US6303387B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of transferring a liquid drop from a multiwell plate and/or chemical assay
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1999-09-30
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Granted: 2001-10-16
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Expires: 2019-09-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to the transfer and distribution, notably in a biological or chemical analysis, of a small amount of liquid. The invention relates notably to a method which consists of providing a transfer tool ( 18 ) having at least one rod ( 10 ) whose lower surface ( 12 ) of pre-determined cross section is wettable and of which at least one side surface ( 14 ) is non-wettable; immersing the rod ( 10 ) into a reservoir containing a liquid, for a pre-determined period of time and at a pre-determined depth; removing the rod ( 10 ) from the reservoir so that a liquid drop is retained on the lower surface ( 12 ) of the rod ( 10 ); positioning the rod ( 10 ) over a receptor medium; and placing the drop in contact with a surface of a receptor medium. The invention also relates to the transfer tool ( 18 ) which has in its structure at least one rod ( 10 ) and to a method for making the transfer tool ( 18 ).
Inventors
- 👤 William Birch
- 👤 Alain Carre
- 👤 Eric Francois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:48
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/02; B01L3/0241; B01L3/0244; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/0022; B29C33/0027; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00277; B01J2219/00279; B01J2219/00306; B01J2219/00313; B01J2219/00315; B01J2219/00351; B01J2219/00387; B01J2219/00497; B01J2219/00527; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00585; B01J2219/00596; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00605; B01J2219/0061; B01J2219/00614; B01J2219/00617; B01J2219/00619; B01J2219/00621; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/00677; B29C39/00; C; C40; C40B; C40B60/00; C40B60/14; G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/1034; G01N2035/1037; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
In a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod of predetermined diameter having a hydrophilic bottom surface, which is wetting and at least one oleophobicside surface, which is non-wetting. (b) immersing said rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth, (c) removing said rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on said bottom surface of said rod, (d) locating said rod above a receiving medium, and (e) contacting said drop with a surface of a receiving medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod of predetermined diameter having a hydrophilic bottom surface, which is wetting and at least one oleophobicside surface, which is non-wetting. (b) immersing said rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth, (c) removing said rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on said bottom surface of said rod, (d) locating said rod above a receiving medium, and (e) contacting said drop with a surface of a receiving medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving medium is a multiwell plate having a plurality of wells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said drop is contacted with an interior surface of a well in said multiwell plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said interior surface of said well is wetting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer tool has a plurality of rods arranged and separated so as to align with a distribution of wells of a multiwell plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said depth is at least twice said diameter of said rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said length of immersion is a period of time sufficient to allow said liquid to achieve a meta-stable equilibrium configuration on said bottom surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of transferring a liquid drop from a well of a multiwell plate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a hydrophilic bottom surface, which is wetting and at least one oleophobic side surface, which is non-wetting. (b) immersing said rod in said well containing liquid for a predetermined time at a predetermined depth, (c) removing said rod from said well such that a liquid drop is retained on said bottom surface of said rod, (d) locating said rod above a receiving container, and (e) contacting said drop with said receiving container.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of transferring a liquid drop from a well of a multiwell plate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a hydrophilic bottom surface, which is wetting and at least one oleophobic side surface, which is non-wetting. (b) immersing said rod in said well containing liquid for a predetermined time at a predetermined depth, (c) removing said rod from said well such that a liquid drop is retained on said bottom surface of said rod, (d) locating said rod above a receiving container, and (e) contacting said drop with said receiving container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said transfer tool has a plurality of rods arranged and separated so as to align with a distribution of wells of a multiwell plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said depth is at least twice said diameter of said rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said length of immersion is a period of time sufficient to allow said liquid to achieve a meta-stable equilibrium configuration on said bottom surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said interior surface of said well is wetting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a radius ranging from approximately 2 mm-1 μm and having a wetting tip and at least one non-wetting side, said at least one rod having a diameter less than or equal to the capillary length of said liquid and composed of either a glass, a ceramic, or a polymer material, and a support structure holding said at least one rod; (b) immersing said at least one rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth; (c) removing said at least one rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on a bottom surface of said tip of said at least one rod; (d) locating said at least one rod above a receiving medium; and, (e) contacting said drop with a surface of said receiving medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
174 words
a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a radius ranging from approximately 2 mm-1 μm and having a wetting tip and at least one non-wetting side, said at least one rod having a diameter less than or equal to the capillary length of said liquid and composed of either a glass, a ceramic, or a polymer material, and a support structure holding said at least one rod; (b) immersing said at least one rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth; (c) removing said at least one rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on a bottom surface of said tip of said at least one rod; (d) locating said at least one rod above a receiving medium; and, (e) contacting said drop with a surface of said receiving medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a radius ranging from approximately 2 mm-1 μm and having a wetting tip and at least one non-wetting side, said at least one rod having a diameter less than or equal to the capillary length of said liquid and composed of either a glass, a ceramic, or a polymer material, and a support structure holding said at least one rod; (b) immersing said at least one rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth; (c) removing said at least one rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on a bottom surface of said tip of said at least one rod; (d) locating said at least one rod above a receiving container; and, (e) contacting said drop with a surface of said receiving container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a biological or chemical assay, a method of transferring a quantity of liquid having a volume of less than about 2 μl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a transfer tool having at least one rod having a radius ranging from approximately 2 mm-1 μm and having a wetting tip and at least one non-wetting side, said at least one rod having a diameter less than or equal to the capillary length of said liquid and composed of either a glass, a ceramic, or a polymer material, and a support structure holding said at least one rod; (b) immersing said at least one rod into a reservoir containing a liquid for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined depth; (c) removing said at least one rod from said reservoir such that a liquid drop is retained on a bottom surface of said tip of said at least one rod; (d) locating said at least one rod above a receiving container; and, (e) contacting said drop with a surface of said receiving container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-15 | 2005-04-16 | 2005-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-15 | 2009-04-16 | 2009-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-15 | 2013-04-16 | 2013-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |