1-158. (canceled)
159. An apparatus comprising:
a first tubular member comprising a threaded end portion;
a second tubular member comprising a threaded end portion;
a tubular sleeve that receives and overlaps with the threaded end portions of the first and second tubular members; and
an expansion device coupled to an interior of one of the first and second tubular members;
wherein the threaded end portion of the first tubular member is threadably coupled to the threaded end portion of the second tubular member;
wherein the first and second tubular members are adapted to receive the expansion device;
wherein portions of the first and second tubular members are radially expanded and plastically deformed by the expansion device.
160. The apparatus of claim 159 wherein the internal diameters of the radially expanded and plastically deformed portions of the first and second tubular members are equal.
161. The apparatus of claim 159 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises an internal flange.
162. The apparatus of claim 159 further comprising:
a structure receiving the first tubular member, the second tubular member, the tubular sleeve and the expansion device; and
wherein the portions of the first and second tubular members are radially expanded and plastically deformed by the expansion device while in the structure.
163. The apparatus of claim 162 wherein the tubular sleeve is radially expanded and plastically deformed by the expansion device into engagement with the structure.
164. The apparatus of claim 162 wherein the structure comprises a wellbore or a wellbore casing.
165. The apparatus of claim 159 wherein opposite ends of the tubular sleeve are tapered.
166. An apparatus comprising:
a first tubular member comprising a threaded end portion;
a second tubular member comprising a threaded end portion;
a tubular sleeve that receives, overlaps with, and is coupled to the threaded end portions of the first and second tubular members; and
an expansion device coupled to an interior of one of the first and second tubular members;
wherein the threaded end portion of the first tubular member is threadably coupled to the threaded end portion of the second tubular member;
wherein the first and second tubular members are adapted to receive the expansion device;
wherein portions of the first and second tubular members are radially expanded and plastically deformed by the expansion device;
wherein the internal diameters of the radially expanded and plastically deformed portions of the first and second tubular members are equal.
167. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises an internal flange that abuts the ends faces of the threaded ends of the first and second tubular members.
168. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the tubular sleeve includes one or more sealing members for sealing an interface between the interior surface of the tubular sleeve and the exterior surfaces of at least one of the first and second tubular members.
169. The apparatus of claim 166 further comprising a structure defining an opening for receiving the first and second tubular members and the tubular sleeve, wherein the tubular sleeve includes one or more sealing members for sealing an interface between the tubular sleeve and the structure.
170. The apparatus of claim 166 further comprising one or more retaining members for coupling the ends of the tubular sleeve to the exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members.
171. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the ends of the tubular sleeve are deformed into engagement with the exterior surfaces of the first and second tubular members.
172. The apparatus of claim 166 further comprising:
one or more first resilient locking members for locking the first tubular member to the tubular sleeve; and
one or more second resilient locking members for locking the second tubular member to the tubular sleeve.
173. A method of radially expanding and plastically deforming a first tubular member and a second tubular member comprising:
inserting a threaded end portion of the first tubular member into an end of a tubular sleeve;
inserting a threaded end portion of the second tubular member into another end of the tubular sleeve;
threadably coupling the threaded end portions of the first and second tubular members within the tubular sleeve; and
displacing an expansion device through the interiors of the first and second tubular members to radially expand and plastically deform portions of the first and second tubular members.
174. The method of claim 173 wherein the internal diameters of the radially expanded and plastically deformed portions of the first and second tubular members are equal.
175. The method of claim 174 further comprising abutting a portion of the first tubular member and an end face of an internal flange of the tubular sleeve, and abutting a portion of the second tubular member and another end face of the internal flange of the tubular sleeve.
176. The method of claim 173 further comprising:
positioning the first tubular member, the second tubular member, the tubular sleeve, and the expansion device within a wellbore or wellbore casing; and
then displacing the expansion device through the interiors of the first and second tubular members.
177. The method of claim 176 radially expanding the tubular sleeve into engagement with the wellbore or wellbore casing.
178. The method of claim 173 further comprising:
coupling the end of the tubular sleeve to the threaded end portion of the first tubular member; and
coupling the other end of the tubular sleeve to the threaded end portion of the second tubular member.
