Patent ID: 8430251
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
1. A tube loading system, which comprises: a first layer of tubes in an array, wherein each tube comprises a top, a bottom, one or more walls, and an inner surface; a plate comprising a base having a plate inner surface and a plate outer surface, a first set of plate projections extending from the plate inner surface, and a second set of projections extending from the plate outer surface, wherein: each projection in the first set of the plate projections includes one or more surfaces in effective contact with an inner surface of a tube in the first layer, and the first set of plate projections positions tubes of the first layer in the array; and a second layer of tubes in stacked connection with the outer surface of the base, wherein each projection of the second set of plate projections is in effective connection with the bottom of two or more tubes in the second layer of tubes.