Tray for transfering solid reagents to a multi-well cartridge

Abstract

A tray for transferring a plurality of solid reagents to a multi-well cartridge, the tray including a top surface having a plurality of depressions formed therein, each depression being configured to receive and hold a single one of the solid reagents, and a barrier wall projecting above and substantially surrounding the top surface, where the barrier wall is discontinuous at a first end of the tray.

1 . A tray for transferring a plurality of solid reagents to a multi-well cartridge, the tray comprising:
 a top surface having a plurality of depressions formed therein, each depression being configured to receive and hold a single one of the solid reagents; and   a barrier wall projecting above and substantially surrounding the top surface, wherein the barrier wall comprises opposed first and second end wall portions at a first end of the tray, the first and second end wall portions defining an opening for removing excess solid reagents from the tray, and wherein the firsts and second end wall portions are arranged obliquely relative to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is generally flat. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the depressions are arranged in one or more rows. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the depressions are arranged in two or more pairs of rows. 
     
     
         5 . The tray  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of each depression has a hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conduits, each conduit extending from a bottom surface of one of the plurality of depressions to a bottom surface of the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein each of the conduits has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end wall portions are mirror images of each other. 
     
     
         11 . The tray  claim 1 , wherein the barrier wall further comprises opposed first and second side wall portions, the first and second side wall portions being continuous with the first and second end wall portions, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier wall further comprises a third end wall portion at a second end of the tray opposite the first end, the first and second side wall portions being continuous with the third side wall portion. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the third end wall portion comprises a cut-out positioned above the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an interior edge of the barrier wall is chamfered. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface has a contrasting color to enable visual confirmation that each depression contains a single one of the solid reagents. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 15 , wherein the top surface has a dark, anodized finish. 
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is magnetized or includes a magnet. 
     
     
         19 - 59 . (canceled)