Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing reagent beads
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells;
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the plurality of wells and retain the plurality of reagent beads in the plurality of wells of the bead carrier, the apparatus comprising;
a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel;
wherein the stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge, the cover tape being insertable through the stripping gap to be pulled against the stripping edge to peel the cover tape from the bead carrier to move the plurality of wells of the bead carrier inside the channel toward the dispense opening and expose the plurality of wells individually to dispense the plurality of reagent beads from the plurality of wells through the dispense opening.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient and effective technique for storing and dispensing reagent beads. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells; a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the wells; and a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the wells and retain the reagent beads in the wells. The apparatus comprises a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel. The stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge. The cover tape is insertable through the stripping gap to be pulled against the stripping edge to peel the cover tape from the bead carrier to move the wells of the bead carrier inside the channel toward the dispense opening and expose the wells individually to dispense the reagent beads.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells;
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the plurality of wells and retain the plurality of reagent beads in the plurality of wells of the bead carrier, the apparatus comprising;a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel; wherein the stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge, the cover tape being insertable through the stripping gap to be pulled against the stripping edge to peel the cover tape from the bead carrier to move the plurality of wells of the bead carrier inside the channel toward the dispense opening and expose the plurality of wells individually to dispense the plurality of reagent beads from the plurality of wells through the dispense opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
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11. An apparatus for dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells;
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the plurality of wells and retain the plurality of reagent beads in the plurality of wells of the bead carrier, the apparatus comprising;a housing having in an interior thereof a channel in which to place the bead storage device with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel, wherein the stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge; a clutch configured to pull a leading end of the cover tape inserted through the stripping gap to pull the cover tape against the stripping edge; and a wheel coupled to the clutch for turning the clutch to pull the cover tape. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
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20. A method of dispensing reagent beads contained in a bead storage device which includes a bead carrier having a plurality of wells;
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
a cover tape releasably attached to the bead carrier to cover the plurality of wells and retain the plurality of reagent beads in the plurality of wells of the bead carrier, the method comprising;placing the bead storage device in a channel with the bead carrier facing a support wall of the channel and the cover tape facing a stripping wall of the channel, wherein the stripping wall includes a stripping gap disposed between a stripping edge and an opposite edge, and a dispense opening provided adjacent the opposite edge on a side of the stripping wall opposite from the stripping edge; inserting the cover tape through the stripping gap; pulling the cover tape against the stripping edge to peel the cover tape from the bead carrier to move the plurality of wells of the bead carrier inside the channel toward the dispense opening and expose the plurality of wells individually to dispense the plurality of reagent beads from the plurality of wells through the dispense opening. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a plurality of reagent beads disposed in the plurality of wells; and
Specification