U.S. patent number 10,620,191 [Application Number 13/886,952] was granted by the patent office on 2020-04-14 for testkit for laboratory diagnostics.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG. The grantee listed for this patent is Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG. Invention is credited to Antje Euken, Wolfgang Meyer, Thomas Scheper, Winfried Stocker.
United States Patent |
10,620,191 |
Stocker , et al. |
April 14, 2020 |
Testkit for laboratory diagnostics
Abstract
A device for incubating an immunoblot strip (6) includes at
least one incubation channel (1) into which an elongate immunoblot
strip (6) having at least one biological material on its front is
inserted with its back facing a channel base (2). An agitating
means (7), with which the immunoblot strip (6) is agitatable around
a transverse axis (8) of the strip (6) at least at times during
incubation via an agitating device (7). For handling and/or
grouping incubation channels (1) with immunoblot strips (6)
inserted, a rack (3) for taking up at least two incubation channels
(1) is provided. The rack (3) is in operative connection with said
agitating means (7) via load transmission points.
Inventors: |
Stocker; Winfried (Gross
Gronau, DE), Meyer; Wolfgang (Pansdorf,
DE), Scheper; Thomas (Berkenthin, DE),
Euken; Antje (Lubeck, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG |
Lubeck |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Euroimmun Medizinische
Labordiagnostika AG (Lubeck, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
46511771 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/886,952 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140186971 A1 |
Jul 3, 2014 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 3, 2012 [DE] |
|
|
20 2012 004 404 U |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L
3/50855 (20130101); G01N 33/5302 (20130101); G01N
33/558 (20130101); G01N 33/54386 (20130101); G01N
2035/00108 (20130101); B01L 2200/028 (20130101); B01L
2300/0825 (20130101); G01N 2035/00346 (20130101); B01L
2300/044 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01N
33/53 (20060101); B01L 3/00 (20060101); G01N
33/543 (20060101); G01N 35/00 (20060101); G01N
33/558 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cheu; Changhwa J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gruneberg and Myers PLLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A device for incubating an immunoblot strip, comprising: at
least one incubation channel having a channel base; an elongate
immunoblot strip, wherein said immunoblot strip is insertable into
said at least one incubation channel, wherein said immunoblot strip
has a front surface and a back surface and has at least one
biological material on the front surface, wherein said immunoblot
strip is inserted with the back surface facing the channel base; an
agitating equipment, wherein said immunoblot strip is agitatable
around a transverse axis of the strip via said agitating equipment
at least at times during incubation; and a rack for taking up at
least two incubation channels and for handling and/or grouping
incubation channels with immunoblot strips inserted wherein said
rack comprises said at least one incubation channel which is
oriented to hold liquid and, wherein said rack is in operative
connection with said agitating equipment via load transmission
points, wherein said take-ups are separated from one another at
least in certain areas by webs, wherein the at least one incubation
channel is clamped between adjacent webs to securely fix the at
least one incubation channel, and wherein the at least one
incubation channel is detachable from said take-ups without being
destroyed.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said rack has fastening
elements for placing said incubation channel in one of said
take-ups or on a platform of automatic laboratory equipment.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said incubation channel
has at least one holding element at the channel base for fixing
said inserted immunoblot strip.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said immunoblot strip
has a pressure sensitive adhesive on said back surface facing said
channel base.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
incubation channel is covered by a sheet.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least two incubation
channels are provided having a connection at respective
longitudinal sides.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said connection and
said at least two incubation channels are designed in one
piece.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a total of at least two
incubation channels are provided having a connection formed by a
sheet covering said at least two incubation channels.
9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said connection has a
diminished material strength relative to a material of said
incubation channel and/or at least a recess to separate adjacent
incubation channels from one another.
10. A method for incubating an immunoblot strip, comprising:
performing said method in the device according to claim 1;
providing at least one elongate immunoblot strip; providing a
biological material on a front surface of said at least one
elongate immunoblot strip; inserting said at least one elongate
immunoblot strip into said incubation channel having said channel
base, wherein a back surface of said immunoblot strip faces the
channel base; agitating said at least one elongate immunoblot strip
around said transverse axis of the strip at least at times during
incubation, wherein at least two incubation channels with
immunoblot strips located therein are inserted into take-ups of
said rack configured to receive said take-ups, and wherein the
rack, when equipped with incubation channels into which immunoblot
strips are inserted, is connected with said agitating equipment
such that said rack is agitated together with said incubation
channels and said immunoblot strips located therein at least at
times during incubation.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least two
immunoblot strips are clamped at said channel base of said
incubation channel at least in certain areas.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said rack is
positioned on a platform of said agitating equipment.
