Patent Publication Number: US-2015059857-A1

Title: Multichambered vial and method of mixing analytical reference materials

Description:
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/870,538, filed Aug. 27, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to methods and devices for combining and containing liquids. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods and devices for transferring liquids separately stored within a single container into a common space within the same container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Analytic reference materials are used as standards in chemical analysis for determining the presence and/or quantity of a particular substance or analyte. Often, the analytic reference materials are contained in glass vials that are hermetically sealed. The vials must be broken in order to access the analytic reference materials, which are then usually withdrawn with a pipette or syringe rather than being poured. The use of vials can suffer from various drawbacks, including that vials can be difficult to open, can result in and/or contaminate a sample with shattered glass, and can be time consuming to empty, among others. 
     Following opening of the hermetically sealed vial the contents are commonly transferred to a glass sample vial or other container. The vial commonly has a removable and resealable cap for direct access to the liquid. The vial may also employ a septum whereby the contents of the vial may be removed using a syringe needle or other means to penetrate the septum and access the liquid within the vial. 
     Most analytic reference materials are complex combinations containing many different chemical components. Certain analytic reference materials require multiple chemical compounds of known chemical incompatibility. Placing chemically incompatible compounds in the same vial causes denaturing and degradation of those compounds. The denatured compounds change an analytic reference materials&#39; chemical composition, leading to inaccurate chemical analysis. In some cases, combining compounds that are demonstrated to be aggressively reactive to each other results in a useful shelf life of the combined standard mix on the order of minutes. In these cases it is desirable that all unnecessary transfer steps be completely removed from the process of combining the contents of the vials. 
     In view thereof, chemically incompatible combinations are often supplied in a kit having multiple vials in order to keep the materials in pristine form until use. However, increasingly complex analytical methods often require an increasing number of components to make up the analytic reference material, resulting in so called “mega” mixes that contain a large number of individual vials in an analysis kit. Each vial contains a single analytic reference material or a combination of chemically compatible analytic reference materials. The kits require the end user to combine the contents of the vials, in correct amounts, to form the final analytic reference materials. These kits suffer from various drawbacks, including the large number of vials which must be combined to form a standard solution. The vials are time consuming to combine, and are prone to end user error during combination. User error, along with chemical degradation, can lead to undesirable chromatographic peaks or other errors in the data collected from various analytical techniques. 
     One alternative to the multiple vial kits includes a microfluidic cartridge, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0020182. The microfluidic cartridge holds multiple liquids in a series of chambers along a common micro-channel. However, when the chambers are positioned in series along a common micro-channel, each successive chamber is positioned further from a final mixing point. As such, the liquids held in the successive chambers do not mix at the same time. Instead, a liquid from a most distal chamber will mix with a liquid from a middle chamber prior to mixing with a liquid from a most proximal chamber. Additionally, each successive chamber will include an increased dead space, such that when the same amount of liquid is released from each of the chambers, the final mixture will include an increased amount of liquid from the most proximal chamber as compared to the others. 
     In another alternative, in place of the vials, fluids are sometimes stored in pre-filled syringes, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,918. In general, two individual syringes, each with their own plunger, can be held together and directed to a single output. However, these devices are difficult to handle, are difficult to depress simultaneously, present size constraints, and cannot easily incorporate more than two syringes. Additionally, although each individual syringe typically contains a single liquid therein, some devices include multiple liquids held in series within a single syringe. As a plunger is depressed, the series of liquids within the syringe are released one after the other. These devices suffer from their own attendant drawbacks, including that they are not capable of releasing multiple liquids at the same time and are limited by the length of the syringe. 
