Pipette tip extension, pipette tip, assembly of pipette tip and pipette tip extension, and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434234-B2
Application number	US-201817295194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and encloses an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall. The exterior wall forms at the proximal end a reception aperture. The pipette tip extension further has one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip inserted thereto, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the exterior wall having an outer side and an inner side and enclosing an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall,
wherein the exterior wall forms at the proximal end, a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip, and at the distal end a dispense aperture,
wherein the pipette tip extension further comprises:
one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity, the distance elements being dimensioned to establish a fluid uptake area adjacent to the inner side of the exterior wall, the fluid uptake area extending from the dispense aperture up to the reception aperture and being in fluid connection with a surrounding atmosphere at the reception aperture, and
a constriction element for controlling an insertion depth of the inserted pipette tip within the pipette tip extension, the constriction element defining a fixed gap from a distal end of the inserted pipette tip to the distal end of the pipette tip extension, wherein the fixed gap has a height in a range of 0.1 mm and 1 mm and fluidly connects the fluid uptake area adjacent to the inner side of the exterior wall with an inner cavity of the inserted pipette tip, the constriction element being separate from the one or more distance elements; and

wherein the pipette tip extension is configured to transfer a fluid from the inner cavity into the inserted pipette tip.

2. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein of the one or more distal elements one or more are arranged flush with respect to the proximal end of the pipette tip extension, and/or one or more are arranged offset with respect to the proximal end of the pipette tip extension.

3. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance elements comprising at least two distance elements.

4. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein at least one distance element is configured as an elongated bar which extends along a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end of the pipette tip extension.

5. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall has a shape which is adapted to an outer shape of a pipette tip to which the pipette tip extension shall be attached.

6. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall is a circumferential wall which tapers towards the lower end of the pipette tip extension.

7. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , comprising two pipette tip hosting areas for receiving two pipette tips.

8. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance elements comprise at least three distance elements.

9. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein each distance element is configured as an elongated bar which extends along a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end of the pipette tip extension.

10. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the constriction element is formed by an annular ring forming a stop surface, the annular ring forming an inner aperture and having support bars extending laterally therefrom to couple an outer portion of the annular ring to the inner side of the exterior wall, with circumferential spacing between each support bar so that the constriction element forms a sieve-like arrangement so the fluid from the pipette tip flows to the dispense aperture via the sieve-like arrangement.

11. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the distance elements comprise a stop surface which is directed towards a medial axis of the pipette tip extension, and which can be abutted by a pipette tip when the pipette tip extension is attached to the pipette tip.

12. The pipette tip extension according to claim 11 , wherein the stop surface of each distance element is essentially parallel to the inner side of the exterior wall.

13. The pipette tip extension according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall comprises at the distal end a seal for sealing the dispense aperture when the pipette tip extension is placed with the distal end onto a surface.

14. The pipette tip extension according to claim 13 , wherein the seal is provided—by the distal end of the pipette tip extension, or—by a separate seal material at the distal end of the pipette tip extension.

15. The pipette tip extension according to claim 14 , wherein the seal is provided by a separate material at the distal end of the pipette tip extension, which is over-molded or which is provided as an attachable seal.

16. The pipette tip extension according to claim 15 , being configured as a two-part piece, wherein the two-part piece comprises:
an upper, first part providing the reception aperture, and
a lower, second part providing the dispense aperture,
wherein the first part and the second part may be plugged together to form the pipette tip extension, and
wherein the second part is made of a seal material.

17. The pipette tip extension according to claim 16 , wherein the first part further comprises the one or more distance elements, and wherein the second part further comprises a constriction element for controlling an insertion depth of a pipette tip.

Assignees

• Tecan Trading Ag

Inventors

• Kinney Patrick
• Iyer Sujata
• Ott Philipp
• Sager Adrian

Classifications

• B01L2400/049

  vacuum · CPC title

• B01L2300/0858

  Side walls · CPC title

• B01L2300/0609

  Holders integrated in container to position an object · CPC title

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title

• B01L2200/0615

  Loss of fluid by dripping · CPC title