13. The device according to claim 6, wherein said connection has a
diminished material strength relative to a material of said
incubation channel and/or at least a perforation to separate
adjacent incubation channels from one another.
Description
The instant application should be granted the priority date of May
3, 2012, the filing date of the corresponding German patent
application DE 20 2012 004 404.4.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of medical laboratory diagnostics, different test
systems are known, using which patient samples are tested for the
presence of special antibodies. With the detection of special
patient antibodies and their categorization in certain
immunoglobulin classes, it is possible to draw conclusions about
bacterial or viral infections, which have occurred or are still
present, as well as about the chronological sequence of an
infection. Typically, detection of antibodies takes place by way of
so-called stepwise diagnostics, in which first sensitive screening
is undertaken, followed by a specific confirmation. In that, in
routine serology, ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is
frequently used for screening, while as the confirmation test,
immunoblot strips, in particular Western blot strips, dot blot
strips or line blot strips, are predominantly used.
For incubation of the various known immunoblot strips, typically
so-called blot trays are used, which have a plurality of channels,
into which the respectively required blot strips are inserted at
the laboratory. Incubation takes place within the channels by
filling reagents into the respective channels with the blot strips
in the order specified for that. Subsequently, the tray is
preferably agitated, so that good intermixing of the reagents and
sufficient incubation of the blot strips take place. Following
incubation, the strips are first purified using a washing liquid,
and subsequently the banding patterns of the individual strips are
analyzed. The analysis is normally performed automatically, wherein
the incubated blot strips are recorded with a camera or a scanner
system, and the recorded images are analyzed with the aid of
laboratory software.
In this connection, a blot membrane is known from DE 202 15 268 U1,
which is provided with a reversible adhesive on its back. In this
case, the reversible adhesive enables fixation of the membrane
directly at the base of an incubation channel, whereby turning over
of the membrane by filling, emptying or agitating of the incubation
channel or the incubation tray during incubation is reliably
prevented. In that, the reversible adhesive is optionally applied
across the entire dimension of the respective back of the blot
membrane or only in a limited area.
Furthermore, DE 202 15 270 U1 discloses very special immunoblot
strips, on which different types of test strips are provided.
Sections of Western blot strips are combined with line blots, with
which a specifically selected antigen can be respectively
detected.
Based on the blot strips known from the state of the art and the
available means for incubating the strips, the invention is based
on the object of creating a process in which the tests using blot
strips can be performed comfortably and at the same time, is
particularly flexible. In particular, the combination of different
antibody detection methods and/or simultaneous testing of various
patient serums in the course of a joint incubation process are
enabled in a simple manner. Furthermore, with the device according
to the present invention, storage, transport, and in particular
provision of the individual blot strips can be undertaken reliably
and in a very user-friendly manner. Above all, the user is to be
enabled to perform incubation sequences, in which, in a simple
manner, different blot strips can be combined with one another. The
effort to combine different blot strips is minimized. Furthermore,
it is to be ensured with relatively simple means, that incubation
of the immunoblot strips takes place effectively and reliably,
wherein in particular floating or distortion of the test strips are
prevented with simple means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above object is solved with a device according to the present
invention, specifically, a device for incubating an immunoblot
strip with at least one incubation channel, into which an elongate
immunoblot strip having at least one biological material on its
front has been inserted with its back surface facing a channel
base, and with an agitating means, with which the immunoblot strip
is agitatable around a transverse axis of the strip at least at
times during incubation, has been further developed such that for
handling and/or grouping incubation channels with immunoblot strips
inserted, a rack to take up at least two incubation channels is
provided, and the rack is in operative connection with the
agitating means via load transmission points.
