Pipetting Device, Pipette Tip Coupler, and Pipette Tip: Devices and Methods

2- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 1 wherein the coupler body further comprises:

• a proximal cylindrical portion;
• a distal cylindrical portion;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the proximal cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the distal cylindrical portion, forming a distally facing stop shoulder surface.

4- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 1 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

7- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 2 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

10- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 1 further comprising an annular wedge movably circumscribing the shank and proximal to the proximal elastomeric element, the annular wedge comprising:

• a proximal wedge surface;
• a distal wedge surface, wherein a circumference of the proximal wedge surface is larger than a circumference of the distal wedge surface;
• an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface connects the proximal wedge surface with the distal wedge surface;
• and
• wherein the exterior surface of the annular wedge abuts against the proximal elastomeric element.

19- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 1 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

21- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 2 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

22- A pipette tip coupling device and pipette tip assembly comprising:

• a pipette tip comprising a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a pipette tip coupling device comprising:
• a shank having a proximal end face;
• a coupler body having a proximal coupler end surface, wherein the coupler body is distal to the shank, and wherein a diameter of a widest portion of the coupler body is greater than a diameter of a widest portion of the shank;
• a distal stem portion comprising:
• a proximal neck;
• and
• a distal end plate;
• an open-ended interior circumscribing surface forming an open passageway extending longitudinally from the proximal end face through the distal end plate;
• a proximal elastomeric element, the proximal elastomeric element disposed around the shank and adjacent to the proximal coupler end surface;
• and
• a distal elastomeric element, the distal elastomeric element disposed around the proximal neck of the distal stem portion and adjacent to the distal end plate of the distal stem portion;
• wherein the proximal elastomeric element abuts against a first inner surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip for securing the pipette tip to the pipette tip coupling device, and wherein the distal elastomeric element abuts against a second inner surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip to form a seal between the pipette tip coupling device and the pipette tip.

23- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 22 wherein the coupler body further comprises:

• a proximal cylindrical portion;
• a distal cylindrical portion;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the proximal cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the distal cylindrical portion, forming a distally facing stop shoulder surface.

25- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 22 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

28- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 23 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

31- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 22 further comprising an annular wedge movably circumscribing the shank and proximal to the proximal elastomeric element, the annular wedge comprising:

• a proximal wedge surface;
• a distal wedge surface, wherein a circumference of the proximal wedge surface is larger than a circumference of the distal wedge surface;
• an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface connects the proximal wedge surface with the distal wedge surface;
• and
• wherein the exterior surface of the annular wedge abuts against the proximal elastomeric element.

40- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 22 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

42- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 23 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

43- A pipette tip coupling device and pipette tip assembly comprising:

• a pipette tip comprising:
• a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a first section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end, the first section having a first diameter;
• a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;
• a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
• a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the second section and the third section;
• and
• at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the open distal end;
• a pipette tip coupling device comprising:
• a shank having a proximal end face;
• a coupler body having a proximal coupler end surface, wherein the coupler body is distal to the shank, and wherein a diameter of a widest portion of the coupler body is greater than a diameter of a widest portion of the shank;
• a distal stem portion comprising:
• a proximal neck;
• and
• a distal end plate;
• an open-ended interior circumscribing surface forming an open passageway extending longitudinally from the proximal end face through the distal end plate;
• a proximal elastomeric element, the proximal elastomeric element disposed around the shank and adjacent to the proximal coupler end surface;
• and
• a distal elastomeric element, the distal elastomeric element disposed around the proximal neck of the distal stem portion and adjacent to the distal end plate of the distal stem portion;
• wherein the proximal elastomeric element abuts against the first section of the pipette tip for securing the pipette tip to the pipette tip coupling device, and wherein the distal elastomeric element abuts against the sealing seat surface of the pipette tip to form a seal between the pipette tip coupling device and the pipette tip.

54- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 43 wherein the coupler body further comprises:

• a proximal cylindrical portion;
• a distal cylindrical portion;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the proximal cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the distal cylindrical portion, forming a distally facing stop shoulder surface.

57- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 43 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

60- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 54 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

63- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 43 further comprising an annular wedge movably circumscribing the shank and proximal to the proximal elastomeric element, the annular wedge comprising:

• a proximal wedge surface;
• a distal wedge surface, wherein a circumference of the proximal wedge surface is larger than a circumference of the distal wedge surface;
• an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface connects the proximal wedge surface with the distal wedge surface;
• and
• wherein the exterior surface of the annular wedge abuts against the proximal elastomeric element.

72- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 43 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

74- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 54 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

75- A pipette tip coupling device and pipette tip assembly comprising:

• a pipette tip comprising:
• a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a first section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical upper first portion having a first diameter;
• a substantially cylindrical lower first portion having the first diameter;
• and
• an annular groove interposed between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the substantially cylindrical lower first portion;
• a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;
• a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
• a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the second section and the third section;
• and
• at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the open distal end;
• a pipette tip coupling device comprising:
• a shank having a proximal end face;
• a coupler body having a proximal coupler end surface, wherein the coupler body is distal to the shank, and wherein a diameter of a widest portion of the coupler body is greater than a diameter of a widest portion of the shank;
• a distal stem portion comprising:
• a proximal neck;
• and
• a distal end plate;
• an open-ended interior circumscribing surface forming an open passageway extending longitudinally from the proximal end face through the distal end plate;
• a proximal elastomeric element, the proximal elastomeric element disposed around the shank and adjacent to the proximal coupler end surface;
• and
• a distal elastomeric element, the distal elastomeric element disposed around the proximal neck of the distal stem portion and adjacent to the distal end plate of the distal stem portion;
• wherein the proximal elastomeric element abuts against the annular groove in the first section, and wherein the distal elastomeric element abuts against the sealing seat surface of the pipette tip to form a seal between the pipette tip coupling device and the pipette tip.

87- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 75 wherein the coupler body further comprises:

• a proximal cylindrical portion;
• a distal cylindrical portion;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the proximal cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the distal cylindrical portion, forming a distally facing stop shoulder surface.

90- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 75 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

93- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 87 wherein the shank further comprises:

• an elongated tubular body distal to the proximal end face;
• a cylindrical neck distal to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• wherein a diameter of the cylindrical neck is less than a diameter of the elongated tubular body.

96- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 75 further comprising an annular wedge movably circumscribing the shank and proximal to the proximal elastomeric element, the annular wedge comprising:

• a proximal wedge surface;
• a distal wedge surface, wherein a circumference of the proximal wedge surface is larger than a circumference of the distal wedge surface;
• an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface connects the proximal wedge surface with the distal wedge surface;
• and
• wherein the exterior surface of the annular wedge abuts against the proximal elastomeric element.

105- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 75 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

107- The pipette tip coupling device of claim 87 wherein the proximal coupler end surface comprises:

• a substantially planar annular surface adjacent to the shank and substantially perpendicular to the shank;
• an annular distally sloped surface extending radially outward from the substantially planar annular surface;
• and
• an annular proximally sloped surface extending radially outward from the annular distally sloped surface.

108- A pipette tip comprising:

• a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a first section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end, the first section comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical upper first portion having a first diameter;
• a substantially cylindrical lower first portion having the first diameter;
• and
• an annular groove interposed between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the substantially cylindrical lower first portion;
• a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;
• a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
• a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the second section and the third section, wherein the sealing seat surface is a circumferential radially concave surface;
• and
• at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the open distal end.

109- A pipette tip comprising:

• a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a first section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end, the first section comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical upper first portion having a first diameter;
• a substantially cylindrical lower first portion having the first diameter;
• and
• an annular groove interposed between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the substantially cylindrical lower first portion;
• a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;
• a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
• a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the second section and the third section, wherein the sealing seat surface is a circumferential radially convex surface;
• and
• at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the open distal end.

110- A pipette tip comprising:

• a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;
• a first section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end, the first section comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical upper first portion having a first diameter;
• a substantially cylindrical lower first portion having the first diameter;
• and
• an annular groove interposed between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the substantially cylindrical lower first portion;
• a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;
• a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;
• a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the second section and the third section, wherein the sealing seat surface comprises a circumferential upwardly facing tooth edge surface;
• and
• at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the open distal end.