# US 8,541,246 B2 · Sample plate systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,246 B2 - Document ID: US8541246B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/846,580 - Filed: 2010-07-29 - Published: 2011-02-03 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-29 - Assignees: Dynex Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Adrian Bunce; Andrew Fusellier - Inventors: Adrian Bunce; Andrew Fusellier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541246B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/54393: {Improving reaction conditions or stability, e.g. by coating or irradiation of surface, by reduction of non-specific binding, by promotion of specific binding} - B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates} - G01N 33/5304: {Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates (for solid-phase systems G01N33/543)} - G01N 35/1065: {Multiple transfer devices} - G01N 35/1083: {with one horizontal degree of freedom} - B01J 2219/00459: Beads - B01J 2219/00468: by manipulation of individual beads - B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - G01N 2035/00574: {Means for distributing beads} - G01N 2035/1086: {Cylindrical, e.g. variable angle} - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. Also provided herein is a method of using the sample plate and kits comprising the sample plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, wherein a bead is located in each recess, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising: (a) a tapered section or (b) a diameter less than a diameter of said bead located in said recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said tapered section has a taper of at least about 1°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said tapered section has a taper of between 1° and 15°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said diameter of said recess is at least about 5% smaller than said diameter of said bead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said recess comprises a countersunk portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said sample plate comprises a plurality of sample wells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said sample well comprises between 2 and 20 recesses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said sample well comprises at least 10 recesses. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged circumferentially around a central portion of said sample well. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sample plate of claim 9, wherein said central portion comprises a central recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The sample plate of claim 9, wherein said central portion does not comprise a recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially symmetrical or regular manner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially asymmetrical or irregular manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially linear manner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses is arranged in a substantially curved manner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The sample plate of claim 6, wherein said plurality of sample wells is arranged in an A×B format, wherein A and B are perpendicular axes, and a number of wells along said A axis is greater than, less than, or equal to a number of wells along said B axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sample plate of claim 16, wherein said number of wells along said A axis or B axis is at least 2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sample plate of claim 17, wherein said number of wells along said A axis or B axis is between 2 and 15. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The sample plate of claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of sample wells is connected to another sample well of said plurality of samples wells by a frangible region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein said sample plate comprises a base comprising a docking portion for securing said sample plate to a corresponding docking portion of a plate frame holder. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The sample plate of claim 1, wherein each of said beads is attached to a probe. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The sample plate of claim 21, wherein said probe is a nucleic acid, antibody, antibody fragment, protein, peptide, aptamer, or chemical compound. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The sample plate of claim 21, wherein said probe is an oligonucleotide. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The sample plate of claim 21, wherein said sample plate comprises a plurality of probes, wherein a subset of said plurality of probes differs from another subset of said plurality of probes. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The sample plate of claim 24, wherein said plurality of probes comprises at least 3 different probes. ### Claim 26 A bead dispensing system comprising: (a) a bead dispenser comprising a plurality of beads; (b) a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising: i) a tapered section or ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads; and (c) a control system configured to control dispensing of said beads from said bead dispenser into respective ones of said recesses. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The bead dispensing system of claim 26, wherein said bead dispenser comprises: (i) a syringe body comprising an annular chamber surrounding a longitudinal bore, wherein said annular chamber is configured to channel a bead within said annular chamber towards a chamber provided in said bore; (ii) a plunger provided within said longitudinal bore; and (iii) a barrel or nozzle; wherein said plunger is configured to dispense a bead from said chamber into said barrel or nozzle. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The bead dispensing system of claim 26, wherein said bead dispenser is configured to dispense said plurality of beads automatically. ### Claim 29 A method of dispensing beads comprising: (a) providing a bead dispenser comprising a plurality of beads; (b) providing a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising i) a tapered section or ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads; and (c) controlling the dispensing of said beads from said bead dispenser into respective ones of said recesses. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said dispensing is performed automatically. ### Claim 31 A kit for detecting an analyte comprising: (a) a plurality of beads; and (b) a sample plate comprising a sample well, wherein said sample well comprises a base portion, wherein said base portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess having a circular cross-section and comprising i) a tapered section or ii) a diameter less than a diameter of a bead of said plurality of beads. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The kit of claim 31, wherein said plurality of beads comprises one or more probes. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The kit of claim 32, wherein said probe is a nucleic acid, antibody, antibody fragment, protein, peptide, aptamer, or chemical compound. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The kit of claim 32, wherein said probe is an oligonucleotide.