Patent ID: 9029129
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: A61B,B01L,C12M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A cartridge for holding and dispensing streaking applicators for an automated streaking apparatus having a cartridge holder, the streaking applicators including a mounting portion and having a generally rectangular form with two major inclined portions that together form a very shallow inverted V-shaped body, the cartridge including: a case with a rectangular cross-section, the case having four side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the top wall being at a dispensing end of the case, the case also having a longitudinal axis and an elongate slot arranged longitudinally along one side wall, the dispensing end including a streaking applicator dispensing position where one streaking applicator can be at least partially accessible from outside the case; a streaking applicator support member constrained within the case for longitudinal movement therein and being able to carry a stack of streaking applicators; the dispensing end including a streaking applicator-gripping opening in the top wall and a streaking applicator-dispensing opening in a side wall, the gripping opening being sized to reveal, in use, at least a mounting portion of a streaking applicator in the dispensing position, and the dispensing opening and the gripping opening being sized to permit, in use, a streaking applicator gripped through the gripping opening to be slid sideways from the stack of streaking applicators out of the cartridge through the dispensing opening; the elongate slot being capable of operatively receiving a biasing member when the cartridge is in the cartridge holder to urge the support member towards the dispensing end and a streaking applicator into the dispensing position; and the top wall also being configured to conform to the shape of a streaking applicator such that, in use, an uppermost streaking applicator in the stack (being the streaking applicator in the dispensing position abuts against the underside of the top wall due to the urging of the biasing member, in which position the mounting portion of that streaking applicator is accessible through the gripping opening and that streaking applicator is removable via the dispensing opening.