JP2016515805A - Process tube and transfer tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for safely and efficiently storing and transporting process tubes (102) in a transport tray (300), including before and during amplification of nucleotides in the process tubes (102). I will provide a. The disclosed process tube (102) includes a fixation region having an annular ridge (204), a neck (228), and a protrusion (212). The fixing area of the process tube (102) can fix the process tube (102) to the port of the transfer tray (300), but the process tube (102) is positioned to the heater well (402) of the thermal cycler (400). The process tube (102) can be adapted or suspended to mate. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The techniques described herein generally relate to process tubes used in amplification processes and transport trays in which process tubes are securely stored for transport and processing, and the process tubes and transports. Also relates to the method of making and using the tray.

The medical diagnostics industry is a critical element of today's medical infrastructure. Currently, however, in vitro diagnostic analysis is an obstacle in patient treatment, even if it is repeated. It can be appreciated that a biological sample diagnostic assay can be broken down into several important steps, and it is often desirable to automate one or more steps. For example, a biological sample such as that obtained from a patient can be used in a nucleic acid amplification assay to amplify a target nucleic acid of interest (eg, DNA, RNA, etc.). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed in a thermal cycler apparatus is one such amplification assay used to amplify a sample of interest.
Once amplified, the presence of the target nucleic acid or the amplification product of the target nucleic acid (eg, the target amplicon) can be detected, and the presence of the target nucleic acid and / or target amplicon is determined by the target (eg, target pathogen, genetic mutation, alteration) Etc.) is used to identify and / or quantify the presence. Often, nucleic acid amplification assays include multiple steps, which can include nucleic acid extraction and pretreatment, nucleic acid amplification, and target nucleic acid detection.
In many nucleic acid based diagnostic assays, the biological, environmental, or other sample to be analyzed is mixed with reagents for processing once obtained. Such treatment can include mixing nucleic acid extracted from a biological sample with amplification and detection reagents, such as probes and fluorescent materials. Processing a sample for amplification is currently a time consuming and labor intensive step.

Sample processing for amplification often occurs in dedicated process tubes used to keep the extracted DNA sample before and during the amplification process. In one example, the process tube is placed directly on the thermal cycler for amplification. In some examples, to simplify the procedure, the process tube is used for amplification pretreatment (filling the tube with amplification reagent, drying the reagent, marking the tube by hot stamping the tube, etc.) First placed in the tube rack. The process tubes are often removed from the tube rack by a research engineer and separated and placed in contact with the heater unit of the thermal cycler. Placing process tubes separately in the thermal cycler can be inefficient, time consuming and difficult to automate. Furthermore, such a process is prone to human error.
In one example, the rack that houses the process tubes can be placed directly into the thermal cycler. However, this approach can change the position of the process tubes in the rack during handling and transportation, resulting in inaccurate alignment with the thermal cycler heater. Also, intervention by research engineers is required to align the tube and fit the tube into the heater of the thermal cycler. Further, if the process tube is not firmly connected to the rack, the process may be removed during the process tube marking and pulled up and removed from the rack by the stamping device.

  Many of the difficulties in handling and transporting process tubes in a rack are due to the tube shape commonly used in the amplification process. Process tubes are often conical in shape and have a larger outer diameter at the top of the process tube than at the bottom of the process tube. Some process tubes are cylindrical in shape and have a constant diameter from the top to the bottom. The port of the rack in which the process tube is placed must be of a diameter greater than the maximum outer diameter of the process tube (at the top of the process tube). To address the tolerances associated with manufacturing process tubes and racks, the rack ports are often much larger than the outer diameter of the process tubes, allowing the tubes to move around in the rack and dropping. If not tightly fitted to the rack, the process tube can tilt to one side or the other. If there are multiple process tubes in the rack, the tilted process tubes can collide with each other and cause destruction and / or loss of samples and / or reagents stored therein. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to line the differently tilted process tubes into the rigid heater of the thermal cycler.

Thus, there is a need for process tubes and trays that fit tightly and integrally to allow safe and efficient handling and transport of the process tubes before and during amplification. Further, there is a need for a process tube that also has the ability to adapt or float in the tray to facilitate alignment with the heater of the thermal cycler.
The detailed description herein is intended to illustrate the context of the invention as described herein. This means that any of the components mentioned is published, publicly known or part of common general knowledge on any priority date of the claim. It is not to be construed as self-identification.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein contemplate process tubes having an annular ridge, a protrusion, and a fixation region comprising a neck between the ridge and the protrusion. The process tube also includes a main body portion extending below the projecting portion and an uppermost ring portion extending vertically upward from an annular ridge portion that defines an opening to the tube.
In certain embodiments, the outer surface of the neck can be parallel to the longitudinal axis through the process tube. The protrusion may include a top, an upward slope from the top to the neck, and a downward slope from the top to the body. The angle of the upper inclined portion in the protruding portion may be steeper than the angle of the lower inclined portion in the protruding portion. The annular ridge of the process tube can have an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface. The protrusion may have an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the neck. The annular ridge may have an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the protrusion. The process tube may further comprise a base that defines a bottom of the process tube below the body portion.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein comprise a process tube strip having a plurality of process tubes. The plurality of process tubes are connected by tabs adjacent to the annular ridges of the plurality of tubes.
Certain embodiments contemplate process tubes having an annular ridge that extends laterally from the tube and includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface. The process tube may include a top ring that extends vertically upward from an upper surface of the annular ridge and defines an opening in the process tube. The process tube may further comprise an annular protrusion that extends laterally from the process tube at a position below the annular ridge in the tube. The protrusion may have a top portion, an upper inclined portion, and a lower inclined portion. The process tube may include a neck between the annular ridge and the protrusion, a body portion under the protrusion, and a base that defines the bottom of the tube.

  The disclosed process tube embodiments can be configured to fit tightly into a transport tray. The transport tray may have a shelf and a base, such that the shelf has a plurality of ports through the top of the shelf, and the ports have internal walls. In certain embodiments, the protrusions of the disclosed process tube may have an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the port of the transfer tray. The neck of the process tube may have an outer diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the port of the transport tray. The process tube can be securely fitted into the port of the transfer tray.

  In a particular embodiment of the process tube, the lower surface of the annular ridge of the process tube can rest outside the top of the shelf and the upper ramp of the protrusion is on the bottom edge of the inner wall of the port. Can rest. A gap can exist between the neck of the process tube and the inner wall of the port, and the gap can tilt or adapt the process tube within the port of the transfer tray.

