Method, system and apparatus for incorporating capacitive proximity sensing in an automated fluid transfer procedure
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring the status of a fluid transfer probe, the method comprising:
- (A) moving a fluid transfer probe known to have a protective tip on its distal end with respect to a secondary structure;
(B) during step (A), measuring a first capacitance reference signal from the fluid transfer probe with the protective tip disposed on its distal end;
(C) moving a fluid transfer probe known to lack a protective tip on its distal end with respect to the secondary structure;
(D) during step (B), measuring a second capacitance reference signal from the fluid transfer probe lacking a protective tip;
(E) deriving a reference value from either or both of the first capacitance reference signal and the second capacitance reference signal; and
(F) determining whether or not a fluid transfer probe has a protective tip engaged on its distal end by;
(1) moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to the secondary structure,(2) measuring a capacitance signal from the fluid transfer probe as the fluid transfer probe is moved with respect to the secondary structure, and(3) comparing at least one characteristic of the measured capacitance signal with the reference value.
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Abstract
A fluid transfer apparatus includes a fluid transfer probe, a fluid level detection system, and a tip detection system. The fluid level detection system is configured to detect contact by the fluid transfer probe with a fluid surface within a receptacle from a signal based on the capacitance of the fluid transfer probe. The tip detection system is configured to detect the presence or absence of a tip at a distal end of the fluid transfer probe from a signal based on the capacitance of the fluid transfer probe.
384 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the status of a fluid transfer probe, the method comprising:
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(A) moving a fluid transfer probe known to have a protective tip on its distal end with respect to a secondary structure; (B) during step (A), measuring a first capacitance reference signal from the fluid transfer probe with the protective tip disposed on its distal end; (C) moving a fluid transfer probe known to lack a protective tip on its distal end with respect to the secondary structure; (D) during step (B), measuring a second capacitance reference signal from the fluid transfer probe lacking a protective tip; (E) deriving a reference value from either or both of the first capacitance reference signal and the second capacitance reference signal; and (F) determining whether or not a fluid transfer probe has a protective tip engaged on its distal end by; (1) moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to the secondary structure, (2) measuring a capacitance signal from the fluid transfer probe as the fluid transfer probe is moved with respect to the secondary structure, and (3) comparing at least one characteristic of the measured capacitance signal with the reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring the status of a fluid transfer probe, the method comprising:
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(A) moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to a secondary structure; (B) while moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to the secondary structure, measuring a first signal related to capacitance of a group of components including the fluid transfer probe; and (C) determining if a protective tip is disposed on the fluid transfer probe based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A fluid transfer system comprising:
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a fluid transfer probe configured to aspirate fluid from a receptacle and/or dispense fluid into a receptacle; a probe control module constructed and arranged to enable the probe to engage a protective tip at a distal end of said fluid transfer probe; and a tip detection system configured to determine if a fluid transfer probe has a protective tip engaged on its distal end by; (1) measuring a signal related to capacitance of a group of components including the fluid transfer probe as the fluid transfer probe is moved with respect to a secondary structure, and (2) determining if a protective tip is engaged on the fluid transfer probe based on the measured signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for transferring a fluid to and/or from a receptacle with a fluid transfer probe, said method comprising:
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(A) lowering the fluid transfer probe into engagement with a protective tip to removably secure the protective tip on a distal end of the fluid transfer probe; (B) confirming that the protective tip was successfully secured to the distal end of the fluid transfer probe during step (A) by; (1) moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to a secondary structure; (2) while moving the fluid transfer probe with respect to the secondary structure, measuring a first signal related to capacitance of a group of components including the fluid transfer probe; and (3) confirming that the protective tip is secured to the fluid transfer probe based on the first signal, (C) after step (B), lowering the fluid transfer probe into the receptacle and withdrawing fluid from or dispensing fluid into the receptacle; (D) before, during, or after step (C), determining a level of fluid within the receptacle by; (1) lowering the fluid transfer probe with the protective tip secured thereto into the receptacle; (2) while lowering the fluid transfer probe into the receptacle, measuring a second signal related to the capacitance of a group of components including the fluid transfer probe; and (3) detecting if the protective tip secured to the fluid transfer probe has contacted a fluid surface within the receptacle based on the second signal; (E) after step (D), moving the fluid transfer probe and protective tip into engagement with a tip removal structure and effecting a relative movement between the fluid transfer probe and the tip removal structure to remove the tip from the distal end of the fluid transfer probe; and (F) confirming that the protective tip was successfully removed from the distal end of the fluid transfer probe during step (E) by; (1) measuring a third signal related to capacitance of a group of components including the fluid transfer probe; and (2) confirming that the protective tip is absent from the fluid transfer probe based on the third signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification