Patent Description:
A microtiter plate is a flat plate with multiple "wells" used as small test tubes or used to receive tubes therein. The microtiter plate has become a standard tool in analytical research and clinical diagnostic testing laboratories. A microtiter plate typically has <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> sample wells arranged in a <NUM>:<NUM> rectangular matrix. Some microtiter plates have even been manufactured with <NUM> or even <NUM> wells, although <NUM> wells, provided in an <NUM> x <NUM> arrangement is the most common.

Depending on the size, each well typically holds somewhere between a few nanoliters to several hundred milliliters of liquid or an equivalent amount of a solid sample, such as a dry powder. Accordingly, some plates have wells with closed bottoms. In certain embodiments, plates may be provided as racks to support glass or plastic tube or tube strip inserts. In such embodiments, the wells can alternatively have open bottoms. Illustrative wells can be circular (including cylindrical or conical) or square in cross-section. Pipettes (e.g., multi-channel pipettes) have been developed to pipette measured liquids into an entire row of wells at a time. PCR devices and other instruments for a wide variety of laboratory applications have been developed to receive microtiter plates of standard sizes and to process samples contained in the wells therein. A number of companies have even developed robots specifically configured to handle microtiter plates.

Microtiter plates often are provided with wells formed in the plate. The most common manufacturing process is injection molding, used typically for polystyrene, polypropylene and cyclo-olefin. However, microplates may be made from a variety of polymers, as is appropriate to withstand a wide temperature range and provide chemical resistance.

More recently, plates have become available that include a rack and a plurality of strips or individual tubes, a common configuration being twelve strips of eight tubes (or eight strips of twelve tubes). Such an arrangement may make it easier to use a portion of a plate or to prepare smaller groups of reactions within a single plate. Often, the spacing of the tubes results in standard spacing of wells of a <NUM>-well microtiter plate, and the rack and tubes, once assembled, are compatible with the myriad tools and instrumentation that have been developed for use with microtiter plates.

One example of a rack and tubes is the Loborack-<NUM> (Micronic North America, McMurray, PA). The Loborack-<NUM> can hold, for example, <NUM> individual tubes (for example, <NUM> or <NUM> tubes), eight strips of twelve tubes, or twelve strips of eight tubes, in a <NUM>-well configuration. Each tube may be individually capped, or each strip may be capped with a strip of eight or twelve caps, respectively. While the tubes are disposable and are intended as single-use items, the rack is reusable. However, it can be difficult to remove the tubes from the rack manually, and tubes often open as they are removed, potentially contaminating the tube contents or spilling hazardous or contaminating materials. While Micronic sells a tool for removing one tube at a time, a tool that removes rows of tubes or all tubes quickly and easily is desired.

<CIT> describes a test tube box comprising a box body, a test tube rack and a cavity between the test tube rack and the bottom of the box body, with a plurality of lifting mechanisms arranged in rows in the cavity. <CIT> describes a test tube rack with an inserting structure comprising a transversely superposed tray bodies. <CIT> describes the base of a modular parallel chemistry reactor that includes a frame which defines an opening into which one of a plurality of interchangeable reaction vessel carrying inserts can be removably received.

The invention provides a tube removal system and method of using such a system, as defined in the claims.

Additional features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

Before describing example implementations in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to parameters of the particularly exemplified systems, methods, apparatus, products, processes, compositions, and/or kits, which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is only for the purpose of describing particular implementations of the present disclosure, and is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and/or invention in any manner. Thus, while the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to specific configurations, the descriptions are illustrative only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. For instance, certain implementations may include fewer or additional components than those illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described in the written description.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. While a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present disclosure, only certain exemplary materials and methods are described herein.

Various aspects of the present disclosure, including devices, systems, methods, etc., may be illustrated with reference to one or more exemplary implementations. As used herein, the term "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations disclosed herein. In addition, reference to an "implementation" of the present disclosure or invention includes a specific reference to one or more embodiments thereof, and vice versa, and is intended to provide illustrative examples without limiting the scope of the invention, which is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the following description.