  A further embodiment of the present disclosure contemplates a system having a transfer tray with a plurality of ports extending therethrough and a process tube having a fixed area. The fixing area of the process tube may comprise an annular ridge, a neck and a protrusion. The fixing area of the process tube can fit firmly into the port of the transfer tray. In this system, the annular ridges and protrusions of the process tube can have an outer diameter that is larger than the diameter of the port of the transport tray, and the neck of the process tube can have an outer diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the port. it can. When the process tube is tightly fitted into the port of the transport tray, the process tube can tilt or adapt within the port of the transport tray.

1 is an isometric view of an exemplary process tube strip as described herein. FIG. 1B is a side plan view of the process tube strip of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B is a top view of the process tube strip of FIG. 1A. FIG. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another exemplary process tube strip as described herein. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another exemplary process tube strip as described herein. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary single process tube as described herein. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the process tube of FIG. 2A taken along line 2B of FIG. 1C. FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary transport tray as described herein. 3B is an illustration of an exemplary plurality of process tube strips of the transfer tray of FIG. 3A. FIG. It is sectional drawing of 12 process tubes positioned by the conveyance tray before fixing a process tube to a conveyance tray. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of two example process tubes positioned on a transfer tray before the process tubes are secured to the transfer tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the twelve process tubes of FIG. 4 taken along line 6A of FIG. 3B after the process tubes are secured to the transfer tray. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B of FIG. 3B of the process tube strip positioned on the transfer tray after the process tube is secured to the transfer tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the process tube of FIG. 5 positioned on the transfer tray after the process tube is fixed to the transfer tray. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary heater assembly of a thermal cycler. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary process tube positioned in a heater well of a heater assembly as described herein. FIG.

  Before further describing the embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

  If a range of values is given, and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each partition value between the upper and lower limits of this range, up to one tenth of the lower limit unit, and this specified range It is understood that any other defined or partitioning value in is included within the embodiment. These lower range upper and lower limits may be independently included in the smaller range and are also encompassed within the embodiments according to any expressly excluded limits of the defined range. Where a defined range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding those limits that include either or both are also encompassed by the embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which an embodiment belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” do not clearly indicate context. In this case, a plurality of instruction objects are included. Thus, for example, reference to “a method” includes a plurality of such methods, and equivalents of such methods known to those skilled in the art, and the like.

Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise” and various variations thereof, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” refer to other additions, components, integers Or intended to exclude steps.
The process tubes and transport trays described herein are also used to provide a safe and efficient system for preparing, storing, and transporting process tubes prior to use in a thermal cycler. In the middle, it can be used integrally to position the process tube accurately and firmly in the thermal cycler.

  FIG. 1A is an isometric view of an exemplary process tube strip 100 according to embodiments described herein. FIG. 1B is a side plan view of the process tube strip of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a top view of the process tube strip of FIG. 1A. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the process tube strip 100 is a collection of process tubes 102 connected together by a connection tab 104. The example process tube strip 100 may also include a top end tab 106 pointing to the top of the process tube strip 100 and a bottom end tab 108 pointing to the bottom of the process tube strip 100, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. . The process tube strip 100 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C includes eight process tubes 102 integrally connected by the process tube strip 100. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that, in other embodiments, the process tube strip 100 may be any other number of process tubes connected by the process tube strip 100, such as 40, 30, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, or 2 It will be readily appreciated that a single process tube 102 may be provided. Embodiments of the process tube strip 100 may include symbols or landmarks on the upper surfaces of the topmost tab 106 and the bottom end tab 108. In one embodiment, the top end tab 106 may be marked with an “A” pointing to the top of the process tube strip 100 and the bottom end tab 108 corresponds to the number of process tubes 102 in the process tube strip 100. May be marked with a later alphabet (eg, for a process tube strip 100 having eight process tubes 102 connected together by the process tube strip 100, “H” is the bottom end of the process tube strip 100. Tab 108 will be marked). However, a skilled technician will recognize that various other characters, such as alphanumeric characters such as “1” and “8”, can also be used on the top and bottom tabs of process tube strip 100 to accomplish the same purpose. It will be readily understood that it can be easily used in marking. Accordingly, the top end tab 106 and the bottom end tab 108 can be used to indicate the top and bottom of the process tube 102 and the number of process tubes 102 in the process tube strip 100. The end tabs 106, 108 may also include, for example, color to identify the contents of the process tube 102, the type of assay performed on the process tube strip 100, and the date and place of manufacture of the process tube strip 100 May be marked with a bar code, bar code, or some other instruction.

  FIG. 1D is another embodiment of a process tube strip 100 that includes a ridge extension 110 in each of the process tubes 102. FIG. 1E is another embodiment of a process tube strip 100 that includes a tube tag 112 positioned on the ridge extension 110 of each process tube 102. These embodiments will be described in more detail later.

  The process tube 102 can be a container for a solid or liquid, or can contain a solid or liquid. For example, the process tube 102 can hold reagents, and / or samples, such as nucleic acid samples used in amplification assays, for example. The process tube 102 may be circular in cross section, but other cross sections are possible and are consistent with this specification. Although the process tube 102 can be manufactured by a single structure, in certain instances, the process tube may be fabricated from two or more parts that are welded together or otherwise joined together when applicable. . Typically, the process tube 102 has an opening configured to receive / receive a pipette tip for fluid storage and / or collection within the process tube 102.

  In certain embodiments, the process tube 102 may be made from polypropylene or other thermoplastic polymer known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the process tube 102 can be made from other suitable materials, such as polycarbonate. In certain embodiments, the polypropylene is advantageously supplemented with pigments such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, or calcium carbonate. Preferably, the process tube 102 is manufactured using a material that does not fluoresce and does not interfere with detection of amplified nucleic acid in the process tube 102.

