# US 10,864,515 B2 · Automated pipette manipulation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,515 B2 - Document ID: US10864515B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/811,548 - Filed: 2017-11-13 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-11 - Applicants: Walid Habbal - Inventors: Walid Habbal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864515B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/0289: {Apparatus for withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid} - B01L 3/0227: {Details of motor drive means (B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence)} - G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device} - B01L 3/0237: {Details of electronic control, e.g. relating to user interface} - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - G01N 2035/1013: {Confirming presence of tip} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention allows for the automated manipulation of any pipette commercially available to aspire and dispense liquids in a chemical or biochemical laboratory setting. Measuring the amount of liquid aspired or dispensed by a pipette is conducted by a load sensor that records the starting point of the displacement of a pushbutton of said pipette and a motor that drives the displacement of said pushbutton a predetermined distance past the starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette. The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention further detects whether a pipette tip is attached to said pipette and then automatically ejects said pipette tip at the end of a liquid handling process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; an actuator head assembly that is movable only in the vertical direction; and having a pipette holder to which said pipette is removably attached; a pipette activator that is movable only in the vertical direction 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated pipette manipulation system of claim 1 wherein said actuator head assembly is movable by a first motor interfaced with a first encoder that senses the movement of said actuator head assembly; and wherein said pipette activator is movable by a second motor interfaced with a second encoder that senses the movement of said pipette activator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automated pipette manipulation system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor that controls the movement of said actuator head assembly and said pipette activator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automated pipette manipulation system of claim 1 wherein said pipette activator displaces said pushbutton further after dispensing said liquid from said pipette so as to purge any residual left in said pipette. ### Claim 5 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The automated pipette manipulation system of claim 5 further comprising a microprocessor that controls the movement of said platform assembly, said head assembly; said actuator head assembly; and said pipette activator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The automated pipette manipulation system of claim 5 wherein said pipette activator displaces said pushbutton further after dispensing said liquid from said pipette so as to purge any residual left in said pipette. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 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.