Nozzle tip for pipetting apparatus

• US 20030165408A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aloka Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Saito, Takayoshi, Takeda, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,361,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips

Abstract

In an improvement of a nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus which is adapted to be removably attached to a nozzle base of the pipetting apparatus, the nozzle tip includes a head portion having an opening adapted to fit onto the nozzle base, a cylindrical portion extending downward from the head portion, a tip portion provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion and having a tip opening for aspirating and dispensing a liquid, the tip portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical portion, and a step portion formed between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion. A plurality of fins are integrally formed from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion to the peripheral surface of the tip portion through the step portion with the same spacing in a circumferential direction for making the insertion of the nozzle tip into an upper opening of a target container smoothly and for structurally reinforcing the step portion.

Claims

1. A nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus, the nozzle tip adapted to be removably attached to a nozzle base of the pipetting apparatus, which comprises:

a head portion having an opening adapted to fit onto the nozzle base;

a cylindrical portion extending downward from the head portion, the cylindrical portion having a lower end portion;

a tip portion provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion and having a tip opening for aspirating and dispensing a liquid, the tip portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical portion, and the tip portion having a peripheral surface;

a step portion formed between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion, the step portion forming a step-like part between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion; and

at least one radially extending part which is provided from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion to the peripheral surface of the tip portion through the step portion.

2. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one radially extending part includes at least one fin extending along the axial direction of the nozzle.

3. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fin has an upper end and a lower end, and the fin has a shape that its radial height is gradually lowered from the upper end toward the lower end thereof.

4. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed In claim 3, wherein the upper end of the fin is level with the outer periphery of, the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion, and the lower end of the fin is level with the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the tip portion.

5. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one fin includes a plurality of fins formed around the axis of the nozzle through the same angular spacing.

6. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the number of the plurality of fins is any one of three to eight.

7. The nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle tip is an integrally molded resin product.

8. A nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus, the nozzle tip adapted to be removably attached to a nozzle base of the pipetting apparatus, which comprises:

a head portion having an opening adapted to fit onto the nozzle base;

a cylindrical portion extending downward from the head portion, the cylindrical portion having a lower end portion;

a tip portion provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion and having a tip opening for aspirating and dispensing a liquid, the tip portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical portion, and the tip portion having a peripheral surface;

a step portion formed between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion, the step portion forming a step-like part between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion; and

guide means for guiding the cylindrical portion into an upper opening of a target container, the guide means being provided from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion to the peripheral surface of the tip portion through the step portion.

9. A nozzle tip for a pipetting apparatus, the nozzle tip adapted to be removably attached to a nozzle base of the pipetting apparatus, which comprises:

a head portion having an opening adapted to fit onto the nozzle base;

a cylindrical portion extending downward from the head portion, the cylindrical portion having a lower end portion;

a tip portion provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion and having a tip opening for aspirating and dispensing a liquid, the tip portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical portion, and the tip portion having a peripheral surface;

a step portion formed between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion, the step portion forming a step-like part between the cylindrical portion and the tip portion; and

reinforcing means for reinforcing the tip portion, the reinforcing means being provided from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion to the peripheral surface of the tip portion through the step portion.