Using the technical solution according to the invention, it is
possible, in a relatively simple manner, to combine different
incubation channels, which preferably have already been provided
with an immunoblot strip, into a group, which is moved and
incubated jointly. Particularly advantageous is the use of a rack,
which is designed in the shape of a frame or tray, wherein the
frame or the tray has defined spaces to take up the incubation
channels. Thus, the incubation channels required for incubation can
be arranged in a frame or on a tray as needed, wherein the
incubation channels are reliably held in their positions by
suitable locking aids, such as in the form of webs. In particular
for incubating immunoblot strips using automatic laboratory
equipment, the rack provided according to the invention, which on
the one hand serves to take up the incubation channels, and on the
other hand is designed and arranged in an agitatable manner, can be
used with particular advantage. In this case, in a particularly
advantageous manner, different incubation channels or incubation
channels which have already been equipped with different blot
strips, respectively, can be combined in a group as needed and
placed in a frame-shaped rack or on a placement area of automatic
laboratory equipment for incubation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a holding element for
fixing the blot strip is provided in the incubation channel. The
holding element is designed such that the immunoblot strip is
securely held in its originally intended position and location, and
in particular falling out, distortion, floating or any similar
movement is reliably avoided during incubation. Thus, the
immunoblot strip is securely fixed within the incubation channel.
In an advantageous manner, this holding element is designed as a
locking catch or like a holding clamp, respectively, in the area of
the channel base. During insertion of an immunoblot strip into the
incubation channel, the immunoblot strip is slid under such a
locking catch or holding clamp in certain areas, and in this manner
fixed within the channel.
Preferably, a multitude of locking catches are provided in the area
of the channel base, so that a blot strip can be clamped and thus
fixed in this area without damaging it. It is likewise conceivable
that the holding element is designed in the shape of a clip, at
which a blot strip can be fastened at least in sections. In any
case, it is reasonable for the holding element to be designed such
that a blot strip can be easily removed from the incubation channel
without destroying it. In particular following incubation, but also
in case of an equipment error being noticed, this is of high
significance.
Additionally, it is conceivable that an adhesive is provided on the
back of an immunoblot strip. Preferably, the adhesive is a pressure
sensitive adhesive, which enables at least almost residue-free
removal and re-adhesion of the blot strip. In an advantageous
manner, such a pressure sensitive adhesive on the back of the blot
strip guarantees, on the one hand, that also during incubation,
shifting, distortion and/or floating of the blot strip is reliably
prevented, and on the other hand, that the blot strip can be
removed from the incubation channel in a simple manner for later
analysis of the test. The adhesive preferably is liquid-resistant,
so that undesired detachment of the blot strip from the wall of the
incubation channel is also reliably avoided during and after
incubation.
Furthermore, it is conceivable to fix the test strip removed from
the incubation channel at another surface than the channel base
using the pressure sensitive adhesive provided on its back. In a
suitable manner, for analysis, such blot strips are adhered to
analysis sheets in a specified order in order to scan the surface
of the blot strips and to transmit the scan to electronic
laboratory software for analysis and diagnosis by a doctor.
In a further special embodiment of the invention, a covering
element, in particular a plastic sheet, is provided, which at least
at times seals off the incubation channel with the blot strip
located therein against the environment. Furthermore, according to
a further development, the covering element is fastened to the
incubation channel at least in certain areas and entirely covers
the channel such that an interior space of the incubation channel
with the blot strip located therein is sealed off against the
environment.
Alternatively, or in addition, packaging, for example in the form
of a bag or package, is provided, in which the incubation channel
with the blot strip fixed therein is stored and/or transported. In
order to keep the immunoblot strips dry, the packaging is
optionally designed such that the immunoblot strip is enclosed
airtight by a sheet together with a desiccant, or the blot strip is
sealed off using a water-vapor-permeable sheet and the desiccant is
located on that side of the sheet opposite the blot strip.
Preferably, the packaging is designed airtight. Such a technical
solution is characterized in that the incubation channel forms a
unit sealed off against the environment with the blot strip
respectively arranged therein.
