METHOD FOR OBTAINING SAMPLE MATERIAL

• US 20070054413A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: TSEO, Gus, WEBB, Matthew, TALMER, Mark, AVILES, Robert, Sevigny, Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/023 adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0615 Loss of fluid by dripping
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• 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 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0448 composed of interchangeable ring elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0451 composed of interchangeable sectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A sample carrier comprising a frame and one or more sample tube receiving structures pivotally connected to the frame. Each sample tube receiving structure includes a bottom member adapted to receive a plurality of sample tubes and a top member having a plurality of aligned apertures sized to receive sample tubes therethrough. The sample tube receiving structures can be releasably locked relative to a support wall of the frame, thereby substantially immobilizing sample tubes that are held by the sample carrier.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining sample material from a sample tube, the method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a sample tube into a sample carrier adapted to receive the sample tube therein;

b) applying a retaining force against the sample tube to substantially immobilize the sample tube in the sample carrier, wherein the retaining force is not applied against the sample tube until after the inserting step; and

c) withdrawing at least a portion of a sample material from the sample tube, where the sample tube remains in the sample carrier during the withdrawing step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step is achieved by gravitation force.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step requires changing the orientation of the sample tube in the sample carrier after the inserting step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the retaining force is applied by a spring joined to the sample carrier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the retaining force is at least about 3 pounds force.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the withdrawing step includes penetrating a surface of a cap component of the sample tube with a pipette tip.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising performing an assay with the sample material obtained during the withdrawing step.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the assay includes performing a procedure for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence contained in a nucleic acid which may be present in the sample material.