Patent · US Expired

Liquid compound pin replicator with weight bias

US6579499B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
24References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2000
Grant dateJun 17, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/2575
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A pin replicator is disclosed for dispensing minute volumes of liquid onto a substrate surface in an array in connection with drug discovery, diagnostic analysis, and other applications. The pin replicator comprises a base plate, a plurality of pins reciprocable through corresponding holes in the base plate, and a free floating weight plate resting on top of the upper ends of the pins. The weight plate biases the pins toward their fully extended lowered positions. A cover attaches to the base plate, encloses the pins and weight plate and guides the weight plate during vertical movement thereof. The pin replicator can be moved downwardly toward a first micro titer plate so that a lower end of each of the pins contacts the sample liquid in the corresponding well a sufficient amount to pick up and retain a small quantity of the sample liquid due to surface tension. The pin replicator can thereafter be moved downwardly toward a second micro titer plate so that the lower end of each of the pins is sufficiently close to a corresponding well of the second micro titer plate so that the small quantity of the sample liquid on the lower end of each of the pins contacts an upper surface of the…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.