  2A and 2B show an isometric view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an exemplary single process tube 102. The connection tab 104 is shown in FIG. 2A and connects the process tube 102 to other process tubes 102 on either side of the process tube 102. In FIG. 2B, the illustrated connection tab 104 includes a connection recess 232 below the connection tab. In certain embodiments, the coupling recess 232 provides a minute advantage for easily disconnecting separate process tubes 102 that are coupled as part of the process strip 100. The process tube 102 can be detached by the end user to mix and combine different process tubes 102 with different dry reagents, and is compatible with the required performance of the amplification assay in the thermal cycler 300 The process tube can be repositioned at The connecting tab 104 can also be positioned between the process tube 102 at the end of the process tube strip 100 and the top or bottom end tab 106 or 108. Such a connecting tab 104 can be easily removed from the end process tube 102 and combined with the process tube 102 from other process tube strips 100 or can be used individually in a thermal cycler. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the process tube 102 has a top ring 202 that defines an opening 226 at the top of the process tube 102. The uppermost ring portion 202 extends around the periphery of the opening 226. As part of the process tube 102, an annular ridge 204 extends outward from the side of the process tube 102 to the side under the uppermost ring 202. In this manner, the uppermost ring portion 202 extends upward from the upper surface 206 of the annular ridge 204. In addition to the upper surface 206, the annular ridge 204 is also defined by an outer surface 208 and a lower surface 210. Below the annular ridge 204 is a neck 228 of the process tube 102, and the neck 228 extends vertically from the annular ridge 204 in parallel with the longitudinal axis 230 of the process tube 102. As shown in FIG. 2B, the exterior of the process tube 102 at the neck 228 may be parallel to a longitudinal axis 230 that extends vertically through the process tube 102. In some embodiments, the outer neck 228 may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis 230 to assist in removing the process tube 102 from injection molding during the manufacturing process.

  Below the neck 228 of the exemplary process tube 102 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is a protrusion 212 that extends laterally from the side of the process tube 102. The protrusion 212 is defined by an upwardly inclined portion 214 that extends from the neck 228 to the top 215 of the protrusion 212. The top 215 of the protrusion 212 has the maximum outer diameter of the protrusion 212, and thus the protrusion 212 includes a downwardly inclined portion 216 that extends downward from the top 215 outside the process tube 102. The upper inclined portion 214 of the protrusion 212 is inclined so as to be away from the longitudinal axis 230, and the lower inclined portion 216 is inclined so as to return toward the longitudinal axis 230. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the angle of the upper slope 214 in the protrusion is steeper than the angle of the lower slope 216 in the protrusion 212. A downwardly inclined portion 216 of the protrusion 212 is in contact with a longer main body portion 218 of the process tube 102. The main body 218 is inclined toward the longitudinal axis 230 like the downward inclined portion 216 of the protruding portion 212, but has an angle that is not steeper than the downward inclined portion 215 of the protruding portion 212. The main body 218 extends to the base 220 of the process tube 102. The base 220 includes an annular bottom ring 224 defined by a recess 222 at the bottom of the process tube 102 at the bottom of the process tube 102. In this embodiment, the uppermost ring 202, the annular ridge 204, the neck 228, the protrusion 212, and the body 218 are coaxial with the longitudinal axis 230.

  The annular ridge 204, the neck 228, and the protrusion 212 integrally define the fixing region 200 of the process tube 102. As will be described in more detail later, the anchoring region 200 may contain process tubes 102 (or a plurality of process tubes 102 in the form of process strips 100) for transport and subsequent processing in the heater of the thermal cycler. A method is provided for easy and secure attachment to a transport tray.

  As described above, the process tube 102 can be manufactured as a strip 100 of tubes 102 connected together by a connection tab 104. The plurality of process tube strips 100 can be firmly inserted into the transfer tray 300. FIG. 3A shows an exemplary transfer tray 300. As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the transport tray 300 can accommodate a plurality of ports 306 in the shelf 302 of the transport tray 300. The plurality of ports 306 can be configured to receive individual process tubes 102 and the number of ports 306 in the transport tray 300 can be advantageously designed to match the length of the process tube strip 100. Accordingly, the number of ports 306 in the y direction can be designed to correspond to the number of process tubes 102 in the process tube strip 100. In one embodiment, the transfer tray 300 includes eight process tubes in the y direction so that a process tube strip 100 of eight process tubes 102 can be inserted and secured in the port 306 of the transfer tray 300 in the y direction. A port 306 may be provided.

In one embodiment, the port 306 of the transport tray 300 is elliptical in shape and has a larger cross-sectional diameter in the y direction. In this manner, the larger diameter cross section of the elliptical port 306 is aligned in the same direction as the process tube strip 100 when inserted into the transfer tray 300.
FIG. 3B shows a plurality of process tube strips 100 that fit tightly into the exemplary transport tray 300. Once the process tube 102 is firmly inserted into the transport tray 300, assay reagents such as amplification reagents and detection reagents can be added to the process tube 102 in an automated manner. In some embodiments, liquid reagents can be pipetted into individual process tubes 102 and the transfer tray 300 can be used as a solid mass formed in the shape of the inner base 220 of the process tubes 102. It can be selectively placed in a dryer for drying at the bottom of the process tube. In certain embodiments, the liquid reagent is not dried under the process tube 102. In some embodiments, the same reagent may be precipitated in each process tube 102 of the transfer tray 300. In other embodiments, some or each of the process tubes 102 of the process tube strip 100 may be filled with different reagents or samples.

  Once filled with the desired reagent, the process tube 102 contains a process tube, for example, following reagent drying in embodiments where the reagent is dried, or following only reagent precipitation in embodiments where the reagent is not dried. An indicator may be marked to identify the contents of 102 (eg, a specific reagent). In certain embodiments, marking of the process tube 102 may be accomplished by hot stamping the top ring 202 of the process tube 102 with a specific color that indicates the contents (eg, reagent) of the process tube 102. The top ring 202 also provides a surface to which an adhesive seal can be applied to seal the opening 226 of the process tube 102.

  As described above, FIG. 1D shows a process tube strip 100 in which each process tube 100 includes a ridge extension 110 extending from one side of the annular ridge 204 of the process tube 100. The ridge extension 110 provides additional surface area to the annular ridge 204 for marking individual process tubes 102. In one embodiment, the ridge extension 110 may be an alphanumeric identifier (eg, A, B, C, etc., or 1, 2, 2, etc.) to identify individual process tubes 102 within the process tube strip 100. 3) and so on. In one embodiment, as an alternative to hot stamping the top ring 202, the ridge extension 110 of the process tube 102 may follow the contents of the process tube 102 (e.g., It may be hot stamped or marked to identify the reagent. Furthermore, a two-dimensional barcode (ink or laser) may be printed directly on the ridge extension 110.

