Pipettor and externally sealed pipette tip

• US 20030190264A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apricot Designs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Felix Yiu
• Inventors: Yiu, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/525
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/022 Capillary pipettes, i.e. having very small bore B01L3/0224 - B01L3/0237 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0227 Details of motor drive means B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0279 co-operating with positive ejection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 arranged in a two-dimensional array

Abstract

A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way. Additionally, seals may be seated in grooves engraved in either the pipette tip or the pipette block to provide a sliding seal between the pipette block and pipette tip.

Claims

1. A pipettor for pipetting fluids, comprising:

a pipette block defining a first pipette block hole having an open end and a closed end;

a pipette tip slidably engaging said pipette block through said first pipette block hole, said pipette tip defining a first circumscribing groove proximate an open end of said pipette tip; and

a first seal seated in said first circumscribing groove, said first seal providing a sliding seal between said pipette tip and said pipette block;

whereby

said pipette tip may travel into and out of said first pipette block hole to control fluid flow into and out of said pipette tip without fluid travel between said pipette block and said pipette tip due to said first seal.

2. A pipettor for pipetting fluids as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said pipette tip defining a second circumscribing grove proximate said open end of said pipette tip and said first circumscribing groove; and

a second seal seated in said second circumscribing groove, said second seal providing a sliding seal between said pipette tip and said pipette block to better ensure sealing between said pipette tip and said pipette block.

4. A pipettor for pipetting fluids as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said pipette block tip defining a second circumscribing grove proximate said open end of said first pipette block hole and said first circumscribing groove; and

a second seal seated in said second circumscribing groove, said second seal providing a sliding seal between said pipette tip and said pipette block to better ensure sealing between said pipette tip and said pipette block.

3. A pipettor for pipetting fluids, comprising:

a pipette block defining a first pipette block hole having an open end and a closed end, said pipette block defining a first circumscribing groove proximate said open hole end;

a pipette tip slidably engaging said pipette block through said first pipette block hole; and

a first seal seated in said first circumscribing groove, said first seal providing a sliding seal between said pipette tip and said pipette block;

whereby

said pipette tip may travel into and out of said first pipette block hole to control fluid flow into and out of said pipette tip without fluid travel between said pipette block and said pipette tip due to said first seal.

5. A pipette tip for use in a pipette block having a closed-end hole, comprising:

an open proximal end defining a first circumscribing groove; and

a seal seated in said first circumscribing groove;

whereby

the pipette tip may be used in conjunction with the pipette block with the pipette tip travelling into and out of the closed-end hole to control fluid flow into and out of the pipette tip without fluid travel between the pipette block and the pipette tip due to said first seal.

6. A pipette tip for use in a pipette block having a closed-end hole as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

the pipette tip defining a second circumscribing grove proximate said open proximal end of the pipette tip and said first circumscribing groove; and

a second seal seated in said second circumscribing groove, said second seal providing a sliding seal between the pipette tip and the pipette block to better ensure sealing between the pipette tip and the pipette block.

7. A pipette block for use in conjunction with a pipette tip, comprising:

the pipette block defining a closed-end hole and defining a first circumscribing groove proximate an open end of said closed-end hole; and

a seal seated in said first circumscribing groove;

whereby

the pipette tip may be used in conjunction with the pipette block with the pipette tip travelling into and out of the closed-end hole to control fluid flow into and out of the pipette tip without fluid travel between the pipette block and the pipette tip due to said first seal.

8. A pipette block for use in conjunction with a pipette tip as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

the pipette block defining a second circumscribing grove proximate said open end of said closed-end hole and said first circumscribing groove; and

a second seal seated in said second circumscribing groove, said second seal providing a sliding seal between the pipette tip and the pipette block to better ensure sealing between the pipette tip and the pipette block.