Dropper with improved pipette tip and installation shaft
Related application
This application case is the part renewal application case that proposed and yielded the same assignee's of present application for patent the 09/188th, No. 031 application case of U.S. patent application case on November 6th, 1998.
Background of invention
This invention is about the improvement of dropper, and more especially about a kind of air discharging dropper, it includes a novel installation shaft and the unique improved pipette tip that installation shaft customized for this reason, so that the dropper user can be easy to improved pipette tip one of is inserted on the installation shaft fluid-tight position, wherein improved pipette tip is the displacement that is fixed and resists unnecessary lateral shake and produce from the installation shaft place, and after using, the dropper user can discharge improved pipette tip at an easy rate from installation shaft; The dropper user only need apply about axial improved pipette tip below 1 pound or 1 pound and insert and discharge active force, just can finish the insertion and the discharging operation of above-mentioned improved pipette tip, so can eliminate the dropper user haply because all danger of the injury generation of repetitive operation.
Make to be used for carrying and to distribute the dropper device of accurate fluid amount to be known by people in analytical system, it adopts disposable use formula pointed member in this dropper.Disposable use formula tip can make things convenient for above-mentioned dropper device in the continuous use of carrying aspect the different fluid, produces residue or pollutes and be unlikely.
Generally speaking, disposable use formula improved pipette tip is formed by a kind of plastic material, and cording has a kind of hollow, microscler, the shape of taper shape substantially, it has an open proximal end portion, but and is used for receiving and is complementary with the distal portion of the microscler coniform improved pipette tip installation shaft of an a kind of delivery mode and a dropper device.Under the situation of ideal, disposable use formula tip must be easy to slide into a terminal adjacent axial positions of the most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism downside with the dropper device on installation shaft.So, improved pipette tip must be positioned to and keep lateral stability on installation shaft, not installation shaft and the being subjected to influence (as being both under the situation of " extruding dropper ") of shaking the outside relatively, and improved pipette tip must be formed the annular seal of a fluid-tight together with installation shaft.Then, old when most advanced and sophisticated when changing with a new tip, by the action of most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism, improved pipette tip should be easy to be removed from installation shaft.
In order to meet disposable use formula improved pipette tip desired necessary sealing prerequisite on the improved pipette tip installation shaft, surface and sidewall system is dwindled an angle vertically within most of improved pipette tip nearsides position, this angle is big 1 °-1.5 ° than the distal portion of improved pipette tip installation shaft, and forms an annular sealing strip of microscler frusto-conical vertically jointly.In in distal portion microscler, coniform improved pipette tip installation shaft substantially is forced to the close end that enters to the tip, the size system of this band can stretch (" endless belt stretching, extension ") outward, in order to firmly the tip being placed on the installation shaft, and between band and installation shaft, produce an axial microscler annular fluid tight seal.For example in United States Patent (USP) the 4th, 748, No. 859 and the 4th, 824, other improved pipette tip described in No. 641 includes a plurality of compressible formula annular seal rings that are positioned at the inner lip-deep separation vertically of close end at this tip.This sealing ring can produce the fluid-tight annular seal of multiple axial separation between improved pipette tip installation shaft outer surface and the inner surface of most advanced and sophisticated close end, and by the axially effect of stripper loop, improved pipette tip can keep lateral stability aspect side direction, and can resist the unnecessary phenomenon of shaking that is produced under the situation of extruding dropper on the installation shaft.
Usually, under the situation on the installation shaft that an improved pipette tip is mounted to a dropper, the downward active force that the user must apply the 12-15 pound orders about installation shaft and enters to a most advanced and sophisticated interior distance vertically, and in this distance, be to be enough to (i) between tip and installation shaft, to produce fluid-tight seal for the user, and (ii) produce most advanced and sophisticated lateral stability required on installation shaft.Sometimes, improving improved pipette tip among a kind of wrong trial of the lateral stability on the installation shaft, the user will apply a downward insertion active force (for example being the 18-25 pound) on installation shaft, its be enough to drive most advanced and sophisticated on installation shaft along moving axially, engage or embed up to the uper side surface at tip till the discharge arm or circular cone position of most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism of dropper.Yet, only can provide a kind of resistance of minimum to resist most advanced and sophisticated shaking on installation shaft between the contact condition between side surface on side surface and the tip under tip discharge arm or the circular cone position, so most advanced and sophisticated lateral stability on installation shaft only produces the increment of a minimum.In addition, because most of improved pipette tips are made up of quite hard plastic material, the ring-type stretching of improved pipette tip must adapt to most advanced and sophisticated moving state on installation shaft, and is difficult to especially the tip is moved to a position that engages with side surface under most advanced and sophisticated displacer or the circular cone position.In fact; must be applied to the traditional type dropper make the tip be positioned axial force required on the improved pipette tip installation shaft usually can be above 12 pounds; and possibly greatly to 20 pounds, applying so, big active force is very difficult for the user of many improved pipette tips.Certainly, for the design of most of improved pipette tips, improved pipette tip is placed in the active force that is applied on the dropper installation shaft heals big, then also big with regard to healing from the most advanced and sophisticated required active force of installation shaft discharge.So, be inserted on the installation shaft at improved pipette tip, arrive this insert action that can prop up the position of side surface under the improved pipette tip output mechanism up to the tip, system provides minimum lateral stability increment and gives the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft, this result system has run counter to the design prerequisite of disposable use formula improved pipette tip, that is needs change when most advanced and sophisticated must be at an easy rate with the prerequisite of should the tip removing from installation shaft.
In fact, how disposable use formula improved pipette tip stably is installed on the improved pipette tip installation shaft, and together with the common design prerequisite system that forms first-class body tight seal of this improved pipette tip installation shaft than what follows easier the obtaining of design: disposable use formula improved pipette tip can slide into an axial positions that forms fluid-tight seal at an easy rate on the improved pipette tip installation shaft, and is will should remove from installation shaft at the tip at an easy rate when needs are changed the tip.