It will be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a "tile" includes one, two, or more tiles. Similarly, reference to a plurality of referents should be interpreted as comprising a single referent and/or a plurality of referents unless the content and/or context clearly dictate otherwise. Thus, reference to "tiles" does not necessarily require a plurality of such tiles. Instead, it will be appreciated that independent of conjugation; one or more tiles are contemplated herein.

As used throughout this application the words "can" and "may" are used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Additionally, the terms "including," "having," "involving," "containing," "characterized by," variants thereof (e.g., "includes," "has," and "involves," "contains," etc.), and similar terms as used herein, including the claims, shall be inclusive and/or open-ended, shall have the same meaning as the word "comprising" and variants thereof (e.g., "comprise" and "comprises"), and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps, illustratively.

As used herein, directional and/or arbitrary terms, such as "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "internal," "external," "interior," "exterior," "proximal," "distal" and the like can be used solely to indicate relative directions and/or orientations and may not be otherwise intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, including the specification, drawings, and/or claims.

Various aspects of the present disclosure can be illustrated by describing components that are bound, coupled, attached, connected, and/or joined together. As used herein, the terms "bound," "coupled", "attached", "connected," and/or "joined" are used to indicate either a direct association between two components or, where appropriate, an indirect association with one another through intervening or intermediate components. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly bound," "directly coupled", "directly attached", "directly connected," and/or "directly joined" to another component, no intervening elements are present or contemplated.

The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Furthermore, where possible, like numbering of elements have been used in various figures. Furthermore, alternative configurations of a particular element may each include separate letters appended to the element number.

<FIG> shows a base <NUM> of an illustrative tube rack tool <NUM> (see <FIG>) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The base has a support surface <NUM>, and four walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which surround a rack-receiving area <NUM> for receiving a rack of tubes. In the illustrative embodiment, support surface <NUM> is curved along an axis extending in the direction from wall <NUM> to wall <NUM>. In some embodiments, support surface <NUM> can (also or alternatively) be curved along an axis extending in the direction from wall <NUM> to wall <NUM>. As discussed further below, however, support surface <NUM> need not have a curved configuration in certain embodiments. Also in the illustrative embodiment, two spacings <NUM>, <NUM> are provided between support surface <NUM> and walls <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. Spacings <NUM>, <NUM> comprise openings through base <NUM>, although optionally openings <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided with bottoms to result in recesses. Opposing recesses <NUM> are also disposed between support surface <NUM> and walls <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. It is understood that walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, as well as spacings <NUM>, <NUM>, and recesses <NUM> are provided to aid in placement and retention of a rack (of tubes) within rack-receiving area <NUM>, and that any or all of these walls, spacings, and/or recesses are optional and may be omitted. Similarly, the walls need not entirely surround the rack-receiving area <NUM> in some embodiments.

<FIG> shows a top piece <NUM> that may be used with base <NUM> (e.g., to form the tube rack tool <NUM> of <FIG>). Top piece <NUM> has a top <NUM>, and two legs <NUM>, <NUM> extending downward from top <NUM>. Legs <NUM>, <NUM> are spaced to receive a rack of tubes therebetween. In alternative examples, top piece <NUM> can have a single leg or more than two legs extending downward therefrom. For example, a single leg can extend (entirely or partially) about top piece <NUM> and/or extend downward therefrom. Alternatively, three or four legs can be disposed at corners of top piece <NUM>.

In the illustrative example depicted, leg <NUM> is provided with leg extensions <NUM>, <NUM>, and leg <NUM> is provided with leg extension <NUM> (and a second leg extension not shown in <FIG>). As best seen with leg extension <NUM>, the leg extensions project inward from each leg (e.g., toward the opposing leg). The leg extensions may be provided to aid in containing and/or properly positioning the rack of tubes between legs <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or restrain the rack of tubes from slipping sideways out of top piece <NUM>. As discussed in further detail below, the leg extensions may also aid in properly positioning the rack of tubes about support surface <NUM> of base <NUM> (<FIG>). Optionally, instead of or in addition to the leg extensions, top piece <NUM> may be provided with side walls extending between legs <NUM> and <NUM> to contain the rack of tubes.