  As shown in FIG. 1E, the individual process tubes 102 of the process tube strip 100 may include a tube tag 112 secured to the top of the ridge extension 110. The tag 112 may be used in addition to, or in addition to, marking (eg, hot stamping) the top ring 202 of the process tube 102 to identify the contents of the reagent, etc., in a particular process tube 102. In combination, it can be used. The tag 112 may be a two-dimensional matrix barcode (eg, a QR code or an Aztec code) that is encoded with data that identifies the contents of the associated process tube 102. When using the tag 112 to indicate the contents of the process tube 102, a camera (eg, a CCD camera) scans and verifies the contents of the process tube 102 and the correct amplification assay is performed with the associated reagent. Can be used to ensure that The camera can efficiently and quickly collate the contents of each process tube 102 by reading the tag 112, thus combining the wrong reagent with the specific amplification assay required for a given polynucleotide sample. The possibility of mistakes can be avoided.

  In one example, the same reagent can be added to each process tube in the transfer tray 300. In one example, each tube strip 100 comprises eight process tubes 102 and twelve tube strips can be securely fitted into a 96 port transport tray 300. Thus, the same reagent can be added to each of the 96 process tubes in the transfer tray 300. If the same reagent is provided to all process tubes 102, all process tubes 102 of the entire transport tray 300 can be hot stamped with the same color. Many transport trays 300 can be stacked and sent together to the end user. In certain embodiments, each or part of the process tube 102 of the tube strip 100 may contain different reagents. In such an example, process tubes 102 containing the same reagent can be marked with the same color. Different colors can be used to identify process tubes 102 containing different reagents.

  The end user may need different stamped process tubes 102 to perform different amplification assays provided with different reagents. In one example, the end user may need to use different reagents in the amplification assay, and therefore cannot use the transport tray 300 with process tubes 102 of all the same reagents. In this case, the end user removes one or more process tube strips 100 from the single color transport tray 300 to obtain the desired number and type of reagents for a given amplification assay, It can be replaced with a different colored process tube strip 100 on a different transport tray 300. It is also contemplated that the manufacturer can provide the end user with a transport tray 300 having process tube strips 100 of different colors.

  The end user can further improve the collection of different reagents in the amplification assay by detaching the individual process tube strips 100 at the connecting recesses 232 between the process tubes 102. For example, an eight tube process tube strip 100 can be separated into a smaller set of process tubes 102 having one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven process tubes 102. The By separating the process tube strip 100, the end user can include process tubes 102 of different reagents in the same stage of the transfer tray 300.

  As described above, FIG. 3B provides an illustration of the process tube 102 when the process tube is already firmly fitted into the transfer tray 300. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the twelve process tubes 102 positioned on the transfer tray 300 before the process tubes 102 are fixed to the transfer tray 300. This figure is similar to the cross-sectional view 6A shown in FIG. 3, but shows the process tube 102 resting on the port 306 of the transfer tray 300 before the process tube 102 is fixed to the transfer tray 300. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the transport tray 300 has a base portion 304 and a shelf portion 302, and the base portion 304 is wider and longer than the shelf portion 302, and is therefore larger than the shelf portion 302. It has a planar surface area. The shelf 302 of the transfer tray 300 includes a shelf side 308 and a shelf uppermost part 310. The shelf uppermost portion 310 is a horizontal plane portion of the shelf 302 and covers the uppermost portion of the transfer tray 300. The shelf uppermost part 310 includes an outer surface 312 and an inner surface 314. Since the base 304 of the transfer tray 300 is wider and longer than the shelf 302, the base 304 includes a bridging portion 320 that extends by connecting the shelf side 308 and the base side 305 horizontally. The bridging portion 320 includes an inner side 322. The shelf side portion 308 of the shelf 302 in the transfer tray 300 extends downward from the shelf uppermost portion 310 and is coupled to the base 304 of the transfer tray 300 at the bridging portion 320. As shown in FIG. 4, the process tube 102 of the process tube strip 100 can be positioned at a port 306 in the shelf 302 of the transfer tray 300.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the process tubes 102 positioned on the transfer tray 300 prior to securing the two exemplary process tubes 102 to the exemplary transfer tray 300. Prior to fixing the process tube 102 to the transfer tray 300, the process tube 102 can rest on the port 306 of the transfer tray 300. The outer diameter of the body portion 218 of the process tube 102 is smaller than the diameter of the port 306, so that the body portion 218 of the process tube 102 can be inserted into the port 306. The protrusion 212 of the process tube 102 has a diameter that is greater than at least one diameter of the port 306. For example, in the example of the port 306 that is elliptical, the smaller diameter of the port 306 (eg, the width diameter in the x direction of FIGS. 3A and 3B) is smaller than the diameter of the protrusion 212. In some embodiments, the larger diameter of the port 306 (eg, the length diameter in the y direction of FIGS. 3A and 3B) may be larger than the diameter of the protrusion 212. Therefore, when the main body 218 of the process tube 102 is inserted into the port 306, the main body 218 enters the lower region of the transfer tray 300, but the fixed region 200 (the protrusion 212, the neck 228, and the annular ridge). 204) and the top ring 202 are prevented from entering the port 306. In this manner, the protrusion 212 will rest on the top edge 318 of the port 306. More specifically, the downward inclined portion 216 of the protruding portion 212 is placed on the port uppermost edge 318.

  In some embodiments, the top 212 of the protrusion 212 is circular and has a constant outer diameter. With respect to the elliptical port 306, in certain embodiments, the port 306 may have a length diameter that is greater than the width diameter. In this embodiment, the diameter of the width (in the x direction) of the port 306 may be smaller than the diameter of the top 215 of the protrusion 212. Therefore, the process tube 102 is placed on the uppermost edge 318 of the port 306 at the protrusion 212. In one embodiment, the length diameter (in the y direction) of the port 306 may be greater than the diameter of the top 215 of the protrusion 212. Thus, at the two ends of the port 306 (in the y-direction), if necessary, easier fixation of the process tube 102 to the port 306 and easier removal of the process tube 102 from the port 306 are facilitated. A small gap is provided. In other embodiments, the port 306 can be circular and has a constant diameter.

