacles, wherein each receptacle of the one or more receptacles extends from an opening of the one or more openings towards the bottom wall, and wherein each receptacle is configured to receive at least one container of the one or more containers; first and second side walls, wherein the one or more receptacles are between the first and second side walls, and wherein at least one of the first and second side walls comprises a second electrically conductive metal coating (i) affixed to an outer surface of a second electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls, (ii) forming an outer surface of the at least one of the first and second side walls, (iii) contiguous with the first electrically conductive metal coating of the bottom wall, and (iv) for connection to the electrical ground or voltage source; and an RFID tag affixed to an electrically non-conductive surface of the holder.

2 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically nonconductive portion of the bottom wall and the second the electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls each comprise an electrically non-conductive plastic.

3 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive metal coating of the bottom wall and the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls are both made of either aluminum or copper.

4 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the one or more receptacles include multiple receptacles.

5 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically nonconductive portion of the bottom wall includes an inner surface, and each receptacle of the one or more receptacles extends from one of the one or more openings on the top surface to the inner surface of the bottom wall opposite the outer surface.

6 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls covers about 20% to about 30% of a vertical height of the second electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls.

7 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls covers substantially the entirety of the second electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls.

8 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls has a thickness between about 0.5 mils and about 2.0 mils.

9 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive metal coating of the bottom wall has a thickness between about 0.5 mils to about 2.0 mils.

10 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrically nonconductive portions comprise the same material.

11 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrically conductive metal coatings comprise the same metal.

12 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrically conductive metal coating of the bottom wall has a thickness between about 0.5 mils to about 2.0 mils; the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls has a thickness between about 0.5 mils and about 2.0 mils; the first and second electrically nonconductive portions comprise the same material; and the first and second electrically conductive metal coatings comprise the same metal.

13 . The holder of claim 12 , wherein the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls covers about 20% to about 30% of a vertical height of the second electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls.

14 . The holder of claim 12 , wherein the second electrically conductive metal coating of the at least one of the first and second side walls covers substantially the entirety of the second electrically nonconductive portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls.

15. The holder of clam 1, wherein each receptacle has a size and shape that matches a size and shape of a fluid filled container to be received in the receptacle.

16. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising one or more knobs extending from the bottom wall.

17. The holder of claim 16 , wherein the one or more knobs comprise a first knob aligned with each receptacle of the one or more receptacles.

18. The holder of claim 17 , wherein each first knob comprises a post portion extending from the bottom wall and a flange extending outwardly from a distal end of the post portion.

19. The holder of claim 17 , wherein the one or more knobs comprise a second knob aligned with each receptacle of the one or more receptacles.

20. The holder of claim 4 , further comprising a crevice formed in the first and second side walls and the bottom wall that separates each of the multiple receptacles.

21. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the holder; and a channel formed in the top surface on both the first side and the second side of the holder.

22. The holder of claim 21 , wherein each channel is at least partially bounded by a spring arm.

23. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flange extending outwardly from a top portion of the holder, wherein an upper surface of the flange defines the top surface; and an extension extending downwardly from the flange and including two slots oriented upwardly into the extension.

24. A compartment for storing fluids in an instrument, the compartment comprising:
one or more holders, wherein each holder of the one or more holders includes: a top surface defining one or more openings; a bottom wall having an electrically conductive outer surface for connection to an electrical ground or voltage source, wherein the holder is not formed solely of an electrically conductive metal; and a side wall that extends from the bottom wall to the top surface, the side wall including an electrically conductive side surface that is contiguous with the electrically conductive bottom surface of the bottom wall, wherein each holder of the one or more holders defines one or more receptacles, and wherein each receptacle of the one or more receptacles extends between an opening of the one or more openings and the bottom wall; and one or more containers containing a fluid, wherein each container of the one or more containers is (a) positioned in a receptacle of the one or more receptacles, and (b) is configured to receive a fluid transfer device adapted for capacitive fluid level sensing, and wherein at least one of the one or more containers includes an electrically conductive seal that the fluid transfer device passes through when the fluid transfer device enters the con

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Opalsky David
• Buse David
• Tuggle James T
• Navarro Alexander
• Sheehan Patrick
• Hörger Olaf
• Gerlach Gabriel

Classifications

• C12Q1/686

  Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] · CPC title

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title

• B01L2200/026

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

• B01L3/565

  Seals · CPC title

• G01N2035/0425

  Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates · CPC title