Hand-held assay washer

Claim 1

A hand-held washer for beads or a plurality of containers comprising: an elongated washer body of transparent material having upper and lower walls extending along the elongated length thereof; an inlet channel extending within the washer body for carrying fluid from a source, the inlet channel being visible through the transparent material of the washer body; an outlet channel extending within the washer body for supplying suction from a vacuum source, the outlet channel being visible through the transparent material of the washer body; a plurality of wash tubes, each disposed in fluid communication with and extending from the inlet channel through the lower wall of the washer body at a selected location along the length thereof to a remote tip; a plurality of aspirator tubes, each disposed in fluid communication with and extending from the outlet channel through the lower wall of the washer body at a selected location along the length thereof to a remote tip, said aspirator tubes descending further form the lower wall than the wash tubes and including covering thereon of non-scratch material extending beyond the remote tips thereof; sealing means disposed within the washer body to terminate the inlet channel and the outlet channel substantially adjacent the last wash tube or aspirator tube in communication therewith along the lengths thereof to provide self-purging fluid paths in the inlet and outlet channels; said washer body including side walls between the upper and lower walls that extend substantially along the portion of the elongated length thereof adjacent the selected locations and that taper inwardly over the dimensions of the side walls between the upper and lower walls at an angle substantially in alignment with the remote tips of said tubes to facilitate viewing of the remote tips of at least said aspirator tubes along the corresponding side wall of the washer body; and valve means connected to the inlet channel controlling the flow of fluid therein.