ANTI-STATIC PIPETTE TIP TRAYS

• US 20100221151A1
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotix, Inc. (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biotix, Inc. (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Inventors: Curry, Scott Edward, Motadel, Arta
• Granted Patent: US 8,470,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/104
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/08 Ergonomic or safety aspects of handling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/543 for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/108 Devices, e.g. plates, presenting apertures through which the articles project
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/20 for incompressible or rigid rod-shaped or tubular articles

Abstract

Provided herein are anti-static pipette trays that reduce the amount of static charge accumulated on or in pipette tips and allow for discharge of any accumulated static charge.

Claims

1. A pipette tip tray comprising rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein:

the rack comprises four sides and a top;

the top comprises apertures and the pipette tips are positioned in the apertures;

the lid is in connection with the rack;

the pipette tips are in contact with an electrically conductive member;

the electrically conductive member is in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior; and

the pipette tips are substantially immobilized.

2. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a bottom.

3. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a pliant material in effective contact with the pipette tips.

4. The pipette tip tray of claim 3, wherein the pliant material is in effective contact with the electrically conductive member.

5. The pipette tip tray of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive member comprises the pliant material.

6. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the rack and/or the lid comprise the electrically conductive member.

7. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the rack and/or the lid comprise a pliant material in effective connection with the pipette tips.

8. The pipette tip tray of claim 7, wherein the pliant material is in effective contact with the electrically conductive member.

9. The pipette tip tray of claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive member comprises the pliant material.

10. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a metal.

11. The pipette tip tray of claim 10, wherein the metal comprises an element selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, gold, silver, copper, aluminum, nickel and combinations thereof.

12. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a foil.

13. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive member is in effective contact with an exterior surface of the lid.

14. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive member is in effective contact with an exterior surface of the rack.

15. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive member is in effective contact with an exterior surface of the lid and a portion of the electrically conductive member is in effective contact with an exterior surface of the rack.

16. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the pipette tips are substantially immobilized along the longitudinal axis of the pipette tips.

17. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the pipette tips are substantially immobilized along a horizontal plane of the pipette tips.

18. The pipette tip tray of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises an electrically conductive film.

19. The pipette tip tray of claim 18, wherein the film forms a pouch.

20. The pipette tip tray of claim 19, wherein the pouch comprises an interior space and a pliant material within the interior space.

21. The pipette tip tray of claim 19, wherein the pouch comprises a tab.

22. The pipette tip tray of claim 21, wherein the tab is exposed to the tray exterior.

23. The pipette tip tray of claim 19, wherein the pouch is in effective contact with an interior surface of the lid.

24. A pipette tip tray comprising rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein:

the rack comprises four sides and a top;

the top comprises apertures and the pipette tips are positioned in the apertures;

the lid is in connection with the rack;

the lid comprises (i) an electrically conductive member in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior, and (ii) a pliant member between the electrically conductive member and an interior surface of the lid;

the electrically conductive member is in contact with the pipette tips; and

the pliant member is deformed and applies pressure to the top of each of the pipette tips;

whereby the pipette tips are substantially immobilized.

25. A pipette tip tray comprising rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein:

the rack comprises four sides and a top;

the top comprises apertures and the pipette tips are positioned in the apertures;

the lid is in connection with the rack;

the lid comprises an electrically conductive and pliant member in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior and in effective contact with an interior surface of the lid;

the electrically conductive and pliant member is in contact with the pipette tips; and

the electrically conductive and pliant member is deformed and applies pressure to the top of each of the pipette tips;

whereby the pipette tips are substantially immobilized.

26. A pipette tip tray comprising rack and lid components, wherein:

the rack comprises four sides and a top;

the top comprises apertures shaped to receive pipette tips;

the lid comprises an electrically conductive member that can contact pipette tips when they are positioned in the apertures;

the electrically conductive member is in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior; and

the lid comprises a pliant material in effective contact with pipette tips when they are positioned in the apertures.

27. A method for discharging static electricity from pipette tips in a pipette tip tray, which comprises:

(a) providing a pipette tip tray comprising rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein;

the rack comprises four sides and a top;

the top comprises apertures and the pipette tips are positioned in the apertures;

the lid is in connection with the rack;

the pipette tips are in contact with an electrically conductive member;

the electrically conductive member is in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior; and

the pipette tips are substantially immobilized; and

(b) contacting the electrically conductive member with an object at the pipette tip tray exterior, whereby the static electricity of the pipette tips in the pipette tip tray is discharged to the object.

28. A pipette tip tray comprising rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein:

(a) the rack comprises four sides and a top;

(b) the top comprises apertures and the pipette tips are positioned in the apertures;

(c) the lid is in connection with the rack;

(d) the lid comprises an electrically conductive material;

(e) the electrically conductive material is in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior; and

(f) the pipette tips are substantially immobilized.

29. A pipette tip tray comprising a rack, lid and pipette tip components, wherein:

(a) the rack comprises four sides and a top;

(b) the top comprises apertures into which pipette tips can be positioned;

(c) the lid is in connection with the rack;

(d) the lid comprises an electrically conductive material;

(e) the electrically conductive material is in effective communication with the pipette tip tray exterior; and

(f) the pipette tips can be substantially immobilized against a bottom surface of the lid.