# US 10,478,820 B2 · Reagent well having a retention feature for retaining a lyophilized reagent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,820 B2 - Document ID: US10478820B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/339,347 - Filed: 2016-10-31 - Published: 2017-03-09 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Gen-Probe Incorporated - Applicants: Gen-Probe Incorporated - Inventors: Byron J. Knight - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478820B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates} - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 3/5082: {Test tubes per se} - B01L 3/50825: {Closing or opening means, corks, bungs} - B01L 3/50853: {with covers or lids (closures for test tubes B01L3/50825)} - B01L 3/50855: {using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells} - B01L 3/523: {with means for closing or opening} - B01L 3/527: {for a plurality of reagents} - B65B 69/00: Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for - B65D 1/0207: {characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features} - B65D 1/34: Trays or like shallow containers {(B65D81/3813 takes precedence)} - B65D 1/36: with moulded compartments or partitions - B65D 17/50: Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs (flexible adhesive strips adapted to seal filling or discharging apertures B65D53/08) - B65D 39/0017: {Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles} - B65D 39/0029: {Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0011 - B65D39/0023} - C12Q 1/686: Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 35/026: {having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes} - G01N 35/10: Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/1002: {Reagent dispensers} - G01N 35/1079: {with means for piercing stoppers or septums} - B01L 2200/02: Adapting objects or devices to another - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/0642: Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques - B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering - B01L 2200/142: Preventing evaporation - B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof - B01L 2300/021: Identification, e.g. bar codes - B01L 2300/022: Transponder chips - B01L 2300/042: Caps; Plugs - B01L 2300/043: Hinged closures - B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes - B01L 2300/046: Function or devices integrated in the closure - B01L 2300/047: Additional chamber, reservoir - B01L 2300/048: enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents - B01L 2300/0609: Holders integrated in container to position an object - B01L 2300/0672: Integrated piercing tool - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped - B01L 2300/0838: Capillaries - B01L 2300/0851: Bottom walls - B01L 2300/0858: Side walls - B01L 2300/12: Specific details about materials - B01L 2400/0406: capillary forces - B65D 2539/003: provided with sealing flanges or ribs - G01N 30/6091: {Cartridges} - G01N 2035/00287: {movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes} - Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An article for performing a reaction includes a reagent well having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open upper end. A lyophilized reagent is retained within the well by a non-integral retention feature that is inserted into the open upper end of the well and fixed to a side wall above the reagent. An opening in the retention feature is smaller than the diameter of the reagent, but is sized to permit a pipette tip to be inserted into the well. The retention feature may be a collar fixed to the side wall and may include fingers extending axially into the well. The well and the retention feature may be correspondingly tapered. A method for reconstituting a lyophilized reagent includes the steps of drawing into a pipette tip attached to an automated pipettor an amount of a diluent and dispensing the diluent into the reagent well to thereby reconstitute the lyophilized reagent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article for performing a reaction comprising: a reagent well including a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open upper end defined by a top surface; a lyophilized reagent disposed within the reagent well; and a retention feature that is not integral with the reagent well, the retention feature comprising a fingered collar fixed to the side wall at or proximal to the open upper end and comprising one or more flexible fingers extending into the well, wherein each of the one of more fingers extends toward an axial center of the well, wherein the retention feature is inserted into the open upper end of the well and fixed to the side wall above the lyophilized reagent, wherein the retention feature defines an opening that is smaller than the diameter of the lyophilized reagent, such that the retention feature retains the lyophilized reagent within the reagent well, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an end of a pipette tip to be inserted into the well. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the lyophilized reagent is retained within the reagent well at, or adjacent to, the bottom wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the reagent well includes one or more features formed in the bottom wall to facilitate the deposit and/or collection of a fluid from the reagent well. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall are located at the axial center of the reagent well. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The article of claim 5, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a pair of crisscrossed grooves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include one or more ridges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of claim 7, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a pair of crisscrossed ridges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The article of claim 7, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include an annular ridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The article of claim 3, wherein the one or more features formed in the bottom wall include a plurality of bumps. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, further including a frangible seal affixed to the top surface of the reagent well and covering the open upper end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the side wall tapers inwardly from the open upper end toward the bottom wall, and wherein the collar includes an exterior surface that tapers in conformance to the side wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the retention feature is made from plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for reconstituting a lyophilized reagent, the method comprising the steps of: (a) drawing into a pipette tip an amount of a diluent from a fluid chamber, the pipette tip being attached to an automated pipettor; and (b) dispensing the diluent into the reagent well of the article of claim 1 to thereby reconstitute the lyophilized reagent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising, after step (b), the step of aspirating and dispensing the contents of the reagent well one or more times with the automated pipettor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a frangible seal is affixed to the top surface of the reagent well and covers the open upper end, and further comprising, prior to step (b), the step of puncturing the frangible seal with the pipette tip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the retention feature comprises a collar fixed to the side wall at or proximal to the open upper end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the collar comprises one or more fingers extending into the well, wherein each of the one of more fingers extends toward an axial center of the well.