Apparatus for transporting pipette tips

{
  "publication_number": "US6247891B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Apparatus for transporting pipette tips",
  "abstract": "An apparatus for transporting pipette tips is provided which comprises a vacuum manifold and one or more air conduits. The vacuum manifold internally defines a vacuum chamber, and has a wall which defines one or more apertures. The vacuum manifold is adapted for use in conjunction with a vacuum source. An air conduit is fixed to each of the one or more apertures defined by the wall of the vacuum manifold. Each air conduit defines an air channel, and is sized such that it can be inserted through a proximal opening defined by the head of one of the pipette tips without contacting the inner surface of the head of the pipette tip. The air channel of each air conduit is larger than a distal opening defined by the body of the pipette tip, such that when each air conduit is inserted through the proximal opening of one of the pipette tips and a vacuum source is used in conjunction with the vacuum manifold to create a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, the pipette tips are held in engagement with the vacuum manifold.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of transporting at least one pipette tip using a transporting apparatus comprising a vacuum manifold, a vacuum source, and at least one air conduit, each pipette tip having an interior, an exterior, a head defining a first opening into which said at least one air conduit can be inserted without contacting the head of the pipette tip, and a body defining a second opening, said second opening smaller than said first opening, the method comprising: inserting said at least one air conduit into the first opening defined by the head of said at least one pipette tip; activating the vacuum source to apply a vacuum to said first opening such that the pressure differential created between said interior and said exterior of said pipette tip draws said at least one pipette tip into engagement with the transporting apparatus; moving, while maintaining the activation of the vacuum source, the transporting apparatus; and deactivating the vacuum source to release said at least one pipette tip from engagement with the transporting apparatus.",
    "2. The method of claim 1 wherein the head of said at least one pipette tip is conical and the body of said at least one pipette tip is frustoconical.",
    "3. The method of claim 1 wherein said transporting apparatus comprises a plurality of said air conduits formed into a first 12 by 8 array, wherein said transporting apparatus is used to transport a plurality of said pipette tips positioned in a second 12 by 8 array identical to said first 12 by 8 array, and wherein said step of inserting comprises simultaneously inserting each of said air conduits into the head of one of said pipette tips."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to an apparatus which may be used to secure, release, and move one or more pipette tips between locations, and particularly to an apparatus which transports empty pipette tips using vacuum suction.\n\nPipette tips are commonly used to transfer and dispense liquids, such as in scientific or medical testing. A typical pipette tip is made of plastic and formed with a substantially conical head and a frustoconical body. The head forms an opening at its proximal end while the body forms a smaller opening at its distal end. The pipette tip head has a larger outer diameter than the pipette tip body, and forms an annular lower edge at the junction of the head to the body. In use, the head of the pipette tip is typically force fit onto the shaft of another device, a pipettor, and held in place by friction. The pipettor is then operated to draw liquid into and expel liquid from the pipette tip through the distal opening in the tip body.\n\nIn most applications, pipette tips are used in large quantities, making individual handling of the pipette tips highly inconvenient. Consequently, a number of devices have been developed which manipulate numerous pipette tips at once for pickup or delivery of fluid. Typically, the pipette tip heads are inserted into a number of shafts on the device, with the positioning of the pipette tips and shafts chosen to be compatible with standard multi-well plates. The device positions the pipette tips into the wells of the plate, and liquid is drawn from the wells into the pipette tips, or liquid is expelled from the pipette tips into the wells.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01L 9/543"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01L 9/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LABCON North America"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Peter Lind"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1998-12-18",
  "publication_date": "2001-06-19",
  "grant_date": "2001-06-19",
  "priority_date": "1998-12-18",
  "application_number": "US-21609098-A",
  "family_id": "22805647",
  "cited_by_count": 41,
  "citations": [
    "US3221910A",
    "US3831992A",
    "US4468974A",
    "US4565100A",
    "US4500247A",
    "US4461328A",
    "US4478094B1",
    "US4478094A",
    "US4909992A",
    "US4952518A",
    "US4604024A",
    "US5063790A",
    "US4852620A",
    "US5293179A",
    "US5736105A",
    "US5192511A",
    "US5334352A",
    "US5343909A",
    "US5392914A",
    "US5497670A",
    "US5807524A"
  ]
}