Powered positive displacement pipette syringe piston grasping mechanism

A syringe piston grasping mechanism for a powered handheld positive displacement pipette, the syringe piston grasping mechanism configured to receive and releasably retain a syringe piston head, the syringe piston grasping mechanism comprising:

• a piston carrier having a proximal end configured for attachment to a linear actuator and a distal end having an opening for receiving the syringe piston head, wherein the piston carrier defines a substantially bell-shaped interior space;
• an inward facing piston head retention lip formed along the opening in the distal end of the piston carrier;
• a plurality of spaced apart apertures that permit access to the interior space of the piston carrier through a wall thereof;
• and
• a plurality of piston head release element guides that are spaced apart along and extend transversely and outwardly from the distal end of the piston carrier and are substantially aligned with the apertures therein.