System and apparatus for reactions

• US 10,040,061 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alere Switzerland GmbH (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grover, Simon Roderick, Wilkins, Paul Graham, Rollings, Nick David, Mayne, Peter Laurence, Chan, Wai Ting, Scott, Natalie Frances, Flick, Olivier Fernand, Innes, Henry Charles, Beedham, Martyn Gray Darnbrough, Long, Nicholas David, Hammond, Richard John
• Primary Examiner(s): HIXSON, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US15/141,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for liquid transfer and performing reactions. In one aspect, a system includes a liquid transfer device having a housing having a pipette tip and a plunger assembly; and a reaction chamber, wherein the housing of the liquid transfer device is configured to sealably engage with the reaction chamber. In another aspect, a liquid transfer device including a housing having a pipette tip; and a plunger assembly disposed within the housing and the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger assembly is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger assembly remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger assembly.

Claims

1. A liquid transfer device comprising:

a housing comprising a pipette tip; and

a plunger unit disposed within the housing, the plunger unit including a syringe plunger that seals within the pipette tip with an o-ring, wherein a portion of the plunger unit is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger unit remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger unit to draw a fluid from the fluid reservoir through the pipette tip.

2. The liquid transfer device of claim 1, wherein movement of the housing relative to the plunger unit results in creation of a vacuum within the pipette tip.

3. The liquid transfer device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to move relative to the plunger unit when the housing is advanced toward the fluid reservoir.

4. The liquid transfer device of claim 2, wherein the plunger unit is configured to lock in a position resulting in creation of the vacuum.

5. The liquid transfer device of claim 2, wherein the device is configured to provide at least one of an auditory and visual indication that the plunger unit is in a position resulting in the creation of the vacuum.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the plunger unit is configured to reversibly lock in a position that causes fluid from the fluid reservoir to flow into the pipette tip.

6. A reaction system comprising:

a fluid reservoir; and

a liquid transfer device comprising;

a housing comprising a pipette tip; and

a plunger unit disposed in the housing, the plunger unit including a syringe plunger and an o-ring configured to seal the syringe plunger within the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger unit is configured to engage the fluid reservoir such that the plunger unit remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger unit,

wherein the housing is configured to move relative to the plunger unit when the housing is advanced toward the fluid reservoir, and the plunger unit is configured to reversibly lock in a position that causes fluid from the fluid reservoir to flow into the pipette tip.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the housing of the liquid transfer device comprises an asymmetrical cross-section that is compatible with a cross-section of a housing of the fluid reservoir and, when mated with the fluid reservoir, the liquid transfer device sealably engages with the fluid reservoir.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the housing of the fluid reservoir comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall is spaced apart from and positioned within the outer wall.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid transfer device and the fluid reservoir sealably engage when mated with:

the plunger unit engaged with the inner wall of the fluid reservoir, and

the housing of the liquid transfer device positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall of the fluid reservoir.

7. A reaction system comprising:

a liquid transfer device comprising;

a housing comprising a pipette tip; and

a plunger unit disposed in the housing, the plunger unit including a syringe plunger and an o-ring configured to seal the syringe plunger within the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger unit is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger unit remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger unit, and the plunger unit is configured to reversibly lock in a position that causes fluid to flow from the fluid reservoir into the pipette tip; and

a reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber is configured to unlock the plunger unit when the liquid transfer device and the reaction chamber are interfaced.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising the fluid reservoir.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the asymmetrical cross-section of the housing of the liquid transfer device is compatible with a cross-section of a housing of the reaction chamber and, when mated with the reaction chamber, the liquid transfer device lockably engages with the reaction chamber.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the reaction chamber has an asymmetrical cross-section that is compatible with the cross-section of the housing of the fluid reservoir and, when mated with the fluid reservoir, the reaction chamber lockably engages with the fluid reservoir.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the liquid transfer device is configured to lockably engage with the reaction chamber in a first position without dispensing fluid from the pipette tip.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the liquid transfer device is configured to lockably engage with the reaction chamber in a second position, thereby initiating transfer of fluid from the pipette tip to the reaction chamber.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the liquid transfer device is configured to remain lockably engaged with the reaction chamber after fluid is transferred from the pipette tip to the reaction chamber.