  As the process tube 102 rests against the top edge 318 at the port 306, the process tube 102 is pushed further into the port 306 to secure the process tube 102 at the port 306 of the transfer tray 300. You can apply force to the top of the. The force for securing the process tube 102 to the port 306 can be applied to the uppermost ring 202 of the process tube 102, or the force can be applied to the upper surface 206 of the annular ridge 204.

Fixing the process tube 102 at the port 306 first involves applying sufficient force to the top of the process tube 102 to push the downward ramp 216 of the protrusion 212 into the port 306. The downward inclined portion 216 is inclined toward the longitudinal axis 230 of the process tube 102. As pressure continues to be applied to the top of the process tube 102, the downward slope 216 of the protrusion 212 causes the top edge 318 of the port until the top 215 of the protrusion 212 reaches the port top edge 318. And slide down. The port top edge 318 can be rounded or beveled to facilitate movement of the protrusion 212 through the port 306.
When the process tube 102 is pushed into the port 306, the portion of the downwardly inclined portion 216 of the protrusion 212 that has passed through the port 306 is inclined toward the longitudinal axis 230 because the downwardly inclined portion 216 is inclined toward the longitudinal axis 230. Do not touch. The downward inclined portion 216 of the protruding portion 212 gradually becomes wider (the outer diameter increases) as the downward inclined portion 216 extends upward toward the top portion 215 of the protruding portion 212. As the diameter of the downward ramp 216 increases, the resistance to pushing the process tube 102 into the port 306 increases. Thus, a resistance force is generated that opposes the force that can be applied to push the process tube 102 into the port 306. The resistance force against the process tube 102 increases (and the force required to push the process tube 102 increases), and the process tube 212 moves further down into the port 306. The resistance to the process tube 102 continues to increase until the top 215 of the protrusion 212 reaches the top edge 318.

  In the embodiment of the transport tray 300 having an elliptical port 306, the larger the diameter of the port 306 in the y direction, the process tube 102 can be easily pushed into the port 306 and secured to the transport tray 300, Reduces the force required to secure the process tube. The elliptical port 306 is two ends that allow the process tube 102 to be bent and stretched in the y direction and compressed in the x direction, with extra space between the protrusion 212 of the process tube 102 and the port interior 316 (eg, , Gaps) can be provided.

  When the entire downwardly inclined portion 216 passes through the port top edge 318 and the protrusion top 215 passes through the port top edge 318, the top 215 of the protrusion 212 contacts the port inner wall 316. The top portion 215 is the widest portion (maximum outer diameter) of the protruding portion 212. As the top 215 is fitted through the port 306 and pressed against the port inner wall 316, the process tube 102 experiences maximum strain and is bent to a maximum. As force is continuously applied to the top of the process tube 102, the top 215 is slid down the port inner wall 316 until it completely passes through the port 306 at the bottom edge 319 of the port 306. When the top 215 jumps to the bottom edge 319, the strain on the process tube 102 is released, and the process tube 102 is firmly “pasted” in place at the port 306 and secured to the transport tray 300. Become. The force required to secure each process tube 102 of the process tube strip 100 with the transfer tray 300 can range from 0.7 pounds to approximately 1.7 pounds. In one embodiment, the force required to insert and secure process tube 102 at port 306 may be approximately 1 pound-pound. In one embodiment, the force required to secure process tube 102 at port 306 can be approximately 1.18 pounds of weight.

  The transport tray 300 can be advantageously designed for efficient stacking and transport of the transport tray 300. The transfer tray 300 may be manufactured from a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic material. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the transport tray 300 may include a bridging portion 320 at the top of the base 220. The bridging section 320 provides a platform on which the bottom surface 326 of another empty transport tray 300 can be positioned. When the two transport trays 300 are stacked on top of each other, the bridging portion inside 322 of the upper transport tray 300 is placed on the shelf top 310 of the lower transport tray 300, and the upper transport The bottom surface 326 of the tray 300 is placed on the bridging portion 320 of the lower transfer tray 300.

  When the process tube strip 100 is mounted, the transfer tray 300 can be efficiently stacked in the same manner. The main body 218 of the process tube 102 of the upper transfer tray 300 can be disposed in the opening 226 of the process tube 102 of the lower transfer tray 300. Similarly, the process tube 102 of the upper transfer tray 300 can further receive a body portion 218 of the process tube 102 of another transfer tray 300 stacked thereon.

  6A is a cross-sectional view of the twelve process tubes 102 shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 6A in FIG. 3B. FIG. 6A shows the process tube 102 fixed here to the transfer tray 300. The direction of cross section 6A in FIG. 3B provides an illustration of twelve process tubes 102, each from a different process tube strip 100. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B in FIG. 3B of the entire process tube strip 100 positioned on the transfer tray 300 after the process tube 102 is secured to the transfer tray 300. FIG. As shown in FIG. 6B, the cross-sectional diameter of the elliptical port 306 in the y direction can be larger than the diameter of the protrusion 212.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of two of the process tubes 102 shown in FIG. 6A, and corresponds to the process tubes 102 of FIG. 5 after the process tubes 102 are fixed to the transfer tray 300. As shown in FIG. 7, the cross-sectional diameter of the elliptical port in the x direction can be smaller than the diameter of the protrusion 212. When the top 215 of the protrusion 212 protrudes to the bottom edge 319, the upper inclined portion 214 of the protrusion 212 comes into contact with the bottom edge 319 of the port 306 at the bottom of the fixing region 200 and leans against the bottom edge 319. Further, when the top 215 protrudes to the bottom edge 319, the lower surface 210 of the annular ridge 204 comes into contact with the shelf top outer part 312 of the shelf 302 at the top of the fixed region 200, and the top of the shelf It leans also on the outside 312. At the top of the anchoring area 200, the annular ridge 204 is sufficiently wide at at least two points around the port 306 where the annular ridge 204 cannot pass through the port 306. In one embodiment, the annular ridge 204 may have a diameter large enough to cover all points around the port 306. For example, the annular ridge 204 may have a diameter that is greater than the width diameter and length diameter of the port 306. The height of the anchoring area 200 (from the lower surface 210 of the annular ridge 204 to the position of the upper ramp 214 of the protrusion 212) is that of the port 306 between the port top edge 318 and the port bottom edge 319. Approximately corresponds to the height.

