Tube rack tool
AssigneeBioFire Defense, LLC
InventorsLogan M. Taylor, Richard David Abbott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tools and methods are provided for removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes. Tube rack tools include a base and/or top piece for receiving the rack of tubes. The base has a support surface for engaging the closed bottom of the plurality of tubes. The support surface can be curved such that the rack of tubes can be rocked about the curves support surface to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack. The top piece can be configured to engage the rack such that pressure on the top piece in the direction of the support surface applies a pressure on the rack without applying the pressure to the tubes. The tubes are dislodged from the rack by application of the pressure. Elements of the tube rack tool are also configured for securing the tubes within the rack or caps to the tubes.
Claims32
A method of removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and a set of tubes, the method comprising:
- placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes;
- placing a top piece over the rack of tubes;
- and
- providing pressure on the rack to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack, wherein the providing pressure step includes applying pressure to the top piece to provide pressure on the rack, thereby dislodging the plurality of tubes.
A method of removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and a set of tubes, the method comprising:
- placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes;
- and
- providing pressure on the rack to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack, wherein the surface is curved and the providing pressure step includes rocking the rack, thereby dislodging substantially all of the set of tubes.
A method of removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and a set of tubes, the method comprising:
- placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes;
- and
- providing pressure on the rack to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack, wherein the plurality of tubes is a row of tubes, the surface is shaped to remove the row of tubes, and the applying pressure step dislodges the row of tubes.
A tube removal system, comprising:
- a rack of tubes comprising a microtiter plate having a plurality of wells and a plurality of tubes disposed in the wells, the microtiter plate having an upper surface portion disposed about the plurality of wells, the plurality of wells comprising openings in the upper surface portion;
- and
- a tube rack tool configured to receive the rack of tubes, the tube rack tool comprising:
- a base having a receiving area sized for receiving the rack of tubes, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes disposed in the wells of the microtiter plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the receiving area;
- and
- a top piece configured for retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the surface while providing pressure on the microtiter plate, the top piece having one or more legs configured to engage the upper surface portion of the microtiter plate such that pressure applied to the top piece in the direction of the surface dislodges the plurality of tubes from the microtiter plate.
A tube removal system, comprising:
- a rack of tubes comprising:
- a microtiter plate having
- a plurality of wells
- an upper surface portion disposed about the plurality of wells, the plurality of wells comprising openings in the upper surface portion, and
- a skirt disposed about the plurality of wells, the skirt extending from the upper surface portion;
- and
- a plurality of tubes disposed in the wells;
- and
- a tube rack tool configured to receive the rack of tubes, the tube rack tool comprising:
- a base having a receiving area sized for receiving the rack of tubes, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes disposed in the wells of the microtiter plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the receiving area;
- and
- a top piece configured for retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the surface of the base, wherein the top piece is configured to engage the upper surface portion of the microtiter plate without engaging a top surface of the plurality of tubes when the plurality of tubes are disposed in the wells.
A tube removal system, comprising:
- a rack of tubes comprising:
- a microtiter plate having
- a plurality of wells,
- an upper surface portion disposed about the plurality of wells, the plurality of wells comprising openings in the upper surface portion, and
- a skirt disposed about the plurality of wells, the skirt extending from the upper surface portion;
- and
- a plurality of tubes disposed in the wells;
- and
- a tube rack tool configured to receive the rack of tubes, the tube rack tool comprising:
- a base having a receiving area sized for receiving the rack of tubes, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes disposed in the wells of the microtiter plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the receiving area;
- and
- a top piece configured for retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the surface of the base, wherein the surface of the base is smaller than an area defined by the skirt and is configured to receive the rack of tubes without engaging the skirt.
A tube rack tool, comprising:
- a base having a curved support surface and a wall disposed about the support surface with a space between the wall and the support surface;
- and
- a top piece having a top portion and two legs extending from opposing sides of the top portion, the top piece being configured such that a portion of the at least one leg fits in the space between the wall and the support surface,
- wherein the wall at least partially bounds a receiving area of the base, the support surface being disposed in the receiving area, a first of the two legs being configured to fit in the space between the wall and a first side of the support surface, and a second of the two legs being configured to fit in the space between the wall and a second side of the support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.