<FIG> shows an exploded view of a tube removal tool assembly <NUM> comprising a rack of tubes <NUM> including rack <NUM> and ninety-six tubes <NUM> being inserted between base <NUM> and top piece <NUM>. It is understood that while illustrative rack <NUM> includes space for ninety-six tubes, any other number or arrangement of a rack and tubes may be used. Moreover, while illustrative rack of tubes <NUM> is full, the illustrative embodiments may be used with a partially full rack of tubes. As discussed above, walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of base <NUM> are sized to receive rack of tubes <NUM> therein, thereby supporting rack of tubes <NUM> on support surface <NUM>. As top piece <NUM> is placed over rack of tubes <NUM>, legs <NUM>, <NUM> of top piece <NUM> extend down at least partially around tubes <NUM>, fit inside walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and assist with maintaining the orientation of rack <NUM> and tubes <NUM> relative to base <NUM> and/or support surface <NUM> thereof.

In this illustrative example, rack <NUM> is provided with twelve rows <NUM> of eight tubes <NUM>, although it is understood that other configurations are within the scope of this disclosure. Each tube <NUM> has an open top portion <NUM> and a closed opposing bottom portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) inserted into its respective well <NUM> in rack <NUM>. Wells <NUM> comprise openings in a surface portion <NUM> of rack <NUM>, and each tube <NUM> or a bottom portion <NUM> thereof (see <FIG>) extends below surface portion <NUM>. As best seen in the cross-sectional view of <FIG>, a skirt <NUM> functions as a stand for rack <NUM>, extending below any bottom <NUM> of tubes <NUM>. Thus, when rack <NUM> is placed on a lab bench or other flat surface, tubes <NUM> are spaced apart from that surface, to prevent tubes <NUM> from inadvertently dislodging from rack <NUM>.

It is understood that while only two walls of skirt <NUM> are visible in <FIG>, rack <NUM> may have a skirt <NUM> having two, three, or four walls, or may have feet or other bottom projections to function to keep tubes <NUM> elevated. Tubes <NUM>, may be of any configuration, illustratively with flat bottoms, rounded bottoms, or conical bottoms. Tubes <NUM> may snap into rack <NUM>, or may be held in place by pressure. While not shown in <FIG>, tubes <NUM> may be provided with caps, illustratively which may be screw caps, press fit caps, strip caps, or film adhered to or heat-sealed to tubes <NUM>. For instance, in at least one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, tubes <NUM> can have sealing cap(s) <NUM> disposed thereon and/or attached thereto (e.g., sealing the upper open portions <NUM> thereof). Other configurations are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of a tube removal tool assembly <NUM>, including rack of tubes <NUM> inserted into base <NUM>, and top piece <NUM> fitted on top of rack of tubes <NUM>, with legs <NUM>, <NUM> engaging rack <NUM> at upper surface portion <NUM>. Because of the curvature of support surface <NUM>, only a portion of the rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> are in contact with support surface <NUM>. In this illustrative embodiment, ends <NUM>, <NUM> of rack <NUM> are cantilevered over openings <NUM>, <NUM>. Shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a recess <NUM> between support surface <NUM> and wall <NUM> allows skirt <NUM> of rack <NUM> to extend below support surface <NUM>. A similar recess (not shown) may be provided between support surface <NUM> and wall <NUM>. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, support surface <NUM> of base <NUM> engages a plurality of tubes <NUM> (or bottom portion(s) thereof) but does not engage and/or contact at least a portion of skirt <NUM> of rack <NUM>.

