GRAVITY-ASSISTED MIXING METHODS
First Claim
1. A method of mixing substances within a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) orienting the receptacle in an analyzer so that gravity can draw the contents of a first chamber of the receptacle into a second chamber of the receptacle when fluid communication is established between the first and second chambers;
(b) establishing fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
(c) applying a substance-moving force to the contents of the second chamber so that the contents of the second chamber are moved into the first chamber;
(d) removing the substance-moving force of step (c) so that gravity draws the contents of the first chamber into the second chamber without applying a substance-moving force to the first chamber, and(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of mixing substances within a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) orienting the receptacle in an analyzer so that gravity can draw the contents of a first chamber of the receptacle into a second chamber of the receptacle when fluid communication is established between the first and second chambers; (b) establishing fluid communication between the first and second chambers; (c) applying a substance-moving force to the contents of the second chamber so that the contents of the second chamber are moved into the first chamber; (d) removing the substance-moving force of step (c) so that gravity draws the contents of the first chamber into the second chamber without applying a substance-moving force to the first chamber, and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification