Reagent preparation and dispensing device and methods for the same
Inventors
Pearcy, Timothy • Skakoon, James G.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8940539-B2
Publication Date
2015-01-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A reagent preparation and dispensing device includes a body. A reagent reservoir containing a reagent is disposed within the body. A solution reservoir containing a solution is disposed within the body. The device further includes an activator movably coupled with the body to open the reagent reservoir and the solution reservoir, The activator is operable to mix the solution with the reagent to form a specified amount of a reagent mixture. A dispensing reservoir tip is coupled with the body. The dispensing reservoir tip is sized and shaped to hold the specified amount of the reagent mixture and dispense the specified amount of the reagent mixture from the device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a reagent preparation and dispensing device and to methods of making and using the same. A body contains a reagent reservoir and a solution reservoir, and an activator opens the reagent reservoir and the solution reservoir and mixes the solution with the reagent to reconstitute the reagent and form a reagent mixture. A dispensing tip coupled with the body dispenses the reagent mixture.
The disclosure also includes a reagent reservoir separate from the body, the reagent reservoir including the lyophilized reagent. Lyophilizing of the reagent is isolated from the body and the solution reservoir, and the body and the solution reservoir are not subject to lyophilizing conditions.
A flushing chamber within the body includes flushing gas therein. The activator and a plunger force flushing gas into the reagent reservoir from the flushing chamber, and the flushing gas forces the reagent mixture through the dispensing tip while the flushing gas does not mix with the reagent mixture.
The disclosure further includes venting and closing behavior and sealing states such that flushing gas is correspondingly controlled during mixing and dispensing. In some embodiments, mixing and dispensing are separated by structural and motion features, including multistage activator and plunger coupling.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified in the provided claim set are clm-00001, clm-00005, and clm-00021. Across these claims, the inventive features center on isolated lyophilizing with a separate reagent reservoir, activator-driven opening and reconstitution, dispensing through a dispensing tip, and a flushing chamber and plunger arrangement that forces flushing gas without mixing with the reagent mixture.
Isolated lyophilizing with separate reagent reservoir during device manufacture
Lyophilizing of the reagent is isolated from the body and the solution reservoir, and the body and the solution reservoir are not subject to lyophilizing conditions, while a reagent reservoir separate from the body is coupled with the body and includes the lyophilized reagent.
Activator opening reservoirs, mixing to reconstitute, and dispensing the reagent mixture
An activator coupled with the body opens the solution reservoir and the reagent reservoir, mixes the solution with the lyophilized reagent to form a reagent mixture, and dispenses the reagent mixture from the body.
Reconstitution device with flushing chamber forcing flushing gas without mixing
A body includes a reagent reservoir and a solution reservoir, an activator opens the reagent reservoir and the solution reservoir to reconstitute the reagent and form a reagent mixture, and a flushing chamber includes flushing gas wherein a plunger forces flushing gas into the reagent reservoir so the flushing gas forces the reagent mixture through a dispensing tip while the flushing gas does not mix with the reagent mixture.
Forcing flushing gas from the flushing chamber into the reagent reservoir for non-mixing dispensing
Dispensing includes forcing flushing gas out of a flushing chamber and into the reagent reservoir with a plunger coupled with an activator, and then forcing the reagent mixture out of the dispensing tip with the flushing gas while the flushing gas does not mix with the reagent mixture.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage focuses on isolating lyophilizing from the body and solution reservoir during making, using an activator to open reservoirs and mix to reconstitute a reagent mixture, and using a flushing chamber and plunger to force reagent mixture dispensing with flushing gas that does not mix with the reagent mixture.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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