Downward pressure (e.g., from above) on top piece <NUM> causes one or more rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> (or bottom portion(s) thereof) to engage support surface <NUM> of base <NUM>, which in turn causes one or more (rows <NUM> of) tubes <NUM> to begin to dislodge from rack <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, a plurality of tubes <NUM> (e.g., at least one row <NUM>) can be simultaneously, concurrently, and/or synchronously dislodge from the rack. In an illustrative embodiment, a back-and-forth rocking motion about or along the curvature of support surface <NUM>, as indicated by arrows X-X, causes additional rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> to engage support surface <NUM> of base <NUM>, which in turn causes the additional rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> to dislodge from rack <NUM>. As pressure is placed more directly over leg <NUM>, pressure is placed more directly over cantilevered end <NUM>, which may deflect toward opening <NUM> (e.g., without engaging support surface <NUM> of base <NUM>), thereby releasing the row <NUM> closest to end <NUM>. As top piece <NUM> is rocked in the other direction and pressure is placed more directly over leg <NUM>, pressure is placed more directly over cantilevered end <NUM>, which may deflect toward opening <NUM> (e.g., without engaging support surface <NUM> of base <NUM>), thereby releasing the row <NUM> closest to end <NUM>. Continued back-and-forth motion causes all tubes <NUM> to loosen from rack <NUM>, ultimately dislodging all tubes <NUM> from rack <NUM>. Accordingly, a plurality of tubes <NUM> and/or rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> can be simultaneously, concurrently, synchronously, and/or immediately sequentially (e.g., instantaneously) dislodged from the rack <NUM>. The rack <NUM> and tubes <NUM> may then be removed from base <NUM> and top piece <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, support surface <NUM> is curved. While the illustrative curvature is an arc of a circle having a radius of approximately <NUM> (<NUM> inches), it is understood that this is illustrative only, and that other curvatures would be operational, illustratively having a radius of <NUM> inches to <NUM> inches, <NUM> (<NUM> inches) to <NUM> (<NUM> inches), or <NUM> (<NUM> inches) to <NUM> (<NUM> inches). While circular curvatures are used in certain embodiments herein, it is understood that other shapes are within the scope of this disclosure, including parabolic, and curved in two dimensions. In one illustrative embodiment, support surface <NUM> may be planar, provided that support surface <NUM> is smaller than skirt <NUM>. It is understood that flatter support surfaces can dislodge more tubes at once but may require more pressure, while more curved support surfaces may dislodge fewer tubes at once, but may also require less pressure. Furthermore, curvature in one direction can dislodge tubes by rows, while curvature in both directions may allow dislodging of a single tube or a small group of tubes.

Returning to <FIG>, in this illustrative example, a top portion <NUM> of top piece <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, top portion <NUM> is also provided with curved edge <NUM>, shaped for pressing on tube caps <NUM> (e.g., to seal opening <NUM> with cap <NUM>), and configured for capping a row <NUM> of tubes <NUM> with a (downward) force and/or a rocking motion, as indicated by arrows Y-Y in <FIG>. It is also noted that curved edge <NUM> can be shaped and/or configured for seating (a row <NUM> of) tubes <NUM> into rack <NUM> (not shown) with a (pressing) force or the rocking motion indicated by arrows Y-Y in <FIG>. Opening <NUM> optionally may be provided with grips <NUM> for comfortably holding top piece <NUM> during this capping operation.

Alternatively, base <NUM> may be inverted and support surface <NUM> positioned over (row <NUM> of) tubes <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>. A similar rocking motion, indicated by arrows Y-Y in <FIG>, and/or (downward) force can be applied for pressing on tube caps <NUM> (e.g., to seal opening <NUM> with cap <NUM>). It is also noted that inverted base <NUM> and/or support surface <NUM> thereof may be used for seating part or all of the tubes <NUM> of a rack of tubes <NUM> into rack <NUM> (see <FIG>), or for capping one or more tubes <NUM> or part or all of one or more rows <NUM> of tubes <NUM> in a rack of tubes <NUM> by placing pressure on base <NUM> (e.g., using rocking motion Y-Y).

<FIG> show a base <NUM> and top piece <NUM> of an alternative example of a tube removal tool <NUM>, wherein like reference numerals indicate similar components or components having similar functions. The base <NUM> has a support surface <NUM>, and two walls <NUM>, <NUM>, which define a space for receiving a rack of tubes. Unlike the base <NUM> of <FIG>, in this illustrative embodiment, support surface <NUM> is much narrower and is configured to contact a single row of tubes <NUM>. It is understood that support surface <NUM> may be provided with any shape to contact any number of tubes or rows of tubes. For instance, support surface <NUM> can be curved along an axis extending in the direction from wall <NUM> to wall <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a top piece <NUM> that may be used with base <NUM>, to form a tube rack tool <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Top piece <NUM> has a top portion <NUM>, and four legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending downward from top <NUM>. Legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are spaced to receive a rack of tubes <NUM> therebetween. It is understood that four legs is illustrative only, and that any or all of the legs may be omitted. An embodiment having leg extensions, as in <FIG>, is also contemplated. It is understood that top piece <NUM> is not limited to use with base <NUM>, and that the various top pieces described herein may be used with any compatible base, as desired for a specific application. Furthermore, various top pieces described herein may be used without a base. For instance, in at least one embodiment, a rack of tubes can be received by or within a portion of a top piece (e.g., between legs thereof) and a plurality of tubes dislodged from the rack by pressing on the (bottom of) the tubes (e.g., with a hand or other device, apparatus, or element).