A very special embodiment of the invention provides that the
incubation channels are stackable in a suitable manner. Preferably,
at least two channels can be stacked into one another, so that the
upper incubation channel slides into the lower channel at least in
certain areas. According to a suitable further development, the
channels have a conical contour, so that the upper channel does not
touch the blot strip in the lower channel once the upper channel
has slid into the lower one. Preferably, the incubation channels
are furthermore designed such that, following stacking, the upper
channel forms a cover in relation to the lower channel. In this
case, the blot strip fixed in the lower incubation channel is
sealed off against the environment by the upper incubation
channel.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two
elongate incubation channels arranged in parallel to one another
are provided, which at their longitudinal sides have a connection
area. It is conceivable that the connection area is a closed area,
or connection webs are provided in sections only. In a particularly
preferred manner, it is conceivable that the connection area
between two incubation channels has a perforation, a predetermined
breaking point, diminished material strength and/or a notch. A
connection area designed such ensures that the at least two
incubation channels connected with one another via the connection
area can be easily separated from one another, without damaging the
incubation channels in doing so. In this connection, it is
particularly important that any damaging of the tray-shaped area of
the incubation channel, in which incubation of the blot strip takes
place, is reliably excluded.
If a packaging unit for test kits designed according to the
invention includes a multitude of incubation channels, which are
respectively filled with a blot strip, covered by a covering
element and connected with one another via a connection area, then,
due to a suitable design of the connection area, it is possible to
remove individual or groups of immunoblot strips from the packaging
unit, without damaging an incubation channel or a covering element
such that a blot strip accidentally gets in contact with the
environment. In particular, in this manner, particularly simple
provision and portioning of the required immunoblot strips is
guaranteed.
In a preferred manner, separation of at least one incubation
channel from an adjacent incubation channel takes place by also
separating the covering elements respectively covering the adjacent
incubation channels from one another. Preferably, in this case, the
covering element also has a perforation, a predetermined breaking
point, diminished material strength and/or a notch in a connection
area between the longitudinal sides of two adjacent incubation
channels. Alternatively, it is conceivable that each incubation
channel, no matter whether it is connected with another adjacent
channel, has a separate covering element, wherein the covering
elements of adjacent incubation channels in this special case are
not connected with one another.
A special further development of the invention furthermore provides
that the connection or the connection area, respectively, between
two adjacent incubation channels is exclusively formed by covering
elements covering the incubation channels with the blot strips
located therein. Preferably, it is conceivable that the covering
elements of adjacent incubation channels are designed in one piece,
and a perforation, a predetermined breaking point, diminished
material strength and/or a notch is provided in the connection area
between the incubation channels in order to separate the adjacent
incubation channels from one another in a suitable manner.
Preferably, the covering element is a sheet, more preferred a
plastic sheet, which covers at least two adjacent incubation
channels. Here, too, the incubation channels with the blot strips
located therein are reliably sealed off against the environment, so
that in particular contamination, damaging and/or inadmissible
moistening of the blot strip are avoided.
According to a further special embodiment of the invention, at
least one fastening element is provided at a longitudinal side of
the incubation channel, via which the incubation channel can be
connected with the take-up rack, in particular in the form of a
frame or tray, a further incubation channel, handling equipment,
automatic incubation equipment and/or an analysis apparatus. In
this connection, it is conceivable that a support area is provided
in the circumferential area of an incubation channel at least in
sections, so that this channel is particularly easy to place in
handling equipment, automatic incubation equipment and/or an
analysis apparatus using a frame- or tray-shaped take-up.
Furthermore, a special embodiment provides that the fastening
element has at least one snap and/or clip connection. Essential in
the design of the fastening element is that the incubation channel
can be connected with one of the devices stated above, in
particular the take-up rack, in a relatively simple manner and in
particular without the aid of a tool.
In a very special embodiment of the invention, an incubation
channel and/or an incubation tray, which has at least two
incubation channels designed according to the invention, is
inserted in a frame- or tray-shaped take-up rack by placing the
edge area(s) of the channels on respective supports, for example
the upper boundary surfaces of intermediate webs. Preferably,
incubation takes place with an agitating motion at least at times
and/or analysis takes place while the incubation channel or the
incubation channels are located within the take-up rack.
According to another further development, it is conceivable that
using a suitable fastening element, an incubation channel can be
connected with at least one further incubation channel by plugging
these together in the area of the fastening elements. This
technical variant offers the possibility to connect a different
number of and/or even different test strips, i.e. incubation
channels with different blot strips, for one test run or one
incubation and/or washing step, respectively, with one another, and
to place them on or in an agitatably arranged rack.
