Hand-held pipette

• US 6,601,433 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vistablab Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: VistaLab Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scordato, Richard E., Kriz, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US09/873,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 73/17.4, 738/641.1, 738/641.3, 738/641.6, 738/641.8, 422/100
• US Class Current: 73/1.74
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0224 having mechanical means to set stroke length, e.g. movable stops B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0227 Details of motor drive means B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence

Abstract

Hand-held pipettes are provided which have automatic volume setting and either manual or power assisted piston operation. Power assisted piston operation may be achieved with a fly-by-wire operation wherein movement of a plunger button is detected and used to control a drive for the plunger. A data transfer capability in at least one direction may also be provided for the pipette.

Claims

1. A hand-held pipette including:

a manually-driven piston mechanism for aspirating and dispensing fluid; and

an internal automatic volume setting mechanism which includes a stroke control stop for said piston mechanism and a mechanism for automatically setting said stop.

2. A hand-held pipette including:

a tip receiving nozzle;

a manually controlled piston connected to the tip receiving nozzle to apply negative aspirating and positive dispensing pressure to said nozzle;

a stroke control stop for said piston; and

an internal apparatus which automatically controls the position of said stop, and thus the volume of fluid aspirated.

3. A pipette as in claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes a stop drive mechanism, and a control for operating said drive mechanism.

4. A pipette as in claim 3 wherein said drive mechanism includes a motor driven worm gear.

5. A pipette as in claim 3 wherein said control includes a processor, input elements for providing information to said processor, and outputs for indicating at least a current volume setting for said stop.

6. A pipette as in claim 5 wherein said processor is operative to calibrate said pipette.

7. A pipette as in claim 5 wherein said processor includes a memory storing presets for stop position.

8. A pipette as in claim 5 wherein said processor stores and utilizes volume compensation algorithms.

9. A pipette as in claim 2 including a manually operable button and a linkage between the button and piston for operating said piston.

10. A pipette as in claim 9 including a switch positioned to be operated when said button is fully depressed.

11. A pipette as in claim 10 wherein said apparatus for automatically controlling is operative only which said switch is operated.

12. A pipette as in claim 2 wherein said apparatus for automatically controlling includes a mechanism for facilitating rapid change for large stop position changes.

13. A pipette as in claim 2 including a control adapted to store stop settings, and data transfer apparatus which facilitates the transfer of said stop settings in at least one direction.

14. A pipette as in claim 2 including a power assist mechanism for said piston.

15. A pipette as in claim 14 including a manually operated piston actuator, said power assist mechanism being responsive to at least one of actuator position in its stroke and force on the actuator.