Volume controlled receptacle
First Claim
1. A volume-control receptacle for receiving a specific volume of fluid comprising:
- a receptacle base having an upper inlet and a cup-like bore in communication with the upper inlet, the cup-like bore defining a reservoir with a bottom; and
a plurality of capillaries connected to the cup-like bore and opening at a specific height above the bottom of the reservoir for draining excess fluid from the receptacle to achieve a specific volume of fluid in the reservoir, the volume of fluid being determined by the height of the plurality of capillaries relative to the bottom of the reservoir.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A volume-control receptacle has a reservoir with a bottom. The reservoir is adapted for receiving a fluid. The receptacle has a plurality of capillaries opening on the reservoir at a specific height above the bottom; the capillaries draw off the excess fluid from the receptacle, thereby leaving a specific amount of fluid in the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the volume-control receptacle is adapted for use with a disposable cuvette. The reservoir of the receptacle has a drain at the bottom connected to the cuvette for delivering the fluid to a testing instrument or other final application point. The volume-control receptacle has a lip projecting upward from a promontory of the receptacle. A rib extends downward from the lip to the bottom of the reservoir for guiding the fluid into the reservoir.
27 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A volume-control receptacle for receiving a specific volume of fluid comprising:
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a receptacle base having an upper inlet and a cup-like bore in communication with the upper inlet, the cup-like bore defining a reservoir with a bottom; and a plurality of capillaries connected to the cup-like bore and opening at a specific height above the bottom of the reservoir for draining excess fluid from the receptacle to achieve a specific volume of fluid in the reservoir, the volume of fluid being determined by the height of the plurality of capillaries relative to the bottom of the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A volume-control apparatus for receiving a specific volume of fluid and delivering the fluid to a final application point, the apparatus comprising a volume-control receptacle adapted to be secured on top of a cuvette,
wherein the cuvette has an inlet port and at least one outlet port, and wherein the cuvette contains at least one conduit extending from the inlet port to the at least one outlet port; -
wherein the volume-control receptacle comprises a base having an upper inlet and at least one opening disposed at a point below and in communication with the upper inlet for draining excess fluid from the receptacle; wherein the volume-control receptacle or the cuvette further contains a cup-like bore defining a reservoir having a bottom so that when the receptacle is placed on top of the cuvette, the reservoir is disposed between the at least one opening of the receptacle and the inlet port of the cuvette, and so that when the receptacle is placed on top of the cuvette, the at least one opening is disposed at a pre-determined point above the bottom of the reservoir for draining excess fluid from the receptacle to achieve a specific volume of fluid in the reservoir, the volume of fluid being determined by the height of the at least one opening relative to the bottom of the reservoir; and wherein the bottom of the reservoir further contains a drain hole in communication with the inlet port of the cuvette for allowing the fluid to drain from the reservoir to the at least one conduit of the cuvette and to the outlet port of the cuvette once the specific volume of fluid has been received in the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A volume-control receptacle adapted for use with a bottle having a container and a cap, the volume-control receptacle comprising an insert disposed within the cap, the insert having
an upper inlet opening; -
a cup-like bore in communication with the upper inlet opening, the cup-like bore defining a reservoir with a bottom; a plurality of capillaries opening onto the reservoir at a specific height above the bottom of the reservoir for drawing away excess fluid from the reservoir; and a fill tube for delivery of the fluid from the container of the bottle to the reservoir when the bottle is inverted; and wherein the receptacle further comprises a lid adapted to be mounted on the cap and to be moved between a closed position and an open position; and
wherein when the lid is in a closed position, it covers the reservoir, and wherein when the lid is in the open position, it grants access to the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of filling a cuvette with a specific volume of fluid comprising the steps of:
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providing a cuvette having a common supply area, at least one drive aperture, and a plurality of conduits, each of the plurality of conduits extending from the common supply area to the at least one drive aperture; placing a volume-control receptacle on the cuvette, wherein the volume-control receptacle has a base with an upper inlet and a plurality of capillaries disposed below the upper inlet for drawing away excess fluid; placing the cuvette with the volume-control receptacle into a testing instrument, therein blocking the drive apertures and leaving the receptacle accessible; filling a reservoir disposed within the volume-control receptacle or the cuvette by placing fluid into the reservoir through the upper inlet of the volume-control receptacle; and drawing away any excess fluid through the plurality of capillaries in the volume-control receptacle wherein the capillaries each have an opening at a specific height above the bottom of the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification