IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,350,679
Granted Patent B2
US 12,350,679 · App. 18/437,605 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Fluid interface to receive removable container

Inventors: Mark Reed (Menlo Park, CA); Rui Zheng (Madison, CT)
Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
B01L3/523B01L3/561B01L2200/026B01L2200/0689B01L2200/16B01L2300/04B01L2300/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,350,679
App. No.
18/437,605
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container includes a lower portion and a lid to connect with the lower portion. The lid includes a fluidic interface, a swing bar, and a counter structure disposed on an opposite side of the fluidic interface relative to the swing bar. The fluidic interface includes a first liquid port, a second liquid port, a gas port, and a seal ring disposed around the first liquid port, the second liquid port, and the gas port, the first liquid port disposed along a center axis of the container.

Claims (23)

1. A method of connecting a container to an instrument, the method comprising:

applying a swing bar of a container to a cradle of an instrument interface, wherein:

the instrument interface including the cradle, and an instrument fluidic interface including an instrument sealing ring and a first instrument liquid port, a second instrument liquid port, and an instrument gas port disposed within the instrument sealing ring; and

the container including:

a lower portion having a cylindrical section and a conical section;

a lid to connect with the cylindrical section of the lower portion, the lid including a fluidic interface, a swing bar, and a counter structure disposed on an opposite side of the fluidic interface relative to the swing bar, the fluidic interface including a first liquid port, a second liquid port, a gas port, and a seal ring disposed around the first liquid port, the second liquid port, and the gas port, the first liquid port disposed along a center axis of the container;

a first sipper tube connected to the first liquid port and extending into the lower portion; and

a second sipper tube connected to the second liquid port and extending into the lower portion, wherein the second sipper tube is shorter than the first sipper tube;

applying a reagent solution through the second instrument liquid port, the second liquid port, and the second sipper tube into the container; and

applying gas through the gas port to drive the reagent solution from the container through the first liquid sipper tube, the first liquid port, and the first instrument liquid port into the instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising swinging the container to apply the counter structure into a recess of the instrument interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument interface further includes a recess to receive the counter structure of the lid.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the instrument interface further includes connectors to engage the counter structure of the lid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid port is disposed along a line extending from a center of the swing bar to the counter structure through the first liquid port.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second liquid port is closer to the counter structure than the swing bar.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gas port is disposed along the line closer to the swing bar than the first liquid port.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid port includes a raised seal structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the raised sealing structure is taller than the sealing ring.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second liquid port has a second raised sealing structure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second raised sealing structure is the same height as the raised sealing structure of the first liquid port.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gas port includes a third raised sealing structure.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third raised sealing structure is shorter than the raised sealing structure of the first liquid port.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lid connects to the lower portion with a threaded connection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: REED, MARK; ZHENG, RUI
To: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071128/0270 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16885904 · May 28, 2020
Provisional Application 62854924 · May 30, 2019
Related Publication 20240246082A1 · Jul 25, 2024
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