High temperature incubation system and method for small volumes

Abstract

A system and method of incubating a liquid is provided. The system is well-suited for incubating small volumes of liquid at high temperatures. The liquid may be a reaction mixture comprising a glycoprotein. During the incubation process, oligosaccharides may be removed from the glycoprotein.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for incubating a liquid reaction mixture, the apparatus comprising 
 a bath containing a heated fluid,    a holder, and    a vessel coupled to the holder, the vessel having a first portion in contact with the heated fluid and a second portion not in contact with the heated fluid, the second portion having an inner surface including a sample-receiving region on which a volume of the liquid reaction mixture is placed for incubation, a temperature of the sample-receiving region during incubation being cooler than other areas of the inner surface of the second portion and cooler than the first portion.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the second portion is situated vertically above the first portion when the first portion is in contact with the heated fluid during incubation.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the holder comprises a mass of material having an opening therethrough and the vessel is inserted into the opening to couple the vessel to the holder.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the mass of material floats on the heated fluid.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the sample-receiving region comprises a concave portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the sample-receiving region comprises a rounded apex of a substantially conical portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the vessel is made of a material to which the volume of liquid reaction mixture adheres when the vessel is oriented so that the sample-receiving region is above the liquid reaction mixture.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the vessel comprises a body having an opening and a closure member that closes the opening to prevent condensable vapor outside the vessel from entering the vessel during incubation.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the heated fluid comprises a liquid.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for incubating a liquid reaction mixture, the apparatus comprising 
 a bath containing a heated liquid,    a holder floating in the heated liquid, and    a vessel coupled to the holder, the vessel having a first portion in contact with the heated liquid and a second portion that is not in contact with the heated liquid, the second portion having an inner surface including a sample-receiving region on which a volume of the liquid reaction mixture is placed for incubation, the sample-receiving region being an uppermost area of the inner surface, at least part of the sample-receiving region facing downwardly toward the first portion of the vessel, and the vessel being made from a material to which the volume of the liquid reaction mixture adheres when placed on the sample-receiving region to prevent the volume of the liquid reaction mixture from falling off of the sample-receiving region during incubation.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the holder comprises a mass of material having an opening therethrough and the vessel is inserted into the opening to couple the vessel to the holder.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the sample-receiving region comprises a concave portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the sample-receiving region comprises a concave portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the sample-receiving region comprises a rounded apex of a substantially conical portion of the inner surface.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the vessel comprises a body having an opening and a closure member that closes the opening to prevent condensable vapor outside the vessel from entering the vessel during incubation.  
     
     
         40 - 41 . (canceled)