Abstract:
Capillary tube holder, a storage and shipping container in which a loaded capillary tube holder is securely held, a fixture for loading capillary tubes onto a capillary tube holder and a tube transfer fixture for transferring, removing or replacing individual capillary tubes from a loaded capillary tube holder.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/530,946 filed Oct. 12, 2009, now pending, which is a 371 of PCT/US07/63776 filed Mar. 12, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
       [0002]    This application pertains to a handling and packaging assembly, or system, for small diameter tubes and rods. It is particularly useful for the handling of small diameter (Outside diameter≦2 mm) tubes that have one end (the proximal end) tapered to a fine tip with the other end (the distal end) square cut. Such tubes find general application in the field of analytical chemistry, and most specifically in the field liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These tapered tubes, or needles, are typically used as ionization emitters in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditionally capillary tubes or needles have been packaged in one of two ways:
       (1) An adhesive material, such as double sided adhesive tape or spray adhesive, is used to affix the tubes in a plastic box; the box typically having a base and flip top lid. The base of the box typically has a raised portion to which the adhesive is applied. The tubes are then placed on the adhesive surface and held by the adhesive for shipping and storage before use.   (2) The tubes are placed individually into a secondary packaging tube that has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the tube being packaged. The secondary tube is then sealed with end caps on each end.       
 
         [0006]    These systems have significant shortcomings. The adhesives used in system (1) may chemically contaminate the tubes being shipped. This is not acceptable for applications in mass spectrometry, a chemical analysis method. Furthermore, the adhesives may deteriorate over time and loose holding power, damaging the tubes being stored. 
         [0007]    System (2) is limited in its ability to protect the ends of the capillary tubes since the tubes may shift in the packaging tubes. Contact with at least one end of the capillary tube is typically unavoidable. The typical solution is to affix the distal end of each capillary tube to one of the end caps of the packaging tube, either with an adhesive or by the use of a rubber end cap that has an internal bore having an inside diameter less than the OD of the packaged tube. 
         [0008]    A need therefore exists for an assembly which:
       (1) is free of any natural or synthetic adhesives, epoxies etc. that could cause chemical contamination of the tubes. More specifically, an assembly which provides a pure mechanical “friction based” holding of the tubes, and   (2) protects the tubes during shipping, especially the tapered ends of the tubes, which cannot withstand any direct physical contact with a surface. Preferably the system avoids contact of either the proximal and distal ends of the tubes with any surface within the package.   (3) allows the end user to remove a single tube at a time from the package without disturbing any other tubes in the package or damaging the tube in any way,   (4) can be produced at cost which is low enough so that the price to the consumer is unchanged, as compared to prior art assemblies. Parts of the system that ship to the customer must be inexpensive enough to be considered disposable while those used in manufacturing are re-usable on at least a limited or extended basis.   (5) meets the physical requirements of manufacturing and quality control, which include:
           a. Ability to load tubes “one-at-a-time” into the assembly.   b. Ability to remove entire groups of tubes from the assembly and handle them en masse, while maintaining their respective alignment, to expose either the proximal or distal ends for further inspection or processing.   c. Ability to remove individual tubes that do not meet specifications or pass quality control inspections during manufacturing and replace them with acceptable tubes.   
               
