Liquid pin transfer assembly with common pin bias
US6610253B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Several pin transfer assemblies are disclosed that utilize the surface tension of liquids for picking up and dispensing minute volumes of liquid from wells in a first well plate to a flat substrate surface or into wells in a second well plate. In one embodiment, a plurality of pins reciprocate through complementary arrays of holes in a base plate and an overlying spring plate biased apart by coil springs located around the periphery of the base plate. A foam layer sits on top of the spring plate and a weight plate sits on top of the foam layer. A single coil spring is positioned between a center of the weight plate and the cover to push the weight plate downwardly. The periphery of the cover guides the vertical movement of the weight plate and is connected to the periphery of the base plate. The periphery of the base plate is supported by a frame used to register the pin assembly in a receptacle of a manual or automated liquid transfer apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.