In these areas, the improved pipette tip installation shaft that is used in the device of different fluid titration range of capacity then has different outer shape.For example, be used for the titration fluid capacity and count from the y direction of installation shaft usually greater than the distal portion of the standard type improved pipette tip installation shaft of 500 milliliters dropper (big capacity dropper), both sides all have about 1.5 °-2.5 ° downward vertically and past interior conical in shape.In addition on the one hand, the distal portion of medium-sized installation shaft to low capacity dropper device (250 milliliters and more in a small amount) is counted from the y direction of installation shaft usually, both sides all have about 2 °-5 ° downward vertically and past interior conical in shape, so that the nose of installation shaft will strike the inwall of improved pipette tip, and cause before installation shaft side and most advanced and sophisticated inwall are bonded together, can producing endless belt and stretch phenomenon.So, as be same as the United States Patent (USP) of issuing on July 14th, 1998 the 5th, 779, No. 984 described big capacity improved pipette tips, be included in wherein by the close end that has the sidewall that reduces wall thickness with, the design prerequisite that makes big capacity dropper can be easy to install and remove on the installation shaft of big capacity dropper device can be reached, above-mentioned thin-walled design mode can't produce a kind of can satisfy in the low capacity improved pipette tip (its must by be mounted to firmly have one 2 degree and more than 2 degree on the improved pipette tip installation shaft of inner conical shape) improved pipette tip of required easy installation and the design prerequisite of discharge.Equally also accord with and be disclosed in United States Patent (USP) the 4th, 072, the situation of the improved pipette tip design that comprises a frusto-conical sealing area with a thin sidewalls in No. 330.
As holding within the previous illustrated mistake, low capacity improved pipette tip system includes a conical butt annular seal band or inner surface in the standard type, in order to the conical in shape distal portion of engaged and sealing improved pipette tip installation shaft.The angle of taper of sealing surfaces (for example be than 1.5 ° also big) is normally near the angle of taper (for example being 2 °-5 °) of installation shaft.Low capacity improved pipette tip in the standard type attenuated for reducing to be used at the sidewall at seal band area place the tip is moved to a sealing station place and then discharge the required installation of improved pipette tip and discharge active force very little help is only arranged from installation shaft.Forming among the situation of required annular seal, conical butt annular section system need as same endless belt as perpendicular to the coupling of improved pipette tip installation shaft with inclined surface and stretching, extension (endless belt stretching, extension) outward.Bigger reaction force system can resist above-mentioned endless belt stretching, extension phenomenon on tip materials, and bigger axial force (for example being more than 10 pounds or 10 pounds) need applied on the tip, in order to the tip is mounted on the installation shaft, and produce needed annular fluid tight seal.Above-mentioned reaction force can increase gradually along with the tip is driven towards the most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism of the dropper device that is associated.
In addition, but disposable use formula improved pipette tip normally be mounted and be stored in the sterilizing material frame.This kind material frame generally includes one and has the supporting tray that row are used to receive the hole of improved pipette tip distal portion, in order to improved pipette tip is positioned to linear fashion each other at interval along vertical direction, wherein Jian Duan open proximal end portion can expose, in order to the installation shaft (improved pipette tip will be mounted on it) that receives a dropper device.For example, for the disposable use formula improved pipette tip that is contained in the most advanced and sophisticated material frame will being mounted on the installation shaft of a multiple duct type dropper, the dropper device is placed on material frame top, and its several installation shaft can remain on the same straight line with the open proximal end of the improved pipette tip serial of aiming at.After in installation shaft is inserted into the open proximal end of having aimed at improved pipette tip at the beginning a little, a sizable downward active force system can be applied on the dropper device, enters in the pointed member in order to the drive installation axle.So improved pipette tip can be placed on the installation shaft very securely, and this improved pipette tip can be elevated by moving upward of multiple duct type dropper and leaves the material frame.But in the application of reality, the multiple formula improved pipette tip of this kind installation procedure causes some improved pipette tips to be mounted to different axial positions on some installation shaft through regular meeting.At a kind of cut-and-try process that is used for removing above-mentioned improved pipette tip inhomogeneous installation phenomenon that produces on the plurality of conduits of a multiple duct type dropper; when installation shaft is entered in supported by an improved pipette tip material frame most advanced and sophisticated by the driving of the axial force of about 12-15 pound of each pipeline; the user shakes dropper through regular meeting, in order to drive the downside surface of tip towards the most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism of dropper.
Moreover when needs were changed the tip, the tip was installed more firmly or is embedded on the dropper Unit Installation axle, and the dropper user must discharge required axial force with the tip from installation shaft by thumb and hand motion generation just heals big.In the application of reality, the axial force that the dropper user is created in about 10 pounds of sizes in each dropper pipeline by thumb and hand orders about the tip, and to leave installation shaft be very abnormal.After finishing the most advanced and sophisticated discharging operation of several times repeatability; particularly need apply the situation of bigger axial force at multiple duct type dropper; user's thumb and hand can become and be subjected to compressing on the health easily; and can cause thumb and hand to be subjected to repeated injury usually, and produce Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in the next meeting of the most serious situation.
In addition, as at United States Patent (USP) the 4th, 072, illustrated standard type improved pipette tip in No. 330, it is only to rely on the sealing area of improved pipette tip to produce the fluid-tight seal of ring-type, and provides most advanced and sophisticated a kind of opposing extruding dropper that is enough to for installation shaft to produce the mounting means of stablizing that shakes phenomenon.The structure of this kind improved pipette tip can't provide above-mentioned laterally installation stability, but being propped up the only a few application example that improved pipette tip is discharged arm or circular cone position for most advanced and sophisticated upwards the extruding, is to reach most advanced and sophisticated minimum lateral stability on installation shaft.
Be used for improving in the trial of the lateral stability of improved pipette tip on some dropper installation shaft and gripping performance a kind of, some manufacturers can use the next most advanced and sophisticated installation shaft round dropper of 0 shape ring.For example, the dropper product Transfer pipette8/12 of Brinkmann instrument company adopts above-mentioned 0 shape ring, to guarantee that all tips are in use all installed firmly.Yet, repeating to be inserted in the installation shaft that combines and along with improved pipette tip and be discharged from from this installation shaft, above-mentioned 0 shape ring system can be worn away fast.Because the generation of abrasion, tip in use will no longer be mounted to the location firmly, and the abrasion particulate that produces from 0 shape ring place then may pollute by the handled fluid sample of the dropper that is associated.
