US 12,290,817 B2
Evaporation-limiting inserts for reagent containers and related methods of use
Byron J. Knight, San Diego, CA (US); and Vincent Chabot, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/034,416.
Application 17/034,416 is a continuation of application No. 15/910,641, filed on Mar. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,799,870.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/466,856, filed on Mar. 3, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0008561 A1, Jan. 14, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01F 29/30 (2022.01); B01F 31/22 (2022.01); B01F 35/511 (2022.01); B01F 35/71 (2022.01); B01F 21/00 (2022.01); B01F 23/00 (2022.01); B01F 35/53 (2022.01); B01F 101/23 (2022.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/561 (2013.01) [B01F 29/30 (2022.01); B01F 31/22 (2022.01); B01F 35/511 (2022.01); B01F 35/71805 (2022.01); B01L 3/52 (2013.01); B01L 3/523 (2013.01); B01F 21/15 (2022.01); B01F 21/502 (2022.01); B01F 21/504 (2022.01); B01F 23/00 (2022.01); B01F 35/53 (2022.01); B01F 35/71825 (2022.01); B01F 2101/23 (2022.01); B01L 2200/026 (2013.01); B01L 2200/06 (2013.01); B01L 2200/142 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0832 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00524 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An insert for a liquid-holding container, the insert comprising:
a body comprising a wall, an open top end, an open bottom end, and a generally tubular lumen extending from the open top end to the open bottom end;
a plurality of first openings formed in the wall, the first openings being situated between the top and bottom ends, wherein each of the plurality of first openings defines an area, wherein the plurality of first openings have substantially the same dimensions, wherein the plurality of first openings are arranged in a first row of at least two of the plurality of first openings in axial alignment with each other and a second row of at least two of the plurality of first openings in axial alignment with each other, and wherein the first and second rows are situated on opposite sides of the body; and
a pair of second openings formed in the wall between the top and bottom ends, wherein a first one of the pair of second openings is in axial alignment with the first row of first openings and is disposed adjacent to a top one of the first openings in the first row of first openings, wherein a second one of the pair of second openings is in axial alignment with the second row of first openings and is disposed adjacent to a top one of the first openings in the second row of first openings, wherein each opening of the pair of second openings defines an area that is at least about twice the area defined by any opening of the plurality of first openings, wherein the openings of the pair of second openings have substantially the same dimensions, wherein at least one opening of the pair of second openings is situated closer to the top end than any opening of the plurality of first openings, and wherein each opening of the plurality of first openings and each opening of the pair of second openings is sized to permit the passage of a liquid.