Abstract
An apparatus for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips into a single line using a tip collar that will provide structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips and the method of incorporating such an apparatus. Such rigidity created by the tip collar apparatus will allow for an innovative method of connecting a single line of pipette tips to their respective pipettors that will reduce the amount of downward axial force required to impinge the plurality of pipette tips using the traditional connection method. The tips will be maintained in a consistent and straight pattern as required for pipetting, and not susceptible to breakage. The tips can also be customized by the user into any pattern of tips in a single line as needed for specialized applications.
Claims
1. I claim a tip collar for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips in a single line configuration each having a shoulder flange comprising: a plurality of axially placed holes in a single line on said tip collar adaptable to receive said plurality of pipette tips in a single line; wherein said tip collar allows said plurality of pipette tips to rigidly rest therein by forming an assembly set of pipette tips, wherein said assembly of pipette tips and said pipettor are connected by an upward lifting force exerted on a shoulder flange of each of said plurality of pipette tips.
2. I claim the tip collar of claim 1, wherein this tip collar and associated tips can be loaded onto either a manually-operated or automatically-operator pipettor.
3. I claim the tip collar and tips of claim 1 to be easily manufactured as disposable items, allowing them to be used at economical cost and disposed of after use in order to prevent cross-contamination.
4. I claim the tip collar and tips of claim 1 are independent entities, therefore allowing easy assembly of the tips into a single line within the collar OR allowing a different configuration within a single line by varying the placement of the tips.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side elevation and cutaway view showing the current invention in one embodiment where self-sealing pipette tips are installed from the bottom, prior to the tips being installed.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side elevation and cutaway view showing the current invention in one embodiment where self-sealing pipette tips are installed from the bottom, after the tips have been installed.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side elevation and cutaway view showing the current invention in one embodiment where internally sealed pipette tips are installed from the top, prior to the tips being installed.
[0029] FIG. 4. is a side elevation and cutaway view showing the current invention in one embodiment where internally sealed pipette tips are installed from the top, after the tips have been installed.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the current invention as it is packaged for use.
[0031] FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the current invention in one embodiment, where the tips are installed from the bottom, and illustrating how the number of the tips that is loaded is independently controlled by the user.
[0032] FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing the current invention in one embodiment, where the tips are installed from the top, and illustrating how the number of the tips that is loaded is independently controlled by the user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIG. 1 gives a side elevation view and perspective view of the current invention with the single line of pipette tips. The tip collar 1 will be connected to a plurality of pipette tips 2. The tip collar 1 here is shown in position prior to being connected to the plurality of pipette tips 2 to provide structural rigidity to the pipette tips. In this exemplary embodiment using EZ-Load (EZL) tips, the bottom surface of the tip collar 1 sits on top surface of the shoulder flanges 3 of the plurality of pipette tips 2 to provide the desired structural rigidity. The tip collar 1, in the current exemplary embodiment is made out of a plastic material; however, the tip collar 1 can be made out of metal, aluminum, carbon fiber, or any other material that is capable of providing the desired structural rigidity without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the tip collar 1 is currently shown to be in a rectangular shape in order to accommodate the plurality of pipette tips; however, the tip collar 1 can be in a square shape, triangular shape, circular shape, oval shape, or any other shape that is capable of assembling together the plurality of pipette tips without departing from the scope of the present invention. Axially placed holes 4 are placed on the tip collar 1 to allow the plurality of pipette tips 2 to be connected to the tip collar 1. Here, in the current exemplary embodiment, the axially placed holes 4 are arranged in a single line of 12 tips 2; however axially placed holes 4 can be arranged in a single line of 4, 8, 16, or 24 or any other number that allows for connection with corresponding pipette tips 2 without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, in the current exemplary embodiment, axially placed holes 4 are arranged to conform to the overall shape of the tip collar 1 to maximize space. However, the axially placed holes 4 can be arranged in a shape that is independent on the overall shape of the tip collar 1 without departing from the scope of the present invention. The axially placed holes may be cylindrical.