     Syringe-based systems require the dispensed liquids to be contained from the syringe into another vessel, where the combined liquids are ultimately stored as a mixture. An improved invention is described here where the multiple chamber design of a multichamber syringe or vial is combined with the final collection vessel. In this design the liquids are transferred from separate channels into a common (mixed) channel of the same container. This reduces the number of steps required of the operator as well as reduces risks of sample loss or exposure to the operator as a result of transfer from a vial to another vessel. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a device for transferring and containing liquid material includes a vial having at least two storage lumens extending axially along a vial body, each of the storage lumens having a gasket seat formed therein, a transfer channel coupled to a distal end of each of the storage lumens, and a common chamber in fluid communication with the storage lumens via the transfer channels. 
     In another embodiment, a device for transferring and containing liquid material includes a vial having at least two storage lumens extending axially along the vial body, each of the storage lumens including a gasket seat formed therein, a transfer channel coupled to a distal end of each of the storage lumens, a common chamber in fluid communication with the storage lumens via the transfer channels, a plunger assembly coupled to a proximal end of the vial, the plunger assembly having at least two pistons, each of the pistons receivable within one of the storage lumens, and an analytic reference material subunit provided in each of the storage lumens, the analytic reference material subunit sealed between a proximal gasket and a distal gasket slidably disposed within the storage lumens. When the distal gasket is seated in the gasket seat, the transfer channel fluidly connects the analytic reference material subunit of the storage lumen to the common chamber. 
     In another embodiment, a mixing method includes providing a device for transferring and containing liquid material, the device including a vial having at least two storage lumens extending axially along a vial body, each of the storage lumens having a gasket seat and a distal gasket therein, a transfer channel coupled to a distal end of each of the storage lumens, and a common chamber in fluid communication with the storage lumens via the transfer channels; providing a fluid subunit in each of the storage lumens, the distal gasket sealing each of the fluid subunits from a distal end of the vial; providing a plunger assembly coupled to a proximal end of the vial, the plunger assembly being in communication with the storage lumens; and depressing the plunger assembly. The depressing of the plunger assembly forces the distal gaskets into the gasket seats and transfers the fluid subunits into the common chamber via the transfer channels. 
     An advantage of exemplary embodiments is that each of the storage lumens in the vial isolates the material subunit contained therein, ensuring that chemically incompatible compounds composing a mixed solution are not stored together. 
     Another advantage is that the vial is capable of equivalently containing the fluid subunits in the storage lumens as a single mixture at or just prior to the point of use. 
     Still another advantage is that the device decreases liquid dead volume, which maximizes the volume of material subunits transferred. 
     Yet another advantage is that the device provides an equivalent liquid dead volume for each of the material subunits contained within the storage lumens. 
     A further advantage is that a single step both mixes and dispenses the material subunits to form the mixed solution, thus decreasing the number of steps required of the end user, which decreases or eliminates the risk of error commonly associated with multiple liquid transfers. 
     Another advantage is that the decreased number of steps required of the end user decreases the time required for use, decreases user error, and/or decreases a risk of contamination. 
     Yet another advantage is that the isolated material subunits can be combined and transferred to a common chamber with breaking individual vials, thus decreasing or eliminating an amount of broken glass. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a standard liquid container, or vial. 
         FIG. 2  is a lateral cross-sectional view of an exemplary vial having a plurality of lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure having two storage lumens. 
         FIG. 3  is a lateral cross section view of the vial of  FIG. 2  containing fluid according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a radial cross section view showing a distal end of an exemplary vial having a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a radial cross section view of an exemplary vial showing a mixing channel according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a radial cross section view showing a transfer channel of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a radial cross section view showing a proximal end of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a radial cross section view showing a distal end of an exemplary vial having a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure having twelve storage lumens. 
         FIG. 9  is a radial cross section view of an exemplary vial showing a mixing channel according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a radial cross section view showing a transfer channel of an exemplary vial having twelve storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a radial cross section view showing a proximal end of an exemplary vial having twelve storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a transferring and containing device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 12  after depression of a plunger. 
         FIG. 14  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 13  after removal of the plunger. 
