Pipetting tip scanner
AssigneeTecan Trading AG
InventorsMax Stumpf, Volfgang Vilaj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of measuring the alignment of one or more pipetting tips in an automated pipetting system where the one or more pipetting tips are mounted on one or more adapters of a pipetting head approximately perpendicular to the pipetting head mounting surface is disclosed. The orifices at the end of the one or more pipetting tips are mapped with an image capture device having a sensor placed in face and distant of the orifices. The method sends the acquired data from mapping the orifices of the one or more pipetting tips to the data processor, generating an image of the orifices of the one or more pipetting tips, determining the center positions of orifices, and delivering alignment information for the one or more pipetting tips.
Claims16
A method of measuring the alignment of one or more pipetting tips (2) in relation to a pipetting head (4) in an automated pipetting system (1) comprising:
- mounting the one or more pipetting tips (2) on one or more adapters (3) of the pipetting head (4) approximately perpendicular to the pipetting head (4) mounting surface,
- mapping the orifices (21) at the protruding end of the one or more pipetting tips (2) with an image capture device (5) comprising a sensor (6) placed in face and distant of the orifices (21), comprising scanning the orifices (21) by moving the pipetting head (4) and/or the sensor (6) relative to one another,
- sending the acquired data from mapping the orifices (21) of the one or more pipetting tips (2) to a data processor (7),
- generating an image of the orifices (21) of the one or more pipetting tips (2) from said acquired data,
- determining the center positions of orifices (21) relative to the pipetting head (4), and
- calculating alignment information for the one or more pipetting tips (2) with respect to a virtual regular grid assumed to the pipetting head (4) mounting surface.
A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a data processor (7), cause an automated pipetting system (1) to
- mount one or more pipetting tips (2) on one or more adapters (3) of a pipetting head (4) mounting surface,
- scan and map the orifices (21) at the protruding end of the one or more pipetting tips (2) with an image capture device (5) comprising a sensor (6) placed in face and distant of the orifices (21), by moving the pipetting head (4) and/or the sensor (6) relative to one another,
- send the acquired data from mapping the orifices (21) of the one or more pipetting tips (2) to a data processor (7),
- generate an image of the orifices (21) of the one or more pipetting tips (2) from said acquired data,
- determine the center positions of orifices (21) relative to the pipetting head (4), and
- calculate alignment information for the one or more pipetting tips (2) with respect to a virtual regular grid assumed to the pipetting head (4) mounting surface.
A contactless measurement system (10) for measuring the alignment of one or more pipetting tips (2) in an automated pipetting system (1) comprising:
- one or more adapters (3) on a pipetting head (4) connected to a robotic pipetting arm (11) for mounting the one or more pipetting tips (2),
- an image capture device (5) comprising a sensor (6) joined to a worktable (9) for capturing an image of the orifices (21) of the one or more pipetting tips (2) or of the one or more adapters (3) of the pipetting head (4),
- a mechanism for moving the pipetting head (4) and/or the sensor (6) relative to one another for scanning the orifices (21) at the protruding end of the one or more pipetting tips (2) or of the one or more adapters (3) of the pipetting head (4), and
- a data processor (7) for receiving the image data acquired by the sensor (6) and for calculating alignment information for the one or more pipetting tips (2) with respect to a virtual regular grid assumed to the pipetting head (4) mounting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.