Reagent tube venting system and method
AssigneeVentrex, Inc.
InventorRobert Guthrie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a system and method for venting trapped gas from a reagent chamber in a reagent tube system and method, the system includes a valve insertion tool for inserting a valve in the tube so as to seal the chamber and enclose a reagent therein, and so as to vent trapped gas from the chamber. The system further includes a tube and valves comprised of materials for enabling momentary deflection of the valves for insertion in the tube. The tube and valve materials further enable the valve to remain in place to obstruct the flow of reagent from one chamber to the next upon insertion in the tube. They are further adapted to be readily displaceable with minimal focused force when separate dispensing or interaction and intermixing of the reagents is required for use thereof.
Claims50
A system for enabling the venting of gas trapped in a substantially vertical tube adapted to enable a chamber to be formed therein upon insertion of a valve for forming the chamber therein, wherein the chamber is adapted to contain a reagent therein, and the reagent in the chamber is adapted to be dispensed, subsequent to being sealed therein, upon displacement of the valve in the tube, comprising:
- a tube for containing a reagent therein, and for enabling the dispensing of the reagent therein upon displacement of the valve in the tube, wherein the tube is arranged substantially vertical;
- a chamber to be formed in the tube, for sealing the reagent therein pending dispensing of the reagent, including a valve at one end thereof;
- and
- means for inserting the valve in the tube, so as to seal the chamber and enclose the reagent therein, and simultaneously to vent gas which may be trapped in the chamber upon insertion of the valve therein, wherein upon removing the inserting means the valve remains within the tube.
A method of enabling the venting of gas trapped in a substantially vertical tube adapted to enable a chamber to be formed therein upon insertion of a valve for forming the chamber therein, wherein the chamber is adapted to contain a reagent therein, and the reagent in the chamber is adapted to be dispensed subsequent to being sealed therein, upon displacement of the valve in the tube, in a system which comprises a substantially vertical tube for containing a reagent therein, and for enabling the dispensing of the reagent therein upon displacement of the valve in the tube, a chamber to be formed in the tube, for sealing the reagent therein pending dispensing of the reagent, including a valve at one end thereof, and means for inserting the valve in the tube, so as to seal the chamber and enclose the reagent therein, and simultaneously vent gas which may be trapped in the chamber upon insertion of the valve therein, wherein upon removing the inserting means the valve remains within the tube, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- containing the reagent in the chamber to be formed in the tube, including inserting the valve in the tube so as to seal the chamber and enclose the reagent therein;
- and
- venting the gas trapped in the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.