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In accordance with the invention, there is now provided an assembly/system formed of functional components that provide for the processing, handling, storage, and shipping of groups, or arrays, of tubes. The core of the system is a holder  1  and holding clip  20  that uses a compression element  24  to hold the tubes  90  into the grooves  2  of holder  1 . The holder  1  and holding clip  20 , including the compressible element  24 , and tubes  90 , when assembled together, comprise a sub-assembly  15 . Various other components and sub-assemblies interface with the combined holder  1 , holding clip  20 , and tubes  90 . Different outside diameter tubes may be accommodated by either adjusting the depth of the grooves  2 , the amount of compression applied by the element  24  or both. The compression element  24  is preferably a rectangular section of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, that is held normal to the top surface  3  of  1 holder  1 . 
         [0018]    A loading system comprised of an alignment fixture  30 , loading mount  40  and loading clip  50  enables the loading of a holder  1  and holding clip  20  with a population of tubes  90 . The design of the loading system enables the loading of individual tubes onto the holder, the application of the holding clip  20  once the holder  1  is populated, and the subsequent removal of the combined holder  1 , holding clip  20 , and tubes  90  from the loading system. Loading clip  50  has a compression element  54  that is similar in form and substance to the compression element  24  used in the holding clip  20 . However the mounting scheme for compression element  54  differs in that the compression element  54 , which is preferably a piece of rectangular elastomeric sheet, such as rubber, is held at an acute angle with respect to the top surface  3  of the holder  1 . 
         [0019]    There is also provided a carrier transfer system which enables handling and processing operations to be carried out on the distal ends  93  of the tubes  90 . The carrier transfer system allows the group of tubes  90  to be removed from the holder  1  and holding clip  20  while maintaining their respective alignment in an array. The carrier transfer system comprises a carrier body  60  and carrier clip  70 . The carrier body  60  interfaces to the holder  1  and holding clip  20  in a reversible manner so that the group of tubes  90  may be released from the holder  1  and holding clip  20  or transferred to an empty holder  1  and holding clip  20 . The transfer clip  70  is designed to protect the proximal end of the tube. It contains a compression element  74 , which is similar in form and substance to compression elements  24  and  54 , that is held normal to the surface  3  of holder  1 . 
         [0020]    Finally a package suitable for long-term storage and shipping of the holder  1 , holding clip  20 , and tubes  90  assembly, i.e., sub-assembly  15 , is provided, so that the sub-assembly  15  may be placed directly into the package without the need to individually handle tubes. The package is designed to accommodate tubes that are either shorter in length than the holder  1  or longer than the holder  1  body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an empty holder body, tubes to be loaded onto the holder body and a holder clip to hold the loaded tubes onto the holder body. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of the tube holder and holder clip, with optional securing rod  26 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a holder clip and elastomeric insert (a compression element) to be inserted into a recessed slot on the bottom of the holder clip body. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the holder body with capillary tubes loaded thereon and held in place by the holder clip, and the mating elements of the holder clip arms engaged with the corresponding mating elements on the holder body. The loaded holder body, with engaged holder clip constitute sub-assembly  15 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a loading fixture assembly comprising alignment fixture  30 , loading mount  40 , and loading clip  50  together with a loaded holder body  1  and holding clip  20 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6A  is a detailed view of loading clip  50 , illustrating magnets  53 , elastomeric insert  54 , pressure clamp  52  and tightening screws  51 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6B  is an exploded side view of angled face  55  of loading clip  50 , elastomeric insert  54  (compression element), pressure clamp  52 , magnet  53  and tightening screws  51 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates the loading fixture assembly with loaded holder body mounted thereon. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates a capillary tube  91 , having a tapered proximal end  94  and square-cut distal end  93 , being loaded onto holder body  1  through the use of the loading fixture assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates holding clip  20  being installed onto the loaded holder body  1 , prior to removing the holder body from the loading fixture assembly. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates the loading fixture assembly, with loaded holder body thereon, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , but with loading clip  50  removed. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11A  illustrates transfer carrier body  60 , transfer clip  70  with sub-assembly  15  about to be placed onto the transfer carrier body. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11B  illustrates a bottom view of transfer clip  70  with elastomeric insert  74  (compression element) to be inserted into recessed slot  77   
           [0034]      FIG. 11C  is an enlarged cut-away view of the carrier body ( 60 ) as depicted in  FIG. 11A , with the end where the grooves are located being magnified 