As shown in FIG. 7, the neck 228 of the process tube 102 can have an outer diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the port 306, creating a gap 324 between the process tube 102 and the port inner wall 314. In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the neck 228 can be a constant circular diameter. Since the port 306 may be elliptical in shape and may have a larger length diameter on one side and a smaller width diameter on the other side, the width of the gap 324 is the length of the port 306. It can be different between the side (y direction) and the width side (x direction). For example, the size of the gap 324 on each length side of the port 306 may be approximately twice the size of the gap on each width side of the port 306.
The gap 324 provides a point of adaptation for the process tube 102 in the fixed region 200. The gap 324 mainly exists between the neck 228 of the process tube 102 and the port inner wall 316, but the gap 324 is formed along the upper inclined portion 214 of the protrusion 212 and below the annular ridge 204. It also exists along part of the direction 210. The gap 324 is slightly enlarged at the top portion of the anchoring region 200 because the rounded corners of the port top edge 318 provide an additional separation between the port 306 and the neck 228 of the process tube 102. . The gap 324 can provide some freedom of movement within the port 306 of the transport tray 300 to the process tube 102 even when the process tube 102 is secured to the port 306.

  While the process tube 102 can be accommodated at the port 306 because the point of contact between the upper ramp 214 and the bottom edge 319 of the protrusion 212 can be adapted when the process tube 102 needs to be tilted, 306 can be maintained firmly. When the process tube 102 is tilted, the position of the point of contact between the fixed area 200 of the process tube 102 and the port 306 of the transfer tray 300 will adapt. For example, when the process tube tilts to one side, the point of contact of the process tube 102 between the upper ramp 214 and the port bottom edge 319 on one side moves closer to the top of the upper ramp 214, On the other side of the tube, another point of contact moves so that it is near the bottom of the upper ramp 214 (near the top 215). A similar adaptation is that the neck 228 is tilted towards the rounded port top edge 318 on one side of the process tube 102 and the other side of the process tube 102 is tilted away from the port top edge 318. As can be done, it is possible at the top of the port fixing area 200.

  The gap 324 can accommodate the process tube 102 when multiple process tubes are placed on the transport tray 100 as process tube strips 100. Due to possible manufacturing variations of the transfer tray 300 and process tube 102, each transfer tray 300 may be slightly different in size, and each process tube 102 fits differently on the transfer tray 300. there is a possibility. Given that the process tube 102 is often attached integrally as part of the process tube strip 102 when inserted into the transfer tray 300, if the considerations cannot be eased, the transfer tray 300 and the process tube 102 Manufacturing variations can prevent accurate placement of the entire process tube strip 100 in the transfer tray 300. For example, accurate insertion of the process tube 102 into the transfer tray 300 at one end of the process tube strip 100 causes the process tube 102 to be displaced in either the x direction (side) or the y direction (front and back). This can potentially prevent accurate insertion of the process tube 102 into the transport tray 300 at the other end of the process tube strip 100. Even if the rigid process tube strip 100 is pushed into the port 306 of the transport tray 300 even though the position is shifted, the process tube 102 is firmly attached when the process tube 102 is transported into the transport tray 300. Will prevent the possibility of interfering with the hot stamping process.

  The present disclosure addresses these issues in a number of ways, including that the process tube 102 can be tilted and accommodated at the port 306 when the process tube strip 100 is manipulated and inserted in the transport tray 300. It is addressed. The process tube 102 can be tilted and accommodated at the port 306 because the gap 324 allows such movement. The oval shape of port 306 also enhances the available adaptation in the y direction. Also, the connecting tabs 104 that connect the process tubes 102 are thin and soft enough to allow manipulation and adaptation between the individual process tubes 102 when the process tubes 102 are inserted into the transfer tray 300. Also, the coupling recess 232 (shown in FIG. 2B) of the coupling tab 104 allows additional bendability between the individual process tubes 102 when the process tube 102 is inserted into the port 306. In this approach, the gap 324, the oval port 306, and the connecting tab 104 provide the ability to adapt and be always flat on the transport tray 300 when the process tube strip 100 is inserted into the transport tray 300. provide. Further, the ability of the process tube 102 to tilt or accommodate in the transfer tray 300 facilitates insertion of the process tube 102 into the heater of the thermal cycler, as will be described in more detail later.

  When the process tube 102 is secured to the port 306 of the transfer tray 300, the process tube 102 can be processed in preparation for use in a thermal cycler. Liquid reagents can be loaded into the fixed process tube 102. The process tube 102 in the transfer tray 300 may be exposed to heating or other processes for drying or lyophilization to dry the liquid reagent in the process tube 102. While secured to the transfer tray 300, the process tube 102 may be hot stamped to mark the process tube 102 and indicate the type of reagent added to the process tube 102. The hot stamp may be in the form of a color stamp at the top ring 202 and / or the annular ridge 204.

  Applying force to fixing the process tube 102 to the port 306 of the transfer tray 300, supplying a liquid reagent to the fixed process tube 102, drying the liquid reagent in the process tube 102, and The process of hot stamping the process tube 102 of the transfer tray 300 can be performed in an automated manner at the manufacturing and assembly sites of the process tube 102 and the transfer tray 300. Accordingly, the assembled transfer tray 300 containing the prepared process tube 102 precipitates the extracted nucleic acid sample in the process tube 102 before performing an amplification assay on the sample in the process tube 102 in the thermal cycler. Etc. and can be shipped to the end user for additional processing. The addition of the extracted nucleic acid sample to the process tube 102 serves to reconstitute the dried reagent and associate the reagent with the nucleic acid sample in the reconstituted solution.

  As described above, the end user can use one or more process tube strips 100 in a single color transport tray to obtain the desired number and type of reagents for a given amplification assay. It can be removed from 300 and replaced with a different colored process tube strip 100 on a different transport tray 300. The force required to remove the process tube strip 100 can be approximately half of the force required to insert the process tube strip 100. In one embodiment, the insertion force for the process tube strip 100 can have a range of approximately 0.7 to 1.7 weight pounds and the removal force for the process tube strip 100 is approximately 0.3 weights. It may have a range from pounds to 0.8 weight pounds. In one embodiment, the insertion force for the process tube strip 100 can be approximately 1 pound pound and the removal force for the process tube strip 100 can be approximately 0.5 pound pound. In one embodiment, the force required to secure process tube strip 100 at port 306 can be approximately 1.18 pounds and the force required to remove the process tube strip is 0.60 pounds. It is. The insertion and removal forces defined for the process tube strip 100 ensure that the process tube strip 100 is not overly difficult to insert into or remove from the transport tray 300 and is not subject to normal handling. Under certain conditions, the process tube strip 100 is also prevented from falling off the transfer tray.

