Pipette tip with side channels for efficient aspiration

• US 20060083662A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maxim V. Myakishev
• Original Assignee: Maxim V. Myakishev
• Inventors: Myakishev, Maxim V.
• Application Number:
  US10/995,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20060083662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/087 Ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips

Abstract

An aspirator unit comprises an aspirator having a hollow body around a vertical axis, the body having an outer wall ending at a planar lowermost surface orthogonal to the vertical axis and having a theoretical maximum area, and at least one notch as an indention in the planar bottom surface extending through the outer wall in a direction forming substantially a right angle with the vertical axis. A ratio of area of the actual planar bottom surface with the indention of the notch, to the theoretical maximum bottom surface without a notch is equal or greater than twenty percent.

Claims

1. An aspirator unit comprising at least one aspirator having a hollow body around a vertical axis, the body having an outer wall ending at a planar lowermost surface orthogonal to the vertical axis and having a theoretical maximum area, and at least one notch as an indention in the planar bottom surface extending through the outer wall in a direction forming substantially a right angle with the vertical axis;

wherein a ratio of area of the actual planar bottom surface with the indention of the notch, to the theoretical maximum bottom surface without a notch, is equal or greater than twenty percent.

2. The aspirator unit of claim 1 wherein the ratio of area is equal to or greater than fifty percent.

3. The aspirator unit of claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially a semicircular arch with rounded bottom corners.

4. The aspirator unit of claim 3 wherein all surface intersections are rounded.

5. The aspirator unit of claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a parallelogram, with one side of the parallelogram in the plane of the bottom surface.

6. The aspirator unit of claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a triangle having a base in the plane of the bottom surface.

7. The aspirator unit of claim 6 wherein the notch meets the bottom surface with rounded edges.

8. The aspirator unit of claim 1 wherein two notches as indentions in the bottom surface extend through the outer wall along a line that substantially bisects the bottom surface, dividing the actual planar bottom surface into two regions of substantially equal area, the area of the actual planar bottom surface then being the sum of the areas of the two regions.

9. The aspirator unit of claim 8 wherein the ratio of area is equal to or greater than fifty percent.

10. The aspirator unit of claim 8 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially a semicircular arch with rounded bottom corners.

11. The aspirator unit of claim 10 wherein all surface intersections are rounded.

12. The aspirator unit of claim 8 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a parallelogram, with one side of the parallelogram in the plane of the bottom surface.

13. The aspirator unit of claim 8 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a triangle having a base in the plane of the bottom surface.

14. The aspirator unit of claim 13 wherein the notch meets the bottom surface with rounded edges.

15. The aspirator unit of claim 1 produced by injection molding.

16. The aspirator unit of claim 1 enabled as a pipette for aspirating and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material.

17. The aspirator unit of claim 1 enabled as a syringe with a positive-displacement element for aspirating and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material.

18. The aspirator unit of claim 1 comprising two or more aspirators molded together.

19. The aspirator unit of claim 16 comprising disposable plastic pipettes as aspirators.

34. The method of claim 16 wherein the pipette is produced by injection molding.

38. The method of claim 34 comprising disposable plastic pipettes as aspirators.

20. A method for aspirating liquid or semi-liquid material from a well, comprising steps of:

(a) moving an aspirator unit comprising at least one aspirator having a hollow body around a vertical axis, the body having an outer wall ending at a planar lowermost surface orthogonal to the vertical axis and having a theoretical maximum area, and at least one notch as an indention in the planar bottom surface extending through the outer wall in a direction forming a right angle with the vertical axis such that a ratio of area of the actual planar bottom surface with the indention of the notch, to the theoretical maximum bottom surface without a notch is equal or greater than twenty percent, into the vial until the planar lowermost surface of the pipette engages the substantially flat floor of the well; and

(b) creating a positive pressure differential from outside the pipette to inside the pipette, and drawing the material through the notch into the pipette.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the ratio of area is equal to or greater than fifty percent.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially a semicircular arch with rounded bottom corners.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein all surface intersections are rounded.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a parallelogram, with one side of the parallelogram in the plane of the bottom surface.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein a cross-section of the notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of an arch having a base in the plane of the bottom surface.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the arch is substantially a semicircle with rounded bottom edges.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein two notches as indentions in the bottom surface extend through the outer wall along a line that substantially bisects the bottom surface, dividing the actual planar bottom surface into two regions of substantially equal area, the area of the actual planar bottom surface then being the sum of the areas of the two regions.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the ratio of area is equal to or greater than fifty percent.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially a semicircular arch with rounded bottom corners.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein all surface intersections are rounded.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of a parallelogram, with one side of the parallelogram in the plane of the bottom surface.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein a cross-section of either notch at right angles to the direction of extension is substantially of the shape of an arch having a base in the plane of the bottom surface.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the arch is substantially a semicircle.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one aspirator is enabled as a pipette for aspirating and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material.

36. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one aspirator is enabled as a syringe with a positive-displacement element for aspirating and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material.

37. The method of claim 20 wherein the aspirator unit comprises two or more aspirators molded together.