Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
  • G01N35/1065—Multiple transfer devices
  • G01N35/1074—Multiple transfer devices arranged in a two-dimensional array
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/02—Burettes; Pipettes
  • B01L3/0241—Drop counters; Drop formers
  • B01L3/0244—Drop counters; Drop formers using pins
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
  • B01L9/54—Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes
  • B01L9/547—Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes for dispensing pins
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00274—Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology
  • B01J2219/00277—Apparatus
  • B01J2219/00351—Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
  • B01J2219/00387—Applications using probes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00274—Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology
  • B01J2219/00277—Apparatus
  • B01J2219/00497—Features relating to the solid phase supports
  • B01J2219/00527—Sheets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/04—Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
  • B01L2400/02—Drop detachment mechanisms of single droplets from nozzles or pins
  • B01L2400/022—Drop detachment mechanisms of single droplets from nozzles or pins droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
  • B01L9/54—Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C40—COMBINATORIAL TECHNOLOGY
  • C40B—COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY; LIBRARIES, e.g. CHEMICAL LIBRARIES
  • C40B60/00—Apparatus specially adapted for use in combinatorial chemistry or with libraries
  • C40B60/14—Apparatus specially adapted for use in combinatorial chemistry or with libraries for creating libraries
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N2035/00178—Special arrangements of analysers
  • G01N2035/00237—Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
  • G01N2035/1027—General features of the devices
  • G01N2035/1034—Transferring microquantities of liquid
  • G01N2035/1037—Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires

Definitions

• the present invention is generally related to apparatus for dispensing controlled amounts of fluid.
• Pipette tips are particularly suitable for dispensing fluids in the micro-liter range.
• U.S. Patent 5,497,670 issued March 12, 1996 discloses a dispensing apparatus including means for loading pipette tips carried by a pipette plate onto dispensing cylinders such that a loading force is maintained during the operation to ensure a hermetic seal.
• the pipette tips are manually placed on the pipette tip plate, the pipette tip plate being slidingly received within the dispensing apparatus.
• U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/751 ,859 filed November 18, 1996 discloses a dispensing apparatus.
• the dispensing apparatus is similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patent, but substitutes a more conventional pipette tip carrier for the pipette tip plate, which is less expensive, less likely to be contaminated, and easily adapted for robotic operation or automation.
• U.S. Application 10/027,448 filed December 20, 2001 discloses a dispensing apparatus that employs a modified pipette tip box tray carrier to furnish pipette tips carried in a standard pipette tip box to the apparatus, and includes engagement means to engage pipette tip box tray carrier such that the pipette tips are loaded into corresponding internal cylinders formed in a dispense block head of the dispensing apparatus.
• the dispense block head comprises a solid block of material having a plurality of internal cylinders to engage the pipette tips in a sealing engagement.
• a distinctly different approach to precisely dispensing fluids employs one or more pins to retrieve a desired amount of fluid from a reservoir, and to dispense the retrieved fluid to a desired location.
• these pins do not include an internal passage, but rather retrieve a small sample of the fluid as the pin is removed from a reservoir, the fluid forming a droplet on the outer surface at the end of the pin.
• the amount of fluid retrieved by the pin is a function of a number of parameters including the size, shape and material of the pin and the viscosity of the fluid, all of which affect surface tension.
• the pin based approach may be particularly suitable for dispensing fluids in the nano-liter range.
• a pin support assembly includes a pin support frame having a plurality of apertures for supporting an array of pins for dispensing fluids.
• An actuation assembly engages an end of each of the pins to ensure that the pins are properly seated in the support frame in a planar fashion.
• Interchangeability of the pin support frame with a pipette box tray carrier allows a single drive mechanism to be employed for different operations, for example dispensing very small amounts of fluid versus dispensing very large amounts of fluid, reducing costs.
• the pins are supported for longitudinal or "floating" movement to prevent damage to the pins.
• a dispensing apparatus in yet another aspect, includes a pin support frame having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, a pin engagement member having a substantially planar pin engagement surface, the pin engagement member selectively movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position, the pin engagement surface being proximate the pin support frame when the pin engagement member is in the engaged position and the pin engagement surface being distal to the pin support frame when pin engagement member is in the disengaged position, a pin engagement actuation member spaced across the pin engagement member from the pin support frame and movable between a first position spaced relatively from the pin support frame and a second position spaced relatively toward the pin support frame, a linkage coupling the pin engagement actuation member and the pin engagement member to selectively move the pin engagement member towards the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves toward the disengaged position and to move the pin engagement member away from the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves towards the engaged position, and a drive member couplable to selectively move
• a dispensing apparatus includes a pin support frame having a first plurality of pin receiving apertures of a first diameter and a second plurality of pin receiving apertures of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, each of the pin receiving apertures of the first plurality aligned with a respective one of the pin receiving apertures of the second plurality for supportingly receiving a respective pin for axial movement with respect thereto, and a pin engagement member having a substantially planar pin engagement surface, the pin engagement member selectively positionable between an engaged position to contact the pins received in the pin receiving apertures if any, and a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position.