           [0035]      FIG. 12A  illustrates sub-assembly  15  mounted in the transfer carrier body. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12B  is a frontal view of the carrier body with sub-assembly  15  mounted on, showing the stepped down top surface at the front of the carrier body, spaced away from the proximal ends of the tubes thereby avoiding contact of the proximal ends of the tubes with the surface of the carrier body. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  illustrates sub-assembly  15  mounted in the transfer carrier body with transfer clip  70  placed over the loaded capillary tubes to hold them onto the transfer carrier body and, at the same time, cover and protect the proximal ends of the tubes. 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  illustrates sub-assembly  15  mounted in the transfer carrier body with transfer clip  70  in place, with the holding clip  20  and the holder body  1  removed, to form sub-assembly  76 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  illustrates a loaded sub-assembly  15  in juxtaposition with shipping sub-assembly  85 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  illustrates sub-assembly  15  secured within shipping sub-assembly  85 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  illustrates a loaded sub-assembly  15  with extended length tubes  92 , in juxtaposition with shipping sub-assembly  85 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  illustrates sub-assembly  15  with extended length tubes secured within shipping assembly  15 , with the loaded tubes projecting into the rear storage area of the shipping sub-assembly. 
           [0043]      FIG. 19  illustrates the loaded shipping sub-assembly in closed position, suitable for shipping or storage. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the core components of the system, a holder body  1 , the group of tubes that are being handled  90 , and the holding clip  20  that holds the tubes  90  in place. A group of tubes  90  consists of individual tubes  91  each of which has a front (proximal) end  94  and rear (distal) end  93 . Typically the front end  94  is tapered to a fine tip and the rear end  93  is square cut. Holder body  1  has a combination of features that enable it to meet the requirements outlined above. As seen, holder body  1  has a front side, a rear side having holes  6 , two flank sides, a bottom surface and a top surface  3 . There are parallel grooves  2 , which preferably are V shaped grooves, in the top surface  3  of the holder body that are parallel to the surface. There is a recessed top surface  4  that is lower than the deepest part of the groove  2  at the rear section of the holder. The recessed portion  4  allows individual tubes to be handled from the rear. 
         [0045]    Holding clip  20  has two protruding side arms  21 , which are terminated by tapered mating elements  22  that mate with complementary tapered mating elements  9  on the flank sides of holder body  1 . The tapered mating elements  9  on the flank sides of holder body  1  are disposed perpendicularly from the top surface and taper increasingly further away from the flank sides along the direction from the top surface towards the bottom surface. The distance between the two respective side arms  21  is set so that the clip has a direct positive engagement with the holder body  1 , resulting in what is commonly referred to as a snap-fit. As the holding clip  20  is forced into place the arms  21  deflect as the faces of elements  9  and  22  make contact. Each side arm  21  aligns with the recessed slots  12  in the two flank sides of the holder body  1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , elastomeric insert  24  (a compression element) fits into recessed slot  25  on the underside of holding clip  20 . The elastomeric insert  24  is preferably made with a rectangular cross section, and can be made of Viton®, a fluoroelastomer available from DuPont Performance Elastomers LLC, Buna N rubber (a Nitrile rubber), Teflon® polytetrafluoroethylene available from E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company Corporation, or platinum cured silicone rubber; preferably Viton® or silicon rubber, most preferably silicone rubber. The relative hardness of the elastomeric insert is preferably within the range of 20 to 80, and most preferably within the range of 45 to 55, as measured by a Shore A Durometer. Therefore the most preferred elastomer insert is a platinum cured silicone rubber having a Shore A hardness greater than 45 and less than 55. The slot  25  is perpendicular to the top face  3  of holder body  1  when the holding clip  20  is engaged. Thus the end face of elastomeric insert  24  makes perpendicular contact with the tubes  90 . The assembled combination of the holder body  1 , holding clip  20 , compressive element  24  and tubes  90  comprises sub-assembly  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0046]    The amount of static (and dynamic) holding force is readily controlled by either changing the relative hardness of the elastomeric insert  24 ; and/or by altering the dimensions of the insert. Using an insert made from a higher durometer material will increase the holding force because the amount of reactive force generated by compressing the insert increases. Similarly making the elastomeric insert either thicker or taller will increase the holding force. Increasing the thickness of the insert increases the contact surface area of the elastomeric insert  24  with the tubes  90 , hence the holding force will increase. By increasing the height of the elastomeric insert  24 , the amount of elastomer that protrudes out of the slot  25  will increase. The holding force on tubes  90  will increase since the compression of the elastomeric insert  24  will be greater, creating a larger reactive holding force on the tubes  90 . The thickness of the elastomeric insert may be within the range of 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably within the range of 1 to 5 mm, and most preferably within the range of 1.5 to 2 mm. The thickness of the elastomeric insert  24  and the height protruding from slot  25  is determined empirically so that a pull test of tubes  90  being held in subassembly  15  will yield a number within the preferred range for static and dynamic holding force. Changing the diameter of the tubes  90  will require a change in either hardness or dimension of elastomeric insert  24 . Most conveniently the height of elastomeric insert  24  may be changed to bring the holding force within the desired range. 
