Combinatorial pipettor device
First Claim
1. A combinatorial device for the collection of a sample, said device being adapted for use with microtiter plates of different sizes, comprising;
- (a) an upper plate comprised of a first half and a second half, wherein each of said halves is independently movable between at least an upper position and a lower position;
(b) a lower plate having a plurality of tip connectors coupled thereto for facilitating attachment of at least one collecting tip;
(c) a plurality of sample collector members each having a proximal end and a distal end;
(d) a mechanism for moving at least one of said first half and said second half of the upper plate between said upper position and said lower position;
wherein the proximal ends of said sample collector members are held by said first and second halves of said upper plate and wherein the distal ends of the said sample collector members are adapted for being engaged by said lower plate such that when at least one half of said upper plate is moved from said upper position to said lower position, the corresponding sample collector members are lowered with respect to said lower plate, thereby facilitating collection of at least one sample into a collecting tip attached to one of said connectors.
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Abstract
A combinatorial pipettor device for the collection of a sample adapted for use with different size microtiter plates. The device comprises an upper plate having first and second halves, each half independently movable between an upper and a lower position, and a lower plate having tip connectors for the attachment of collecting tips. Also included are sample collector members having proximal ends and distal ends and a mechanism for moving at least one half of the upper plate between the upper and lower positions. Proximal ends of the sample collector members are held by the upper plate and distal ends of the sample collector members are engagable with the lower plate such that when at least one half of the upper plate is moved from the upper to the lower position, the corresponding sample collector members are lowered, thereby facilitating collection of a sample into a tip attached to one of the connectors.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A combinatorial device for the collection of a sample, said device being adapted for use with microtiter plates of different sizes, comprising;
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(a) an upper plate comprised of a first half and a second half, wherein each of said halves is independently movable between at least an upper position and a lower position;
(b) a lower plate having a plurality of tip connectors coupled thereto for facilitating attachment of at least one collecting tip;
(c) a plurality of sample collector members each having a proximal end and a distal end;
(d) a mechanism for moving at least one of said first half and said second half of the upper plate between said upper position and said lower position;
wherein the proximal ends of said sample collector members are held by said first and second halves of said upper plate and wherein the distal ends of the said sample collector members are adapted for being engaged by said lower plate such that when at least one half of said upper plate is moved from said upper position to said lower position, the corresponding sample collector members are lowered with respect to said lower plate, thereby facilitating collection of at least one sample into a collecting tip attached to one of said connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for collecting and transferring a sample from a microtiter plate, comprising:
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providing a combinatorial device for the collection and transfer of a sample, said device being adapted for use with microtiter plates of different sizes, said device comprising;
(a) an upper plate comprised of a first half and a second half, wherein each of said halves is independently movable between at least an upper position and a lower position;
(b) a lower plate having a plurality of tip connectors coupled thereto for facilitating attachment of at least one collecting tip;
(c) a plurality of sample collector members each having a proximal end and a distal end;
(d) a mechanism for moving at least one of said first half and said second half of the upper plate between said upper position and said lower position, wherein the proximal ends of said sample collector members are held by said first and second halves of said upper plate and wherein the distal ends of the said sample collector members are adapted for being engaged by said lower plate, and moving at least one half of said upper plate from said upper position to said lower position such that the corresponding sample collector members are lowered with respect to said lower plate, thereby facilitating collection of at least one sample into a collecting tip attached to one of said connectors.
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Specification