Integral reagent dispenser
First Claim
1. A unitary integral reagent container comprising:
- (a) means defining a plurality of reagent wells, each having a first opening for withdrawal of liquid reagent from said well therethrough and a second opening for introduction of liquid reagent into said well;
(b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in each of said reagent wells;
(c) means comprising a reagent well interior cross-sectional area for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of said reagent and within a defined area of said surface when said reagent is contained in said reagent wells;
(d) means defining a plurality of reagent reservoirs for containing a supply of liquid reagent in each, said reservoir defining means being integral with said reagent well defining means, wherein each such reagent reservoir cooperates with a selected reagent well;
(e) means for repeatedly releasing a controlled amount of reagent liquid from each of said reagent reservoirs through an opening between each such reagent reservoir and the reagent well with which it cooperates and for introducing the controlled amount of reagent so-released into said cooperating reagent well through said second opening thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The integral reagent dispenser disclosed comprises a reagent dispenser component provided with a reagent dispenser well having an opening adapted to present a liquid reagent for withdrawal therethrough and means to position a lens of liquid immiscible with said reagent between the reagent and the opening of said well. For example, the dispenser can have suitable dimensions and an inner surface which combine with the wetting characteristics of the reagent to form a concave reagent meniscus suitable to reliably position a lens of immiscible liquid thereon. The lens so formed is centrally located by the concave shape of the meniscus. Preferably, the reagent dispenser further includes an integrally associated source of reagent.
67 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A unitary integral reagent container comprising:
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(a) means defining a plurality of reagent wells, each having a first opening for withdrawal of liquid reagent from said well therethrough and a second opening for introduction of liquid reagent into said well; (b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in each of said reagent wells; (c) means comprising a reagent well interior cross-sectional area for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of said reagent and within a defined area of said surface when said reagent is contained in said reagent wells; (d) means defining a plurality of reagent reservoirs for containing a supply of liquid reagent in each, said reservoir defining means being integral with said reagent well defining means, wherein each such reagent reservoir cooperates with a selected reagent well; (e) means for repeatedly releasing a controlled amount of reagent liquid from each of said reagent reservoirs through an opening between each such reagent reservoir and the reagent well with which it cooperates and for introducing the controlled amount of reagent so-released into said cooperating reagent well through said second opening thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13)
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7. A unitary integral reagent container comprising:
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(a) means defining a reagent well having a first opening for withdrawal of liquid reagent from said well therethrough and a second opening for introduction of liquid reagent into said well; (b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in said reagent well; (c) means comprising a reagent well interior cross-sectional area for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of such reagent and within a defined area of such surface when such reagent is contained in said reagent well; (d) means defining a reagent reservoir integral with said reagent well for containing a supply of reagent liquid; and (e) means for repeatedly releasing a controlled amount of reagent liquid from said reagent reservoir through an opening between said reagent reservoir and reagent well and for introducing the controlled amount of reagent so-released into said reagent well through said second opening thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A unitary integral reagent container which comprises:
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(a) means defining a reagent well; (b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in said reagent well; and (c) means comprising a lens yoke having lens enclosure means and means for positioning said enclosure means for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of said reagent and within a defined area of said surface when said reagent is contained in said reagent well. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A unitary, integral reagent container comprising:
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(a) means defining a plurality of reagent wells; (b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in each of said reagent wells; and (c) means comprising a lens yoke having lens enclosure means and means for positioning said enclosure means in said reagent wells for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of said reagent and within a defined area of said surface when said reagent is in said reagent wells. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An integral reagent container which comprises a reagent container housing and, therein:
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(a) first and second reagent wells, each having a first opening for withdrawal of liquid reagent from said well therethrough, a second opening for introduction of liquid reagent into said well, means for maintaining a lens of immiscible liquid on the surface of such reagent and within a defined area of such surface when such reagent is contained in said reagent well which means comprises a hydrophilic inner surface and an inner diameter of less than about 0.5 inch; (b) means for establishing a standing level of reagent in each of said reagent wells; (c) a first reagent reservoir which contains at least one reagent of a composition effective to detectably react with a sample and cooperates with said first reagent well to supply said at least one reagent thereto as a liquid; and (d) a second reagent reservoir which contains the remaining reagents of said composition and cooperates with said second reagent well to supply said remaining reagents thereto as a liquid; (e) means for repeatedly releasing a controlled amount of reagent liquid from said first and second reagent reservoirs through an opening between said reagent reservoir and the reagent well with which it cooperates and for introducing the controlled amount of reagent so-released into said reagent well through said second opening thereof.
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Specification