Reaction vessel systems and methods and systems for using same

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include systems that include reaction vessels and reaction vessel caps. In certain aspects, the reaction vessels include a reaction chamber and a groove disposed around a top opening of a reaction chamber. The system also includes a RV cap that includes a cap body, a RV plug, and a lower wall that includes an outer radial groove disposed above an outward projecting ridge of the lower wall. When the cap is inserted into the RV, the RV plug of the RV cap is sealingly inserted into the reaction chamber of the RV, a ridge of the RV mates with the outer radial groove of the RV cap, and an outward projecting ridge of the RV cap mates with the radial groove of the RV. Also provided are methods and sample analysis systems, which may employ the RV/RV cap systems of the present disclosure.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 mating a pipettor and a pipette tip by inserting a barrel of the pipettor into a pipettor barrel interface of the pipette tip;   dispensing a reaction mixture from the pipette tip mated to the pipettor into a reaction chamber of a reaction vessel (RV);   ejecting the pipette tip from the barrel of the pipettor;   mating the pipettor and a RV cap by inserting the barrel of the pipettor into a pipettor barrel interface of the RV cap;   picking up the RV cap using the pipettor;   capping the RV by inserting, using the pipettor, a plug portion of the RV cap into a top opening of the reaction chamber of the RV; and   ejecting the RV cap from the barrel of the pipettor to release the capped RV from the pipettor.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein subsequent to the capping and prior to the ejecting, the method further comprises moving the capped RV from a first location to a second location using the pipettor mated to the capped RV. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method occurs in a sample analysis system. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the second location is a well disposed in a sample analysis unit of the sample analysis system. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the sample analysis unit is a real-time nucleic acid amplification and detection system and the reaction mixture is a real-time nucleic acid amplification reaction mixture. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the first location is a well or opening of a sample preparation cartridge present in the sample analysis system. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein subsequent to dispensing the reaction mixture and prior to the capping, the method further comprises dispensing a vapor barrier liquid onto the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the RV comprises:
 a groove disposed around the perimeter of the top opening, the groove comprising an outer groove wall, the outer groove wall comprising a radial groove disposed below an inward-projecting ridge on the outer groove wall, and 
   the RV cap comprises:
 a cap body comprising the pipettor barrel interface comprising an open top and a closed bottom; 
 the plug portion projecting downward from a central region of the bottom of the cap body, the plug portion sized for insertion into and sealing of the reaction chamber of the RV; and 
 a lower wall projecting downward from the perimeter of the bottom of the cap body, the lower wall comprising an outer radial groove disposed above an outward projecting ridge of the lower wall, 
   wherein, when the RV is capped:
 the RV plug of the RV cap is sealingly inserted into the reaction chamber of the RV; 
 the inward-projecting ridge on the outer groove wall of the RV mates with the outer radial groove of the RV cap; and 
 the outward projecting ridge of the RV cap mates with the radial groove of the RV. 
   
     
     
         26 . The method according to any one of  claims 18  to  21   claim 18 , wherein:
 the RV comprises:
 a groove disposed around the perimeter of the top opening and an outer groove wall having an outward-facing ledge, and 
 
 the RV cap comprises:
 a cap body comprising the pipettor barrel interface comprising an open top and a closed bottom; 
 the plug portion projecting downward from a central region of the bottom of the cap body, the plug portion sized for insertion into the reaction chamber of the RV; and 
 a lower wall projecting downward from the perimeter of the bottom of the cap body, 
 
 wherein, when the RV is capped:
 the RV plug of the RV cap is non-sealingly inserted into the reaction chamber of the RV; and 
 the lower wall of the RV cap is sealingly inserted into the groove of the RV. 
 
 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the plug portion of the RV cap has a lower convex surface, and upon inserting the plug portion of the RV cap into the reaction chamber, the lower convex surface of the RV plug reduces the void volume within the reaction chamber and displaces the air that makes up the void volume to a circumferential space defined by the lower convex surface of the RV plug and the upper surface of the reaction mixture within the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         28 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method of capping a reaction vessel, comprising:
 introducing a reaction mixture into a reaction chamber of a reaction vessel (RV); and   inserting a plug portion of a reaction vessel (RV) cap into the reaction chamber of the RV;   wherein the plug portion of the RV comprises a lower convex surface, and   wherein, during the inserting, the lower convex surface of the RV plug reduces the void volume within the reaction chamber and displaces the air that makes up the void volume to a circumferential space defined by the lower convex surface of the RV plug and the upper surface of the reaction mixture within the reaction chamber.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein when the plug portion of the RV cap is inserted into the reaction chamber of the RV, the lower convex surface of the RV plug contacts the upper surface of the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein introducing a reaction mixture into a reaction chamber of the RV comprises introducing a reaction mixture having a volume of from 5 microliters to 100 microliters.