IP Library Granted Patent US 9,314,789
Granted Patent B2
US 9,314,789 · App. 14/004,129 · Granted Apr 19, 2016

Receptacle of gel card type equipped with a lid comprising a precut

Inventors: Sébastien Bernay (Ecoche, FR); Jean-Michel Brisebrat (Villers, FR); Frédéric Buffiere (Pessac, FR)
Assignees: DIAMED GMBH; BIO-RAD INNOVATIONS
B01L3/14B01L3/50853B65B69/00B65B69/0066B01L2200/0689B01L2200/12B01L2300/041B01L2300/069B01L2300/0816B01L2300/0829B65D17/501Y10T29/49
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,314,789
App. No.
14/004,129
Granted
Apr 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Receptacle of gel card type comprising a body, formed in which are several adjacent wells, initially sealed by a cover having a length and a width. The cover has at least one precut between two adjacent wells so as to form at least one cover portion sealing at least one of the wells of the receptacle.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus for removing a cover from one or more wells of a plurality of wells of a gel card, the apparatus comprising:

an intake tray including a recess for receiving the gel card, the gel card including a body including the plurality of wells, and a cover having a length and a width, wherein the cover is configured to seal the one or more wells of the plurality of wells, wherein the cover has at least one precut, which is between two adjacent wells of the plurality of wells, that forms at least two cover portions, each cover portion of the at least two cover portions sealing at least one well of the plurality of wells of the body;

a plurality of studs, wherein each stud corresponds to a cover portion of the at least two cover portions, and is configured to move independently from other studs of the plurality of studs, and wherein each stud is further configured to move from an idle position, in which the stud is heated, to a working position, in which a heated stud is made to bear against a respective cover portion of the at least two cover portions; and

a heating device configured to heat the plurality of studs when a stud of the plurality of studs is in the idle position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of selection devices, each selection device corresponding to a stud of the plurality of studs and configured to inhibit a respective stud from moving to the working position from the idle position; and

a plurality of movement devices, each movement device corresponding to a stud of the plurality of studs and configured to move a respective stud from the idle position to the working position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each movement device of the plurality of movement devices includes a plate coupled to a respective stud with a spring configured to exert a pressure force on the stud.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a fixed heating baseplate, and

wherein each stud of the plurality of the studs is in contact with the fixed heating baseplate when the respective stud is in the idle position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each stud includes a gripping device that grips a cover portion of the at least two cover portions, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a plurality of discharge members, wherein each discharge member corresponds to a stud of the plurality of studs and is configured to expel a cover portion gripped by the respective gripping device of the stud.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each discharge member of the plurality of discharge members includes a rod, wherein each stud of the plurality of studs surrounds the respective rod and is configured to expel the cover portion when the stud is returned to the idle position from the working position.

7. A biological sample analysis installation including an apparatus according to claim 1 .

8. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each stud of the plurality of studs moves vertically when moving from the idle position to the working position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each rod is stationary.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one precut is a continuous notch extending over at least part of the width of the cover.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one precut is a broken notch extending over at least part of the width of the cover.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cover portions further includes at least one tongue extending transversely relative to the length of the cover.

13. A method for uncovering one or more wells of a plurality of wells of a gel card that comprises a body including the plurality wells, and a cover, having a length and a width, sealing the plurality of wells, wherein the cover has at least one precut, which is between two adjacent wells of the plurality of wells, to form at least two cover portions, each cover portion of the at least two cover portions sealing at least one well of the plurality of wells of the body, the method comprising:

heating at least one cover portion with a heated stud to release the least one cover portion from the body of the gel card;

adhering the at least one cover portion to the heated stud; and

moving the heated stud away from the body of the gel card, wherein moving the heated stud removes the at least one cover portion from the body of the gel card.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2019
From: DIAMED GMBH
To: BIO-RAD EUROPE GMBH
Reel/Frame 050108/0806 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2019
From: BIO-RAD INNOVATIONS
To: BIO-RAD EUROPE GMBH
Reel/Frame 049122/0754 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: NOVILOIRE
To: DIAMED GMBH
Reel/Frame 034352/0867 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2013
From: BERNAY, SEBASTIEN; BRISEBRAT, JEAN-MICHEL
To: NOVILOIRE
Reel/Frame 031786/0578 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2013
From: BUFFIERE, FREDERIC
To: BIO-RAD INNOVATIONS
Reel/Frame 031786/0602 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 11 51979 · Mar 10, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140124510A1 · May 8, 2014