In this illustrative example, only two walls <NUM>, <NUM> are provided on base <NUM>. The omission of the side walls allows rack <NUM> and top piece <NUM> to be moved linearly along base <NUM>. A number of guides <NUM> are also provided. Lining up rack <NUM> or top piece <NUM> with one of the guides <NUM> will position a specific row of tubes <NUM> over support surface member <NUM>. As illustratively shown in <FIG>, lining up top piece <NUM> even with the second guide <NUM> positions the fifth row of tubes <NUM> from that end of top piece <NUM> over support surface member <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, the row of tubes <NUM> that is positioned over support surface member <NUM> is dislodged upon pressure on rack <NUM> by top piece <NUM> in the direction of support surface member <NUM>. As with other embodiments, it is understood that top piece <NUM> is optional, and pressure may be applied by hand or by other means directly to rack <NUM> to apply pressure to rack <NUM> to dislodge any tubes <NUM> that are positioned over support surface member <NUM>.

It is understood that guides <NUM> may be provided with markings to indicate which row of tubes <NUM> would be removed when top piece <NUM> or rack <NUM> is aligned with each guide. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, support surface member <NUM> can be moveable within base <NUM>. For instance, support surface <NUM> can be disposed on or connected to a movement mechanism configured to permit support surface <NUM> to be positioned and/or secured at a plurality of positions within base <NUM>. The movement mechanism can comprise a plurality of slots configured to receive a (detachable) support surface member <NUM>, a rail or slide member configured to permit movement of support surface member <NUM> thereon, or any other means for moving support surface member <NUM> and/or changing the position thereof with base <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A tube removal system, comprising:
(a) a rack of tubes (<NUM>) comprising:
(i) a rack (<NUM>) having a plurality of wells (<NUM>) and an upper surface (<NUM>) portion disposed about the plurality of wells (<NUM>), the plurality of wells (<NUM>) comprising openings in the upper surface (<NUM>) portion; and a skirt (<NUM>) disposed about the plurality of wells (<NUM>), the skirt (<NUM>) extending from the upper surface (<NUM>) portion; and
(ii) a plurality of tubes (<NUM>) disposed in the well; (<NUM>);
(b) a tube rack tool (<NUM>) configured to receive the rack of tubes (<NUM>), the tube rack tool (<NUM>) comprising:
(i) a base (<NUM>) having a surface (<NUM>) configured to engage a bottom surface of the plurality of tubes (<NUM>) when the rack of tubes (<NUM>) is received by the base, the base having a receiving area sized for receiving the rack of tubes (<NUM>), the base (<NUM>) having a surface (<NUM>) for engaging the plurality of tubes (<NUM>) disposed in the wells (<NUM>) of the rack when the rack of tubes (<NUM>) is disposed in the receiving area; and
(ii) a top piece (<NUM>) configured to engage the upper surface (<NUM>) portion of the rack (<NUM>) without engaging a top surface of the plurality of tubes (<NUM>) when the plurality of tubes (<NUM>) are disposed in the wells (<NUM>), and is configured for retaining the rack of tubes (<NUM>) in engagement with the surface of the base (<NUM>), wherein the top piece (<NUM>) has one or more legs (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to engage the upper surface (<NUM>) portion of the rack (<NUM>), such that pressure applied to the top piece (<NUM>) toward the surface of the base (<NUM>) dislodges the plurality of tubes (<NUM>) from the rack (<NUM>), the top piece (<NUM>) configured for retaining the rack of tubes (<NUM>) in engagement with the surface of the base (<NUM>) while providing pressure on the rack (<NUM>).