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view and close-up of the current invention where the pipette tips 2 have been installed into the axially placed holes 4 of the collar 1. The pipette tips 2 have been shown here as a plurality of pipette tips 2 to show the interrelationship between the plurality of pipette tips 2 and the axially placed holes 4 of the tip collar 1, resting on the shoulder flanges 3. The plurality of pipette tips 2 are shown here to be connected to the tip collar 1. In this embodiment the pipette tips 2 are of the externally-sealed type. The external diameter of the plurality of pipette tips 2 matches the internal diameter of axially placed holes 4. In the current embodiment, the tip collar 1 fits itself near the top surface of plurality of pipette tips 2 to achieve the desired structural rigidity. Having the tip collar 1 closer to the point of seal at the top surface of plurality of the pipette tips 2 provides extended structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips. However, as shown later in FIG. 3, traditional internally sealed pipette tips can also be used in a different method without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the current invention allowing the tip collar 1 to be connected to traditional internally sealed pipette tips 2 by dropping the pipette tips 2 into the axially placed holes 4 and using the shoulder flange 3 to determine the depth of travel when the top surface of the traditional internally sealed pipette tips 2 meet with the tip collar 1.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a cutaway side view and close-up of the current invention where the internally sealed pipette tips 2 as described in FIG. 3 have been installed by dropping the pipette tips 2 into the axially placed holes 4 and using the shoulder flange 3 to determine the depth of travel when the top surface of the traditional internally sealed pipette tips 2 meets with the tip collar 1.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the current invention as it is packaged and ready for use. The tip collar 1 and tips 2 are combined into the assembly as described in FIGS. 1-4. One such assembly is shown removed from the tip rack 5 and ready to be placed onto the pipettor head. The tip rack 5 is a disposable rack that holds multiple collar and tip assemblies for convenient storage and ease of access. The tip rack as described in this invention can hold varying numbers of collar/tip assemblies depending on the configuration of each collar.
[0038] FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively show perspective views of the collar 1 and tips 2 in both embodiments previously discussed. In FIG. 6A the tips are loaded from the bottom, and in FIG. 6B the tips are loaded from the top. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate how the user can easily select a customized single line of pipette tips 2 according to the experiment they need to perform. The pipette tips 2 are easily removable from the collar 1 by the user. FIG. 6A shows how the user would configure the tips 2 and collar 1 assembly so that only one half (6) of the tips are used for the pipetting by loading the first 6 tips and leaving the rest of the axially places holes 4 in the collar 1 empty. FIG. 6B shows how a user would configure the tips 2 and the collar 1 assembly so that every other tip is loaded, and every other axially placed hole 4 position left blank. These are only two examples and it should be obvious that the user can configure any combination from one to all of the pipette tips 2 into the collar 1 as needed for their experiment. In addition, the same flexibility of design allows the manufacturer to easily configure the assembly of the tips 2 and collar 1 into other layouts besides all of the tips in a line, as might be needed to present to the market for specialized applications.
[0039] The invention is an entirely new and novel way to manufacture and provide pipette tips in a single line as needed for specialized applications in liquid handling, including but not limited to serial dilutions. One advantage is that unlike the current art the user can utilize the preconfigured single line of pipette tips without the need to manually load individual pipette tips to the pipettor from a loose pack.
[0040] Another advantage is that the design of the tip collar is such that when the tips are loaded they will be in perfect alignment with each other as far as depth, and they will also be straight rather than positioned at random angles; both of these are requirements for optimal pipetting results.
[0041] Yet another advantage is that the use can utilize the single line of pipette tips in a ready-to-use preconfigured package and the user does not need to touch the pipette tips; this reduces the chance for the contamination of the tips which could negatively impact the experimental results when the pipettor is used.
[0042] Yet another advantage is that the rigid tip collar in combination with the tips can be interfaced to a pipettor and achieve a seal which is required for optimal pipetting, without excessive force applied to load the tips. This simplifies the tip loading process and reduces the chance of user injury due to repetitive stress manual operations. This also greatly reduces the chance that pipette tips will break due to the force required for the tip loading process as is common with the prior art.
[0043] Yet another advantage is that the user can easily manipulate the single line of tips by removing any tips as desired in order to produce a pattern as required for specialized liquid handling operations.
