Pipette tip set to be used in dispensing device and method for perforating reagent cartridge film using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354245-B2
Application number	US-201414279898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A method which allows easy perforation of a film covering a well of a reagent cartridge which is set to a dispensing device is provided. A pipette tip set to be used in a dispensing device of an automatic analyzer together with a reagent cartridge in which a reagent for biochemical analysis is enclosed, includes: a dispensing pipette tip for dispensing the reagent enclosed in the reagent cartridge; a perforating pipette tip having a leading end surface inclined relative to a central axis thereof; and a rack configured to store the dispensing pipette tip and the perforating pipette tip together.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A perforating method for perforating a film covering a well provided in a reagent cartridge by using a dispensing device including: a dispensing head configured to suck and discharge a liquid; and a stage configured to support the reagent cartridge in which a reagent for biochemical analysis is enclosed, the perforating method comprising:
mounting a perforating pipette tip on the dispensing head, the perforating pipette tip being formed by cutting a leading end of a pipette tip, that has the same shape as the dispensing pipette tip, along a plane inclined relative to a central axis thereof, and the perforating pipette tip having
a leading end surface inclined relative to the central axis, and
on a plane including the central axis, a plurality of ribs that project from an outer surface of the perforating pipette tip in a radial direction of the perforating pipette tip, and are radially arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the perforating pipette tip;

disposing the leading end of the perforating pipette tip mounted on the dispensing head, perpendicularly above the film;
moving the dispensing head downward to stick the leading end of the perforating pipette tip into a film to form a hole in the film; and
enlarging the formed hole by moving at least one of the dispensing head and the cartridge in a horizontal direction and tearing the film in the horizontal direction, in a state where the leading end of the perforating pipette tip is stuck into the film.

2. The perforating method according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the leading end surface in a direction parallel to the central axis of the perforating pipette tip is not lower than 4 mm and not higher than 7.5 mm.

3. The perforating method according to claim 1 , wherein an angle formed between the central axis and the leading end surface of the perforating pipette tip is not lower than 15° and not higher than 35°.

4. The perforating method according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum value of an outside dimension in a radial direction of the perforating pipette tip at a position away from a leading end of the perforating pipette tip set in a direction parallel to the central axis is higher than 1.6 mm.

5. The perforating method according to claim 1 ,
the method further comprising:
further moving the dispensing head downward after the leading end of the perforating pipette tip is stuck into the film; and
enlarging the formed hole by moving at least one of the dispensing head and the cartridge in a horizontal direction and tearing the film in the horizontal direction, in a state where the rib penetrates through the film.

Assignees

• Toppan Printing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ueki Tatsuya
• Kuroki Hiroyuki
• Kawata Eiji

Classifications

• G01N2035/1025

  Fluid level sensing · CPC title

• Y10T436/11

  Automated chemical analysis · CPC title

• G01N2035/103

  using disposable tips · CPC title

• B01L3/0275

  Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips · CPC title

• G01N2035/0436

  with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs · CPC title