In a special embodiment of the invention, the antigen provided on
the blot strip includes a biological molecule, which can be
specifically detected using binding to an antibody. Preferably, a
protein, a lipid, a nucleic acid (DNA/RNA), a carbohydrate, a
complex molecule and/or an allergen is provided as the antigen. The
type of biological material used as the antigen on the blot strip
primarily depends on the examination of a patient, which is to be
performed using a suitable in vitro examination of a body fluid of
the patient.
Preferably, the blot strip is a line blot and/or a Western blot
strip. The invention is in particular suited for test runs, in
which a multitude of incubation channels with immunoblot strips is
combined in or on a frame- or tray-shaped rack. With a combination
of several incubation channels with blot strips inserted, in a
particular manner, increases in efficiency for provision,
incubation and analysis of immunoblot strips are possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail,
without restriction of the general inventive concept, referring to
the figures.
FIG. 1: A device for incubating immunoblot strips with agitating
equipment and a tray-shaped rack for taking up the incubation
channels;
FIG. 2: A perspective view of several individual incubation
channels;
FIG. 3: A tray suited to take up one or several incubation
channels;
FIG. 4: A tray partially equipped with incubation channels; as well
as
FIG. 5: A tray completely equipped with incubation channels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With the technical solution explained in more detail in the
following, effective and time-saving grouping, provision, handling
and incubation of a multitude of immunoblot strips 6 can be enabled
in a relatively simple manner.
FIG. 1 shows a device for incubating immunoblot strips 6. Essential
in this device is agitating equipment 7 with an platform 10, on
which a tray-shaped rack 3 is arranged, which for its part has
take-ups 4 arranged next to one another, into which the incubation
channels 1, in a preferred manner pre-equipped incubation channels
1, can be inserted. During incubation, the elongate incubation
channels 1 are agitated around their transverse axis 8 at least at
times, so that the immunoblot strips 6 located therein are brought
in close contact with the reagent respectively located in the
channel 1. The individual take-ups 4 of the tray-shaped rack 3 are
separated by webs 9, between which the incubation channels 1 are
securely fixed.
The agitating equipment 7 has an agitatable platform 10, on which
the tray-shaped rack 3 with the incubation channels 1 is placed, so
that together with the platform 10, the tray-shaped rack 3, the
incubation channels 1 as well as the immunoblot strips 6 located
therein can also be agitated during incubation. In order to
securely fix the individual immunoblot strips 6 within the
incubation channels 1, and thus to prevent in particular shifting,
distortion as well as floating of the strips, holding elements 5 in
the form of clips are provided at the channel bases 2 of the
incubation channels 1, under which the strips 6 can be clamped.
Clamping takes place such that the incubation strips 6 can be
removed from the incubation channel 1 following incubation or in
another case of need, without damaging the strips 6.
FIG. 2 furthermore shows three incubation channels 1 arranged in
parallel next to one another in a perspective diagonal top view.
The channels 1 are designed such that immunoblot strips 6, which
preferably have a pressure sensitive adhesive on their back
surfaces, one the one hand, can be securely fixed, and on the other
hand, can be easily detached again. The area of the channel base 2
is only marginally larger than the surface of the respectively
inserted immunoblot strips 6. In this manner, it is ensured that
the amount of a reagent required for optimal incubation and/or a
washing liquid can be minimized.
In this view, on the upper front of the incubation channels 1, the
channel wall is slightly leveled compared to the opposite side in
order to enable relatively easy incubation, in particular
comfortable introduction of fluid into the channels 1. Furthermore,
in one point in the area of the channel base 2, small clips or
locking catches are integrally shaped in the channels 1 as holding
elements 5. These clips or locking catches, respectively, ensure
that blot strips 6 inserted into the incubation channels 1 "engage"
with the catches, and thus subsequently, shifting, distortion
and/or floating of the strips 6 during incubation is effectively
prevented. Thus, the strips 6 can be securely fixed, independent of
whether a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the bottom or
back, respectively, of the blot strips 6. This again enables that
already pre-equipped incubation channels 1, i.e. channels with an
immunoblot strip 6, can be produced at the manufacturer's and
delivered this way. In this case, the working step of equipping the
incubation channels 1 with the immunoblot strips 6 is then no
longer required at the laboratory.
At the side of the incubation channels 1 open to the top, these
have a flat edge along the entire circumference of the channels 1.
