Verification pipette and vision apparatus

2:

• The system of claim 1 wherein a camera image collection actuator is coupled to said camera to cause said camera to acquire an image including said target location, said actuator also coupled to said fluid aspirator/dispenser of said pipette.

3:

• The system of claim 1 wherein a controller is coupled to said pipette and said camera.

4:

• The system of claim 3 wherein said camera actuator is coupled to said aspirator/dispenser of said pipette such that said camera acquires an image when said aspirator/dispenser is operated to transfer fluid relative to said tip of said pipette.

5:

• The system of claim 1 wherein said pipette includes a plurality of manual buttons thereon for actuation of said fluid aspirator/dispenser, said camera actuator at least indirectly coupled to at least one of said manual buttons for camera image acquisition when at least one of said manual buttons is actuated.

6:

• The system of claim 1 wherein a controller is coupled to said pipette and said camera, said controller including a protocol including a series of desired steps and with at least one of said desired steps to be performed at said target location, said controller inhibiting operation of said fluid aspirator/dispenser if a function not specified by said protocol is initiated.

7:

• The system of claim 6 wherein said fluid aspirator/dispenser of said pipette includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiver coupled to said controller, said signal transmitter sending a signal when actuation of the aspirator/dispenser is attempted, and said signal receiver receiving a signal allowing or blocking said fluid aspirator/dispenser at least partially dependent upon pipette tip location information gathered by said camera.

8:

• The system of claim 6 wherein said controller is configured to allow function of said fluid aspirator/dispenser which are consistent with said protocol and to block functions which are inconsistent with said protocol.

9:

• The system of claim 1 wherein said fluid aspirator/dispenser includes fluid volume control.

10:

• The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one target location is a known position relative to said at least one camera.

11:

• The system of claim 10 wherein a plurality of target locations are provided within said field of view of said camera, each of said plurality of target locations having a known position relative to said at least one camera, such that a fluid analysis protocol can occur involving multiple different target locations for fluid transfer by said tip of said pipette, and with said camera acquiring images, verifying tip location and aspiration/dispensing function, as well as a time associated with each image, for fluid analysis verification.

12:

• The system of claim 11 wherein said aspirator/dispenser is prevented from operating unless said camera detects said tip of said pipette at a proper location for aspiration/dispensing.

13:

• The system of claim 12 wherein said system includes an operator communication output which communicates a warning when a fluid aspiration/dispensing function is attempted that is outside of said protocol.

14:

• The system of claim 11 wherein a plurality of cameras are provided adjacent to said plurality of target locations, each of said plurality of cameras acquiring images which are utilized together at least partially to further verify pipette tip location relative to said plurality of target locations.

15:

• The system of claim 14 wherein said pipette includes a plurality of tips spaced apart from each other by a known fixed distance, and with said plurality of target locations including at least some target locations which are spaced apart by a distance similar to spacing between said tips, and wherein said fluid aspiration/dispensing can occur for multiple lines of said tips and said target locations substantially simultaneously.

16:

• The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one camera includes at least two cameras spaced from each other to provide a stereoscopic image.

18:

• The method of claim 17 wherein said performing step includes aspirating fluid into said pipette, and said target location includes a location of a specimen to be tested, and with said monitoring step including said camera collecting at least one image during said performing step to verify aspiration of the sample located at the target location.

19:

• The method of claim 18 wherein said monitoring step includes noting time when at least one image is collected showing location of the tip during said performing step.

20:

• The method of claim 19 including the further step of blocking fluid transfer relative to the tip when a location for aspiration/dispensing function of the pipette is out of compliance with an analysis protocol.

21:

• The method of claim 17 wherein said monitoring step includes collection of a video image and saving at least a portion of the video image for later use in verifying pipette tip position.

22:

• The method of claim 21 including the further step of coding the images with indications of when the pipette is aspirating, when the pipette is dispensing and a time stamp on the image.