Fail-safe method and apparatus for aspirating and/or dispensing liquids in automated laboratory instruments
US8146625B2 · kind B2 · utility
8Cited by
12References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F11/028
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for preventing either the introduction of air into a liquid aspirated from a container through an aspiration line passing through a container cap, or the over-filling or non-filling of a container by a liquid dispensed through a dispensing line passing through a container cap. Such method comprises the steps of simultaneously detecting that (a) the container cap is properly positioned on and secured to a liquid container from which liquid is to be aspirated, or into which a liquid is to be dispensed, and (b) detecting that the level of liquid in the container is either above or below a predetermined level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.