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US 11,738,346 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus to mitigate bubble formation in a liquid
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsRobert Paul Luoma, II, Brian L. Ochranek, Cheryl L. Davidson, Bradley C. Weston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus to mitigate bubble formation in a liquid are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a bottom wall, a first baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall, and a second baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall. The first baffle is spaced apart from the second baffle, and the first baffle and the second baffle are positioned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the apparatus.
Claims19
A reagent container comprising:
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
- a bottom wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
- a first baffle extending from the bottom wall, the first baffle spaced apart from the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that a liquid reagent in the reagent container can flow between the first baffle and the first and second sidewalls;
- a second baffle extending from the bottom wall, the second baffle spaced apart from the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that the liquid reagent in the reagent container can flow between the second baffle and the first and second sidewalls;
- and
- a top wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite the bottom wall, an opening defined in the top wall, the opening structured to receive a pipette for extracting the liquid reagent from the reagent container, the opening in the top wall having a central axis that extends between the first and second baffles, wherein the bottom wall has a circular recess aligned with the opening such that a first portion of the bottom wall at the circular recess is lower than a second portion of the bottom wall at the first baffle.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- rotating a reagent container about an axis of rotation, the reagent container including:
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
- a top wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the top wall including a crown defining an enclosed cavity extending upward from an underside of the top wall;
- a bottom wall opposite the top wall, the bottom wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
- a baffle extending from the bottom wall, the baffle spaced apart from the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the top wall;
- and
- a liquid reagent in the reagent container;
- displacing the liquid reagent around the baffle during rotation;
- and
- decreasing bubble formation in the liquid reagent by the displacing of the liquid reagent around the baffle and the displacing of the liquid reagent into the cavity defined by the crown.
8 more elements
A reagent container comprising:
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
- a bottom wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
- a top wall coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite the bottom wall, the top wall including a crown defining an enclosed cavity extending upward from an underside of the top wall to enable liquid reagent in the reagent container to flow into the cavity when the reagent container is rotated;
- and
- a baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall, the baffle aligned below the crown.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.