Be used for reducing a kind of that the dropper user is required applies hand and the finger active force makes in the most advanced and sophisticated cut-and-try process of discharging from the dropper installation shaft, for example be that other dropper such as LabSystems is made quotient system and developed and gear and ratchet mechanism, and this gear and ratchet mechanism be used in some dropper product, in order to amplify the active force that the user applied improved pipette tip is discharged from its installation shaft.But the cost of this kind mechanism is too high, and can increase non-essential size of dropper and weight.
Recently, in order to meet the ideal characterisitics and the prerequisite of the previous improved pipette tip of describing, the most advanced and sophisticated system of a kind of improved plastic dropper is developed, wherein by applying less than 6 pounds axial installation active force and little axial discharge active force to 3 pounds, this improved improved pipette tip is mounted on the normal formula dropper installation shaft of air discharging dropper, and from then on normal formula dropper installation shaft place is discharged from.The improved improved pipette tip of this kind also is described in the U.S. patent application case of having filed an application the 09/188th, No. 030 " discharging the formula improved pipette tip easily " simultaneously.Within described in it, hold, in order to meet the required installability of disposable use formula improved pipette tip and the prerequisite of discharge property easily, most advanced and sophisticated with " soft sealing " hereinafter is to include a unlimited tubulose close end as the improved improved pipette tip with reference to use, this tubulose close end then comprises one downwards with toward the amplification frusto-conical open top end of interior tapered shape, be used to place, an annular seal district and an improved pipette tip hollow, columniform middle part is bonded together haply.The internal diameter of this open top end is enough to come along axial direction the distal portion of acceptance criteria type improved pipette tip installation shaft.The annular seal district is made up of to the transfer or the tie line of dropper middle part the open top of frusto-conical, and includes the annular sidewall of thickness in 0.20-0.50 millimeter scope.The internal diameter of middle part in the sealing area place is the diameter less than the dropper installation shaft, and the thickness of thin elastic annular sidewall then is the 0.20-0.50 millimeter, and axial length is the 0.25-0.65 centimetre.So, when the distal portion of installation shaft is entered to the amplification open end of improved pipette tip by coupling, the frusto-conical outer surface system of installation shaft can engage the inner surface of sealing area in the place, open end bottom of improved pipette tip, in order to be inserted into along with installation shaft in the nearside position and can be along radially extending this annular seal district outward, so, between sealant band and seal area, can produce fluid-tight seal.Except this nearside position, improved improved pipette tip comprises that is also extended and end at a distal portion opening that is rather narrow (it makes fluid flow into most advanced and sophisticated and flows out from the tip along with the start of dropper device) outward from middle position.At last, improved improved pipette tip uses mechanism for more suitable can include lateral stability on surface within its contiguous seal district, when being inserted in the nearside position at improved pipette tip, the outer surface that can engage installation shaft increases the lateral stability that is positioned at the improved pipette tip on the installation shaft.This kind lateral stability with mechanism with comprise at least three from the most advanced and sophisticated nearside position internal table face in contiguous seal district toward interior extensions and along the contact of distribution on every side for more suitable, when being inserted in the nearside position at improved pipette tip, the outer surface that can engage installation shaft increases the lateral stability that is positioned at the improved pipette tip on the installation shaft.At this on the one hand, the spacing distance system of contact on diameter makes contact itself to be bonded together with installation shaft a little, and the distal portion of allowing installation shaft is from process wherein, and is unlikely the side-walls generation endless belt stretching, extension phenomenon of extending from contact.In this way, above-mentioned contact system can come together cross-brace to be provided to give the improved pipette tip that is positioned on the installation shaft in the combination seal district, and is can prevent improved pipette tip because laterally applied external force is applied on the most advanced and sophisticated distal location (as when the extruding dropper) and produce laterally and move.
Improved improved pipette tip described above is actually the improvement of carrying out relevant axial force at the standard type improved pipette tip, wherein this axial force mainly for the tip is mounted on the dropper installation shaft and discharges most advanced and sophisticated from this dropper installation shaft for necessary, the situation that also needs further to reduce the dropper user in addition and cause danger because of the repeatable motion injury produces, and further reduces to be used for stably improved pipette tip to be mounted on the dropper installation shaft and from the dropper installation shaft and discharge the required axial force of improved pipette tip.This invention system satisfies this demand.
Summary of the invention
For to meet up to the present do not reach as yet under row desirable prerequisite, disposable use formula plastic dropper tip (i) can easily be mounted on the improved pipette tip installation shaft, in order to form the fluid-tight mode of connection jointly with installation shaft, because installation shaft is quite firm with most advanced and sophisticated mode of connection, therefore under the normal use of dropper, the tip is unlikely and can produces lateral shake or unexpectedly released from installation shaft on installation shaft, for example be that size installs and discharge active force near the minimum axial direction below 1 pound or 1 pound by applying then (ii), and can discharge improved pipette tip from installation shaft at an easy rate, the present invention has then adopted unique solution.The present invention combines respectively at dropper installation shaft and improved pipette tip place to have the annular seal layer band and the seal area at interval vertically, and has the cylindrical haply cross-brace layer band and the viewpoint of supporting zone.In addition, the present invention also further provides and has been used to guarantee that installation shaft is inserted into the mechanism that can obtain the even degree of depth in the improved pipette tip, in order to be installed on the installation shaft at follow-up improved pipette tip and under the situation that is discharged from from installation shaft, can to keep the even interference situations of improved pipette tip and installation shaft.
