Patent ID: 8153086

Claim:
A liquid container fillable with liquid for use in high throughput automatic analyzers and/or with a liquid extraction element comprising a top opening, an extraction chimney and a base, wherein the extraction chimney extends into the liquid container and is aligned with the top opening of the liquid container, the extraction chimney comprises a liquid-permeable zone proximate to a bottom region of the extraction chimney and adjacent to the container base of the liquid container, wherein liquid permeability of the liquid-permeable zone of the extraction chimney can be adjusted between a setting of minimal liquid permeability and a setting for greater liquid permeability while the extraction chimney remains in the liquid container, wherein the liquid can be withdrawn from the liquid container by the liquid extraction element introduced into the extraction chimney through the top opening when the liquid permeability is set at the setting of minimal liquid permeability, wherein the extraction chimney comprises a tube portion extending downwards from the top opening, and wherein the extraction chimney comprises crenellation interspaces located at the bottom portion of the tube portion to define a portion of the liquid-permeable zone in the vicinity of the base.