Method For Carrying Out A Multi-Step Reaction, Breakable Container For Storing Reagents And Method For Transferring Solid Reagent Using An Electrostatically Charged Wand
First Claim
1. A method for carrying out a multi-step reaction, said method comprisingadding one or more first reagents to a reaction vessel, said reaction vessel comprising an upper chamber capable of holding reagents, which is open to a lower chamber to which reagent flow is restricted;
- 2) subjecting said reaction vessel to a centrifugal force so as to drive the said one or more first reagents into the lower chamber;
3) adding a further reagent to the first chamber and closing said chamber;
4) subjecting at least one of the lower chamber or the upper chamber to conditions which cause said one or more first reagents or said further reagent respectively, to take part in a first reaction or reach a desired reaction condition; and
5) subjecting said reaction vessel to a centrifugal force so as to drive the said further reagent into the lower chamber and allowing it to interact with contents of the lower chamber;
wherein at least steps (2) to (5) are carried out automatically.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The application relates to a method of performing a multi-step reaction vessel (68) having at least two compartments (685, 680). The reagents are placed in the first compartment (685) and moved to second one (680) by centrifugation, after which another set of reagents may be placed in the first compartment (685) while the reaction in the lower chamber takes place. Once the reaction is complete, the reagents that were in the first compartment (685) may be moved to the lower one (680) by centrifugation. The application also claims a container having a pierceable lower surface and an upper surface with either a pierceable component or a lid. A wand capable of being electrostatically charged, an apparatus comprising such a wand and a method of transferring solid reagents using such a wand is also claimed.
143 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for carrying out a multi-step reaction, said method comprisingadding one or more first reagents to a reaction vessel, said reaction vessel comprising an upper chamber capable of holding reagents, which is open to a lower chamber to which reagent flow is restricted;
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2) subjecting said reaction vessel to a centrifugal force so as to drive the said one or more first reagents into the lower chamber; 3) adding a further reagent to the first chamber and closing said chamber; 4) subjecting at least one of the lower chamber or the upper chamber to conditions which cause said one or more first reagents or said further reagent respectively, to take part in a first reaction or reach a desired reaction condition; and 5) subjecting said reaction vessel to a centrifugal force so as to drive the said further reagent into the lower chamber and allowing it to interact with contents of the lower chamber; wherein at least steps (2) to (5) are carried out automatically. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
(ii) moving the wand and/or the first container or reaction vessel so that the wand is in the vicinity of the reaction vessel; and (iii) removing the solid reagent from the said wand, so that it is placed in the second container or second position.
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- 20. A breakable container for storing reagents, said container having therein a reagent chamber with at least one pierceable wall at the lower surface thereof, and wherein the upper surface comprises either a further pierceable wall, or a lid comprising a piercing means, arranged such that piercing of said pierceable walls leads to release of reagent from the chamber.
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27. A method for transferring solid reagents from a first container or first position to a second container or second position, said method comprising:
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(i) bringing into the vicinity of said solid reagents in the first container or first position a wand comprising an electrostatically charged material, said wand being capable of electrostatically attracting and retaining said solid reagent on the surface thereof, so as to pick up a quantity of said solid reagent; (ii) moving the wand and/or the first or second containers so that the wand is in the vicinity of the second container or position; and (iii) removing the solid reagent from the said wand, so that it is placed in the second container or second position. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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- 44. An apparatus comprising a wand comprising a dielectric material which is electrostatically chargeable, and means for transferring said wand from a first container to a second container.
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46. A wand comprising a dielectric material which is electrostatically chargeable, and which is profiled so as to accommodate a solid reagent electrostatically in a groove or dimple on an outer surface thereof.
Specification