179. The method of claim 173 wherein coupling the ends of the tubular sleeve to the ends of the first and second tubular members comprises any one or more of:
coupling the ends of the tubular sleeve to the ends of the first and second tubular members using locking rings;
coupling the ends of the tubular sleeve to the ends of the first and second tubular members using retaining members;
crimping the ends of the tubular sleeve onto the ends of the first and second tubular members; or
heating the tubular sleeve and inserting the ends of the first and second tubular members into the tubular sleeve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
Having described the invention the following is claimed:
1. A method of screening protein crystal growth conditions employing picogram, nanogram or to microgram amounts of protein comprising the steps of:
providing a microarray with a plurality of wells in said microarray;
accurately dispensing a volume of from about 0.001 nl to about 250 nl of a protein solution into said wells;
controlling the protein crystal growth conditions of each of said wells so that the protein crystal growth conditions in at least two of said micro-chambers differs; and
observing protein crystal growth or protein precipitation in said wells.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said protein solution comprises a component selected from the group consisting of buffers, surface active agents, salts, alcohols, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said protein solution is buffered.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling protein crystal growth comprises employing a precipitate solution that is in fluid communication with the microarray.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling protein crystal growth comprises adding a precipitate solution to the microarray.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said precipitate solution and said protein solution are in different wells in said microarray and said microarray has channels for fluid communication between a well comprising protein solution and a well comprising a precipitate solution.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein controlling protein crystal growth further comprises employing varying dimensions of the channels.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein said precipitate solution and said protein solution are in fluid communication via micro-channels.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein said precipitate solution and said protein solution are in fluid communication.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein fluid communication is by liquid-liquid diffusion of said precipitate solution and said protein solution.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said precipitate solution has a lower vapor pressure than the protein solution and fluid communication is by vapor diffusion.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the protein solution and precipitate solution are in the same well and said crystallization is effected by batch crystallization.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said wells further comprise a buffer solution.
14. The method of claim 5 wherein the precipitate solution has a volume from about 0.001 nl to about 250 nl.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein protein crystal growth or protein precipitation is observed by microscopy.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the microscopy is differential interference contrast microscopy.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the protein solution is dispensed into said wells by fast solenoid dispensing.
18. A method of screening protein crystal growth conditions employing picogram to microgram amounts of protein comprising the steps of:
accurately dispensing a volume from about 0.001 nl to about 250 nl of a protein solution onto a platform;
controlling the protein crystal growth condition of the sample; and
observing a protein precipitate or protein crystals in the sample.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the sample is accurately dispensed by fast solenoid dispensing.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein controlling the protein crystal growth condition comprises employing a protein precipitate solution.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said precipitate solution has a lower vapor pressure than the protein solution and crystallization is effected by vapor diffusion.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the protein solution and precipitate solution mixed together and said crystallization is effected by batch crystallization.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein crystallization is effected by liquid-liquid diffusion of said precipitate solution and said protein solution.
24. The method of claim 18 wherein the platform is a microarray.
25. The method of claim 18 wherein protein crystal growth or protein precipitation is observed by microscopy.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the microscopy is differential interference contrast microscopy.
27. A microarray for screening protein crystal growth at nanogram or picogram protein amounts comprising:
a plurality of wells wherein said wells are adapted for holding volumes of protein solution from about 0.001 nl to about 250 nl;
and further wherein said well comprises a material that is minimally water absorbing; and
an optically clear path from said wells.
28. The microarray of claim 27 wherein said wells further comprise a material that is substantially hydrophobic.
29. The microarray of claim 27 further comprising a plurality of wells for holding a precipitate solution and wherein said microarray has channels for fluid communication between wells holding protein solution and wells holding precipitate solution.
30. The microarray of claim 29 wherein at least two channels have different dimensions.
31. The microarray of claim 27 wherein said wells of said microarray can be sealed to prevent evaporation from said wells.
32. A microarray for screening protein crystal growth at nanogram or picogram protein amounts comprising a plurality of wells wherein said wells are adapted for holding volumes of protein solution from about 0.001 nl 5 to about 250 nl.
33. The microarray of claim 32 wherein said wells comprise a material that is minimally water absorbing.
34. The microarray of claim 32 further comprising an optically clear path from said wells.
35. The microarray of claim 32 wherein said wells comprise a material that is substantially hydrophobic.
36. The microarray of claim 32 further comprising a plurality of wells for holding a precipitate solution and wherein said microarray has channels for fluid communication between wells holding protein solution and wells holding precipitate solution.
37. The microarray of claim 36 wherein at least two channels have different dimensions.
38. The microarray of claim 32 wherein said wells in said microarray can be sealed to prevent evaporation from said wells.