Well plate drier and cover
AssigneeCovaris, Inc.
InventorsDiana Sim, Daniel Edward Zimmerman, Paulina Kocjan, Todd Anthony Basque, James A. Laugharn, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for removing liquid from exterior surfaces of sample wells in a well plate. Wells that have water or other liquid on an exterior surface, e.g., after acoustic energy treatment in a water bath, may have the liquid removed by contacting the exterior surfaces of the sample wells with an absorbent material. A pad made of absorbent material may have a plurality of openings arranged to receive an array of sample wells inserted into the openings so that liquid can be removed from each of the sample wells.
Claims45
An apparatus for removing liquid from a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface protruding downwardly from an underside of the well plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a pad of absorbent material including a plurality of openings arranged in an opening array, the opening array being configured such that each of the plurality of sample wells protruding from the underside of the well plate is receivable in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings such that the exterior surface of the sample well is contacted by the pad at the corresponding one of the plurality of openings to remove liquid from the exterior surface of the sample well.
A method for handling a well plate, comprising:
- providing a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface protruding downwardly from an underside of the well plate and each of the plurality of sample wells holding a sample material;
- positioning the well plate so that the exterior surface of the sample wells contacts a liquid coupling medium arranged to transmit acoustic energy from an acoustic energy source to the sample wells;
- removing the sample wells from contact with the liquid coupling medium;
- and
- contacting the exterior surface of the plurality of sample wells with a pad of absorbent material to remove liquid coupling medium from the exterior surface of the plurality of sample wells.
A method for handling a well plate, comprising:
- providing a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface protruding downwardly from an underside of the well plate and each of the plurality of sample wells holding a sample material;
- contacting the exterior surface of the sample wells with a liquid;
- and
- contacting the exterior surface of the plurality of sample wells with a pad of absorbent material to remove liquid from the exterior surface of the plurality of sample wells.
An apparatus for removing liquid from a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface at an underside of the well plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a pad of absorbent material having an exposed top surface arranged to contact the underside of the well plate to remove liquid from the exterior surface of the sample well;
- and
- a frame that extends around the pad and supports the pad such that the frame and pad are movable together by grasping and moving the frame,
- wherein the frame includes walls that extend around the pad and a floor that extends between the walls of the frame and supports a bottom surface of the pad, and
- wherein the top surface of the pad is recessed below an upper surface of the frame.
An apparatus for removing liquid from a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface at an underside of the well plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a pad of absorbent material having an exposed top surface arranged to contact the underside of the well plate to remove liquid from the exterior surface of the sample well;
- and
- an array of caps arranged on a side of the pad opposite the top surface, the array of caps being configured to be placed over an upper side of the well plate to cover the plurality of sample wells.
An apparatus for removing liquid from a well plate having a plurality of sample wells arranged in an array, each of the sample wells having an exterior surface at an underside of the well plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a pad having an exposed top surface arranged to contact the underside of the well plate to remove liquid from the exterior surface of the sample well, the pad including a plurality of vertical pins or fingers that define the top surface of the pad and are arranged to contact the exterior surface of the well plate to remove liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.