Automated pipette manipulation system

An automated pipette manipulation system comprising:

• a pipette that is commercially available separate from said pipette manipulation system and having a pushbutton and a tip ejector button;
• a platform assembly that is movable horizontally along a first linear guide;
• a head assembly that is movable horizontally along a second linear guide that is transverse to said first linear guide;
• an actuator head assembly that is attached to said head assembly;
• that is movable vertically along a third linear guide;
• and having a pipette holder to which said pipette is removably attached;
• a pipette activator that is movable vertically along a fourth linear guide to actualize a downward displacement of said pushbutton of said pipette and comprising a load cell and a solenoid;
• wherein said solenoid displaces said tip elector button of said pipette to eject a pipette tip from said pipette;
• wherein said load cell establishes a starting point of said downward displacement of said pushbutton;
• and
• wherein said motor displaces said pushbutton downward a predetermined distance past said starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of a liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette.

An automated pipette manipulation system comprising:

• a pipette having a pushbutton;
• a platform assembly that is movable horizontally along a first linear guide;
• a head assembly that is movable horizontally along a second linear guide that is transverse to said first linear guide;
• an actuator head assembly that is attached to said head assembly;
• and that is movable vertically along a third linear guide;
• and having a pipette holder to which said pipette is removably attached;
• a pipette activator that is movable vertically along a fourth linear guide to actualize a downward displacement of said pushbutton of said pipette and comprising a load cell and a motor;
• wherein said load cell establishes a starting point of said downward displacement of said pushbutton;
• wherein said motor displaces said pushbutton downward a predetermined distance past said starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of a liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette;
• and
• wherein said platform assembly is movable by a first motor interfaced with a first encoder that senses the movement of said platform assembly;
• wherein said head assembly is movable by a second motor interfaced with a second encoder that senses the movement of said head assembly;
• wherein said actuator head assembly is movable by a third motor interfaced with a third encoder that senses the movement of said actuator head assembly;
• and wherein said pipette activator is movable by a fourth motor interfaces with a fourth encoder that senses the movement of said pipette activator.

An automated pipette manipulation system comprising:

• a pipette that is commercially available separate from said pipette manipulation system and having a pushbutton and a tip ejector button;
• a pipette activator that is movable to displace said pushbutton of said pipette, and comprising a load cell and a solenoid;
• wherein said solenoid displaces said tip ejector button of said pipette to eject a pipette tip from said pipette;
• wherein said load cell establishes a starting point of said displacement of said pushbutton;
• and
• wherein said pipette activator displaces said pushbutton downward a predetermined distance past said starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of a liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette.