Micro-well strip with print tabs

• US 5,948,363 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Gaillard
• Original Assignee: Patrick Gaillard
• Inventors: Gaillard, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/636,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/104, 422/119, 435/288.4, 435/305.2
• US Class Current: 422/552
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers

Abstract

A micro-well test unit and a micro-well strip which comprises a plurality of wells arranged along an axis and print tabs provided for use in marking individual wells with desired indicia. One embodiment comprises the use of different tabs in a single micro-well strip or in a single micro-well test unit.

Claims

1. A micro-well strip comprising a plurality of wells arranged along an axis, each of said wells comprising:

a bottom;

a sidewall defining an opening; and

at least one tab projecting from said sidewall of each of said wells in substantially the same plane as said opening for printing indicia thereon, said at least one tab disposed at an angle to said axis and comprising a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least of one third the span of said well opening.

2. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tab is connected to said sidewall adjacent to said opening.

3. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tab is disposed in a horizontal orientation.

4. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tab is disposed substantially perpendicular to said axis.

5. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said tabs is provided on a different well.

6. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said tabs is disposed to one side of said axis and at least one of said tabs is disposed on an opposite side of said axis.

7. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said tabs is disposed on the same side of said axis.

8. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tab extends a distance of about half said span of said well opening.

9. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said distal edge of said at least one tab is spaced from said sidewall by a distance of about said span of said well opening.

10. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wells arranged along a second axis.

11. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tab comprises an indicia receiving element.

12. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein said tab comprises a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least one half the span of said well opening.

13. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein each of said wells comprises two tabs.

14. A micro-well strip according to claim 13 wherein each of said wells comprises a tab disposed on one side of said axis and another tab disposed on an opposite side of said axis.

15. A micro-well strip according to claim 1 wherein adjacent wells are held together by a connecting member.

16. A micro-well strip according to claim 15 wherein said connecting member is readily separable.

17. A micro-well strip, comprising:

a plurality of wells arranged along an axis, said wells comprising a bottom, a sidewall and an opening; and

at least one tab projecting from said sidewall of each of said wells in substantially the same plane as said opening for printing indicia thereon, said tab disposed along said axis and comprising a distal edge spaced from a sidewall by a distance of at least one third of the span of said well opening.

18. A micro-well strip according to claim 17 wherein said distal edge is spaced from a sidewall by at a distance of at least half said span of said well opening.

19. A micro-well strip according to claim 17 wherein said distal edge of said tab extends a distance of about said span of said well opening.

20. A micro-well strip, comprising:

a first terminal well, a second terminal well and at least one non-terminal well disposed between said first and second terminal wells and comprising a bottom and a sidewall defining an opening, said wells arranged along an axis; and

at least one tab projecting from at least one of said non-terminal wells in substantially the same plane as said opening for printing indicia thereon, said at least one tab comprising a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least one third the span of an opening of said well.

21. A micro-well strip according to claim 20 wherein said at least one tab extends to one side of said axis.

22. A micro-well strip according to claim 20 wherein said at least one print tab extends in-line with said axis.

23. A micro-well test unit, comprising:

a frame member comprising means for supporting at least one micro-well strip, and

at least one micro-well strip comprising a first terminal well, a second terminal well and at least one non-terminal well disposed between said first and second terminal wells and comprising a bottom and a sidewall defining and opening, said wells arranged along an axis; and

at least one tab projecting from at least one of said non-terminal wells in substantially the same plane as said opening for printing indicia thereon, said at least one tab comprising a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least one third the span of an opening of said well.

24. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein said at least one tab extends to one side of said axis.

25. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein said at least one tab extends in-line with said axis.

26. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein comprising a plurality of micro-well strips wherein at least two of said strips have different configurations.

27. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein said tabs on said different strips are configured differently.

28. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein said supporting means supports a plurality of micro-well strips in adjacent strip spaces, and said tab extends into an adjacent strip space.

29. A micro-well test unit according to claim 23 wherein said tab comprises a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least one half the span of an opening of said well.

30. A micro-well comprising:

a bottom;

a surrounding sidewall defining an opening comprising a span which is the shortest straight distance through the center of said opening; and

at least one tab projecting from said sidewall in substantially the same plane as said opening for printing indicia thereon and comprising a distal edge spaced from said sidewall by a distance of at least one third the span of said well opening.

31. A micro-well according to claim 30 wherein said distal edge of said at least one tab is spaced from said sidewall by a distance of about said the span of said.

32. A micro-well according to claim 30 wherein at least two tabs are connected to said sidewall.