Containers for reducing or eliminating foaming

Abstract

A foam reducing or eliminating container for containing a liquid includes: a container body having a top portion, a bottom portion and an opening for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the container body; and a hollow baffle located within the container with first and second openings therein. The first and second openings are covered with a pierceable seal, wherein the first opening of the baffle is at least partially aligned with the opening of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a reagent supply container for an automated analyzer, which includes: a container as described above; and a closure which is movable away from the opening of the container to be in an open position and movable into contact with the opening to be in a closed position. In another preferred embodiment a reagent supply for an automated analyzer includes: the reagent supply container as described above; and a liquid reagent therein. The second opening of the baffle is submerged in liquid. A method for reducing or eliminating the aspiration of foam into a metering probe includes: providing a reagent supply as described above; providing a metering probe movable in a direction toward and away from the reagent supply; moving the closure away from the opening of the container; piercing both seals covering the first and second openings of the baffle allowing liquid to enter the baffle from the end of the baffle submerged in the liquid, wherein the seals may or may not be pierced with the metering probe; moving the metering probe into the first opening of the baffle and into contact with the liquid in the baffle; aspirating a selected amount of liquid in the baffle; and moving the metering probe out of the baffle.

1 . A foam reducing or eliminating container for containing a liquid comprising: 
 a container body having a top portion, a bottom portion and an opening for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the container body; and    a hollow baffle located within the container with first and second openings therein, the first and second openings being covered with a pierceable seal, wherein the first opening of the baffle is at least partially aligned with the opening of the container.    
     
     
         2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the baffle has sidewalls with the first opening at a first end region and the second opening at a second end region, wherein the first end region of the baffle contacts the opening of the container body during transport.  
     
     
         3 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the baffle forms a liquid tight seal with the opening of the container body during transport.  
     
     
         4 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the baffle contacts the opening of the container at the sidewalls in the vicinity of the first opening.  
     
     
         5 . A container as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second end region of the baffle extends into the container at a location away from the opening of the container.  
     
     
         6 . A container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the second opening of the baffle is located in the vicinity of the bottom of the container.  
     
     
         7 . A container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the second opening is two millimeters or less from the bottom of the container.  
     
     
         8 . A container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the second opening is around one millimeter or less from the bottom of the container.  
     
     
         9 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first baffle opening is located in the vicinity of the container opening and wherein the pierceable seal covering the first baffle opening also covers the container opening.  
     
     
         10 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid in the container, wherein the baffle extends into the container and below the surface of the liquid at a location away from the opening of the container.  
     
     
         11 . A container as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the pierceable cover is pierced at both ends and wherein liquid is withdrawn from the container through liquid within the baffle.  
     
     
         12 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an opening to allow air into the portion of the container outside of the baffle.  
     
     
         13 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the opening is a gap between the first end region of the baffle and the opening of the container.  
     
     
         14 . A container as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the opening is formed by an indentation in the sidewalls of the baffle.  
     
     
         15 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the indentation is a crease that runs along at least a portion of the length of the baffle sidewall.  
     
     
         16 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the opening is in the sidewall of the baffle located in the first end region, and wherein the first end region of the baffle forms a liquid tight seal with the opening of the container body.  
     
     
         17 . A container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the opening is covered with a pierceable seal.  
     
     
         18 . A reagent supply container for an automated analyzer comprising: 
 a container as claimed in  claim 1;  and    a closure which is movable away from the opening of the container to be in an open position and movable into contact with the opening to be in a closed position.    
     
     
         19 . A reagent supply for an automated analyzer, comprising: 
 the reagent supply container according to  claim 18  and a liquid reagent therein, wherein the second opening of the baffle is submerged in the liquid.    
     
     
         20 . A reagent supply as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the baffle has dimensions sufficient to allow a metering probe of an automated analyzer having a disposable tip to be inserted through the first opening of the baffle in a direction toward the second opening thereof.  
     
     
         21 . A reagent supply for an automated analyzer comprising: 
 a reagent supply container which comprises a container body having sidewalls, a bottom, and a top, the top having an opening for adding a liquid reagent to or removing the liquid reagent from the container body, and a tubular baffle located within the container, the baffle having sidewalls and a first and second openings at opposite ends thereof, both first and second openings of the baffle having a pierceable seal, wherein the exterior surface of the baffle sidewalls contact the opening of the container with the opening of the container body;    a closure which is movable away from the opening of the container to be in an open position and movable into contact with the opening to be in a closed position; and    a liquid reagent within the reagent supply container.    
     
     
         22 . A reagent supply as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the exterior surface of the baffle sidewalls contact the opening of the container to form a seal  
     
     
         23 . An automated analyzer comprising: 
 a sample supply source;    a sample metering station;    a reaction vessel;    a reagent supply as claimed in  claim 19;  and    a measuring instrument for measuring a property of the sample.    
     
     
         24 . A method for reducing or eliminating the aspiration of foam into a metering probe: 
 providing a reagent supply according to  claim 19;     providing a metering probe movable in a direction toward and away from the reagent supply;    moving the closure away from the opening of the container;    piercing both seals covering the first and second openings of the baffle allowing liquid to enter the baffle from the end of the baffle submerged in the liquid, wherein the seals may or may not be pierced with the metering probe;    moving the metering probe into the first opening of the baffle and into contact with the liquid in the baffle;    aspirating a selected amount of liquid in the baffle; and    moving the metering probe out of the baffle.    
     
     
         25 . A method for according to  claim 24 , wherein the step of piercing both seals is performed by the tip of the metering probe.  
     
     
         26 . A method for manufacturing a reagent supply, comprising: 
 adding a liquid reagent to a container having an opening;    providing a hollow baffle having side walls, a second opening sealed with a pierceable seal in the vicinity of a second end of the baffle, and a first opening optionally sealed with a pierceable seal in the vicinity of a first end of the baffle;    inserting the sealed second opening of the baffle into the opening of the container to a point below the surface of the liquid;    securing the side walls of the baffle to the container; and    sealing the first opening of the baffle with a pierceable seal if it is not already sealed.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising sealing both the first opening of the baffle and the opening of the container with the pierceable seal.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the opening of the container has a circular cross section and a lip which extends outwardly away from the center of the opening, and wherein the baffle has a circular cross section and a lip at the first end which extends outwardly from the center thereof, and further wherein the baffle is inserted into the container until the top surface of the container lip is in contact with the bottom surface of the baffle lip.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the baffle has a protrusion located below the lip on the outer surface of the side walls, wherein the protrusion frictionally engages sidewalls of the container at a point below the lip of the container to securely engage the baffle with the container.