Evaporation Of Solvents From Samples

• US 20150202623A1
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genevac Limited (ATS Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Genevac Limited (ATS Corp.)
• Inventors: Broadbent, Graham, Lee-Smith, Donald Roger, Rose, Symon, Darrington, Robert Hugh Douglas, Poole, John Michael, Smith, Richard John
• Granted Patent: US 9,975,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0678 Facilitating or initiating evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0694 Creating chemical gradients in a fluid
• 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 2300/10 Means to control humidity and/or other gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/06 Crystallising dishes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/50853 with covers or lids

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided relating to evaporation of solvents from samples and to prolonging the time taken to carry out an evaporation procedure. A cap for engaging with an open end of a sample container comprises an engaging surface for engaging with the open end, and a body portion which extends over the open end. The body portion is preformed to define an opening which provides a fluid pathway between the open end of the container and the surroundings of the container, such that the cap impedes vapour flow from a sample in the container to the surroundings of the container. A holder for receiving a plurality of such caps is also provided and a method of evaporating a solvent from a sample in a sample container is described.

Claims

1. A cap for engaging with an open end of one sample container, comprising:

an engaging surface for engaging with the open end; and

a plurality of body portions, each of which extends over the open end and has a surface which is preformed to define an opening, the openings providing a fluid pathway between the open end of the container and the surroundings of the container, such that the cap impedes vapour flow from a sample in the container to the surroundings of the container.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein at least two of the body portions define respective openings having different configurations.

4. The cap of claim 1, wherein each body portion comprises a lamina.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein each lamina defines a central, circular opening.

6. The cap of claim 5, wherein at least two laminae define central, circular openings having different diameters.

7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a selectable number of body portions.

8. The cap of claim 1, wherein the plurality of body portions which are selectively engaged to form a stack.

9. The cap of claim 8 including a seal between adjacent body portions in the stack.

10. The cap of claim 9 including a seal which exhibits substantially no vapour adsorption.

11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the seal is formed of a perfluoro-elastomer.

12. The cap of claim 8, wherein a mass of the body portion which is uppermost in use of the stack is greater than that of each of the other body portions in the stack.

13. The cap of claim 1 including a plurality of spacers which are selectively engaged to form a stack, and configured to selectively retain one of the body portions between adjacent spacers.

14. The cap of claim 13 including a seal between adjacent spacers in the stack.

15. The cap of claim 14 including a seal which exhibits substantially no vapour adsorption.

16. The cap of claim 15, wherein the seal is formed of a perfluoro-elastomer.

17. The cap of claim 14, wherein a mass of the spacer which is uppermost in use of the stack is greater than that of each of the other spacers in the stack.

18. A holder in combination with a plurality of caps of claim 1, wherein the holder defines an array of receiving locations, each location being configured to receive and locate a respective cap.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein a channel through the holder is defined at each location, each channel being configured to receive the respective cap via one end, and to define a retaining surface which prevents the cap from passing all the way through the channel.

21. The combination of claim 18, wherein at least two of the caps define respective fluid pathways having different configurations.

22. A centrifugal evaporator in combination with the cap of claim 1.

31. A centrifugal evaporator in combination with the holder of claim 18.

2. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

23-30. -30. (canceled)