         [0047]    The holder body  1  optionally includes a slot  8  transverse to its bottom surface and holding clip  20  optionally includes holes  23  in each of the two side arms  21  which align with slot  8  when the clip is engaged with the holder body. Optional rod  26  may then be inserted through the holes  23  and under the holder body, via the slot  8 , to further secure the holding clip  20  to holder body  1 . The holder body  1  optionally includes through holes  6 , in between protrusions  5 , running parallel to the top face  3 . The holes  6  can be used to hold or mount the holder body  1  on one or more mating cylindrical rods; or to manipulate holder body  1  using hand tools such as needle-nose pliers or forceps. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  shows the holder body  1 , tubes  90  and holding clip  20  when fitted together to form an assembled group of tubes. The sides of holding clip  20  are flush with the side of holder body  1 . The tubes  90  are held in place between the elastomeric insert (compression element)  24  and the grooves  2 . The holding force applied to tubes  90  is determined by the amount of static and dynamic friction between tubes  90  and groove  2  and tubes  90  and elastomeric insert  24 . When holding clip  20  is pressed in place on holder  1 , the elastomeric insert  24  is slightly compressed. The reactive holding force that keeps the assembly together is provided by the mating elements  22  on holding clip  20  and complementary tapered mating elements  9  on holder body  1 . The securing rod  26  is not shown in this illustration, but could be used, if desired, to further secure the assembly by being inserted into one of holes  23  on the first side arm  21  of clip  20 , across the bottom of holder body  1  and into the second hole  23  on the second side arm  21  of clip  20 . 
         [0049]    To load, or “populate”, holder body  1  with the array of tubes  90 , the loading fixture assembly of  FIG. 5  is employed. This fixture assembly provides for loading the holder body  1  one tube at a time, either by hand or by an automated handling system. In addition to the holding clip  20  and holder  1  body, the loading assembly includes alignment fixture  30 , loading mount  40 , and loading clip  50 . Loading mount  40  is held in place on alignment fixture  30  by means of complementary magnets,  32  in the alignment fixture and  42  in the loading mount. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the loading clip  50  in detail. Magnets  53  in the protruding side arms of the loading clip  50  mate with the magnets  42  in the loading mount  40 . An elastomeric insert (compression element)  54 , is held in place by a pressure clamp  52  that is mounted to the loading clip  50 , preferably by means of ordinary machine screws  51 . Loading clip  50  has an acutely angled surface  55 , best seen in  FIG. 6B , with respect to the plane of top surface  3  when assembled, so that rubber insert  54  is held at an acute angle with respect to the top surface  3  of holder body  1 . This acute angle provides for low friction insertion of the distal end  93  of singe tube  91  into a groove  2  on holder body  1 . This acute angle with respect to top surface  3  of holder  1  is preferably within the range of 45° to 85°, more preferably within the range of 65° to 85°, and most preferably within the range of 75° to 80°. 
         [0051]    The initial assembly to populate a holder body  1  with tubes is shown in  FIG. 7 . Loading mount  40  is placed on alignment fixture  30  so that the rear face  43  of loading mount  40  is in contact with the front face  34  of protrusion  35  on alignment fixture  30 . The complementary magnet pairs  32  and  42  in the alignment fixture  30  and loading mount  40  hold the two components together. Holder body  1  is placed on loading mount  40  so that the rear face  13  is in contact with the stepped edge  41  on loading mount  40 . Loading clip  50  holds the holder body  1  in place on the mount  40  by means of complementary magnets  53  that align with magnets  42  in the loading mount  40 . 
         [0052]    The angled nature of the contact between elastomeric insert  54  and the tubes  90  results in the combination of sliding and static friction between the tubes and the elastomeric insert being different when the direction of movement of the tubes, with respect to the front of the mount is changed. The insertion force will be lower for pushing the distal end  93  of tube  91  in between groove  2  and elastomeric insert  54 , than for the reverse operation. This characteristic makes the tubes easier to insert into the loading assembly and more difficult to remove. It has been found that these requirements can be met if the force required to initiate movement of the tubes in the assembly and the force necessary to maintain that movement, once initiated, fall within certain ranges. 
         [0053]    There are two components to these force considerations:
       1.) The force necessary to initiate movement of the constrained tube (the static force).   2.) The force necessary for comfortable extraction such that the process is smooth, homogenous and normalized across all grooves (the dynamic force).       
 
