Apparatus for tissue transfer

• US 9,500,570 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corteva Agriscience LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Agrosciences LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moynahan, Tonya Lynne Strange
• Primary Examiner(s): PARA, ANNETTE H
• Application Number:
  US14/205,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20140193313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 435/420
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0616 with vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/04 Viewing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/04 by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles pipettes in general B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/09 Closed loop, sensor feedback controls arm movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/40 Vacuum or mangetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/47 Optical

Abstract

A handheld tool is disclosed which may be used to transfer a plurality of plant tissue explants from a first container to a second container. The handheld tool may include a disposable tip member which couples the plurality of plant tissue explants through use of negative pressure. An automated system which transfers a plurality of plant tissue explants from a first container to a second container is also disclosed. The automated system may include a first presentment system which moves the first container to a region, a second presentment system which moves the second container to the region, and a robot system that transfers the plurality of plant tissue explants from the first container to the second container.

Claims

1. A system coupled to a negative pressure source for use transferring plant tissue explants from a first container having a first nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the tissue explants to a second container having a second nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the plant tissue explants, the system comprising:

a flexible fluid conduit having a first end adapted to be coupled to the negative pressure source and a second end which is in fluid communication with the first end through an interior of the flexible fluid conduit;

a handheld pen shaped instrument coupled to the second end of the flexible conduit, the handheld pen shaped instrument having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of the flexible fluid conduit; and

a tip member removably coupled to the handheld pen shaped instrument, the tip member having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of the handheld pen shaped instrument and a first end having an opening in fluid communication with the interior of the tip member, the opening of the first end of the tip member being smaller than the plant tissue explants to prevent the plant tissue explants from entering the interior of the tip member when a negative pressure is present in the interior of the flexible fluid conduit, the handheld pen-shaped instrument, and the tip member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld pen shaped instrument includes at least one vent passage along an exterior of the handheld pen shaped instrument and in fluid communication with the surrounding environment and the interior the handheld pen shaped instrument, wherein when the vent passage is not in fluid communication with the surrounding environment the negative pressure in the tip member is increased compared to when the vent passage is in fluid communication with the surrounding environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip member is a pipette tip.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter positioned between the first end of the flexible fluid conduit and the first end of the tip member.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flexible fluid conduit is divided into a first portion and a second portion, the filter being housed in a housing which is interposed between the first portion and the second portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip member has a second end coupled to the handheld pen shaped instrument, the interior of the tip member having a larger cross-sectional area at the second end than at the first end.

6. A system coupled to a negative pressure source for use transferring plant tissue explants from a first container having a first nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the tissue explants to a second container having a second nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the plant tissue explants, the system comprising:

a flexible fluid conduit having a first end adapted to be coupled to the negative pressure source and a second end which is in fluid communication with the first end through an interior of the flexible fluid conduit; and

a tip member removably coupled to the flexible fluid conduit, the tip member having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of the flexible fluid conduit and a first end having an opening in fluid communication with the interior of the tip member, the opening of the first end of the tip member being smaller than the plant tissue explants to prevent the plant tissue explants from entering the interior of the tip member when a negative pressure is present in the interior of the flexible fluid conduit and the tip member, the tip member further includes at least one vent passage along an exterior of the tip member and in fluid communication with the surrounding environment and the interior the tip member, wherein when the vent passage is not in fluid communication with the surrounding environment the negative pressure in the tip member is increased compared to when the vent passage is in fluid communication with the surrounding environment.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the tip member is a pipette tip.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a filter positioned between the first end of the flexible fluid conduit and the first end of the tip member.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flexible fluid conduit is divided into a first portion and a second portion, the filter being housed in a housing which is interposed between the first portion and the second portion.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the tip member has a second end in fluid communication with the flexible fluid conduit, the interior of the tip member having a larger cross-sectional area at the second end than at the first end.