Substance dispense system for biological sample analysis instrument
AssigneeBeckman Coulter, Inc.
InventorsKiyotaka KUBOTA, Atsushi MATSUSHITA, Takayuki MIZUTANI, Hitoshi NARITA, Kazuki UMEBARA
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Abstract
A substance dispense system is provided for a biological sample analysis instrument. The substance dispense system can operate to prepare a fluidic substance, such as a sample, using a dispense tip in different operational modes based on the volume of the fluid substance to be prepared. The substance dispense system thereby improves accuracy and/or precision in pipetting with the dispense tip.
Claims66
A method for preparing a fluidic substance (112) for evaluation, the method comprising:
- aspirating a first volume of the fluidic substance (112) from a first vessel to a dispense tip (120);
- and
- dispensing a second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to a second vessel by:
- dispensing the second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to the second vessel;
- and
- rinsing the dispense tip (120) using at least a portion of the fluidic substance (112) from the second vessel.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dispense tip (120) includes a disposable dispense tip (120).
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second vessel includes a dilution vessel (132).
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first vessel includes a sample vessel (130).
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein aspirating a first volume of the fluidic substance (112) includes:
- aspirating a fifth volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the first vessel to the dispense tip (120);
- and
- dispensing a sixth volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to the first vessel to contain the first volume of the fluidic substance (112) in the dispense tip (120).
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first volume is less than 25 μL.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first volume is equal to the second volume.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- prior to aspirating a first volume of the fluidic substance (112), determining a surface level of the fluidic substance (112) contained in the first vessel.
An apparatus for dispensing a fluidic substance (112), comprising:
- a pipetting system (104) including a sample pipetting module (150), the sample pipetting module (150) configured to engage a dispense tip (120);
- and
- a dispense control system controlling the pipetting system (104) to:
- aspirate a first volume of the fluidic substance (112) from a first vessel to the dispense tip (120);
- and
- dispense a second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to a second vessel by:
- dispensing the second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to the second vessel;
- and
- rinsing the dispense tip (120) using at least a portion of the fluidic substance (112) from the second vessel.
A method for preparing a sample for evaluation, the method comprising:
- aspirating a volume of a sample from a first vessel to a dispense tip (120);
- and
- diluting the sample by:
- dispensing the volume of the sample from the dispense tip (120) to a dilution vessel (132), the dilution vessel (132) containing a diluent;
- and
- rinsing the dispense tip (120) using at least a portion of a fluidic substance (112) from the dilution vessel (132), the fluidic substance (112) containing the sample and the diluent.
An apparatus for preparing a substance for evaluation, comprising:
- a pipetting system (104) including a sample pipetting module (150), the sample pipetting module (150) configured to engage a dispense tip (120);
- and
- a dispense control system controlling the pipetting system (104) to:
- aspirate a volume of a sample from a first vessel to the dispense tip (120);
- and
- dilute the sample by:
- dispensing the volume of the sample from the dispense tip (120) to a dilution vessel (132), the dilution vessel (132) containing a diluent;
- and
- rinsing the dispense tip (120) using at least a portion of a fluidic substance (112) from the dilution vessel (132), the fluidic substance (112) containing the sample and the diluent.
A method for preparing a fluidic substance (112) for evaluation, the method comprising:
- aspirating a first volume of the fluidic substance (112) from a first vessel to a dispense tip (120);
- and
- dispensing a second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to a second vessel by:
- lowering the dispense tip (120) into the second vessel at a first height, the first height configured such that a distal end (320) of the dispense tip (120) remains above a surface level in the second vessel after dispensation;
- dispensing the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to the second vessel;
- and
- lowering the dispense tip (120) to a second height, the second height configured such that the distal end (320) of the dispense tip (120) touches the surface level in the second vessel after the dispensation.
An apparatus for preparing a fluidic substance (112) for evaluation, comprising:
- a pipetting system (104) including a sample pipetting module (150), the sample pipetting module (150) configured to engage a dispense tip (120);
- and
- a dispense control system controlling the pipetting system (104) to:
- aspirate a first volume of the fluidic substance (112) from a first vessel to a dispense tip (120);
- and
- dispense a second volume of the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to a second vessel by:
- lowering the dispense tip (120) into the second vessel at a first height, the first height configured such that a distal end (320) of the dispense tip (120) remains above a surface level in the second vessel after dispensation;
- dispensing the fluidic substance (112) from the dispense tip (120) to the second vessel;
- and
- lowering the dispense tip (120) to a second height, the second height configured such that the distal end (320) of the dispense tip (120) touches the surface level in the second vessel after the dispensation.
A method for preparing a fluidic substance (112) for evaluation, the method comprising:
- determining a volume of a fluidic substance (112) being dispensed to a vessel;
- upon determining that the volume is less than a reference value, dispensing the fluidic substance (112) to a vessel in a first operational mode;
- and
- upon determining that the volume is not less than the reference value, dispensing the fluidic substance (112) to the vessel in a second operational mode.
An apparatus for preparing a fluidic substance (112) for evaluation, comprising:
- a pipetting system (104) including a sample pipetting module (150), the sample pipetting module (150) configured to engage a dispense tip (120);
- and
- a dispense control system controlling the pipetting system (104) to:
- determine a volume of a fluidic substance (112) being dispensed to a vessel;
- upon determining that the volume is less than a reference value, dispense the fluidic substance (112) to a vessel in a first operational mode;
- and
- upon determining that the volume is not less than the reference value, dispense the fluidic substance (112) to the vessel in a second operational mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.