Evaporative control lid for multi-well sample trays
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12409454-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cover configured to reduce evaporation from a multi-well sample tray while permitting sampling of material housed in separate wells of the tray. The cover may directly engage the sample tray and move with the sample tray or the cover may be stationary while permitting movement of the sample tray relative to the cover.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an evaporation control cover for use with a multi-well sample tray having a plurality of regularly spaced sample wells defined by an outer perimeter, with additional sample wells located within the outer perimeter. The evaporation control cover includes a top having a plurality of sample holes arranged to correspond to the sample wells, with outer perimeter holes having a second diameter and additional interior holes having a first diameter, and the top carries a downwardly projecting flange configured to fit over the multi-well sample tray.
In one configuration, the cover further includes a wettable insert positioned beneath the top, the wettable insert having a plurality of insert holes aligned with the sample holes. In another configuration, the cover includes a bottom having upwardly projecting ports configured to provide fluid communication through the bottom and the upwardly projecting ports, with the ports corresponding to the regularly spaced sample wells, and the bottom carries an upwardly projecting flange that fits within the downwardly projecting flange of the top.
A region disposed within the upwardly projecting flange and around the upwardly projecting ports forms a reservoir. The combined top, wettable insert, and bottom are configured to reduce or preclude the loss of liquid from the plurality of regularly spaced sample wells, and liquid retention is increased by using the evaporation control cover.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims provide coverage for three interrelated inventive structures: a top with sample holes of two diameters combined with a wettable insert beneath the top and a tray-fitting downward flange, a top and bottom interface with upwardly projecting ports that provide fluid communication together with a reservoir region and wettable insert, and a rectangular outer-perimeter row arrangement with corner holes and matching top/bottom port layouts. Across these independent claims, the inventive features include hole and port geometry, tray interface via flanges, fluid communication, reservoir formation, wettable insert placement, and configuration to reduce or preclude liquid loss.
Evaporation control cover with top sample holes and wettable insert under top
An evaporation control cover having a top with a plurality of sample holes arranged to correspond to regularly spaced sample wells, with additional sample holes within the outer perimeter of holes having a first diameter and outer perimeter sample holes having a second diameter, and a downwardly projecting flange configured to fit over the multi-well sample tray, and a wettable insert disposed beneath the top with insert holes aligned with the sample holes.
Evaporation control cover with reservoir region, upwardly projecting ports, and wettable insert
An evaporation control cover having a top with sample holes arranged to correspond to regularly spaced sample wells and a downwardly projecting flange configured to fit over the multi-well sample tray, a bottom having upwardly projecting ports providing fluid communication through the bottom and corresponding to the regularly spaced sample wells, and an upwardly projecting flange configured to fit within the downwardly projecting flange of the top, a reservoir formed by a region disposed within the upwardly projecting flange and around the upwardly projecting ports, and a wettable insert positioned within the reservoir, wherein the top, wettable insert, and bottom combined together are configured to reduce or preclude the loss of liquid from the regularly spaced sample wells.
Rectangular outer-perimeter row configuration with matching top holes and bottom ports
An evaporation control cover for use with a multi-well sample tray where the multi-well sample wells are arranged in a rectangular configuration defined by outer perimeter rows with corner wells, and where the cover includes a top with sample holes arranged in a rectangular configuration corresponding to the sample wells and defined by top outer perimeter rows with corner holes, with interior sample holes having a first diameter and outer perimeter sample holes having a second diameter less than or equal to the first diameter, and a downwardly projecting flange configured to fit over the multi-well sample tray, and a bottom with upwardly projecting ports arranged in a rectangular configuration corresponding to the regularly spaced sample wells and defined by bottom outer perimeter rows with corner ports, an upwardly projecting flange configured to fit within the downwardly projecting flange, a reservoir region disposed within the upwardly projecting flange and around the upwardly projecting ports, and a wettable insert positioned within the reservoir, wherein the upwardly projecting ports provide fluid communication between the sample holes and the regularly spaced sample wells and the top, wettable insert, and bottom combined together are configured to reduce or preclude the loss of liquid from the plurality of regularly spaced sample wells.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on an evaporation control cover that fits to a multi-well sample tray using a downwardly/upwardly projecting flange interface, employs a top with sample holes arranged to correspond to regularly spaced wells, optionally uses a wettable insert beneath the top or within a reservoir region formed with upwardly projecting ports, provides fluid communication between the sample holes and the sample wells, and is configured to reduce or preclude liquid loss from the sample wells.
Stated Advantages
Increases liquid retention and reduces or precludes loss of liquid from the regularly spaced sample wells, improving measurement consistency and accuracy.
Documented Applications
Use of an evaporation control cover with a multi-well sample tray in bio-layer interferometry (BLI) to support measurement consistency and accuracy.
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