Liquid Photometry

• US 20080253933A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Redfern
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Redfern
• Inventors: Redfern, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US12/093,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0279 co-operating with positive ejection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0321 One time use cells, e.g. integrally moulded
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions

Abstract

A photometric or spectrophotometric apparatus and method wherein a sample is contained in a pipette held between two surfaces, one containing a photometric or spectrophotometric source and the other a photometric or spectrophotometric detector and an optical path is established through the walls of the pipette tip and through the sample between the two surfaces. Use of a disposable pipette tip which may be left attached to pipette tip during sample analysis or reattached to the pipette device following analyses, provides a means to recover the sample for subsequent applications and manipulations, and enables especially small volume samples to be analysed.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A pipette tip which is optically adapted for photometric analysis of a relatively small volume—

selected typically from the range 1 to 10 microlitres—

of liquid contained therein and with means for adapting said pipette tip to be readily attachable to and detachable from a pipette barrel, in use;

said means for adaptation acting to hold the pipette tip and a sample contained therein in an optical path for delivery and measurement of radiation passed across said tip and hence through said sample; and

wherein a sample—

dispensing end region of said pipette tip through which, in use, the radiation passes, has a uniform wall thickness.

11. A pipette tip according to claim 10 and wherein an external portion of the pipette tip is ribbed in order to assist its attachment to and detachment from the pipette barrel.

12. A pipette tip according to claim 11 and wherein there is more than one rib and some at least of said ribs extend axially along the surface of the ribbed region.

13. A pipette tip according to claim 10 and in which the wall thickness is in the order of 0.25 mm.

14. A pipette tip according to claim 13 and in which the said end region of approximately uniform wall thickness occupies substantially one third to one half of the overall length of the pipette tip.

15. A pipette tip according to claim 14 and in which substantially the last three fifths of the region of uniform wall thickness is of uniform internal diameter.

16. A pipette tip according to claim 14 and in which substantially the last three fifths of the region of uniform wall thickness is of uniform external diameter.

17. A pipette tip according to claim 14 and in which substantially the last three fifths of the region of uniform wall thickness is of uniform internal and external diameter

18. Apparatus comprising a pipette tip according to claim 10 in combination with a pipette adapted to co-operate therewith for use in photometric analysis.

19. Apparatus according to claim 10 and in which the necessary radiation source means and receiving means are formed into one substantially continuous surface surrounding the pipette tip sample containing region in use.

20. Methods, selected from the group comprising photometric, spectrophotometric, fluorometric and spectrofluorometric analysis of analysing liquids using a pipette tip in accordance with claim 10.