         FIG. 15  is a cutaway side view of a vial body prior to mixing material subunits according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a cutaway side view of a vial body during the mixing of the material subunits according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 17  is a lateral cross-sectional view of an exemplary vial having a plurality of lumen according to an embodiment of the disclosure having two storage lumens, where the collection channel is positioned coaxially between the transfer channels and storage lumens array. 
         FIG. 18  is a radial cross section view showing a distal end of an exemplary vial having a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 19  is a radial cross section view of an exemplary vial showing a transfer channel array connected to a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 20  is a radial cross section view showing a common chamber of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 21  is a radial cross section view showing a proximal end of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 22  is a radial cross section view showing a distal end of an exemplary vial having a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 23  is a radial cross section view of an exemplary vial showing a transfer channel array connected to a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 24  is a radial cross section view showing a common chamber of an exemplary vial having twelve storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 25  is a radial cross section view showing a proximal end of an exemplary vial having twelve storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 26  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a transferring and containing device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 27  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 26  after depression of a plunger. 
         FIG. 28  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 27  after removal of the plunger. 
         FIG. 29  is a lateral cross section view of an exemplary vial containing fluid according to an embodiment of the disclosure where the transfer channels are positioned in-line with the gasket seats. 
         FIG. 30  is a radial cross section view showing a distal end of an exemplary vial having a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 31  is a radial cross section view of an exemplary vial showing a transfer channel array connected to a common chamber according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 32  is a radial cross section view showing a common chamber and a transfer array of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 33  is a radial cross section view showing a proximal end of an exemplary vial having two storage lumens according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 34  is a cutaway side view of a vial body prior to mixing the material subunits according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 35  is a cutaway side view of a vial body during the mixing of the material subunits according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to represent the same parts. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a representative example of a standard vial. The walls of the standard vials  110  are commonly made of glass or plastic, with a standard vial mouth or opening  120  shaped to receive either a screw cap or crimp-based cap. The liquid contents  140  of the standard vial are contained in a single interior volume  130 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a vial  200  includes a vial body  210  having a common chamber  232  and a plurality of storage lumens  260  formed therein. The plurality of storage lumens  260  extend axially along the length of the vial body  210 , from a proximal end  212  towards a distal end  214  of the vial  200 . The common chamber  232  acts as a reservoir for contents contained within the plurality of storage lumens  260 . The reservoir formed by the common chamber  232  includes sufficient volume to contain at least the contents of the storage lumens  260 , as well as any additional solvents or additives provided directly in the common chamber  232 . A vial opening  220  extends outwardly from the distal end  214 , the vial opening providing access to at least a portion of the vial contents within the common chamber  232 . For those skilled in the art, the vial opening  220  may be covered with a cap or cover. The cover may include a septum or other pierceable device whereby a portion of the vial contents in common chamber  232  may be accessed using a syringe needle or other sampling device. 
     The vial body  210  may be manufactured from any suitable material and may advantageously be formed of borosilicate glass. It will be appreciated, however, that other glass and plastic materials may also be employed. Depending on the materials of construction and/or the intended contents of the vial, the inner, outer or both surfaces of the vial  200 , and particularly the surfaces of the storage lumens  260  exposed to the vial contents, may be chemically deactivated or otherwise treated to reduce surface reactivity and reduce solvent adsorption prior to filling. 