         [0056]    The force required to initiate movement (the static force) of the tubes into the loading fixture assembly should be less than 1 N (Newton), preferably between 0.04 to 0.5 N, and the force required to maintain movement of the tubes into the loading fixture (dynamic force) should preferably be from less than 0.04 N up to about 0.2 N. 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  illustrates the population of individual tubes  91  into the loading assembly comprised of the alignment fixture  30 , loading mount  40 , holder body  1 , and loading clip  50 . The distal end  93  of tube  91  is inserted between the groove  2  and angled elastomeric insert  54 . The tube  91  is pushed toward the rear of the holder body  1  until the proximal end  94  is in alignment with fiducial mark  33  on alignment fixture  30 . This operation is then repeated until the desired number of tubes are loaded onto holder body  1 . Holding clip  20  is then inserted, i.e., snap fitted, onto holder body  1 , so that the elastomeric insert (compression element)  24  is compressed against the tubes  90  in grooves  2 . The tubes are then held in place by the friction between the tubes and compression element  24 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0058]    In accordance with the foregoing procedure, once the holder body  1  is fully populated with tubes  90 , the (temporary) loading clip  50  may be replaced with the standard holding clip  20 .  FIG. 9  shows the grooves  2  in holder body  1  fully populated by tubes with holding clip  20  in place just behind the loading clip  50 . Once holding clip  20  is in place the tubes are secure and the loading clip  50  may then be removed as shown in  FIG. 10 . The loaded sub-assembly  15 , made-up of holder body  1 , tubes  90 , compression element  24 , and holding clip  20  may then be removed from the loading mount  40  for further handling operations or packaging. 
         [0059]    To insure maximum utility of the holder clip sub-assembly  15  as a multi purpose manufacturing process fixture and final packaging and presentation element, functional and ergonomic factors should be considered Environmental effects which may be encountered during shipping and handling should also be taken into consideration, in order to assure survivability during shipping and handling. With respect to the functional effects, the tubes  90  should be rigidly held in their respective grooves  2  and their alignment, especially the alignment of their ends, should be maintained as the sub-assembly  15  travels through a range of manufacturing processes, during which the sub-assembly  15  is exposed to a variety of shocks, vibrations, and inertial forces. 
         [0060]    Ergonomically, the size of sub-assembly  15  should be as compact as possible yet still addressable with a normal hand and finger size for ease of placement and manipulation of the capillary tubes during processing. Additionally, once assembled into the final packaging and shipped to the customer for use, it is important that the tubes  90  are able to be easily and efficiently extracted in serial fashion from either a right or left handed approach. All three elements of the clip holder sub-assembly  15  should be constructed to give the end user a comfortable and successful experience such that the human/device failure modes are minimized. It has been found that these requirements can be met if the force required to initiate movement of the tubes in the assembly and the force necessary to maintain that movement, once initiated, fall within certain ranges. 
         [0061]    A preferred range of tensile force required (static force) to initiate tube movement (or conversely prevent movement) in the holder assembly  15  was found to be 0.04-3.0 N, preferably 1.0-1.6 N. A preferred range of tensile force (dynamic force) to maintain movement, once initiated, was found to be 0.04-2.8 N, preferably 0.8-1.4 N. 