It should be noted that the same transport tray 300 (containing the process tube 102) where the mixing of the reagent and nucleic acid sample occurs can be loaded directly into the thermal cycler. Thus, the end user can mix reagents and nucleic acids in one tube and then transfer the mixed solution to another tube, or even move the first tube to another tray Is not needed. In the present disclosure, the process tube 102 that contains the reagent and is fixed to the transfer tray 300 can receive a sample, such as a nucleic acid sample, and therefore, the amplification assay without removing the process tube 102 from the transfer tray 300. For the thermal cycler.
It is also contemplated that solid reagents may be added to the process tube 102 in addition to or instead of liquid reagents. It is also contemplated that an empty process tube 102 and a transfer tray 300 can be provided to the end user and the end user can precipitate a solid or liquid reagent in the process tube 102 before adding the nucleic acid sample. .

  A fixing force, ie, the force required to push the process tube 102 firmly into the port 306, can be applied simultaneously to a plurality (or all) of the process tubes 102 in the transport tray 300. Alternatively, the fastening force can be applied separately to the individual process tubes 102, one at a time, if desired. The fixation force can be applied in an automated manner and can be performed simultaneously with an automated step of filling the process tube 102 with reagents and an automated step of hot stamping the process tube 102. In one example, the same device can be used to hot stamp and apply a clamping force to the process tube 102. Alternatively, another device can be used to apply the hot stamp and securing force.

  When another fastening force device and hot stamping device is used, the fastening force is first applied to secure the process tube 102 in the port 306 of the transport tray 300 before hot stamping the top ring 202 of the process tube 102. Can be added. In one example, an automated hot stamping device may adhere to the top ring 202 of the process tube 102 when pressure is applied to the top ring 202. Due to the novel method in which the process tube 102 is secured to the transport tray 300 in the embodiments described herein, the process tube 102 is pulled away from the process tube 102 on which the hot stamping device is stamped. It is not pulled up from the transfer tray 300. Further, since the process tube 102 is fixed to the transfer tray 300, the process tube 102 can be transported without the risk of the process tube 102 falling from the transfer tray 300. The embodiments disclosed herein are advantageously raised on other PCR tube trays, such as collecting tubes on one side of the tray or dropping the tubes from alignment on the tray. Overcoming other problems.

  FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an exemplary heater assembly 400 used in a thermal cycler (not shown). Amplification assays (such as PCR amplification or isothermal amplification) can be performed on a thermal cycler. The heater assembly 400 is part of the thermal cycler's temperature cycle subsystem and can operate in conjunction with other subsystems of the thermal cycler, such as the detection subsystem. The exemplary heater assembly 400 shown in FIG. 8 is a 96 well assembly that includes 96 heater wells 402, although other assemblies are contemplated (eg, 48 well assemblies). Such). The heater assembly 400 includes a flat top surface 404 between the heater well 402 and the side surface 410. Each heater well 402 is conical in shape and is comprised of an inner wall 406 and a well bottom 412. The heater wells 402 of the heater assembly 400 are arranged in an array of 8 rows × 12 stages to correspond to the spatial arrangement of the process tubes 102 of the transfer tray 300.

  Each heater well 402 can receive a process tube 102. The transfer tray 300 may be placed directly on the thermal cycler heater assembly 400 to simultaneously place all the process tubes 102 of the transfer tray 300 into the heater assembly 400. Not shown in FIG. 8 is the housing around the heater assembly 400 or the circuitry necessary to provide heat to the heater well 402.

  Due to possible manufacturing variations of the transfer tray 300 and process tube 102, each transfer tray 300 may be slightly different in size, and each process tube 102 fits differently on the transfer tray 300. there is a possibility. If the process tube 102 is tightly attached to the transfer tray 300, manufacturing tolerances may prevent all of the 96 tube transfer tray 300 process tubes from being accurately placed in the heater well 402. There is sex. For example, when the process tube 102 is fitted into the heater well 402 on one side of the heater assembly 400, the process tube 102 on the other side of the heater assembly 400 is accurately and securely positioned in each heater well 402. Will be prevented. As previously described, the process tube 102 may float or adapt slightly when secured to the transfer tray 300 due to the gap 324 between the port inner wall 316 and the securing region 200 of the process tube 102. it can. The connection recess 232 (shown in FIG. 2B) of the connection tab 104 also allows for ease of bending between the individual process tubes 102 when the process tube 102 is inserted into the heater well 402. The process tube 102 can be suspended in the port 306 of the transfer tray 300 so that the process tube 102 can be accurately and securely fitted into the heater well 402 of the heater assembly 400.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of two exemplary process tubes 102 positioned in the heater well 402 of the heater assembly 400. When the process tube 102 is placed in the heater well 402, the body portion 218 of the process tube 102 is in physical contact with and integrated with the inner wall 406 of the heater well 402. In certain embodiments, the base 220 of the process tube 102 extends to the well bottom 412 when the process tube 102 is secured to the port 306 of the transfer tray 300 and the transfer tray 300 is positioned over the heater assembly 400. The heater well 402 is deeper than the body portion 218 of the process tube 102 so that it is not. In this approach, a gap 414 is created between the base 220 of the process tube 102 and the well bottom 412. The gap 414 ensures that the body 218 of the process tube 102 remains in physical contact with the well inner wall 406. That is, if the base 220 of the process tube 102 is first set to the bottom at the heater well bottom 412 before the body 218 contacts the well inner wall 406, the gap is between the wall 406 and the body of the process tube 102. Between the heater well 402 and the process tube 102 and may provide a small heat transfer. Accordingly, the gap 414 under the process tube 102 ensures that no gap exists between the wall 406 and the body portion 218 of the process tube 102. The heater well 402 can surround the body 218 of the process tube 102 and can provide constant heating to the contents of the process tube 102 during the temperature cycle steps of the amplification assay. When the process tube 102 is placed in the heater well 402, the heater well 402 can surround the process tube body 218 in a position immediately below the downwardly inclined portion 216 of the protrusion 212.

  The foregoing description discloses methods and systems of the embodiments disclosed herein. The embodiments disclosed herein are susceptible to modification of fabrication methods and equipment, as well as to the effects of method and material changes. Such modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the present disclosure or practice of the invention disclosed herein. As a result, the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and all changes and modifications falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention are disclosed. It is intended to be exhaustive.