     In one embodiment, transfer channels  240  couple the storage lumens  260  to a mixing channel  230  which is connected to the common chamber  232 . In another embodiment, a separate transfer channel  240  is provided for each individual storage lumen  260 . In a further embodiment, each of the storage lumens is equidistant from the common chamber  232 . The transfer channels  240  and the mixing channel  230  provide fluid communication between the storage lumens  260  and the common chamber  232 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at least one individual storage lumen  260  houses a material subunit, such as, but not limited to, an analytic reference material subunit  310 . For example, in one embodiment, each of the individual storage lumens  260  houses at least one of the analytic reference material subunits  310 . The size and/or geometry of the storage lumens  260 , including their length and diameter, may depend upon the number of storage lumens  260  and the total volume needed for the analytical reference material subunits  310  required to make up a particular analytical reference material, as well as the overall ease of use of the transferring and containing device. For example, in another embodiment, the storage lumens  260  are cylindrical, and have a diameter of between about 0.001 inches and about 0.5 inches, between about 0.001 inches and about 0.25 inches, between about 0.001 inches and about 0.1 inches, between about 0.01 inches and about 0.06 inches, between about 0.01 inches and about 0.04 inches, between about 0.04 inches and about 0.06 inches, or any combination, sub-combination, range, or sub-range thereof. Other suitable storage lumens  260  include any geometry for housing the material subunit  310  therein. Although illustrated as including a similar shape, length, and diameter, the size and/or geometry of each storage lumen  260  may be equal to, or dissimilar from, one or more of the other storage lumens  260 . 
     The analytic reference material subunits  310  are typically liquid and may comprise a component that is itself in liquid form or a suspension, dispersion, emulsion or solution of one or more components in a liquid carrier. The storage lumens  260  may be filled with the analytical reference material subunits  310  during manufacture either manually, such as by using a hand-held syringe, or through automated processing techniques. While illustrated here as having the same volume, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, each storage lumen  260  may contain a different volume of analytic reference material subunit  310  depending upon the requirements of the final analytic reference material. It will further be appreciated that with respect to  FIG. 3  and other cross-sectional views, the different cross-hatching is for purposes of showing different elements and is not intended to refer to any specific materials of construction. 
     Each analytic reference material subunit  310  is sealed on the proximal end  212  of each storage lumen  260  by a proximal gasket  330 , and on the distal end  214  of each storage lumen  260  by a distal gasket  320 . The proximal gaskets  330  and the distal gaskets  320  are of any suitable size, shape and construction and include any solid object that is sealably inserted and slidably disposed within the storage lumen  260 . It will be appreciated that the characteristics of the proximal gaskets  330  may be the same or different from those of the distal gaskets  320  and further that the characteristics of all distal (or proximal) gaskets  320  are also not necessarily the same, for example, in the event that one storage lumen  260  has a diameter larger than that of another. 
     In one embodiment, the contents of the storage lumens  260  are transferred through the transfer channels  240  to the mixing channel  230 , and from the mixing channel  230  into the common chamber  232 . As used herein, the term ‘transferred’ and variations thereof relate to the movement of the contents of the storage lumens  260  to a mass collection chamber within the same vial. Prior to reaching the mixing channel  230 , the analytic reference material subunit  310  sealed between the proximal gasket  330  and the distal gasket  320  in each of the individual storage lumens  260  is isolated from the analytic reference material subunits  310  within the other storage lumens  260 . As the analytic reference material subunits  310  are moved towards the distal end  214 , as described in further detail herein with regard to  FIGS. 12-14 , gasket seats  250  in the storage lumens  260  receive the distal gaskets  320 . The contents of the storage lumens  260  flow past the distal gaskets  320  seated in the gasket seats  250 , into the transfer channels  240 , and are combined in the mixing channel  230  and/or the common chamber  232 . The combined contents are then contained in the common chamber  232  as a mixture which is available for sampling through a vial opening  220  that extends outwardly from the distal end  214 . 