         [0062]      FIG. 11A  shows the transfer carrier body  60 , the carrier clip  70 , and the tube-clip-holder sub-assembly  15 . Carrier body  60  has elements deigned to interface with holder body  1 . A slot  61  through the rear face of the transfer carrier body  60  has an internal width that is slightly larger than the width of the rectangular protrusions  5  on the rear face of the holder body  1 . Securing elements in the form of spring loaded compressive elements  63 , commonly referred to as spring loaded pins, interface into the detent  10  on the front face of the holder body  1 . The combination of these elements enables sub-assembly  15  to be fitted into the mating cavity  65  in the carrier body  60 . Cavity  65  is configured to receive holder body  1  and temporarily secure it in place through cooperation of spring-loaded pins  63 , detent  10 , protrusions  5  and slot  61 , and has sufficient interior clearance so that the holder body  1  and mating holding clip  20  can pass through said cavity upon the application of sufficient force to overcome the holding force of the spring-loaded pins. 
         [0063]    Carrier body  60  has additional features for holding of the tubes  90 . A set of grooves  64  in top face  68  have two open ends at top face  68  and identical shape, spacing and depth as the grooves  2  found in the holder body  1 . In front of the grooves at the leading part of carrier body  60  there is a stepped-down top face  67  (best seen in  FIG. 12B ). Mating elements  62 , similar to elements  9  on the holder body  1 , are placed on the front ends of the sides of carrier body  60 . 
         [0064]    A carrier clip  70  has two side arms  75  that each have complementary mating elements  72  that mate with elements  62  on the carrier body  60 . The spacing and shape between elements  72  is set so that the carrier clip  70  may be clipped into place on carrier body  60  in a manner completely analogous to that of the action of holding clip  20  on holder body  1 . The bottom of carrier clip  70  is shown in  FIG. 11B . A compression element, such as elastomeric insert  74  fits into recessed groove  77  in a manner completely analogous to the compression element/elastomeric insert  24  fitting into the groove  25  of holding clip  20 . The composition, dimensions, action, static and dynamic holding force on the tubes  90  provided by elastomeric insert  74  in carrier clip  70  is completely analogous to that provided by elastomeric insert  24  in holding clip  20 . 
         [0065]    Insertion proceeds by first aligning the holder protrusions  5  parallel with the slot  61 , holding the sub-assembly  15  at an acute angle with respect to the carrier body. Rear face  13  is pressed into contact with the rear face  66  of cavity  65 , while ensuring that protrusions  5  are aligned to fit into the slot  61 . Once in position, the angle between the sub-assembly  15  and carrier body  60  is reduced by rotating sub-assembly  15  through an axis defined by the contact of mating elements,  5  and  61 , and,  13  and  66 , until the compressive elements  63  make contact with the front face  14  of the holder body  1 . The alignment between the holder body  1  and carrier body  60  is then made parallel when the compressive element  63  makes positive engagement with the detent  10  on the front face  14  of holder body  1  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 12A  shows sub-assembly  15  in position for transfer or replacement of the tubes  90 .  FIG. 12B  shows a frontal view of the subassembly  15  on carrier body  60 . To complete the transfer, carrier clip  70  is applied to the carrier body as shown in  FIG. 13 . elastomeric insert  74  presses the tubes into the grooves  64 . 
         [0067]    At this stage the tubes are held in place by clips  70  and  20  simultaneously. Holding clip  20  may then be released by bending the side arms  21  sufficiently outward so that mating elements  22  and  9  are no longer in contact. Holding clip  20  can then be removed. The holder body  1  is then removed through the bottom of the assembly by pushing said holder body  1  through the cavity  65  so that the compressive elements (spring-loaded clips  63 ) release from the detent  10  on the front face  14  of holder body  1 . Removal through the bottom of the assembly leaves the tubes  90  undisturbed. The resulting arrangement of the tubes  90 , carrier body  60 , carrier clip  70  and elastomeric insert  74  is shown in  FIG. 14 , comprising sub-assembly  76 . The distal ends  93  of the tubes  90  are now exposed for processing, inspection or removal of individual tubes for further use, and the proximal ends  91  are fully protected by the shield  73  on clip  70 . 
