Tapered cuvette and method of collecting magnetic particles

Abstract

A vessel for use in clinical analysis including an open top, a closed bottom, and at least four tapered sides. A method for collecting magnetic particles in a fluid comprising the steps of providing a magnet and a vessel containing magnetic particles in a fluid, attracting the magnetic particles to the magnet, and moving the magnetic particles with the magnet out of the fluid.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A vessel for use in the manipulation of magnetic particles in a fluid medium for optical analysis during clinical analysis, comprising:
 a) a vertical axis;   b) an open top substantially perpendicular to said vertical axis;   c) a closed bottom;   d) at least four sides, each of the four sides extending from the open top to the closed bottom, at least two of the at least four sides are flat and opposite to each other, at least two of the at least four sides are wider at the top than at the bottom of the vessel and at least a pair of opposite sides of the at least four sides further comprise a projection positioned on an exterior surface of the vessel adjacent said open top and extending towards the vessel base, said projection comprising a planar surface substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the vessel; and,   e) a lumen.   
     
     
         28 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the closed bottom is convex. 
     
     
         29 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein each side of the pair of opposite sides for the optical analysis or each side of the pair of opposite sides for the magnetic particle engagement are symmetrical. 
     
     
         30 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of a combined surface area of the pair of opposite sides for the optical analysis to a combined surface area of the pair of opposite sides for the magnetic particle engagement is in the range of about 4:1 to about 2:1. 
     
     
         31 . The vessel of  claim 30 , wherein the ratio is about 3:1. 
     
     
         32 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the sides for the optical analysis are composed of a substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         33 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the vessel's interior cross-sectional area is greater at the top of the vessel than at the bottom of the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein each side of the pair of opposite sides for the magnetic particle engagement or each side of the pair of opposite sides for the optical analysis are tapered at an angle of 5.8 degrees relative to the vertical. 
     
     
         34 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the vessel further comprises a flange positioned at the top of the vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The vessel of  claim 27 , wherein the vessel comprises two flanges that extend about 1.33 mm outward from the top of the vessel on opposite sides of the vessel. 
     
     
         36 . The vessel of  claim 34 , wherein the flange extends substantially the same distance from the sides of the vessel on all sides, 
     
     
         37 . The vessel of  claim 27  further comprising a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein when the closed bottom of said first vessel is positioned within the lumen of said second vessel, the exterior surface of said first vessel and the interior surface of the lumen of said second vessel, defines a gap between the first vessel and the second vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The vessel of  claim 37  wherein the gap is about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         39 . The vessel of  claim 37  wherein the gap prevents the exterior surface of the first vessel from scratching the interior surface of the second vessel. 
     
     
         40 . The vessel of  claim 37 , wherein the gap between the first and the second vessels is substantially equivalent to the depth of the projection. 
     
     
         41 . A vessel cartridge for loading vessels in an automated clinical diagnostic device, comprising:
 a plurality of vessels for optical analysis, each vessel comprising,
 a) a vertical axis, 
 b an open top substantially perpendicular to said vertical axis, 
 c) a closed bottom, and 
 d) at least four sides, each of the four sides extending from the open top to the closed bottom, at least two of the at least four sides are flat and opposite to each other, at least two of the at least four sides are wider at the top than at the bottom of the vessel and at least a pair of opposite sides of the at least four sides further comprise a projection positioned on an exterior surface of the vessel adjacent said open top and extended towards the vessel base, said projection comprising a planar surface substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the vessel, wherein the exterior surface of a first vessel and the interior surface of a second vessel define a gap between the first and second vessels. 
   
     
     
         42 . The vessel cartridge of  claim 41  wherein the gap is about 0.1 mm.