     The distal gaskets  320  are typically spherical or otherwise have a rounded surface, which can aid in the smooth transition of liquid from the storage lumens  260  to the transfer channels  240  when the distal gasket  320  is seated in the gasket seat  250 . Preferably, the gaskets  320 ,  330  are constructed of an inert material or are otherwise treated so as not to react with the components of the analytic reference material subunits  310  they contain. Exemplary materials include semi-pliable materials having non-reactive surfaces, such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), hard silicone, fluoropolymers, and particularly polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     In one embodiment, the proximal and distal gaskets  330 ,  320  are both made of Teflon, have a spherical shape and are slightly larger in diameter than the storage lumens  260 . In this manner, the proximal gaskets  330  and distal gaskets  320  are sized with respect to the storage lumen to provide enough force on the storage lumen  260  to seal it and prevent the analytic reference material subunits  310  from leaking However, the proximal gaskets  330  and distal gaskets  320  are still slidably disposed within the storage lumens  120  to be moved when a pressure is applied, which may vary depending on a variety of factors, including the elastic modulus of the material used for the gasket and/or the vial body  210 . For example, in one embodiment, Teflon balls having a diameter of 0.0625 inches can be used as proximal and distal gaskets  330 ,  320  in a storage lumen  260  having an internal diameter of 0.0600 inches. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4-7 , in one embodiment, the vial  200  includes two of the individual storage lumens  260 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8-11 , the vial  200  includes twelve of the individual storage lumens  260 . The cross-sectional views shown in  FIGS. 4-7  and  8 - 11  are taken from the same position along the vial body  210 . Specifically,  FIGS. 4 and 8  show a cross-section of the common chamber  232  near the distal end  214  of the vial  200 ;  FIGS. 5 and 9  show a cross-section of the mixing channel  230  extending between the common chamber  232  and the transfer channels  240 ;  FIGS. 6 and 10  show a cross-section of the transfer channels  240  extending from the lumens  260  to the mixing channel  230 ; and  FIGS. 7 and 11  show a cross-section of the storage lumens  260  near the proximal end  212  of the vial  200 . 
     Although illustrated with two or twelve of the lumens  260 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vial  200  is not so limited. For example, in other embodiments, the vial  200  may contain any odd or even number of the storage lumens  260 . In many cases, certain chemical components used in analytic reference material solutions are chemically benign with respect to each other and may be present in the same solvent with no ill effects. In this case it is not always necessary to employ a vial having the same number of lumens as there are chemical compounds in the analytic reference material standard solution; the minimum number of discrete vial lumens is preferably greater than the smallest number of analytic reference material solution subunits necessary to minimize or eliminate unwanted component-component chemical interactions. A maximum number of the storage lumens  260  within the vial  200  will largely depend on how many lumens will reasonably fit, given an inner diameter of the storage lumens  260  and an outer diameter of the vial body  210 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , a transferring and containing device  1200  is shown in various steps of use as a plunger assembly  1210  is depressed. The plunger assembly  1210  is coupled to the vial  200 , and provides a mechanism by which the analytic reference material subunits  310  are expelled from the storage lumens  206  and ultimately from the vial  200 . Any mechanism for achieving this result may be employed. In presently preferred embodiments, the plunger assembly  1210  may be configured to use mechanical force, such as pistons or other mechanical devices, to directly contact the proximal gaskets  330 . For example, in one embodiment, the plunger assembly  1210  includes a plunger plate  1240  coupled to a plurality of pistons  1260  positioned to fit into the vial  200 . The radially extending plunger plate  1240  provides a grip for a user, while a plunger spring  1250  maintains the plunger assembly  1210  in a relaxed state. In other embodiments, the plunger assembly may be configured to use pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. 
     The number of pistons  1260  on the plunger assembly  1210  corresponds to the number of storage lumens  260  in the vial  200 . In one embodiment, each of the pistons  1260  is aligned with one of the storage lumens  260 . In another embodiment, each of the storage lumens  260  receives a single piston  1260  at the proximal end  212 . When the plunger assembly  1210  is fully relaxed, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the storage lumens  260  include an initial proximal dead space  1230 . The proximal dead space  1230  is an open area of the storage lumens  260  between the proximal gaskets  330  and the pistons  1260  positioned within the storage lumens  260 . A distal dead space  1220  is also present in the storage lumens  260 . As best seen in  FIG. 15 , the distal dead space  1220  is an open area of the storage lumens  260  between the distal gaskets  320  and the seats  250 . The proximal dead space  1230  and the distal dead space  1220  allow for any thermal expansion of the analytic reference material subunits  310  within the storage lumens  260  that may occur during transport or storage. The proximal dead space  1230  and the distal dead space  1220  are typically occupied by a gas or liquid, but can be occupied by any substance or combination of substances allowing for thermal expansion. 