The present invention also comprise especially a kind of in air discharging dropper the improved pipette tip installation shaft and the combination of improved pipette tip.Installation shaft system includes an axial elongate body, and this axial elongate body cording has the distal portion that defined annular seal layer band and a ring-type cross-brace layer band and ring-type or cylindrical haply and by the outer surface regions at interval vertically.Improved pipette tip is an elongate tube, it comprises annular seal zone and one of the ring-type cross-brace zone open proximal end portion of having defined, a cone shape distal portion of opening wide and ring-type or cylindrical haply and by the inner surface area at interval vertically.Be positioned at the internal diameter of the external diameter of the annular seal layer band on the installation shaft less times greater than the ring-type envelope zone that is positioned at improved pipette tip, and the sidewall thickness of tip in the zone in annular seal district must be enough thin, so that when the sealant band penetrates in the seal area, the annular seal fauna can extend a little, is used to form between installation shaft and the improved pipette tip interference engagement and gas-tight seal.The axially spaced-apart of sealant band and supporting layer band is same as the axially spaced-apart of seal area and Support haply.And the external diameter of cross-brace floor band is slightly less than or equals the cross-brace district internal diameter above the position around some supporting layer band at least haply.This result allows between supporting layer band and the Support can contacting of minimum, and do not need to produce again one second airtight sealing, so that unnecessarily increase improved pipette tip is mounted on the installation shaft and from installation shaft and discharge the required axial force of improved pipette tip.By above-mentioned structure, in the time of in the sealant band inserts seal area, the Support can receive the supporting layer band, and be provided for preventing that improved pipette tip from producing the required cross-brace of rolling on installation shaft, unnecessarily unclamped from installation shaft otherwise when the extruding improved pipette tip, can shake phenomenon easily and be accompanied by the tip.In addition, the present invention's preferred embodiment comprises controlled airtight interference engagement mentioned above and coupling ring-type cross-brace layer band and zone, together with being positioned at the collaborative actuation mechanism that is used to limit most advanced and sophisticated axially-movable stroke on installation shaft on dropper and the improved pipette tip.This result guarantees that installation shaft is inserted into the interior uniform depth of improved pipette tip, in order to be installed on the installation shaft at follow-up improved pipette tip and under the situation that is discharged from from installation shaft, can keep the necessary evenly interference situations between improved pipette tip and the installation shaft, and be to be different from aforementioned United States Patent (USP) case the 4th, the shoulder structure of 824, No. 641 improved pipette tip.
Because the improved pipette tip described above and the co-operating construction features of installation shaft, the present invention's improved pipette tip combination has been proved only to be needed to be equal to or less than 1 pound axial improved pipette tip installation haply and to discharge active force, and can on installation shaft, provide a stable gas-tight seal in tip, installation shaft itself is then fixed firmly, is positioned at the unnecessary lateral shake that improved pipette tip produced on the installation shaft in order to opposing.So the combination that the present invention comprised needs the user to apply less hand and thumb action power so that above-mentioned improved pipette tip repeat to install the body pressure injury that can not produce repeatability with discharging operation.
In addition, combination for improved pipette tip and installation shaft, wherein the interference engagement between sealant band and seal area is about 0.075 millimeter-about 0.2 millimeter, and the wall thickness of improved pipette tip in seal area is the 0.2-0.5 millimeter, known when between Support and supporting layer band, having less interference engagement, still can obtain relevant with the present invention requiredly minimumly most advanced and sophisticatedly install and discharging active force, and the lateral stability that is positioned at the tip on the installation shaft is also further strengthened.Above-mentioned less interference engagement is that the cross-brace district by the tip is provided, and the internal diameter in the cross-brace district at this tip then is slightly less than the external diameter (for example being little 0.075 millimeter) of the cross-brace floor band of installation shaft.In addition, when installation shaft is same axle center with the tip, and when being circular haply in supporting layer band and Support, between supporting layer band and Support, can produce one second airtight sealing, not discharge most advanced and sophisticated required axial force and do not cause unnecessarily to increase the tip is mounted on the installation shaft and from installation shaft.
Brief Description Of Drawings
Fig. 1 is the side view of a standard type hand dropper, and this dropper has one and is mounted on the installation shaft and adjacent to the improved pipette tip of side end under the improved pipette tip output mechanism.
Fig. 2 one of makes up the cross-sectional side elevation view of embodiment for the present invention's improved pipette tip and installation shaft.
Fig. 3 is the amplification partial cut away side views as the improved pipette tip seal area shown in the circle among Fig. 23.
Fig. 4 be as shown in Figure 2 improved pipette tip and installation shaft combination on the amplification partial side view of side, it expresses the fluid-tight seal between seal area and sealant band, the matching relationship that cross-brace district and floor are with, and include one and be positioned on the improved pipette tip and be used for limiting the preferred embodiment of co-operating mechanism that installation shaft is inserted into the shoulder at tip.
Fig. 5 is the amplification partial side view similar to Fig. 4, and it is expressed one extraly and includes one and be positioned at and be used for limiting first alternate embodiment of co-operating mechanism that installation shaft is inserted into the shoulder at tip on the installation shaft.
Fig. 6 is the amplification partial side view similar to Fig. 2, and it is expressed one extraly and includes one and be used to limit second alternate embodiment that installation shaft is inserted into the co-operating mechanism of side end under the most advanced and sophisticated interior improved pipette tip displacer.
Fig. 7 is the present invention's the improved pipette tip cross-sectional side elevation view with the alternate embodiment of installation shaft combination, and it includes one and is used to reduce the installation shaft extension of discharging the relevant air containment effect of dropper with air.
Fig. 8 for the improved pipette tip of improved pipette tip of the present invention/installation shaft combination is inserted and discharges insert and discharge in the required active force of installation shaft, with the standard type improved pipette tip in described in the required active force of a standard type installation shaft and the patent application case of filing an application simultaneously be used for the required insertion of " soft sealing " improved pipette tip and standard type installation shaft and discharge active force make comparisons after resulting chart.
Fig. 9 is the movement travel of improved pipette tip on installation shaft of improved pipette tip of the present invention/installation shaft combination, and the most advanced and sophisticated movement travel on a standard type dropper installation shaft of standard type improved pipette tip and " soft sealing ", insert the active forces resulting chart in back of making comparisons corresponding to different improved pipette tips.
Figure 10 is the lateral stability of improved pipette tip on installation shaft of improved pipette tip of the present invention/installation shaft combination, and standard type improved pipette tip and " soft sealing " are most advanced and sophisticated is used for installing with different improved pipette tips insertion active forces lateral stability on the standard type installation shaft at the tip resulting chart afterwards of making comparisons one.
Figure 11 and Fig. 4 are similar, and be as shown in Figure 2 improved pipette tip and installation shaft combination on the amplification partial side view of side and alternate embodiment, it expresses the axially inversion of the fluid-tight position between seal area and sealant band, and the matching relationship of cross-brace district and floor band, sealant band and seal area are adjacent to the preferred embodiment of co-operating mechanism, this co-operating mechanism includes one and is positioned on the improved pipette tip and is used for limiting installation shaft and is inserted into most advanced and sophisticated shoulder, and the supporting layer band is separated with a segment distance with regional mutually with co-operating mechanism.
