Method and apparatus for handling blood for testing

• US 10,071,381 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neoteryx, LLC
• Original Assignee: Neoteryx, LLC
• Inventors: Welch, Emmet, Zamba, Gene, Bischofberger, Allen, Kushon, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): LUDLOW, JAN M
• Application Number:
  US15/130,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15 Devices for taking samples of blood hypodermic syringes A61M5/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/185 Long distance transport, e.g. mailing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/02 Identification, exchange or storage of information
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• 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 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/543 for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/547 : for dispensing pins
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/108 : Devices, e.g. plates, presenting apertures through which the articles project
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/24 : for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs for pallets B65D19/40
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 : Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor

Abstract

A holder rack has an array of tubular slots that cooperate with a holder to position an absorbent tip of the holder at a predetermined location. The racks fit over well plates to position each absorbent tip adjacent the bottom of a different well in the well plate to extract dried samples from the absorbent tips. The holders are transported in containers having a frame to receive the holders and a lid to keep them in the container. The absorbent tips can extend through a cap to dry, with the cap connected to the holder to enclose the absorbent tips for transport.

Claims

1. An assembly for collecting and analyzing a sample, the assembly comprising:

a well plate having an outwardly extending ledge around at least a portion of the bottom of the well plate, the outwardly extending ledge having a height h, the well plate having a plurality of wells, each well having a closed bottom and a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the other wells; and

a rectangular holding rack configured to engage with the well plate and having four corners, the holding rack comprising;

a top portion with a plurality of slots extending through the top portion and opening onto a top surface of the top portion, the slots being arranged to correspond with the plurality of wells of the well plate, each of the plurality of slots having a longitudinal axis parallel to the axes of the wells of the well plate when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate;

a leg extending downward at each corner, each leg having two side portions each extending toward a different adjacent corner so the two side portions at each corner are substantially perpendicular to each other, each side portion ending at a distance spaced apart from the side portion extending from the adjacent corner; and

a tab on an outer surface of at least one side portion of each leg, the tab extending beyond a bottom of the at least one side portion for a distance less than the height h of the outwardly extending ledge, the tab being offset from a plane of the at least one side portion;

wherein when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate, the legs are configured to nest over the well plate with a lower surface of the side portions abutting the ledge of the well plate and with the tabs restraining lateral movement of the holding rack relative to the well plate.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one holder having a distal end with an absorbent tip and a proximal end with a projection extending outward, the bottom end of the projection on the holder being spaced a distance L from a distal end of the absorbent tip, the holder being sized and configured to be insertable through at least one of the slots of the holding rack and into a well of the well plate when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate, the distance L being selected to position the absorbent tip adjacent the closed bottom of the well when the bottom end of the projection abuts the top surface.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein there are at least three projections on the holder.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the length L is within about 90% of the distance from the top surface to the bottom of one of the side portions measured along the longitudinal axis of the at least one holder when inserted into the one of the slots so the projection of the at least one holder abuts the top surface.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the absorbent tip contains a dried sample.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the holder has a first printed indicia thereon containing information relating to the holder and a sample absorbed in the absorbent tip.

7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the holding rack has a gripping surface on two opposing sides of the rack configured to engage a gripper of an automated device.

8. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the holder has a first printed indicia thereon containing information relating to the holder.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wells contains a fluid selected for processing a sample.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each side portion ends at a distance D spaced apart from the side portion extending from the adjacent corner, the distance D being selected to allow a gripping device to engage the ledge and hold the well plate and rack.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of slots has a larger diameter at the top of the slot and a smaller diameter at the bottom of the slot.

12. A kit for collecting and analyzing fluids, comprising:

one or more holders each having a distal end having an absorbent tip thereon,

one or more containers having a plurality of compartments, each compartment configured to releasably receive one of the holders and to maintain the absorbent tip of the received holder from contacting the compartment or another absorbent tip, each container having a cap configured to releasably enclose the absorbent tips;

a well plate having an outwardly extending ledge around at least a portion of the bottom of the well plate, the outwardly extending ledge having a height h, the well plate having a plurality of wells, each well having a closed bottom and a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the other wells; and

a holding rack configured to engage with the well plate and having four corners, the holding rack comprising;

a top portion with at least one slot extending through the top portion and opening onto a top surface of the top portion, the at least one slot being sized and configured to receive at least one container;

a leg extending downward at each corner, each leg having two side portions each extending toward a different adjacent corner so the two side portions at each corner are substantially perpendicular to each other, each side portion ending at a distance spaced apart from the side portion extending from the adjacent corner; and

a tab on an outer surface of at least one side portion of each leg, the tab extending beyond a bottom of the at least one side portion for a distance less than the height h of the outwardly extending ledge, the tab being offset from a plane of the at least one side portion;

wherein when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate, the legs are configured to nest over the well plate with a lower surface of the side portions abutting the ledge of the well plate and with the tabs restraining lateral movement of the holding rack relative to the well plate;

wherein when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate and when at least one container is inserted through the slot of the holding rack with the cap released, the absorbent tips of the holders are inserted into a well of the well plate.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the one or more containers and the one or more holders are sized and configured to position the absorbent tip of each holder adjacent a bottom end of a well of the well plate when the holding rack is engaged with the well plate, the container is inserted through the slot of the holding rack, and the cap is released.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the holding rack has a gripping surface on two opposing sides of the rack with each gripping surface configured to engage a gripper of an automated device.

15. The kit of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more holders has a first printed indicia containing information relating to the holder.

16. The kit of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more containers has a second printed indicia containing information relating to the container.