1-36. (canceled)
37. A method for dividing an analyte present in a solution in a first receptacle into plural second receptacles, the analyte being fixed on magnetic particles, the method comprising:
sedimentation of the magnetic particles by a first magnetic mechanism; and
formation of a plurality of residues in the second receptacles.
38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising sedimentation of magnetic particles in a form of at least a first residue in the first receptacle and transport of the at least first residue to the second receptacles, each second receptacle being connected to the first receptacle through at least one fluid channel.
39. A method according to claim 38, in which the at least first residue transported to the second receptacles is by relative displacement of a magnetic field created by a second magnetic mechanism with respect to the fluid channels.
40. A method according to claim 39, in which each fluid channel is parallel to other fluid channels, and in which relative displacement of the magnetic field generated by the second magnetic mechanism is parallel to a direction of the channels.
41. A method according to claim 39, in which the first and second magnetic mechanisms are coincident in a single entity.
42. A method according to claim 39, in which the at least first residue is a single and linear-shaped residue, dividing the first receptacle into two parts.
43. A method according to claim 42, in which each fluid channel is located on a same side of the residue in a direction of displacement of the field generated by the second magnetic mechanism.
44. A method according to claim 42, in which the second magnetic mechanism includes a long magnet that moves relatively to the fluid channels.
45. A method according to claim 44, in which the magnet is displaced relative to the fluid channels, the length of the magnet being such that the projection onto the magnet of the segment defined by the intersection of the plane orthogonal to the displacement containing the magnet and the bottom of the first receptacle on which the residue lies, along this plane orthogonal to the displacement containing the magnet, is included within the segment delimited by the magnet, at all times during the relative displacement of the magnet.
46. A method according to claim 39, in which the second magnetic mechanism forms a single residue in front of each fluid channel.
47. A method according to claim 46, in which all the residues are subjected to a simultaneous displacement along the direction of each fluid channel.
48. A method according to claim 47, in which the second magnetic mechanism includes a magnetic structure with single or multiple projections, free to move relative to the fluid channels.
49. A method according to claim 38, in which the at least first residue is moved as far as the second receptacles.
50. A method according to claim 38, in which each fluid channel includes a ferromagnetic strip, and in which the at least first residue is moved and guided along this strip.
51. A method according to claim 38, in which each second receptacle is connected to the first receptacle through a single fluid channel including a capillary.
52. A method according to claim 37, in which sedimentation of the magnetic particles forms a plurality of residues directly in the second receptacles.
53. A method according to claim 37, in which the analyte quantity is equal in each second receptacle.
54. A method according to claim 37, further comprising a previous fixing of the analyte on the particles and adding the solution containing the analytes fixed on the particles in the first receptacle.
55. A device for dividing an analyte present in a liquid and fixed on magnetic particles, comprising:
a first receptacle configured to contain a liquid; and
a plurality of second receptacles each connected to the first receptacle through a fluid channel.
56. A device according to claim 55, in which each fluid channel includes a capillary.
57. A device according to claim 55, in which each fluid channel is connected to the first receptacle through a neck.
58. A device according to claim 55, in which the first receptacle is connected to means for adding a solution.
59. A device according to claim 55, in which each second receptacle is fitted with fluid inlet-outlet channels.
60. A device according to claim 55, further comprising a support including the first receptacle, the second receptacles, and the fluid channels.
61. A device according to claim 60, in which each fluid channel is identical and in which a pitch separating two adjacent fluid channels is constant.
62. A device according to claim 55, further comprising a magnetic track for each fluid channel, to guide displacement of a residue of magnetic particles.
63. A set of devices for dividing an analyte, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 55.
64. A set of devices according to claim 63 such that the first receptacles in each device have a similar size and shape.
65. A system for dividing an analyte fixed on magnetic particles present in a liquid, comprising:
a device according to claim 55 and magnetic means.
66. A system according to claim 65, in which the magnetic means comprises magnetic means free to move relative to the channels, thus enabling displacement of the magnetic particles on which the analyte is fixed, from the first receptacle to the second receptacles through the fluid channels.
67. A system according to claim 66, in which the magnetic means is suitable to move in translation with respect to the channel.
68. A system according to claim 66, in which the magnetic means includes a long magnet.
69. A system according to claim 68, in which the length of the magnet is such that any projection of the width of the first receptacle onto the magnet along a plane orthogonal to the displacement and containing the magnet, is included in the magnet, the width of the first receptacle being defined by the segment derived from intersection of the plane perpendicular to the displacement and the bottom of the first receptacle.
70. A system according to claim 65, in which each fluid channel is located on a same side of the first receptacle, along the magnet displacement direction.
71. A system according to claim 65, in which the magnetic means is structured with single or multiple projections.
72. A system according to claim 65, in which the magnetic means includes a set of magnetic elements capable of creating a magnetic field free to move in translation with respect to the channels.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A tool system comprising:
a battery pack having first, second and third pack terminals;
a device that is configured to be selectively coupled to the battery pack, the device including a battery mount with a body that defines a well and first and second device terminals, the body defining a well into which the battery pack is removably received, the first and second device terminals extending outwardly from a proximal portion of the battery mount and engaging the first and second pack terminals when the battery pack is fully inserted into the well;
wherein at least one of the first and second pack terminals and the first and second device terminals is a male terminal that is received into a corresponding one or ones of the first and second pack terminals and the first and second device terminals;
wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the first, second and third pack terminals is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery pack;
wherein each of the corresponding one or ones of the first and second pack terminals and the first and second device terminals has resilient terminal portions that are urged outwardly away from the longitudinal axis when engaged by the at least one of the first and second pack terminals and the first and second device terminals; and
wherein an output voltage between the first and second pack terminals is greater than an output voltage between the first and third pack terminals.
2. The tool system of claim 1, wherein the device is a power tool.
3. The tool system of claim 2, wherein the power tool has a rotary output.
4. The tool system of claim 1, wherein the battery pack has a generally cylindrical shape.
5. The tool system of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third pack terminals are disposed concentrically about one another.
6. The tool system of claim 5, wherein the first, second and third pack terminals are disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the battery pack.
7. The tool system of claim 1, wherein the battery pack includes a plurality of cells.
8. The tool system of claim 1, wherein an insulator is disposed about at least two of the first, second and third pack terminals.