Figure 12 and Fig. 5 are similar, and be the amplification partial side view similar to Figure 11, it expresses the axial inversion with respect to supporting layer band and Support of sealant band and seal area, express first alternate embodiment of co-operating mechanism in addition, this co-operating mechanism includes one and is positioned at and is used for limiting installation shaft on the installation shaft and is inserted into most advanced and sophisticated shoulder, supporting layer band and supporting zone system are adjacent to co-operating mechanism, and the sealant band is separated with a segment distance with seal area mutually with co-operating mechanism.
Figure 13 and Fig. 6 are similar, and be the amplification partial side view similar to Figure 11, it expresses the axial inversion with respect to supporting layer band and Support of sealant band and sealing area, express second alternate embodiment of co-operating mechanism in addition, this co-operating mechanism includes one and is used to limit the downside end that installation shaft is inserted into most advanced and sophisticated interior improved pipette tip displacer.
Figure 14 and Fig. 4 are similar, and be as shown in Figure 2 improved pipette tip and installation shaft combination on the amplification partial side view of side, it is expressed by the formed fluid-tight seal of interference engagement between seal area and sealant interband, less interference engagement between cross-brace district and cross-brace floor band, and include one and be positioned on the improved pipette tip and be used for limiting the preferred embodiment of co-operating mechanism that installation shaft is inserted into the shoulder at tip.
Figure 15 is the amplification partial side view similar to Fig. 5, and it expresses the less interference engagement between the cross-brace floor band of the cross-brace district at tip and installation shaft extraly, provides in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and gives the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Figure 16 and Fig. 6 are similar, and it expresses the less interference engagement between the cross-brace floor interband of the cross-brace district at tip and installation shaft extraly, provide in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and give the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Figure 17 and Fig. 7 are similar, and it is expressed extraly between the cross-brace zone at tip and the less interference engagement of the cross-brace layer interband of installation shaft, provide in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and give the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Figure 18 and Figure 11 are similar, and it is to express extraly between the cross-brace zone at tip and the less interference engagement of the cross-brace layer interband of installation shaft, provides in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and gives the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Figure 19 and Figure 12 are similar, and it expresses the less interference engagement between the cross-brace layer band of the cross-brace zone at tip and installation shaft extraly, provide in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and give the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Figure 20 and Figure 13 are similar, and it is expressed extraly between the cross-brace zone at tip and the less interference engagement of the cross-brace layer interband of installation shaft, provide in order to the cross-brace that will strengthen and give the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft.
Label declaration in the accompanying drawing
10. air discharging dropper 12. improved pipette tips are discharged machine
Structure
14. button 16. poles
18. shell 20. improved pipette tips
22. improved pipette tip installation shaft 24. buttons
26. most advanced and sophisticated member/discharge arm 28. sleeves of discharging
30. the terminal 32. improved pipette tip installation shaft of cone shape downside
34. distal portion 36. annular seal layer band
38. ring-type cross-brace layer is with 40. improved pipette tips
42. proximal end 44. distal portion
46. 48. ring-type cross-brace districts, annular seal district
49. bead 50. sidewalls
52. collaborative actuation mechanism 53. shoulders
53. shoulder 54. downside surfaces
56. upside ring-shaped edge 58. bottoms/downside end
60. curve 62. location points/extension
63. sidewall 70. curves
72. location point 80. curves
82. location point 90. curves
92. location point 100. curves
102. location point 110. curves
112. location point 120. curves
130. curve 140. curves
Preferred embodiment describes in detail
Fig. 1 has illustrated a standard type hand dropper, it similar in appearance to one by assignee of the present invention Rainiu Instrument Co., Inc separately in the PIPETMAN of U.S.'s home sale dropper.Represent this hand dropper with label 10 in Fig. 1, and it comprises the improved pipette tip output mechanism 12 described in No. the 3rd, 991,617, the United States Patent (USP) of being issued on November 16th, 1976, this patent case ties up to this and merges as reference.
Dropper is 10 to comprise a button 14, and this button 14 is connected to one and is located in the main body of dropper or the pistons (not showing in the figure) in the shell 18 are located by a pole 16.The user applies down an active force on button, so that button 14 is depressed, and cause the piston of dropper down to move.In button 14 is released, the amount of liquid that is carried out sampling can be extracted among the disposable use formula improved pipette tip 20, but wherein this disposable use formula improved pipette tip 20 is the downside end that is fixed to the improved pipette tip installation shaft 22 of this dropper with a kind of delivery mode.Then, this liquid sample by on button 14, apply again one down active force and be transported in another container.After using, general processing mode is that improved pipette tip 20 is discharged from installation shaft 22, and changes the improved pipette tip that used with a brand-new improved pipette tip, extracts and distributes new liquid sample in order to repetitive operation dropper 10.
Improved pipette tip output mechanism 12 is to be utilized to this tip 20 is discharged from installation shaft 22.In this regard, this mechanism 12 comprises a button 24, and this button 24 is to be connected to a pole, but wherein this pole system is located in one and is arranged on the dropper 10 hand held shells 18 in the channel (not showing in the figure) in the side.This channel and pole are configured to and a translational motion that is parallel to the dropper axle center can be sent to pole, are used to force pole to arrive the up spring of position (not showing in the figure) usually in order to prop up one.Include one and extend and from the most advanced and sophisticated member or the discharge arm 26 of discharging of a packaged type of the tubulose upside end of this pole extensions, following contouring outside the dropper shell 18 and end in the sleeve 28 from the pole downside is terminal.This sleeve 28 is the cone shape downside end 30 that closely receives the improved pipette tip installation shaft 22 of disposable use formula improved pipette tip 20 upside ends round a meeting.For improved pipette tip 20 being discharged from the downside end of installation shaft 22, the user must grip dropper shell 18, and uses thumb with button 24 past pressing down.Act on down active force on the button and can be sent to by pole and most advanced and sophisticated discharge arm 26, and then be sent to and be used for side end on the improved pipette tip to the sleeve 28 that presses down.When the down active force that is transmitted by sleeve 28 surpassed frictional force between improved pipette tip 20 and installation shaft 22, improved pipette tip system can be discharged from from installation shaft.After button 24 is released, spring can make most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism 20 be returned to its normal position at once, and the replacement that sleeve and are inserted in the installation shaft 22 is separated a little with the upside end of improved pipette tip, and makes dropper 10 get ready in advance to extract and the action of dispense liquid next time.
