Micro-pipettor apparatus

A pipettor operable by a lateral pushing movement of a thumb of a user, comprising:

• a non-tubular body having an operating surface and a supporting surface, said body configured to be grasped between the thumb placed on said operating surface and at least one finger placed on said supporting surface in an opposing manner;
• a tip holder coupled to said body, wherein an end of said tip holder remote from said body is configured to mate with a pipette tip;
• first fluid pick-up means disposed in said body for drawing a first calibrated volume of fluid into the pipette tip, wherein said first fluid pick-up means is operable by the lateral pushing movement and release of the thumb against said operating surface;
• second fluid pick-up means disposed in said body for drawing a second calibrated volume of fluid into the pipette tip, wherein said second fluid pick-up means is operable by the lateral pushing movement and release of the thumb against said operating surface;
• and
• dispensing means disposed in said body for dispensing the first and the second calibrated volumes of fluid from the pipette tip, wherein said dispensing means is operable by the lateral pushing movement of the thumb against said operating surface.

A pipetting apparatus, comprising:

• a tip plate defining a tip plate air channel;
• a tip holder coupled to said tip plate, wherein a central bore of said tip holder is substantially aligned with said tip plate air channel and an end of said tip holder remote from said tip plate is configured to mate with a pipette tip;
• a poppet plate defining a poppet plate air channel, wherein said poppet plate is disposed on said tip plate so that a first end of said poppet plate air channel is substantially aligned with said tip plate air channel;
• a poppet disposed on said poppet plate at a second end of said poppet plate air channel remote from said first end;
• a pin plate disposed in facing relation to said poppet plate;
• and
• a poppet pin coupled to said pin plate so that said poppet pin extends toward said poppet plate, wherein, when said pin plate and said poppet plate are drawn together, said poppet pin deflects said poppet to thereby displace air in said poppet plate air channel and said tip plate air channel, and wherein, when said pin plate is moved away from said poppet plate, said poppet is permitted to return to its undeflected state and thereby draw a fluid into the pipette tip.

A pipettor for dispensing calibrated quantities of fluid, comprising:

• a pipettor body defining an air channel having an end open to the exterior of said body;
• means, on said body, for receiving a pipettor tip and coupling said end of said air channel to an interior of said pipettor tip;
• at least one pick-up poppet, mounted on said body and in communication with said air channel, for drawing a calibrated volume of fluid into a pipettor tip mounted on said receiving means;
• and
• at least one dispense poppet, mounted on said body and in communication with said air channel, for dispensing the calibrated volume of fluid from a pipettor tip mounted on said receiving means.