Patent ID: 6083761
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B01J,B01L,C40B,Y10T

Abstract:
A multiwell plate system for handling articles suspended in a liquid, comprising:a plate body;a plurality of wells, with each well having a bottom end;a liquid retained in at least some of the wells;at least one generally spherical article in at least some of the wells that have the retained liquid; anda capillary hole having a non-circular profile in at least some wells of said plurality that have the retained liquid and the generally spherical article, the capillary hole extending through the plate body and being adapted to (i) retain said generally spherical article in the well having said hole, (ii) retain said liquid in said well while said liquid is not subjected to extrinsic forces, and (iii) permit said liquid in said well to flow around said generally spherical article and out of said hole when said liquid is subjected to an extrinsic force produced by centrifugation;wherein the capillary holes are disposed in the bottom ends of said wells, and wherein said bottom ends are sloped toward said capillary holes.