As holding within previous the description, for the dropper of low capacity in the standard type, improved pipette tip installation shaft 22 cordings have a y direction from installation shaft to count to be 2 °-5 ° axially inside conical in shape.Also as holding within previous the description, the middle-size and small-size capacity improved pipette tip of the standard type of using together with standard type improved pipette tip installation shaft system include one quite length conical butt annular seal band or be adjacent to the inner surface of the open proximal end portion at tip, in order to the frusto-conical distal end portion of joint and sealing improved pipette tip installation shaft, and make the tip that is positioned on the installation shaft have lateral stability.The angle of taper of sealing surfaces approximately is among inside tapered 1 ° of 2 °-5 ° of installation shaft usually, and sealing surfaces can be so that when forming annular seal, the tip also can be placed on the installation shaft quite stable in the system of the length scale on the installation shaft.In the process that forms desired annular seal, the conical butt annular seal district that reaches poised state together with the open proximal end portion of improved pipette tip must stretch perpendicular to the coupling inclined surface of improved pipette tip installation shaft outward as endless belt.Because the quite thick sidewall of length and standard type tip of seal area, in tip materials, there is sizable plasticity active force can resist above-mentioned endless belt and stretches phenomenon outward, and need on the tip, apply sizable axial force, in order to the standard type tip is mounted on the installation shaft, and produce the fluid-tight seal of the ring-type of necessity.Usually, need the axial force of 12-15 pound that one standard type improved pipette tip is mounted on the standard type installation shaft, and produce required fluid-tight seal.The generation of above-mentioned axial force is by dropper user's hand and forearm, an improved pipette tip installation shaft is pushed in the improved pipette tip that is gripped on usually in the improved pipette tip installation material bin and obtains.Certainly, when tip that hope is firmly installed oneself when an improved pipette tip installation shaft is discharged, about 10 pounds axial force must be applied in lateral edges place on the improved pipette tip, in order to overcoming the friction force between improved pipette tip and installation shaft, and the tip is discharged from installation shaft.
Represent that with curve 60 tip of 250 milliliters of improved pipette tips of a standard type inserts active force and most advanced and sophisticated relation of discharging active force in Fig. 8, wherein most advanced and sophisticated insertion active force system increases to about 20 pounds that are located at location point 62 that most advanced and sophisticated and the output mechanism of relevant dropper device engage from 0 pound.As holding within previous the description, it is that thumb by the dropper user applies toward pressing down in the top of button 24 that active force is discharged at tip down, in order to axial force is sent to the top of improved pipette tip 20 via discharging arm 26.Hold within described in Fig. 8, for the standard type improved pipette tip being discharged from its relevant installation shaft, the dropper user must apply about 12 pounds axial discharge active force.After repeating to implement the several times discharging operation, user's thumb and hand will afford the pressure on the health.This result can cause thumb and hand to be subjected to the athletic injury of repeatability usually, and can cause Carpel Tunnel Syndrome under the most serious situation.
Be intended to overcome in the cut-and-try process of above problem at one, the previous soft sealing improved pipette tip design that is described in the U.S. patent application case of filing an application simultaneously of mentioning is developed.Shown in curve in Fig. 8 70, the soft sealing improved pipette tip of this kind design is only allowed by applying about 6 pounds active force and about 3 pounds active force of axially discharging axially installed, can easily and securely an improved pipette tip be installed and discharge on an installation shaft.In Fig. 8, location point 72 be expression be used for soft seal tips insert with discharge in one be positioned at standard type dropper installation shaft, this tip can with the required amount of force that applies in the position that the most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism of relevant dropper engages.From the comparative result of curve 70 and curve 60, learn, compare, use soft sealing improved pipette tip can reduce most advanced and sophisticated required insertion and discharge active force effectively with adopting the standard type improved pipette tip.
As holding within previous the description, this invention system provides installation shaft and unique improved pipette tip that installation shaft customized for this reason of a kind of novelty, so that the dropper user one of can more easily be inserted into improved pipette tip on the installation shaft position that a fluid can't leak, and in this position, improved pipette tip system can be fixed resist on the installation shaft the displacement not wishing the lateral shake that produces and produced on the installation shaft, and after using, the dropper user can or even discharge improved pipette tip more easily from installation shaft.The dropper user only need apply about axial improved pipette tip below 1 pound or 1 pound and insert and discharge active force, just can finish the insertion and the discharge of above-mentioned improved pipette tip, and can reduce the possibility that the dropper user causes athletic injury because of repeating to implement above-mentioned step in fact.Shown in curve in Fig. 8 80, the design of this invention (indicating with " LTS " tip and/or installation shaft hereinafter) is allowed only by applying about 1 pound axial installation and discharging active force, can easily reach and securely the present invention's improved pipette tip is mounted on the relative installation shaft, and can easily improved pipette tip be discharged from installation shaft.In Fig. 8, location point 82 is that expression is used for inserting and discharge the installation shaft that is positioned at the present invention in LTS is most advanced and sophisticated, and this tip can be used to limit installation shaft and is inserted into the required amount of force that applies in position that the tip insertion shoulder in most advanced and sophisticated engages with one.As holding within will describing hereinafter, in different embodiments of the invention, this shoulder system include one be positioned at the tip or be positioned at installation shaft or the most advanced and sophisticated output mechanism base of relevant dropper on shoulder.Curve 80 is learnt in the comparative result of curve 70 and curve 60 from Fig. 8, compares with adopting soft seal tips and standard type improved pipette tip, uses the LTS improved pipette tip can substantially reduce most advanced and sophisticated required insertion and discharge active force.
