Receptacles for storing substances in different physical states
First Claim
1. A closed receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the chambers including directly connected first and second chambers, wherein the first chamber has at least one chamber wall having a greater water vapor transmission rate than any chamber wall of the second chamber such that water vapor passes through the at least one chamber wall of the first chamber at a faster rate than it passes through any chamber wall of the second chamber, and wherein the first chamber contains a dried substance and the second chamber contains a liquid substance capable of altering the state or a characteristic of the dried substance.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
369 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A closed receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the chambers including directly connected first and second chambers, wherein the first chamber has at least one chamber wall having a greater water vapor transmission rate than any chamber wall of the second chamber such that water vapor passes through the at least one chamber wall of the first chamber at a faster rate than it passes through any chamber wall of the second chamber, and wherein the first chamber contains a dried substance and the second chamber contains a liquid substance capable of altering the state or a characteristic of the dried substance.
Specification