Pipette with a tracking system

• US 10,105,698 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Lind, Mikael, Telimaa, Juha
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMITT, BENJAMIN R
• Application Number:
  US15/383,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20170100712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 7386401, 7386413, 7386416
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/087 Ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0227 Details of motor drive means B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0237 Details of electronic control, e.g. relating to user interface
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0286 Ergonomic aspects, e.g. form or arrangement of controls
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/14 Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices

Abstract

A pipette is described which includes a piston for aspirating liquid into and dispensing out of a container in the pipette. The pipette is provided with at least one tracking element which is able to count the magnitude of some variable or variables relating to the amount of use of the pipette, at least one operating device for creating a limit magnitude for each variable, and for giving information when the limit value is exceeded. Thus, the user may, for instance, be warned when he may be exposed to high workload stress possibly causing injuries.

Claims

1. A pipette, comprising a piston movable in a barrel and used for aspirating liquid into and dispensing out of a container in the pipette, wherein the pipette comprises:

a control system configured to control movement of the piston;

at least one tracking element which is able to count a magnitude of at least one variable relating to an amount of use of the pipette and operating time of the pipette; and

at least one operating device for creating, via selection by a user, a limit magnitude for the at least one variable and a desired time interval, and for giving information when the limit magnitude is exceeded within the desired time interval,

the variable to be counted is the amount of use of a certain finger, and when the limit magnitude is exceeded, the user is suggested to change the use of fingers.

2. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises at least one touch screen with operating buttons, the places of which on the screen can be changed, and wherein the user is suggested to change the places of buttons on the screen.

3. A pipette, comprising a piston movable in a barrel and used for aspirating liquid into and dispensing out of a container in the pipette, wherein the pipette, comprises:

a control system configured to control movement of the piston;

at least one tracking element which is able to count a magnitude of at least one variable relating to an amount of use of the pipette and operating time of the pipette; and

at least one operating device for creating, via selection by a user, a limit magnitude for the at least one variable and a desired time interval, and for giving information when the limit magnitude is exceeded within the desired time interval,

wherein the control system comprises at least one touch screen with operating buttons, the places of which on the screen can be changed, and wherein the user is suggested to change the places of buttons on the screen.

4. A pipette, comprising a piston movable in a barrel and used for aspirating liquid into and dispensing out of a container in the pipette, wherein the pipette, comprises:

a control system configured to control movement of the piston;

at least one tracking element which is able to count a magnitude of at least one variable relating to an amount of use of the pipette and operating time of the pipette; and

at least one operating device for creating, via selection by a user, a limit magnitude for the at least one variable and a desired time interval, and for giving information when the limit magnitude is exceeded within the desired time interval,

wherein the at least one operating device comprises at least one touch screen.