Reagent well having a retention feature for retaining a lyophilized reagent

• US 10,478,820 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knight, Byron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US15/339,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20170065972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 422547, 422549, 422550, 422552, 422553
• 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

An article for performing a reaction includes a reagent well having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open upper end. A lyophilized reagent is retained within the well by a non-integral retention feature that is inserted into the open upper end of the well and fixed to a side wall above the reagent. An opening in the retention feature is smaller than the diameter of the reagent, but is sized to permit a pipette tip to be inserted into the well. The retention feature may be a collar fixed to the side wall and may include fingers extending axially into the well. The well and the retention feature may be correspondingly tapered. A method for reconstituting a lyophilized reagent includes the steps of drawing into a pipette tip attached to an automated pipettor an amount of a diluent and dispensing the diluent into the reagent well to thereby reconstitute the lyophilized reagent.

Claims

1. An article for performing a reaction comprising:

a reagent well including a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open upper end defined by a top surface;

a lyophilized reagent disposed within the reagent well; and

a retention feature that is not integral with the reagent well, the retention feature comprising a fingered collar fixed to the side wall at or proximal to the open upper end and comprising one or more flexible fingers extending into the well, wherein each of the one of more fingers extends toward an axial center of the well, wherein the retention feature is inserted into the open upper end of the well and fixed to the side wall above the lyophilized reagent, wherein the retention feature defines an opening that is smaller than the diameter of the lyophilized reagent, such that the retention feature retains the lyophilized reagent within the reagent well, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an end of a pipette tip to be inserted into the well.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the lyophilized reagent is retained within the reagent well at, or adjacent to, the bottom wall.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the reagent well includes one or more features formed in the bottom wall to facilitate the deposit and/or collection of a fluid from the reagent well.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall are located at the axial center of the reagent well.

5. The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more grooves.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a pair of crisscrossed grooves.

7. The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more ridges.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a pair of crisscrossed ridges.

9. The article of claim 7, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include an annular ridge.

10. The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a plurality of bumps.

11. The article of claim 1, further including a frangible seal affixed to the top surface of the reagent well and covering the open upper end.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein the side wall tapers inwardly from the open upper end toward the bottom wall, and wherein the collar includes an exterior surface that tapers in conformance to the side wall.

13. The article of claim 1, wherein the retention feature is made from plastic.

14. A method for reconstituting a lyophilized reagent, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) drawing into a pipette tip an amount of a diluent from a fluid chamber, the pipette tip being attached to an automated pipettor; and

(b) dispensing the diluent into the reagent well of the article of claim 1 to thereby reconstitute the lyophilized reagent.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after step (b), the step of aspirating and dispensing the contents of the reagent well one or more times with the automated pipettor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a frangible seal is affixed to the top surface of the reagent well and covers the open upper end, and further comprising, prior to step (b), the step of puncturing the frangible seal with the pipette tip.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the retention feature comprises a collar fixed to the side wall at or proximal to the open upper end.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the collar comprises one or more fingers extending into the well, wherein each of the one of more fingers extends toward an axial center of the well.