Pipette tip with self-aligning and self-sealing features
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorGuillermo P. Pardinas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipette tip for use in automated assay testing systems includes an annular, protruding seal ring on the interior wall of the pipette for engaging a sealing surface on a probe to provide a resilient seal. The pipette tip also includes a positive stop for assuring proper positioning and alignment of the pipette tip on the probe for facilitating mounting of the pipette tip on the probe while minimizing variation in the loading and unloading forces required. Locator surfaces are provided on the exterior of the pipette tip for precisely aligning the pipette tip in the system rack for positioning the pipette tip relative to the probe.
Claims16
An assembly including a pipette adapted to be mounted on a probe for aspirating and dispensing a calibrated volume of fluid, comprising:
- a. a tray having a top surface, a predetermined depth and a plurality of apertures for positioning and holding said pipette in said tray;
- b. a carrier having a locator surface and a plurality of apertures for positioning and holding a pipette in said carrier;
- and
- c. a pipette having
- i. an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a central through passageway and open opposite ends, one of said ends defining a pipette tip;
- ii. a base on the end of the body opposite the pipette tip, the base comprising an outer shoulder, which engages the top surface of the tray, and an internal, through bore in communication with the central through passageway;
- and
- iii. a plurality of body ribs on the exterior wall of the body located radially inwardly of the outer shoulder of the base, wherein each body rib has an end at a distance from the base greater than the predetermined depth of the tray which engages the locator surface of the carrier such that when the tray and carrier are engaged, the body rib ends engage the locator surface and the base disengages from the top surface of the tray.
A pipette kit for carrying a plurality of pipettes which are adapted to be mounted on a carrier in an automated analyzer system the carrier having a locator surface disposed in a predetermined position relative to a probe and each of the pipettes adapted to be mounted on the probe for aspirating and dispensing a calibrated volume of fluid, the pipette kit comprising:
- a tray comprising upper and lower surfaces for defining a tray thickness of a predetermined depth, a plurality of apertures extending through said tray thickness wherein each aperture is adapted for receiving and carrying a pipette, and the tray being adapted to engage the carrier such that each pipette inserts into a pipette receptacle in the carrier;
- and
- pipettes, each pipette comprising:
- a. an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a central through passageway and open opposite ends, one of said ends defining a pipette tip;
- b. a base on the end of the body opposite the pipette tip, the base comprising an outer shoulder, which engages a top surface of said tray and an internal, through bore in communication with the central through passageway;
- and
- c. a plurality of body ribs on the exterior wall of the body located radially inwardly of the outer shoulder of the base, wherein each body rib has an end at a distance from the base greater than the depth of the tray and adapted to engage a locator surface of a carrier having a plurality of apertures for positioning and holding said pipette in said carrier, such that when the tray and carrier are engaged, the body rib ends engage the locator surface and the base disengages from the top surface of the tray.
A pipette adapted to be mounted on a probe for aspirating and dispensing a calibrated volume of fluid, comprising:
- a. an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a central through passageway and open opposite ends, one of said ends defining a pipette tip;
- b. a base on the end of the body opposite the pipette tip, the base comprising an internal, through bore in communication with the central through passageway, and an outer shoulder which is adapted to engage a top surface of a tray having a predetermined depth and a plurality of apertures for positioning and holding said pipette in said tray;
- c. a plurality of body ribs on the exterior wall of the body located radially inwardly of the outer shoulder of the base, wherein each body rib has an end at a distance from the base greater that the depth of the tray and adapted to engage a locator surface of a carrier having a plurality of apertures for positioning and holding said pipette in said carrier, such that when the tray and carrier are engaged, the body rib ends engage the locator surface and the base disengages from the top surface of the tray;
- and
- d. a plurality of longitudinally extending shoulder ribs disposed radially about and projecting radially outwardly from the periphery of the base, such that the shoulder ribs project out further from the base than the body ribs and the shoulder ribs extend from the shoulder of the base to an end point on the body of the pipette above the carrier engaging ends of the body ribs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.