Pipetting instrument
AssigneeBeckman Coulter, Inc.
InventorMark Francis SAUERBURGER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipetting instrument for loading and dispensing a sample is described. The pipetting instrument includes an automated liquid pipettor having a deck for supporting a pipette tip box comprising pipette tips, and mandrels for engaging the pipette tips and withdrawing at least some of the pipette tips from the pipette tip box. The pipetting instrument further includes a controller configured to control the automated liquid pipettor, the controller further configured to execute a pipette tip dislodging operation to dislodge any undesired pipette tips that are withdrawn from the pipette tip box using the mandrels.
Claims24
A pipetting instrument for loading and dispensing a sample, the pipetting instrument comprising:
- an automated liquid pipettor comprising a deck for supporting a pipette tip box comprising pipette tips, and mandrels for engaging the pipette tips and withdrawing at least some of the pipette tips from the pipette tip box;
- and
- a controller configured to control the automated liquid pipettor, the controller further configured to execute a pipette tip dislodging operation to dislodge any undesired pipette tips that are withdrawn from the pipette tip box using the mandrels.
(canceled)
A method for loading a set of pipette tips onto an automated liquid pipettor, the method comprising:
- coupling desired pipette tips to mandrels by positioning the mandrels and engaging the pipette tips with the mandrels;
- lifting the mandrels to partially remove the desired pipette tips from a pipette tip box, and lifting at least one undesired pipette tip along with the desired pipette tips;
- moving the mandrels to dislodge the at least one undesired pipette tip from the mandrels, causing the at least one undesired pipette tip to return to the pipette tip box while the set of desired pipette tips remain coupled to the mandrels;
- and
- lifting the mandrels to fully remove the desired pipette tips from the pipette tip box.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method for unloading one or more pipette tips from an automated liquid pipettor, the method comprising:
- positioning mandrels to engage and insert the pipette tips within a pipette tip box;
- activating a set of plungers to decouple the one or more pipette tips from the mandrels and unload the pipette tips into the pipette tip box;
- positioning the mandrels to partially insert any pipette tips that remain coupled to the mandrels into the pipette tip box;
- moving the mandrels and the pipette tips to decouple the pipette tips from the mandrels and unload the pipette tips into the pipette tip box;
- and
- removing the mandrels from the pipette tip box.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.