Temperature control apparatus and method for pipetting robot
AssigneeAventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH
InventorDetlef Hartz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature control apparatus in the form of a plate is provided for pipetting robots, the plate having a spiral tube for a temperature control medium and which apparatus is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates. A pipetting robot which utilizes a maximum amount of its working space, increasing the efficiency of pipetting liquids for analysis, is also provided.
Claims13
A temperature control apparatus for pipetting robots for holding microtitration plates, comprising a plate having a spiral tube therein for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates.
A pipetting robot, comprising:
- a working area;
- a pipetting apparatus;
- at least one microtitration plate;
- and
- a temperature control apparatus including a plate having a spiral tube for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates.
A programmable pipetting robot, comprising:
- at least one temperature control apparatus including a plate having a spiral tube for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates;
- a working area containing the at least one temperature control apparatus;
- one microtitration plate holding containers for liquids located on each segment of the temperature control apparatus;
- a pipetting apparatus;
- and
- a controller for recognizing the position of each microtitration plate, wherein the pipetting robot is programmed such that, when the temperature-control apparatus and the microtitration plates are arranged correctly, the robot recognizes and fills each of the containers with a liquid.
A method of automatically pipetting fluids into wells of microtitration plates resting on a temperature control apparatus in a working area of a pipetting robot, comprising:
- defining the working area of the robot to include an entire working table surface;
- placing microtitration plates in at least the middle of the working area;
- inputting into a controller a fluid source position;
- inputting into a controller a fluid destination position within the middle of the defined working area;
- moving a pipetting apparatus to the destination position;
- and
- filling a well of a microtitration plate located at the destination position.
A method of automatically pipetting fluids into wells of a microtitration plate, comprising:
- providing at least one temperature control apparatus to a working area of a programmable pipetting robot, the apparatus having a width and a length and including a plate having a spiral tube therein for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments across its width for holding microtitration plates;
- placing a microtitration plate on each segment of the temperature control apparatus;
- moving a pipetting apparatus across the width of the temperature control apparatus;
- and
- filling each well of each microtitration plate as the pipetting apparatus moves across the width of the temperature control apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.