Open-ended conical tube for recovering cells from a microfludic chip

1. An open-ended conical tube comprising:

i) a nipple portion ( 7 ), wherein the nipple portion ( 7 ) comprises a length in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches, an outer diameter in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches, wherein the nipple portion ( 7 ) comprises a narrow orifice;

ii) a conical portion ( 5 ) attached to and in fluid communication with the nipple portion, wherein the conical portion ( 5 ) has a length in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 inches and the angle of the outer surface of the conical portion ( 5 ) of the tube in relation to the outer surface of a cylindrical portion ( 1 ) of the tube is between 30° to 45°, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the conical portion ( 5 ) is attached to a flange ( 6 ) comprising a cylindrical cavity ( 12 ), wherein the cylindrical cavity ( 12 ) is formed into the surface of the flange ( 6 ), and the flange ( 6 ) is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the conical portion ( 5 ) of the tube such that the opening of the cylindrical cavity ( 12 ) extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein a cap of a PCR tube fits into the cylindrical cavity ( 12 ) in the flange ( 6 );

iii) the cylindrical portion ( 1 ) attached to and in fluid communication with the conical portion ( 5 ) and having an axis substantially co-linear with an axis of the conical portion ( 5 ), wherein the cylindrical portion ( 1 ) comprises a wide orifice and threads ( 8 ) on the outer surface abutting the wide orifice to accommodate a cap for the conical tube, wherein the cylindrical portion ( 1 ) comprises a length in the range of 2.2 to 2.8 inches, an outer diameter in the range of 1.10 to 1.19 inches along its entire length and an inner diameter configured to accommodate one or more microfluidic chips or slides.

2. The conical tube of claim 1 , further comprising a 0.5 mL PCR tube ( 11 ), wherein the nipple portion is sealed to the interior of the PCR tube.

3. The conical tube of claim 1 , further comprising a cap for the conical tube that twists onto the threads ( 8 ) on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion ( 1 ) abutting the wide orifice.

4. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the conical tube is comprised of high-density polyethylene.

5. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the conical tube is produced by a molding process.

6. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the conical tube is produced by a blow molding process.

7. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the conical tube further comprises a microfluidic chip ( 13 ) inside the tube.

8. A method of collecting cells from a microfluidic chip, comprising:

a) placing the microfluidic chip into the conical tube of any one of claims 2 to 6 , wherein an outlet of the microfluidic chip ( 9 ) is placed towards the nipple portion ( 7 );

b) centrifuging the microfluidic chip inside of the conical tube; and

c) collecting the cells in the 0.5 mL PCR tube ( 11 ) sized to seal to the conical tube.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the centrifuging is at about 300×g or less.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the centrifuging is in a swinging bucket rotor.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is performed under sterile conditions.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of refilling the microfluidic chip with an isotonic fluid and repeating steps a) through c).

13. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical portion ( 1 ) comprises raised parallel ridges ( 10 ) for accommodating one or more microfluidic chips or slides in the tube.

14. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the walls of the tube are in the range of about 0.030 to about 0.10 inches.

15. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical cavity in the flange fits the cap of the 0.5 mL PCR tube sufficiently snugly such that the cap remains anchored in the flange during centrifugation.

16. The conical tube of claim 1 , wherein the flange does not substantially increase the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the conical tube such that the conical tube with the flange can fit in the well of a centrifuge bucket.