Method and apparatus for the transfer of fluid samples

Claim 2

A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of forcing substance into the cavity through a portion of the opening to thereby displace a portion of the sample from the cavity.

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of positively guiding the cavity along a motion restricting path to and from the substance to thereby increase the reproducibility of the sample deposition in the groove.

Claim 4

In the method of performing electrophoresis tests of a fluid sample by placing the sample in a gellike material, migrating the sample into the material, and applying an electric current to the material and the sample, the improvement comprising the steps of: transferring the sample to the material by suspending a portion of the sample in an elongate capillary cavity of an applicator having a cutting edge intersected by the cavity, the applicator including means communicating the cavity with the exterior over at least a portion of the length of the cavity, moving the applicator towards the material in the general direction of an axis of the cavity to contact the material with the cutting edge and form a groove in the material, contacting the suspended sample in the cavity with a portion of the material defining the groove, and withdrawing the applicator from the material in the general direction of the cavity axis, whereby at least a portion of the suspended sample is removed from the cavity and transferred to the material.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 5 including the steps of mounting the applicator on guide means, placing the sample container beneath the applicator, dipping the applicator in the sample container by moving it along the guide means, placing the material beneath the applicator, and moving the applicator along the guide means to contact the suspended sample with the material defining the groove.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 5 wherein the applicator has a wedge shaped end, and wherein the step of forming the groove comprises making an incision and forcing apart portions of the material adjacent the incision, and entering a portion of the material into the cavity to displace at least a portion of the suspended sample from the cavity.

Claim 7

Apparatus for depositing a fluid sample in a deformable substance comprising: an applicator member defining at least one cavity extending from an edge of the member towards an inner portion thereof and transversely across the member to intersect at least one side of the member, the cavity being dimensioned so that the sample can be retained therein by capillary forces, the edge of the member to which the cavity extends being defined by converging sides and a relatively sharp ridge between the sides intersected by the cavity.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the member is defined by a sheet, wherein the sharp ridge is disposed at about the center of the sheet cross section, and wherein the converging sides comprise a pair of angularly disposed sides converging from faces of the sheet towards the ridge.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the cavity is defined by a passageway extending from the ridge towards thE inner portion of the member, and an inner cavity portion communicating with the passageway, the cavity portion having a width greater than a width of the passageway.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the width of the cavity portion is from between about 2 to about 4 times the minimum width of the passageway.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the passageway tapers from the cavity portion towards the ridge and there defines a neck, and wherein the neck has a width of between about 0.003 to about 0.010 inches.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the applicator includes a plurality of equally spaced cavities, wherein the ridge has a maximum flat extent of no more than about 0.010 inch, and wherein the angular inclination of the converging sides is between about 15 and about 60*.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the transfer of a fluid sample to a gel-like substance under controlled and repeatable conditions comprising: an applicator, guide means mounted to a support structure permitting movement of the applicator to and from the support structure, container means for the sample, means for holding the substance, and means for alternatively placing the container means and the substance holding means beneath the applicator, the applicator defining a tongue extending towards the support means, terminating in a wedge shaped end portion and having at least one capillary cavity intersecting the end portion, the tongue including means communicating the cavity with the exterior at a point spaced from the ridge, whereby depression of the applicator while the container means is beneath thereof transfers a portion of the sample into the cavity and depression of the applicator while the substance holding means is disposed beneath thereof causes the formation of an incision in the substance and the transfer of a quantity of the sample from the cavity to the incision.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the tongue includes a plurality of independent, spaced apart capillary cavities.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the alternative positioning means include means for placing the substance holding means in a predetermined position beneath the applicator.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14 including spring means biasing the applicator away from the support structure.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the applicator comprises a bridge member, and the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart guide posts projecting from the support structure and moveably engaging the bridge member.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14 including a plurality of spaced apart applicator tongues projecting from a main body of the applicator, wherein the container means comprises a plurality of separated, equally spaced cups, and wherein the substance holding means comprises a plurality of equally spaced, separated substance holding troughs, the spacing of the tongues, the cups and the troughs being equal, and wherein the locating means positions the cups and the troughs beneath the applicator in alignment with the applicator tongues to enable the simultaneous transfer of a plurality of independent samples.