(Example 1)
This example shows a specific process for preparing a transport tray 300 having a process tube 102 provided to an end user.
1. Twelve process tube strips are produced that contain eight connected process tubes formed from polypropylene.
2. A transport tray having 96 ports in an 8 × 12 array is manufactured from polycarbonate.
3. Twelve process tube strips are placed in the transfer tray.
4). The process tube of the process tube strip is fixed to the port of the transfer tray by applying a force to the uppermost ring portion of the process tube.
5. Each process tube in the transfer tray is filled with the same specific liquid reagent.
6). The transfer tray is heated to dry the reagent in the process tube.
7). The process tube is hot stamped with a specific color to indicate the assay to be used.
8). The transport tray is stacked and packaged with other transport trays having the same or different reagents and shipped to the end user.
9. The end user can use the complete transport tray as is, or reduce the transport tray and mix one or more transport trays with individual process tube strips or tubes of various reagent types. You can increase it again.

(Example 2)
This example illustrates a test for determining the force required to secure the process tube strip 100 in the port 306 of the transport tray 300 and the force required to subsequently remove the process tube strip 100 from the port 306. Represents test procedures and results.

An Amtek AccuForce Cadet Force Gage (0-5 pounds) was used to measure the force required to secure and remove the process tube 102 at port 306.
Test procedure Place one tube strip on the stage of the transport tray (not yet secured to the transport tray).
2. Turn on the gauge.
3. With the gauge upright, set the gauge to zero.
4). Clear the gauge.
5. Slowly push down each tube in the strip starting in row “A” until all tubes fit into place, with the gauge at a slight angle of 2-3 degrees from the vertical to each tube.
6). Record the gauge force value and the number of steps as the insertion value.
7). Press the erase button to erase the memory.
8). Place a strip of the second tube on the second stage. Repeat steps 5-7.
9. Repeat steps 5-7 for the remaining strips 3-12.
10. The transport tray is turned upside down, and from the first strip, the tube is slowly pushed out of the transport tray starting at row “A”.
11. Record the force value and the number of steps as the extraction value.
12 Press the erase button to erase the memory.
13. Repeat steps 10, 11, and 12 for the remaining process tube strips.
14 Reposition the 12 process tube strips on the transfer tray and repeat steps 3-13.

Results The results of the force test are provided in Table 1. Table 1 shows the force required to insert and secure all of the process tubes 102 of the process tube strip 100 with the transfer tray 300. As shown, the average insertion force for securing the process tube strip 100 with the transfer tray 300 was 1.18 pounds and the average removal force was 0.60 pounds.

Claims (29)

A fixed region comprising an annular ridge, a protrusion, and a neck between the ridge and the protrusion;
A main body extending below the protrusion,
A process tube comprising: an uppermost ring portion extending vertically upward from the annular ridge portion and defining an opening to the tube.   The process tube of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the neck is parallel to a longitudinal axis passing through the process tube.   The process tube according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion includes a top, an upward slope from the top to the neck, and a downward slope from the top to the main body.   The process tube according to claim 3, wherein an angle of the upper inclined portion in the protruding portion is steeper than an angle of the lower inclined portion in the protruding portion.   The process tube of claim 1, wherein the annular ridge comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface.   The process tube according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the neck.   The process tube according to claim 1, wherein the annular ridge has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the protrusion.   The process tube according to claim 1, further comprising a base portion defining a bottom portion of the tube under the main body portion.   A process tube strip comprising a plurality of process tubes according to claim 1.   The process tube strip of claim 9, wherein the plurality of process tubes are connected by a connection tab adjacent the annular ridge of the plurality of process tubes.   The process tube strip of claim 10, wherein the connection tab comprises a connection recess on an underside thereof. A process tube,
An annular ridge extending laterally from the process tube and comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface;
An uppermost annular portion extending vertically upward from the upper surface of the annular ridge, and defining an opening in the process tube;
An annular projection that extends laterally from the process tube at a position below the annular ridge in the process tube and comprises a top, an upper slope, and a lower slope;
A neck between the annular ridge and the protrusion;
A main body portion under the protruding portion;
A process tube comprising: a base that defines a bottom of the process tube.   The process tube of claim 12, wherein the process tube is configured to fit tightly on a transfer tray.   The process tube according to claim 13, wherein the transfer tray includes a shelf and a base, the shelf includes a plurality of ports penetrating the top of the shelf, and the ports have an inner wall.   The process tube of claim 14, wherein the port of the transfer tray is elliptical in shape.   The process tube of claim 15, wherein each port comprises a length diameter greater than a width diameter.   The process tube according to claim 16, wherein the protrusion of the process tube has an outer diameter larger than at least the width diameter of the port of the transport tray.   The process tube of claim 16, wherein the neck of the process tube has an outer diameter that is smaller than the length diameter and the width diameter of the port of the transport tray.   The process tube of claim 14, wherein the process tube is securely fitted into the port of the transfer tray.   The lower surface of the annular ridge of the process tube rests on the outside of the top of the shelf, and the upper inclined portion of the protrusion rests on the bottom edge of the inner wall of the port. Item 20. The process tube according to Item 19.   The process tube of claim 19, wherein a gap exists between the neck of the process tube and the inner wall of the port.   The process tube of claim 21, wherein the gap can tilt the process tube within the port of the transfer tray.   The process tube of claim 12, further comprising a planar extension extending laterally from the annular ridge, wherein the extension provides a surface for marking the process tube. A transport tray having a plurality of ports penetrating through the interior;
A process tube comprising an annular ridge, a neck, and a protrusion, and a process tube having a fixed region that fits securely into a port of the transfer tray.   25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of ports of the transport tray are elliptical in shape.   26. The system of claim 25, wherein the port of the transport tray comprises a length diameter that is greater than a width diameter.   The annular ridge of the process tube has an outer diameter greater than the length diameter and the width diameter of the port of the transport tray, and the neck of the process tube is the length diameter of the port 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the system has an outer diameter that is smaller than the width diameter.   27. The system of claim 26, wherein the protrusion of the process tube has an outer diameter that is at least greater than the width diameter of the port.   25. The system of claim 24, wherein the process tube can tilt within the port of the transfer tray.

Images