         [0068]    The action of the carrier assembly is fully reversible so that tubes  90  in sub assembly  76  may be transferred back to sub assembly  15  by reversing the steps as described above. 
         [0069]    For packaging storage and shipping sub-assembly  15  fits into sub assembly  85 . Sub assembly  85  is a hinged box having a top wall, a bottom wall, two side walls, a front end and a rear wall which define the interior of the box. The box comprises a rear housing section  80 , a front section  83  and a hinged lid  82 , comprising a part of the top wall, as shown in  FIG. 15 . Rear housing section  80  attaches to the front section  83  through any conventional means including snap-fit, adhesives, screws, solvent welding, or ultrasonic welding. Lid  82  is attached to front section  83  via a snap fit hinge  86  well known to those skilled in the art of plastic hinged boxes. 
         [0070]    Hinged lid  82  is preferably transparent. 
         [0071]    Preferably, between the hinges of said hinged lid  82  and the front side of box  85 , the side walls are each comprised of two sections; a first section extending from the bottom surface of the box and a second section extending from the hinged lid, the two sections meeting each other to form a closed wall upon closure of the hinged lid. 
         [0072]    Front section  83  has mating elements  81 , which are snap-fit elements that engage with complementary elements  11  on holder body  1  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Sub-assembly  15  is pressed down onto mating elements  81  as shown in  FIG. 16 . Protrusions  84  guide the alignment of the underside of holder body  1  so that the complementary mating elements  11  align with and are engaged by snap-fit mating elements  81  on the surface of front section  83 . Elements  81  are flexible in the plane perpendicular to the rear face of holder body  1  so that they are deflected by elements  11  when pressure is applied, normal to surface  3 , to sub-assembly  15 . When fully engaged, elements  81  and  11  secure sub-assembly  15  in place on the surface of front section  83  within box  85 , in the manner of a snap fit, well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0073]    The lid  82  is integral with the front wall of the box and has bumps  88  that mate with complementary holes  89  on the side walls of front platform  83  as shown in  FIG. 16 . When the lid is moved to the closed position the side walls of the lid  82  and platform  83  deform slightly until the bumps  88  are coincident with the holes  89 . These complementary features hold the lid in closed position to protect the tubes within, until opened by the ultimate user to access the tubes. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate rear housing  80 , which is hollow inside to accommodate tubes  92 , having a length that extends beyond the rear surface  13  of holder body  1 . Such tubes are shown mounted on the holder body in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 18  shows the loaded holder body of  FIG. 17  installed in the sub-assembly (box)  85  for storage and/or shipment. 
         [0075]      FIG. 19  illustrates indentation  87  on the bottom surface of sub-assembly/box  85  which runs parallel to the hinge  86 . This allows for the ready stacking of closed boxes  85  on top of each other. The depth of the indentation is complementary to the height of the hinge  86  to allow for even balanced stacking of boxes. 
         [0076]    While the present invention was shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment and/or details thereof, and departures can be made therefore within the spirit and scope of appended claims. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
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                 Assembly 
                 Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 holder 
                 1 
                 holder 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 plurality (linear array) of grooves in top surface 2 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 top surface of holder 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 recessed top surface of holder 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 rectangular protrusion on rear surface 13 of  
               