In Fig. 9, illustrate when adopting 250 milliliters of LTS, soft sealing and standard type improved pipette tip with figure, insert active force and between improved pipette tip and be positioned at relation between most advanced and sophisticated movement travel on the relevant improved pipette tip installation shaft.Curve 100 and curve 110 are represented respectively between inserting active force and being positioned at soft sealing on the standard type installation shaft and the standard type improved pipette tip produces relation between movement travel.In this respect, the movement travel meeting of soft sealing and standard type improved pipette tip is subjected to the restriction of the improved pipette tip output mechanism that engages with improved pipette tip, as respectively with location point 102 and 112 represented persons.Curve 90 expression is between inserting active force and being positioned at relation between LTS improved pipette tip movement travel on the LTS installation shaft.The movement travel of LTS improved pipette tip is subjected to the restriction of the shoulder that previous indication engages with this LTS tip, as the 92 represented persons of location point on the curve 90.From Fig. 9, learn in curve 90,100 and 110 the comparative result, compare, use the LTS improved pipette tip of this invention can substantially be increased in per unit and insert most advanced and sophisticated movement travel on the active force with adopting soft sealing and standard type improved pipette tip.
In Figure 10, illustrate when adopting 250 milliliters of LTS, soft sealing and standard type improved pipette tip with figure, insert active force and between improved pipette tip and be positioned at relation between improved pipette tip lateral stability on the relevant installation shaft.For standard type and soft sealing improved pipette tip, the location point at the axial location place of improved pipette tip on standard type improved pipette tip installation shaft is, dropper together with installation shaft can form jointly a gas-tight seal and near or prop up the improved pipette tip output mechanism bottom part that is used for relevant dropper.For the LTS improved pipette tip, most advanced and sophisticated axial location is to define by previous mentioned shoulder.Each improved pipette tip all by under normal use of dropper, is tested its stability with " extruding (touching off) " improved pipette tip.This that is to say, along with Liquid extracting to the distal portion of improved pipette tip, this dropper can be moved in the container, and the distal portion at this tip can be placed with and tilt and prop up container side part, and at least one part that is extracted liquid can be assigned with away by the operation dropper.During carrying out these location of improved pipette tip, the distal portion of this improved pipette tip can touch container side (for example being " extruding dropper ").During this period, horizontal force system can be applied on the distal portion of improved pipette tip, and this is to shake the tip that is positioned on its installation shaft.Be the insertion active force of expressing for different sizes among Figure 10, be used for improved pipette tip is unclamped required " extruding dropper " cycle-index from its relevant installation shaft.Curve 120 is the insertion active force of expression standard type improved pipette tip and the relation of lateral stability, and curve 130 is then represented the insertion active force of soft sealing improved pipette tip and the relation of lateral stability.The insertion active force at curve 140 expressions LTS of the present invention tip and the relation of lateral stability.As can be seen from Figure 10, meriting attention part is that the lateral stability at this LTS tip still can be maintained fixed constant haply more than circulating above 50 times " extruding dropper " before the LTS tip is released from its relevant installation shaft.The uniform and stable property of this kind just begins continuity near 1 pound insertion active force the time.For standard type improved pipette tip and soft seal tips, by apply near or surpass 15 pounds insertion active forces, can obtain the lateral stability that the lateral stability with the LTS improved pipette tip is close.For about 10 pounds normal insertion active force, after the circulation of about 25 times " extruding droppers ", standard type just can be released from its relevant installation shaft with soft sealing improved pipette tip.So Figure 10 clearly expresses with under standard type and soft sealing improved pipette tip are compared, the lateral stability of LTS improved pipette tip on its relevant installation shaft quite improved.
The preferable embodiment of the present invention's improved pipette tip and installation shaft combining structure is shown among Fig. 2, and the thin portion content representation that partly is exaggerated is arranged in Fig. 4.As within this is illustrated, holding, installation shaft 32 is to include an axial elongate body, this axial elongate body system includes a distal portion 34 and ring-type or outer surface regions cylindrical haply and that axially separated, and this outside surf zone system defines one and is with 38 with the adjacent annular seal layer of distal portion 34 with 36 and ring-type cross-brace layers that are positioned at the end of close installation shaft 32 on the distal portion 34.The improved pipette tip of representing with label 40 is a microscler plastic tube, it includes an open proximal end portion 42, a cone shape distal portion 44 of opening wide and ring-type or cylindrical haply and by at interval inner surface area vertically, and this inner surface area defines respectively and is positioned at an annular seal district 46 and ring-type cross-brace district 48 that sealant band 36 on the installation shaft 32 and supporting layer band 38 are complementary.At this employed " cylindrical haply " speech is that one of expression has 1.5 ° or the annular surface of the axial conical in shape of low-angle more.
Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of seal area 46 with the partial detailed figure, and comprises the position of improved pipette tip 40 in the circle 3 of Fig. 2.As figure shown in, the formation of seal area 46 is radially to finish toward the V-arrangement bead 49 of interior extension from the sidewall 50 of improved pipette tip 40 by one.The inner surface of bead 49 has formed a very narrow annular seal band or a potted line, is with 36 in order to the layer of cylindrical seal haply that engages improved pipette tip installation shaft 32, and is formed previous described gas-tight seal between between tip and installation shaft.
Hold within illustrated as Fig. 4, the annular seal floor can be less times greater than the internal diameter that is positioned at the annular seal district 46 on the improved pipette tip 40 with 36 external diameter, and in sealant band 36 is inserted into seal area 46 time, most advanced and sophisticated sidewall 50 at 46 places, annular seal district must be enough thin, so that this annular seal district can expand a little and form gas-tight seal between installation shaft 32 and improved pipette tip 40.After reality is used, find: when annular seal floor band external diameter and annular seal district internal diameter differ at least 0.075 millimeter the time, can form desirable interference engagement.In addition, improved pipette tip is at the wall thickness at seal area 46 places 0.20-0.50 millimeter preferably.
