Multi-well tray and rack therefore

• US 10,065,190 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buse, David, Knight, Byron J., Groeli, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Dennis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilpatrick, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US15/604,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• 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 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• 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: B01L 3/5082 : Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 : Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 : using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 : with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 : for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 : Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 : Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/36 : with moulded compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/50 : Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs B65D53/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2539/003 : provided with sealing flanges or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0017 : Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0029 : Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0011 - B65D39/0023
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00287 : movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 : with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis

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.

Claims

1. A multi-well tray for use in an automated process comprising:

a base; and

one or more sets of wells, wherein each set of wells comprises;

a receptacle cap well formed in the base and comprising a side wall and a bottom wall defining interior surfaces of the receptacle cap well and a protrusion projecting upward from the bottom wall; and

a receptacle well formed in the base and comprising a side wall defining an interior surface of the receptacle well and a ledge extending from the side wall of the receptacle well and defining a perimeter of an end of a through-hole.

2. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the ledge of each receptacle well is an annular ledge.

3. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein each receptacle cap well further comprises a plurality of tabs protruding inwardly from the side wall of the receptacle cap well and configured to securely engage a portion of a receptacle cap deposited in the receptacle cap well to prevent the receptacle cap from dislodging from the multi-well tray.

4. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein each receptacle well further comprises a plurality of legs protruding inwardly from the side wall of the receptacle well and configured to securely engage a portion of a receptacle deposited in the receptacle well to prevent the receptacle from dislodging from the receptacle well.

5. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the side walls of the receptacle cap well and the receptacle well include cylindrical portions.

6. The multi-well tray of claim 1, wherein the through-hole of the receptacle well is tapered to conform to a conical shape of a receptacle deposited in the receptacle well.

7. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle cap deposited in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the receptacle cap comprises:

a hollow upper portion defining an open upper end configured to be engaged by an automated receptacle transport mechanism;

a lower portion defining a hollow space configured to receive the protrusion of the receptacle cap well; and

a flange dividing the upper portion from the lower portion.

8. The multi-well tray of claim 7, wherein each receptacle cap well further comprises a plurality of tabs protruding inwardly from the side wall of the receptacle cap well and engaged with the flange of the receptacle cap to prevent the receptacle cap from dislodging from the multi-well tray.

9. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle deposited in at least one of the receptacle wells, wherein the receptacle comprises:

an upper portion defining an open upper end;

a lower portion extending through the through-hole and defining a closed lower end of the receptacle; and

a ring formed on an outer surface of the receptacle, wherein the ring is supported on the ledge.

10. The multi-well tray of claim 9, wherein each receptacle well further comprises a plurality of legs protruding inwardly from the side wall of the receptacle well and engaged with the ring of the receptacle to prevent the receptacle from dislodging from the receptacle well.

11. The multi-well tray of claim 9, further comprising a receptacle cap deposited in at least one of the receptacle cap wells, wherein the receptacle cap comprises:

a hollow upper portion defining an open upper end configured to be engaged by an automated receptacle transport mechanism; and

a lower portion configured to be inserted into the open upper end of the receptacle.

12. The multi-well tray of claim 9, wherein at least part of the upper portion of the receptacle is cylindrical, at least part of the lower portion of the receptacle is conical, and the through-hole of the receptacle well is tapered to conform to the conical shape of the lower portion of the receptacle.

13. The multi-well tray of claim 1, further comprising a card insert removably securable to the base, wherein each set of wells further comprises a reagent well formed in the card insert.

14. The multi-well tray of claim 13, wherein the wells of each set of wells are disposed in alignment with each other.

15. The multi-well tray of claim 13, further comprising a lyophilized reagent contained in at least one reagent well, and wherein the at least one reagent well is sealed with a frangible seal.

16. The multi-well tray of claim 13, further comprising one or more locking arms disposed on the card insert for locking engagement with the base.

17. The multi-well tray of claim 13, 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.

18. The multi-well tray of claim 13, wherein the reagent well further comprises one or more retention features selected from the group consisting of a tapered ring insert, a collar, a fingered collar, an annular ring, and a screw thread, wherein the one or more retention features are disposed within the reagent well and are sized to retain a lyophilized reagent within the reagent well.

19. The multi-well tray of claim 13, wherein the base and the card insert are formed from plastic, and wherein the card insert is formed of a plastic having lower permeability to moisture than the plastic forming the base.

20. 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.