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US 6,270,249 B1Granted
Vertically reciprocating perforated agitator
OwnerRobert W. Besuner, David C. Estrich +2inventors
InventorsRobert W. Besuner, David C. Estrich, Reason W. Bradley, Robert G. Ullrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a horizontal, perforated agitator element and means to cause the agitator element to reciprocate vertically within a reservoir containing a fluid suspension, solution, or mixture. The perforations in the agitator element are sized and located so that an array of pipette tips may be inserted into the fluid through the moving agitator element without interference.
Claims8
A device for agitating fluids, comprising:
- (a) an agitator element of substantially lamellar form, disposed substantially horizontally within a fluid inside a container, having holes therein, said holes disposed in an array substantially matching a fixed array of pipette tips and shaped and sized so that said pipette tips may be moved through said holes in said agitator element without said pipette tips and said agitator element physically contacting one another;
- (b) means for intermittently moving said agitator element from a first position to a second position in a substantially vertical direction;
- and
- (c) means for returning said agitator element from said second position to said first position in a substantially vertical direction.
1 more element
A method for simultaneously agitating and pipetting fluids, comprising:
- (a) providing an agitator element of substantially lamellar form, disposed substantially horizontally within a fluid inside a container, having holes therein, said holes disposed in an array substantially matching a fixed array of pipette tips and shaped and sized so that said pipette tips may be moved through said holes in said agitator element without said pipette tips and said agitator element physically contacting one another;
- (b) reciprocating said agitator element in a substantially vertical direction;
- (c) vertically inserting said pipette tips into said fluid such that said pipette tips and said agitator element do not contact one another;
- (d) pipetting into and/or out of said fluid using said pipette tips;
- and
- (e) vertically withdrawing said pipette tips from said fluid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.