     As the plunger plate  1240  is depressed ( FIG. 13 ), the plunger spring  1250  is compressed and the pistons  1260  slide axially further into the storage lumens  260 , contacting the proximal gaskets  330 . The pistons  1260  displace the proximal dead space  1230  and move the analytic reference material subunits  310 , and the distal gaskets  320 , towards the distal end  214 . As the plunger plate  1240  is further depressed, the pistons  1260  slide further into the storage lumens  260 . The pistons  1260  push the proximal gaskets  330  which in turn push the analytic reference material subunits  310 . It is preferred, but not required, that the entire space within the storage lumen  260  between the proximal and distal gaskets  330 ,  320  is completely filled with the particular analytical reference material subunit  310  and is free of air gaps or bubbles. The analytic reference material subunits  310  push the distal gaskets  320  past the transfer channel  240  and into the gasket seats  250 . A channel gap  1610  (as better seen in  FIG. 16 ) is formed between the distal gaskets  320  and the transfer channel  240 . The channel gap  1610  allows analytic reference material subunits  310  to flow past the distal gaskets  320  and into the transfer channel  240 . In the transfer channel  240 , the analytic reference material subunits  310  combine to form a combined stream  1670 . The combined stream  1670  flows from the transfer channel  240  into the mixing channel  230  and then into the common chamber  232  to create the combined analytical reference material  1370 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the plunger plate  1240  is fully depressed, compressing the plunger spring  1250 . The pistons  1260  are fully deployed, pressing the proximal gaskets  330  against the distal gaskets  320 . The distal gaskets  320  are fully seated in the seats  250 , completely displacing the distal dead space  1220  and maximizing the volume of analytic reference material subunits  310  transferred. The transfer channels  240 , mixing channel  230 , storage lumens  260  and gasket seats  250  are configured to minimize liquid dead volume following deployment of the standard solutions. In order to ensure consistent final concentrations of the mixed solutions, the transfer channel  240  is preferably designed in a symmetrical pattern so that the dead volumes of each individual solution subunit  310  retained in the vial are equivalent. While some volume of untransferred analytic reference material subunits  310  will remain fugitive within the transfer lines of the vial, the design generally ensures that it does so in a manner that minimizes that volume and that retains the relative proportions of the analytic reference material subunits  310 . 
     The total contents of subunits  310  transferred into common chamber  232  form a predetermined analytical reference solution based upon the individual components independently included as subunits  310  in the plurality of storage lumens  260 . It is not a requirement that the common chamber  232  is empty prior to transferring analytic reference material subunits  310 . For those skilled in the art it is often desirous to dilute the combined analytical reference material  1370  in follow-on processes. It is possible to achieve an in-situ dilution of combined analytical reference material  1370  if additional liquid or solvent (not shown) is preloaded in common chamber  232  prior to transferring the analytic reference material subunits  310 . 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the common chamber  232  of a vial  1700  traverses the entire length of the center of the vial  1700  to the vial floor  1770 . In another embodiment, the storage lumens  260  are in liquid communication with transfer channels  240 , which in turn empty directly into common chamber  232 . In a further embodiment, mixing of the analytic reference material subunits  310  is achieved by agitating the combined analytic reference material subunits  310  in the common chamber  232  of the vial  1700 . In this design the common chamber  232  of the vial  1700  is larger than in previous examples, and whose dimensions may be more compatible with commercially available automated vial handling and sampling systems. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 18-21 , in one embodiment, the vial  1700  includes two of the individual storage lumens  260 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22-25 , the vial  1700  includes twelve of the individual storage lumens  260 . Although illustrated with two or twelve of the lumens  260 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vial  1700  is not so limited, as discussed above with regard to the vial  200 . The cross-sectional views shown in  FIGS. 18-21  and  22 - 25  are taken from the same position along the vial body  210  shown in  FIG. 17 . Specifically,  FIGS. 18 and 22  show a cross-section of the common chamber  232  near the distal end  214  of the vial  1700 ;  FIGS. 19 and 23  show a cross-section of the transfer channels  240  emptying directly into the common chamber  232 ;  FIGS. 20 and 24  show a cross-section of the transfer channels  240  extending axially and adjacent to the common chamber  232 ; and  FIGS. 21 and 25  show a cross-section of the storage lumens  260  near the proximal end  212  of the vial  1700 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 26-28 , in this design, the transferring and containing device  1200  includes the vial  1700  engaged with the plunger assembly  1210 . The transfer of subunits  310  to the transfer channels  240  is achieved in a similar fashion as described in  FIGS. 12-14 . However, instead of entering the mixing channel  230  ( FIG. 2 ) from the transfer channels  240 , the analytic reference material subunits  310  enter the common chamber  232  directly from the transfer channels  240 . 