Hold within illustrated as Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the axially spaced-apart of sealant band and supporting layer band equals the axially spaced-apart between seal area and the Support haply.Similarly, the cross-brace floor can be slightly less than with 38 external diameter or equal the cross-brace district haply to surpass the internal diameter size at position around some of supporting layer band at least.This result allows between supporting layer band and Support can minimum contacting, produce one second gas-tight seal and be unlikely, this kind second gas-tight seal system can cause unnecessarily being increased in installs and discharges axial force required on installation shaft with improved pipette tip.By above-mentioned structure, in in sealant band 36 is inserted into seal area 46, Support 48 can receive supporting layer band 38, and can provide to prevent that improved pipette tip 40 from the cross-brace of lateral shake taking place on installation shaft 32, otherwise when improved pipette tip is " squeezed. ", can produce above-mentioned lateral shake phenomenon, and it is released from installation shaft to be accompanied by most advanced and sophisticated meeting.With regard to these aspects, coupling with the cross-brace layer with 38 and Support 48 at a distance of in the axially spaced-apart of sealant band 36 and seal area 46 under the preferable situation for equal haply improved pipette tip 40 in supporting zone within directly.This kind length relation can provide superior lateral stability and give the improved pipette tip 40 that is positioned on the installation shaft 32.
In addition, hold the improved pipette tip 40 that the present invention includes the collaborative actuation mechanism 52 on the dropper that is positioned at this invention and be used for the movement travel of limit tip on installation shaft 32 as Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 within illustrated.This result system can guarantee that installation shaft is inserted into the even degree of depth in the improved pipette tip, when being mounted and discharging in installation shaft at follow-up tip, can be maintained the even interference engagement between improved pipette tip and the installation shaft.In Fig. 2 and embodiment shown in Figure 4, above-mentioned co-operating mechanism 52 includes a ring-type, and inside shoulder 53 up, and it is positioned on the inner surface of the most approaching improved pipette tip 40 that is adjacent to cross-brace district 48.This shoulder 53 is designed to make its uper side surface to be bonded together with the surface (for example being the bottom 54 that the distal portion 34 of installation shaft 32 is arranged in the outer periphery position of shoulder) that faces down.
Another embodiment of co-operating mechanism 52 is described in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.In Fig. 5, co-operating mechanism 52 comprises one and is positioned at the outside sensing on the improved pipette tip installation shaft 32, the shoulder 53 ' of ring-type down, it is along with installation shaft is inserted in the open proximal end portion 42 at tip and can engages with the upside ring-shaped edge 56 at tip, is used for preventing that installation shaft further is inserted in the tip.In Fig. 6, co-operating mechanism 52 is described as and comprises a bottom 58 that is carried out the sleeve 28 of the explanation and the improved pipette tip output mechanism 26 of description at Fig. 1.When lower surface 58 engaged with the upside ring-shaped edge 56 of improved pipette tip 40, the action that installation shaft 32 further is inserted in the dropper can be stopped.
In oneself is encyclopaedized and illustrates when the aforementioned specific preferred embodiment of the present invention's improved pipette tip, be to change and to revise at the present invention under the situation of the spirit that does not depart from this invention.For example, Fig. 7 expresses another embodiment of the present invention, and it includes as in co-operating mechanism 52 that Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 described.Except as Fig. 2 and the structure shown in Figure 4, the embodiment of Fig. 7 includes microscler, the columniform extension 62 haply that extend from the bottom of the distal portion 34 of installation shaft 32.This extension 62 and installation shaft on same axle center, and comprise one with improved pipette tip 40 within the side surface exterior side wall 63 of being separated by.This extension 62 is used to reduce the air capacity that had in the present invention's dropper, and, be to be used to reduce usually discharge the relevant air capacity effect of dropper with air.
In addition, Figure 11,12 and Figure 13 another embodiment of this invention is described, wherein sealant band 36, seal area 46 and supporting layer band 38, Support 48 respectively with Fig. 4,5 and Fig. 6 shown in the position axially be inverted.Shown in Figure 11, sealant band 36 and seal area 46 are adjacent with co-operating mechanism 52, supporting layer band 38 and Support 48 then with co-operating mechanism 52 segment distance of being separated by.In Figure 12 and Figure 13, sealant band 36 and seal area 46 are adjacent with collaborative actuation mechanism 52, and supporting layer band 38 and Support 48 then are and collaborative actuation mechanism 52 segment distance of being separated by.
In addition, Figure 14,15,16,17,18,19 and Figure 20 respectively similar in appearance to Fig. 4,5,6,7,11,12 and Figure 13, and these figure systems express another embodiment of this invention, wherein between cross-brace district 48 and supporting layer band 38, have less interference engagement, in order to further to strengthen the lateral stability of tip 40 on installation shaft 32, produce and do not cause unnecessarily to increase the tip installation and discharge axial force required on installation shaft.At this on the one hand, as illustrated in each figure in Figure 20 at Figure 14, found with regard to the combination of improved pipette tip and installation shaft, wherein the interference engagement between sealant band 36 and seal area 46 is about 0.075 millimeter to about 0.2 millimeter, and improved pipette tip is the 0.2-0.5 millimeter at sealing area 46 and the wall thickness in cross-brace district 48, when between Support and supporting layer band, having less interference engagement, the lateral stability system of tip 40 on installation shaft 32 is able to further be strengthened, and required minimum most advanced and sophisticated installation and the discharge active force relevant with the present invention still can be kept.Above-mentioned less interference engagement is to be provided by most advanced and sophisticated 40 48 in cross-brace zone, and the footpath was the cross-brace layer that is slightly less than installation shaft 32 with 38 external diameter (for example being little 0.075 millimeter) within it had.In addition, when installation shaft 32 is concentric with most advanced and sophisticated 40, and when being circular haply in supporting layer band 38 and supporting zone 48, one second airtight sealing system can be resulted between supporting layer band and the supporting zone, and be unlikely to cause unnecessarily to increase the tip is installed and is discharged in the required axial force generation of installation shaft.At Figure 14 in embodiment shown in Figure 17, providing of above-mentioned less interference engagement is by will be between the axial conical in shape of the most advanced and sophisticated sidewall of sealing area and sealant interband, be controlled to be along the inside a little conical in shape of direction down so that most advanced and sophisticated sidewall can engage installation shaft in the supporting layer band outside side.At Figure 18 in embodiment shown in Figure 20, providing of above-mentioned less interference engagement then is axial conical in shape by with the distal portion of installation shaft, be controlled to be along the outside a little conical in shape of direction up so that the outside of installation shaft can engaging tip in supporting zone within side.
In view of the above, among the category that this invention system only is subject to following claim and is defined.