Reagent dispensing apparatus

A reagent dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a housing that includes an internal cavity having a first end with an opening and a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end including an aperture;
• a plunger that moves through the cavity, the plunger including:
• a first member that includes a third end that is outside of the housing, a fourth end opposite the third end, and two or more safety mechanisms that prevent movement of the first member when the two or more safety mechanisms are engaged,
• the fourth end being associated with a first seal inside the internal cavity, and
• a second member, inside the cavity, that includes a fifth end that is associated with the first seal and a sixth end, opposite the fifth end, that is associated with a second seal,
• the first seal and the second seal forming a first chamber, within a first portion of the internal cavity, that stores a first reagent, and
• the second seal being associated with a tip;
• and
• a frangible seal that covers the opening of the internal cavity, the frangible seal and the second seal forming a second chamber, within a second portion of the internal cavity, that stores a second reagent,
• the frangible seal being pierced when a first safety mechanism, of the two or more safety mechanisms, is disengaged and the third end is depressed to enable the plunger to move causing the tip to pierce the frangible seal and the second reagent to exit the chamber through the opening, and
• the second seal being broken when a second safety mechanism, of the two or more safety mechanisms, is disengaged and the third end is further depressed to enable the first reagent to exit the first chamber through the opening.

A reagent dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a housing that includes an internal cavity having a first end with an opening and second end that is opposite the first end, the second end including an aperture;
• a plunger that is movable within the cavity, the plunger including:
• a first member that includes a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and two or more safety mechanisms,
• the fourth end being associated with a first seal,
• the two or more safety mechanisms including at least one of,
• a first safety mechanism associated with a first tab that is flexible, the first safety mechanism being disengaged when the first tab is depressed, and
• a second safety mechanism that corresponds to a keyway associated with the aperture and second tab that is not flexible, the second safety mechanism is disengaged when the second tab is aligned with the keyway,
• a second member that includes a fifth end that is associated with the first seal and a sixth end, opposite the fifth end, that is associated with a second seal,
• the first seal and the second seal forming a first chamber, within a first portion of the internal cavity, that stores a first reagent,
• the second seal being associated with a tip;
• and
• a frangible seal that covers the opening of the internal cavity, the frangible seal and the second seal forming a second chamber, within a second portion of the internal cavity, that stores a second reagent,
• the frangible seal being pierced when one of the two or more safety mechanisms is disengaged and the third end is depressed to enable the plunger to move within the cavity causing the tip to pierce the frangible seal and evacuate the second reagent from the second chamber, and
• the second seal being broken when a different one of the two or more safety mechanisms is disengaged and the third end is further depressed to enable the first reagent to exit the first chamber through the opening.

A method for administering two or more reagents to a sample in a predetermined order, the method comprising:

• providing a dispensing apparatus comprising:
• a housing that includes an internal cavity having a first end with an opening and a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end including an aperture;
• a plunger that includes:
• a first member that includes a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and one or more safety mechanisms,
• the third end, when depressed, causing the first member to move through the aperture when the one or more safety mechanisms are disengaged, and the fourth end being associated with a first seal,
• the one or more safety mechanisms, when engaged, prevent movement of the first member through the aperture and, when disengaged, permit movement of the first member through the aperture,
• a second member that includes a fifth end that is associated with the first seal and a sixth end, opposite the fifth end, that is associated with a second seal,
• the first seal and the second seal forming a first chamber, within a first portion of the internal cavity, that stores a first reagent, and
• a frangible seal that covers the opening of the internal cavity, the frangible seal and the second seal forming a second chamber, within a second portion of the internal cavity, that stores a second reagent;
• providing a container containing a sample, the container capable of receiving the first reagent and the second reagent from the dispensing apparatus;
• operating the dispensing apparatus to move the plunger from an undepressed position to a first depressed position to apply the second reagent to the sample, where moving the plunger from the undepressed position to the first depressed position includes ensuring the one or more safety mechanisms are disengaged, depressing the third end, breaching the frangible seal, and evacuating the second reagent from the housing through the opening to apply the second reagent to the sample;
• and
• operating the dispensing apparatus to move the plunger from the first depressed position to a second depressed position to apply the first reagent to the sample, where moving the plunger from the first depressed position to the second depressed position includes ensuring the one or more safety mechanisms are disengaged, depressing the third end, and evacuating the first reagent from the housing through the opening to apply the first reagent to the sample.