Pipetting apparatus with integrated liquid level and/or gas bubble detection
US7479391B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pipetting apparatus (1) comprises a fluidic space (7), to which a pressure transducer (11) with a pressure sensor (12) is attached with a gas filled space (15). The fluidic space (7) is defined by a pipette tip (2), a first tubing (5) that connects the pipette tip (2) to a pump (4), and an active part (6) of the pump (4). The pipetting apparatus (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the pipetting apparatus (1) further comprises an impulse generating means (16, 18, 19) that is in operative contact with a column (10) of system liquid (8) inside the fluidic space (7). The impulse generating means (16, 18, 19) is designed to induce a vertical movement in this system liquid column (10), which results in a pressure variation in the gas filled space (15) that is pneumatically connected with the fluidic space (7). This pressure variation—as recorded with the pressure transducer (11) and as processed by a first data processing unit (13) during utilization of this pipetting apparatus—is taken as an indicator for the detection of penetration or of quitting of a surface (17) of a liquid, with an orifice (3) of the pipette tip (2), of which liquid an amount is to be …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.