Patent ID: 11872563
Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B

Claim 11:
12. A method for providing reagents to analytical equipment, the method comprising:
on a reagent container including a base and a top, the base defining a plurality of wells having openings exposed at an upper surface of the base and a tube receptacle, the plurality of wells including a first set of wells and a second set of wells,
each well of the first set of wells having an opening at an upper surface of the base, wherein the opening is to a well bore and a channel in communication with the well bore, the opening having a first portion disposed over the well bore and a second portion disposed over the channel, the channel having a tapered configuration and having a side opening into the wellbore that extends from an upper surface of the base along a portion of the length of the wellbore,
the first portion having a larger area than the second portion, the first portion having a first perimeter, the second portion having a second perimeter that meets the first perimeter at a junction, an angle defined by tangents to the first and second perimeters of the first and second portions as the first and second perimeters approach a junction between the first and second portions being at least 100° and not greater than 155°, the top coupled over the top surface of the base and defining windows providing access to the openings of the plurality of wells and the tube receptacle;
wherein a volume of wells of the second set of wells is larger than a volume of wells of the first set of wells; and
wherein each well of the second set of wells has an opening larger than the opening of each well of the first set of wells;

piercing, with a pipette tip attached to an automated pipette robot, a foil at a position disposed over the second portion of the opening and disposed over the channel of a well of the first set of wells;
piercing, with the pipette tip attached to the automated pipette robot, the foil at a position disposed over the first portion of the opening and over the well bore of the well of the first set of wells; and
drawing a reagent from the well bore of the well of the first set of wells using the pipette tip.