Static-defeating apparatus for pipette tips

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167041-A1
Application number	US-201514712451-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided in part herein are static-defeating apparatus for use in multipipettor systems. Multiple pipette tips can be retained by a static-defeating sheet of material. A multipipettor, having multiple pipettes or nozzles, can engage the pipette tips retained by the sheet. After use, the multipipettor can eject the pipette tips, which sometimes are ejected as a single unit due to the pipette tips being retained by the sheet. In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a snap plate having one or more holes, and a base rack for ease of mounting.

First claim

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A pipette tip tray comprising:
a rack; a pipette tip receptacle plate affixed to the rack, which pipette tip receptacle plate comprises an array of holes, a top surface and a bottom surface; a sheet comprising a first surface, a second surface and an array of holes,
each of which holes in the array of holes in the sheet comprises an edge,
which second surface of the sheet is in contact with the top surface of the pipette tip receptacle plate, and
which holes in the sheet are concentric with the holes in the pipette tip receptacle plate; and
an array of pipette tips,
each of which pipette tips comprises an exterior wall,
which pipette tips are retained in the holes of the sheet by friction between the exterior wall of each of the pipette tips and the edge of each hole in the sheet in contact with each of the pipette tips, and
which pipette tips are positioned in the holes of the pipette tip receptacle plate.

27 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein the diameter or the effective diameter of the holes in the sheet is less than the diameter or the effective diameter of the holes in the pipette tip receptacle plate.

28 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , each of which pipette tips comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, a proximal region, a distal region, a proximal opening and a distal opening; and the diameter or the effective diameter of the array of holes in the sheet is less than the outer diameter of the portion of the exterior wall of each of the pipette tips in contact with the edge of each hole.

29 . The pipette tip tray of claim 28 , wherein the difference between (a) the diameter or the effective diameter of each of the holes of the sheet, and (b) an outer diameter of the pipette tip exterior surface, is about 0.01 inches or less.

30 . The pipette tip tray of claim 29 , wherein the difference between (a) and (b) is about 0.005 inches or less.

31 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein each of the holes comprises a center and the proximal openings of the pipette tips are concentric with the centers of the holes.

32 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein the distance between the center of each hole to an adjacent hole of the sheet is uniform.

33 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein the center-to-center distance between each hole to an adjacent hole of the sheet is about 0.10 inches to about 0.14 inches.

34 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes of the sheet, are circular.

35 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes of the sheet, are not circular.

36 . The pipette tip tray of claim 35 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes of the sheet, are polygon.

37 . The pipette tip tray of claim 36 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes of the sheet, are quadrilateral, square, rectangular, parallelogram, triangular, star, or pentagon.

38 . The pipette tip tray of claim 36 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes, are trapezoid, rhomboid, or hexagon.

39 . The pipette tip tray of claim 36 , wherein the holes further comprise curved sides, pointed edges or curved edges.

40 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein all of the holes, or holes in a subset of the holes of the sheet, are oval.

41 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , which comprises voids in the sheet.

42 . The pipette tip tray of claim 41 , wherein the sheet is netted or webbed.

43 . The pipette tip tray of claim 41 , wherein each of the voids comprises a center, the centers of each of four quadrilaterally arranged holes in the array of holes define a cross point, and the centers of the voids coincide with the cross points.

44 . The pipette tip tray of claim 41 , wherein the voids are polygon.

45 . The pipette tip tray of claim 44 , wherein the voids are square, rectangular, parallelogram, rhomboid or X-shaped

46 . The pipette tip tray of claim 44 , wherein voids are trapezoid or hexagon.

47 . The pipette tip tray of claim 41 , wherein the voids are triangular, star, Y-shaped, Z-shaped, C-shaped, S-shaped, sigmoidal, pentagon and/or hexagon.

48 . The pipette tip tray of claim 44 , wherein the voids further comprise curved sides, pointed edges or curved edges.

49 . The pipette tip tray of claim 41 , wherein the voids are circular or oval.

50 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein the sheet comprises a uniform thickness or substantially uniform thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.02 inches.

51 . The pipette tip tray of claim 50 , wherein the sheet comprises a uniform thickness or substantially uniform thickness of about 0.007 inches to about 0.013 inches.

52 . The pipette tip tray of claim 50 , wherein the sheet comprises a uniform thickness or substantially uniform thickness of about 0.009 inches to about 0.011 inches.

53 . The pipette tip tray of claim 50 , wherein the sheet comprises a uniform thickness or substantially uniform thickness of; about 0.01 inches.

54 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , which sheet is flexible.

55 . The pipette tip tray of claim 54 , which sheet can flex about 1 inch to about 3 inches or more under the force of gravity

56 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , which sheet comprises a polymer.

57 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , wherein the force of the friction is greater than the force of gravity when the first surface of the sheet is oriented downwards.

58 . The pipette tip tray of claim 26 , comprising an alignment structure that aligns a sheet onto the pipette tip receptacle plate wherein the holes in the sheet are concentric or substantially concentric with the holes in the pipette tip receptacle plate.

59 . The pipette tip tray of claim 58 , wherein the alignment structure comprises one or more projections or ridges molded on the top surface of the pipette tip receptacle plate.

60 . The pipette tip tray of claim 58 , wherein the alignment structure comprises one or more projections or ridges configured to be received by one or more counterpart recesses or voids in the sheet.

Assignees

• Biotix Inc

Inventors

• Curry Scott Edward
• Motadel Arta
• Blaszcak Peter Paul

Classifications

• B01L3/0275 Primary

  Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips · CPC title

• B01L9/543 Primary

  for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes · CPC title

• B01L2200/12

  Specific details about manufacturing devices · CPC title

• B01L2300/0829

  Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates · CPC title

• B01L2200/028

  Modular arrangements · CPC title