Manual seal applicator

• US 20050226780A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Harding, Ian A., Fawcett, Adrian, Carrillo, Albert L., Sandell, Donald, Lim, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/087,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/99
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• 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 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/56 : Means for indicating position of a recipient or sample in an array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 : Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 : Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 : manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 : Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 : Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 : Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 : Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/648 : using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Abstract

An seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate. The microplate can comprise a plurality of wells for receiving an assay. The seal applicator can comprise a housing containing a sealing cover roll. The sealing cover roll can comprise an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on the elongated carrier liner. The seal applicator can further comprise a plane assembly supporting the elongated carrier liner and a drive roller assembly engaging the elongated carrier liner. The drive roller assembly can selectively drive the carrier liner.

Claims

1. A seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells for receiving an assay, said seal applicator comprising:

a housing containing a sealing cover roll, said sealing cover roll comprising an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on said elongated carrier liner;

a plane assembly supporting said elongated carrier liner; and

a drive roller assembly engaging said elongated carrier liner, said drive roller assembly selectively driving said carrier liner.

2. The seal applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stretcher disposed between said sealing cover roll and said plane assembly, said stretching engaging one of said elongated carrier liner and said plurality of individual sealing covers.

3. The seal applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

an intermediate roller disposed between said plane assembly and said drive roller assembly, said intermediate roller engaging and directing said elongated carrier liner.

4. The seal applicator according to claim 3 wherein said intermediate roller is tapered along its longitudinal length to a reduced cross-section portion at about a longitudinal midpoint of said intermediate roller.

5. The seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises:

a base section; and

a cover section pivotally coupled to said base section, said cover section being positionable in a first position to conceal said sealing cover roll and a second position to reveal said sealing cover roll.

6. The seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said plane assembly comprises:

a plate member;

a plane roller rotatably coupled to said plate member, said plane roller operable to at least in part supporting said elongated carrier liner.

7. The seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said drive roller assembly comprises:

a drive roller rotatably coupled with said housing; and

a knob portion disposed on an end of said drive roller, said knob portion operable to manually advance said elongated carrier liner.

8. The seal applicator according to claim 7 wherein said drive roller is compliant.

9. The seal applicator according to claim 8, further comprising:

a pressure roller operably engaging said drive roller, said elongated carrier liner being received therebetween.

10. The seal applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

an applicator roller rotatably coupled to said housing, said applicator roller engagable with a microplate.

11. The seal applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fixture having a microplate receiving section sized to receive the microplate.

12. A seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells for receiving an assay, said seal applicator comprising:

a housing containing a sealing cover roll, said sealing cover roll comprising an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on said elongated carrier liner;

a plane assembly supporting said elongated carrier liner;

a drive roller assembly engaging said elongated carrier liner, said drive roller assembly selectively driving said carrier liner; and

a fixture having a microplate receiving section sized to receive the microplate, said fixture being at least partially engagable with said drive roller assembly.

13. The seal applicator according to claim 12, further comprising:

a stretcher disposed between said sealing cover roll and said plane assembly, said stretching engaging one of said elongated carrier liner and said plurality of individual sealing covers.

14. The seal applicator according to claim 12, further comprising:

an intermediate roller disposed between said plane assembly and said drive roller assembly, said intermediate roller engaging and directing said elongated carrier liner.

15. The seal applicator according to claim 14 wherein said intermediate roller is tapered along its longitudinal length to a reduced cross-section portion at about a longitudinal midpoint of said intermediate roller.

16. The seal applicator according to claim 12 wherein said housing comprises:

a base section; and

a cover section pivotally coupled to said base section, said cover section being positionable in a first position to conceal said sealing cover roll and a second position to reveal said sealing cover roll.

17. The seal applicator according to claim 12 wherein said plane assembly comprises:

a plate member;

a plane roller rotatably coupled to said plate member, said plane roller operable to at least in part supporting said elongated carrier liner.

18. The seal applicator according to claim 12 wherein said drive roller assembly comprises:

a drive roller rotatably coupled with said housing; and

a knob portion disposed on an end of said drive roller, said knob portion operable to manually advance said elongated carrier liner.

19. The seal applicator according to claim 18 wherein said drive roller is compliant.

20. The seal applicator according to claim 19, further comprising:

a pressure roller operably engaging said drive roller, said elongated carrier liner being received therebetween.

21. The seal applicator according to claim 12, further comprising:

an applicator roller rotatably coupled to said housing, said applicator roller engagable with a microplate.