     In another embodiment, a groove or channel is cut into a portion of the storage lumen  260 , the groove or channel connecting the storage lumen  260  to the transfer channel  240 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the transfer channels  240  of a vial  2900  may be tapered and positioned in-line with the gasket seats  250 . As distal gaskets  320  (see  FIGS. 34-35 ) advance, they displace the distal dead space  1210  and become seated in the gasket seat region  250 . Concurrent with this step, a channel gap  3510  is generated, the channel gap  3510  providing liquid communication of the analytic reference material subunits  310  between the storage lumens  260  and the transfer channels  240 . As proximal gaskets  330  continue to advance, the analytic reference material subunits  310  pass through the transfer channels  240  and into common chamber  232  where they may be mixed through shaking or other means of agitation of the vial  2900 . Due to the channel gap  3510  formed by the tapered portion of the transfer channels  240 , a size of the gasket seat region  250  may be decreased while still allowing the analytic reference material subunit  310  to bypass the distal gasket  320 . The decreased size of the gasket seat  250  decreases a manufacturing complexity of the vial  200 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 30-33 , in one embodiment, the vial  2900  includes two of the individual storage lumens  260 , twelve of the individual storage lumens  260 , or any other suitable number of storage lumens  260  for forming the analytic reference material. Although illustrated with two of the lumens  260 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vial  2900  is not so limited, as discussed above with regard to the vial  2900 . The cross-sectional views shown in  FIGS. 30-33  are taken along the cross-sectional lines shown in  FIG. 29 . Specifically,  FIG. 30  shows a cross-section of the common chamber  232  near the distal end  214  of the vial  2900 ;  FIG. 31  shows a cross-section of the transfer channels  240  emptying directly into the common chamber  232 ;  FIG. 32  show a cross-section of a tapered portion of the transfer channels  240  extending axially and adjacent to the common chamber  232 ; and  FIG. 33  shows a cross-section of the storage lumens  260  near the proximal end  212  of the vial  2900 . 
     This design has some advantages relating to the manufacture of the vial; where the vial body  210  is manufactured by fusing two halves together essentially along the surface of radial cross section  19 ,  23 . It will be appreciated that the transfer channel  240  may be any shape or configuration where the steps of seating the distal gaskets  1720  and generating the channel gap  3510  are achieved. As in the other embodiments described herein, it is possible to achieve an in-situ dilution of combined analytical reference material  1370  if additional liquid or solvent is preloaded in common chamber  232  prior to transferring the analytic reference material subunits  310  (not shown). 
     Although described herein primarily with respect to analytic reference materials, it will be appreciated that exemplary embodiments are contemplated for, and equally effective for use in, other applications in which two or more fluids are preferably isolated prior to mixing, but conveniently can be collectively stored and subsequently contained to the same point of use. For example, the multilumen vial  200  may be used for liquid medicaments, pigments, chemical additives, and/or adhesives, all by way of example. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.