Sample plate systems and methods

• US 10,207,268 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynex Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynex Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bunce, Adrian, Fusellier, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y
• Application Number:
  US15/214,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20170165662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00459 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00468 by manipulation of individual beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00662 Two-dimensional arrays within two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00574 Means for distributing beads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1086 Cylindrical, e.g. variable angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1081 characterised by the means for relatively moving the transfer device and the containers in an horizontal plane G01N35/1011 takes precedence

Abstract

A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. A method of using the sample plate and a kit comprising the sample plate is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sample plate comprising:

at least one sample well including;

a base portion;

a plurality of recesses provided in said base portion; and

a plurality of beads received in said plurality of recesses, wherein each of said plurality of beads is retained or secured within a respective one of said plurality of recesses to substantially fluid-tightly seal the base portion at said plurality of recesses.

2. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recesses is defined, at least in part, by a respective wall of said base portion and each of said plurality of beads forms a substantially fluid-tight circumferential seal around the respective wall of said base portion.

3. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses constitute blind recesses formed in said base portion.

4. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses constitute open through holes formed in said base portion.

5. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of recesses is substantially cylindrical.

6. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of recesses is conical and has a first diameter which is greater than a diameter of a respective one of said plurality of beads deposited in said each of said plurality of recesses and a second diameter which is less than the diameter of said respective one of said plurality of beads.

7. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses are arranged circumferentially around a central portion of said sample well.

8. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said base portion is segmented into a plurality of segments which are arranged at different heights relative to each other.

10. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said at least one sample well further comprises one or more baffles or dividers which separates or divides said base portion into at least a first region and a second region.

11. The sample plate of claim 10, wherein said one or more baffles or dividers attenuate or eliminate light reflected off certain ones of said plurality of beads which are located in said first region from impinging upon other ones of said plurality reagent beads located in said second region.

12. The sample plate of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of recesses comprise a countersunk portion.

9. A sample plate comprising:

at least one sample well including;

a base portion, wherein said base portion is segmented into a plurality of segments which are arranged at different heights relative to each other;

a plurality of recesses provided in said base portion; and

a plurality of beads received in said plurality of recesses.

13. A sample well comprising:

a base portion;

a plurality of recesses provided in said base portion; and

a plurality of beads received in said plurality of recesses, wherein each of said plurality of beads is retained or secured within a respective one of said plurality of recesses to substantially fluid-tightly seal the base portion at said plurality of recesses.

14. The sample well of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of recesses is defined, at least in part, by a respective wall of said base portion and each of said plurality of beads forms a substantially fluid-tight circumferential seal around the respective wall of said base portion.

15. The sample well of claim 13, wherein said plurality of recesses constitute blind recesses formed in said base portion.

16. The sample well of claim 13, wherein said plurality of recesses constitute open through holes formed in said base portion.

17. The sample well of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of recesses is substantially cylindrical.

18. The sample well of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of recesses is conical and has a first diameter which is greater than a diameter of a respective one of said plurality of beads deposited in said each of said plurality of recesses and a second diameter which is less than the diameter of said respective one of said plurality of beads.

19. The sample well of claim 13, wherein said plurality of recesses are arranged circumferentially around a central portion of said sample well.

20. The sample well of claim 13, wherein said base portion is segmented into a plurality of segments which are arranged at different heights relative to each other.