Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-05-22
Ludlow, Jan (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C073S864170, C073S864250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06235244
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to liquid transfer devices used in laboratories and, more particularly, to a multi-channel pipetting device which enables the user to uniformly, rapidly and accurately adjust the spacings between pipette tips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pipetting systems are used in laboratories for the transfer of relatively small quantities of liquids. The liquid is normally drawn into the tips by suction and is subsequently released into the wells of microtiter plates or other receptacles. Frequently the transfer involves patient samples which are moved from one set of spaced receptacles to another set of receptacles having a different spacing. A multi-channel pipettor capable of being simply manipulated to vary the spacing between the pipette tips is often used for this purpose. Typically, the pipettor has a tip removing assembly that, with a minimum of force, removes tips safely and efficiently regardless of the positions of the tips and their fittings on the pipettor. One shortcoming of some prior art pipettors is that the pipette tips can only be adjusted between two uniform standard spacings of the receptacles. The standard settings must be preselected prior to manufacture. An example of such a prior art structure is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,449.
A second type of multi-channel pipettor, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,281, allows the spacings between the tip fittings to be varied by the user. However, the spacings between each fitting must be individually set. Thus, considerable manipulation is required to move the tip fittings from one set of spacings to another and it is difficult to accurately set the tip fittings to the desired spacings.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a multi-channel pipettor in which the tip fittings may be quickly and accurately set at a variety of uniform spacings. Moreover, it is desirable to easily vary the spacings while maintaining uniform spacing between tip fittings.
SUMMARY
The foregoing drawbacks of existing pipetting systems are overcome by the pipetting system of the present invention which uniformly and accurately spaces the tip fittings within a range of spacings, while still providing for easy tip removal. Moreover, the tip fittings may be rapidly moved from one set of uniform spacings to another. In addition, a desired spacing may be readily adjustably set.
One embodiment of the invention is a multi-channel pipetting system including a housing for the pipetting system, a slotted track connected to the housing, a plurality of pipette tip fittings slidably in a line mounted on the track, and an actuator for varying the size of the spacings between adjacent tip fittings. Each of the tip fittings is coupled together by a linkage to maintain a substantially identical spacing between each adjacent pair of tip fittings, regardless of a size of the spacing between adjacent tip fittings.
Another embodiment of the invention is a multi-channel pipetting system that includes a plurality of ducts, a housing for the pipetting system, a slotted track in the housing, and a plurality of pipette tip fittings, with one tip fitting being connected to each duct. All but one tip fitting is slidably mounted on the track. A pantographic linkage is connected to each of the tip fittings. An actuating rod is attached to one end of the tip fittings for varying spacing between adjacent tip fittings.
Another embodiment of the invention is a multi-channel pipetting system that includes a plurality of ducts, a housing for the pipetting system, a slotted track in the housing, and a plurality of pipette tip fittings. One tip fitting is connected to each duct. All but one tip fitting is slidably mounted on the track. The system also includes means interconnecting the tip fittings to form an array and enabling all but one tip fitting on the plate to move relative to the other tip fittings thereon. The spacing between adjacent tip fittings is substantially identical regardless of the size of the spacing. An actuating rod is attached to one of the tip fittings for varying the spacing between adjacent tip fittings.
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Allen Dave
Kalmakis George P.
Nelson Gary E.
Torti Victor A.
Zier Robert H.
Ludlow Jan
Matrix Technologies Corp.
Wolf, Grenfield & Sacks, P.C.
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