               
                   
                   
                 holder 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 Hole(s) on rear of holder 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 bump on side of holder 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 Slot through base of holder, parallel to front face  
               
               
                   
                   
                 of holder 
               
               
                   
                 9 
                 mating feature on side of holder to interface with  
               
               
                   
                   
                 clip 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 cylindrically indented surface on front face of  
               
               
                   
                   
                 holder 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 mating feature on underside of holder body 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 recessed portions on side of holder body to allow  
               
               
                   
                   
                 clip engagement 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 Rear face of holder body 1 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 front face of holder body 1 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 combined holder 1, compressive element 24, clip  
               
               
                   
                   
                 20, and tubes 90 
               
               
                 holding clip 
                 20 
                 holding clip 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 Side arm of clip 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 mating feature on side arm to hold clip onto  
               
               
                   
                   
                 holder 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 Hole through side arm of clip, parallel to clip  
               
               
                   
                   
                 body, aligned to slot feature 8 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 compression element normal to the top surface  
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 of holder 1 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 recessed slot for compression element 24 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 optional locking rod 
               
               
                 alignment fixture 
                 30 
                 alignment fixture 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 recession in top surface of fixture 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 magnet flush with recessed top surface 31 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 fiducial mark on top surface 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 front face of protrusion 35 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 protrusion on rear of fixture 
               
               
                 loading mount 
                 40 
                 loading mount 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 recessed top surface on loading mount 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 magnet press fit into body of loading mount 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 rear face of mount 40 
               
               
                 loading clip 
                 50 
                 loading clip 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 screw holding pressure plate to clip body 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 pressure plate 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 magnet press fit into clip body 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 compression element held at an acute angle  
               
               
                   
                   
                 relative to the top surface of holder 1 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 Angled face on rear side of clip body 50 
               
               
                 carrier 
                 60 
                 carrier body 
               
               
                   
                 61 
                 alignment slot in rear face of carrier body,  
               
               
                   
                   
                 accepts the 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 mating element on side of carrier, mates with  
               
               
                   
                   
                 feature 72 of carrier clip 
               
               
                   
                 63 
                 spring loaded alignment pin, mates with  
               
               
                   
                   
                 indented front surface of holder 
               
               
                   
                 64 
                 plurality (linear array) of grooves in top surface  
               
               
                   
                   
                 of carrier body 
               
               
                   
                 65 
                 through-cavity 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 rear internal face of cavity 
               
               
                   
                 67 
                 stepped top surface of carrier, below the depth  
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the grooves 64 
               
               
                   
                 68 
                 top surface of carrier 
               
               
                 carrier clip 
                 70 
                 carrier clip body 
               
               
                   
                 71 
                 holder through the top of the carrier clip side arm 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 mating feature on side arm of clip that mates  
               
               
                   
                   
                 with feature on carrier body 
               
               
                   
                 73 
                 shield element of clip that extends past and  
               
               
                   
                   
                 around the forward (leading) edge of the tubes 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 compression element 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 side arm of carrier clip 70 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 sub-assembly comprising carrier 60, tubes 90,  
               
               
                   
                   
                 clip 70 and compressive element 74 
               
               
                   
                 77 
                 recessed slot for compression element 74 
               
               
                 box 
                 80 
                 rear box housing 
               
               
                   
                 81 
                 mating feature inside box that mates with  
               
               
                   
                   
                 features 11 on underside of holder 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 hinged box lid 
               
               
                   
                 83 
                 front box platform 
               
               
                   
                 84 
                 alignment protrusions 
               
               
                   
                 85 
                 box sub-assembly 
               
               
                   
                 86 
                 hinge 
               
               
                   
                 87 
                 indentation to allow for box stacking 
               
               
                   
                 88 
                 bump on lid 
               
               
                   
                 89 
                 mating hole in front platform 
               
               
                 tubes 
                 90 
                 plurality (linear array) of tubes whose length  
               
               
                   
                   
                 does not extend past the rear surface of the  
               
               
                   
                   
                 holder body 
               
               
                   
                 91 
                 single tube 
               
               
                   
                 92 
                 plurality (linear array) of tubes whose length  
               
               
                   
                   
                 extends past the rear surface of the holder body 
               
               
                   
                 93 
                 rear end (distal end) of tube 
               
               
                   
                 94 
                 front end (proximal end) of tube