With the provision of such an edge, the respective channels 1 can
be easily and precisely inserted into respective take-ups 4 of the
rack 3 and thus directly or indirectly connected with handling
equipment, automatic incubation equipment, analysis units or other
laboratory equipment. The edges of the incubation channels 1 then
rest on suitable support areas, so that the respective channel 1 is
securely held, even if this, in particular during incubation, is
moved or agitated, respectively.
In addition to the incubation channels 1 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3
shows a tray-type rack 3 designed in a suitable manner. This tray
3, which serves take up of at least one, preferably a multitude of
incubation channels 1, is designed tray-shaped and has a flat,
slightly outwardly protruding edge 11, which, for example, could be
positioned on a support area of automatic laboratory equipment. It
is likewise conceivable to place such a tray-type rack 3 with its
bottom on a platform 10, with which the rack 3 as well as the
incubation channels 1 with the immunoblot strips 6 arranged therein
are agitated during incubation.
Small webs 9 are provided at the longitudinal sides of the
respectively shaped trays 3. The webs 9 are designed and
dimensioned such that incubation channels 1, like those shown, for
example, in FIG. 2, can be inserted into the intermediate spaces 4
between the webs 9, and hereby slight clamping of the channels 1 is
caused. Here, too, it is essential that the channels 1, on the one
hand, are securely fixed between the webs 9, and on the other hand,
can also be easily removed from the tray 3 again.
The tray 3 as well as the incubation channels 1 are made of a
suitable plastic, wherein in particular the tray 3 can be used
repeatedly. In the base area, the tray 3 shown in FIG. 3 is
designed such that it can be placed on a level surface, like a
table or a support of automatic laboratory equipment. It is
self-evident that trays 3 can be manufactured in different sizes as
needed, so that depending on the tray size, a different number of
incubation channels 1 and/or incubation trays, which have at least
two connected incubation channels 1, can be arranged on the tray 3.
In respect of automatic laboratory equipment, it is likewise
conceivable that equal or different trays 3 are placed into the
respective racks, take-up frames and/or on support plates provided
for that.
FIG. 4 shows a respectively shaped tray 3 with the webs 9 and a
circumferential edge 11 on the outside explained in connection with
FIG. 3, which is equipped with five individual incubation channels
1. The channels 1 were inserted into the take-ups 4 provided for
that and are fixed by the webs 9. In the embodiment shown, three
further take-up areas 4 suitable for fixing incubation channels 1
have not been equipped with channels 1.
Within the individual incubation channels 1, oppositely disposed
clips 5 are provided in the base area 2, with which an immunoblot
strip 6 inserted into the channels 1 is securely held at the base,
and thus shifting, distortion and/or floating during incubation is
prevented. The number as well as the design and arrangement of the
individual clips 5 are always selected such that secure fixing of
the immunoblot strips 6 in the channels 1 is guaranteed.
Self-evidently, it is conceivable to already equip the channels 1
with blot strips 6 prior to delivery to the laboratories and/or to
already place the incubation channels 1 in the tray 3.
Compared to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 shows a respectively shaped tray 3
completely equipped with incubation channels 1, eight in the
example shown. In that, the incubation channels 1 are securely
fixed within the tray of the tablet 3 by the webs 9 provided
there.
The trays 3 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 enable, on the one hand, in a
particularly simple manner, grouping of different immunoblot strips
6, and on the other hand, secure handling, in particular transport,
fixing in automatic laboratory equipment, incubation and analysis,
of a multitude of incubation channels 1 with the blot strips 6
arranged herein. In general, thus, a multitude of equal and/or
different immunoblot strips 6 can be moved, processed and analyzed
simultaneously, wherein it is likewise conceivable that the
channels 1 are separated or connected with one another. Likewise,
it is conceivable to stack the incubation channels 1 or a multitude
of channels 1 and/or combine these into packaging units. In that,
packaging units can be formed by arranging one or a multitude of
incubation channels 1 with or without a tray 3 in packaging or
covering the incubation channels 1 with the blot strips 6 arranged
therein with a protective sheet.
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of
German Patent Application DE 20 2012 004 404.4, filed May 3,
2012.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
1 Incubation channel 2 Channel base 3 Rack 4 Take-up 5 Holding
element 6 Immunoblot strip 7 Agitating equipment 8 Transverse axis
9 Web 10 Platform 11 Fastening element
* * * * *