• a dispensing apparatus includes a drive - assembly including a drive assembly frame, a drive member mounted to the drive assembly frame for axial movement with respect thereto, and a pin support assembly including a pin support frame having a number of apertures for slidingly receiving a plurality of pins, a pin engagement member mounted for movement with respect to the pin support frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a linkage coupled to move the pin engagement member toward the disengaged position when the drive member moves towards the pin support frame and to move the pin engagement member toward the engaged position when the drive member moves away from the pin support frame, wherein the pin support assembly is selectively attachable and detachable to the drive assembly.
• a dispensing apparatus includes pin support means for supporting each of a plurality of pins, a pin engagement member selectively positionable between an engaged position simultaneously engaging in a single plane a respective end of each of a plurality of pins and a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position, and actuating means for moving the pin engagement member between the engaged and the disengaged positions.
• Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a fluid dispensing apparatus with a pipette tip box tray carrier in a disengaged position to load a pipette tip box holding a plurality of pipette tips.
• Figure 2 is a partial front elevational view of the fluid dispensing apparatus of Figure 1 with the pipette tip box tray carrier in an engaged position to engage the pipette tips in the pipette tip box with respective ones of internal cylinders formed in a dispense block head of the fluid dispensing apparatus.
• Figure 3 is a partially exploded top, front, right isometric view of a pin support assembly having a pin support frame and an actuation assembly for use with the fluid dispensing apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, for example, as a substitute for the pipette tip box and pipette tip box tray carrier thereof.
• Figure 4 is a further exploded top, front, right isometric view of a pin support assembly of Figure 3.
• Figure 5 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the pin support frame of the pin support frame of Figures 3 and 4.
• Figure 6 is a top, front, right isometric view of the actuation assembly of the pin support assembly of Figure 3.
• Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the actuation assembly of Figure 6 in a pin engaged position.
• Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the actuation assembly of Figure 6 in a pin disengaged position.
• Figure 9 is a right side elevational view of the actuation assembly of Figures 7 and 8 showing the pin engaged (broken line) and disengaged positions (solid line).
• Figure 10 is an top, front, right isometric view of an alternative block of the fluid dispensing apparatus of Figure 1.
• Figure 11 is a partial, cross-sectional view along section 11 of
• FIG. 6 illustrating complementary mating portions of the coupling members on the pin support assembly and the carrier plate.
• Figure 12 is a partial, cross-sectional view along section line 12 of Figure 6, further illustrating the complementary mating portions of the coupling members on the pin support assembly and the carrier plate.
• Figures 1 and 2 show a fluid dispensing apparatus 10 that includes a piston plate 12, a horseshoe plate 14, and a carrier plate 16.
• the fluid dispensing apparatus 10 may employ a pipette tip box 18 that holds a number of pipette tips 20 for retrieving and dispensing defined amounts of fluids.
• the pipette tip box 18 is detachably coupled to the carrier plate 16 by way of a pipette box tray carrier 22.
• the pipette box tray carrier 22 includes a pair of L-shaped ears or lugs for engaging and disengaging a set of loading pins 24 of the moveable carrier plate 16.
• a pipette tip box 18 loaded with a plurality of pipette tips 20 is loaded onto the pipette box tray carrier 22.
• the pipette box tray carrier 22 is coupled to the carrier plate 16.
• the pipette box tray carrier 22 moves relative to a dispense block head 26 to selectively engage the ends of the pipette tips 20 with respective ones of a number of internal cylinders formed in the dispense block head 26.
• the structure and operation of the fluid dispensing apparatus 10 of Figures 1 and 2 is further described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/751 ,859, filed November 18, 1996, and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/442,500, filed December 20, 2001 , and thus will not be repeated herein in the interest of brevity and clarity.
• Figures 3 and 4 show a pin support assembly 30 for use with dispensing apparatus, such as the dispensing apparatus 10 of Figure 1.
• the pin support assembly 30 includes a frame 31, a pin support frame 32 for supporting a plurality of pins 34 and an actuation assembly 36 for selectively engaging ends 38 of the pins 34.
• the frame 31 may support the pin support frame 32 and protect the pins 34 from damage.
• Each of the pins 34 has a first portion 40 of a first diameter and a second portion 42 of a second diameter less than the first diameter. The amount of fluid drawn by the pin 34 will in part be a function of the second diameter.
• the pin support frame 32 includes a first frame member 44 having a plurality of apertures 46 having diameters slightly greater than the first diameter of the first portion 40 of the pin 34.
• the pin support frame 32 also includes a second frame member 48 having a plurality of apertures 50 having diameters slightly greater than the second diameter of the second portion 42 of the pin 34.
• the apertures 50 of the second frame member 48 are aligned or in registration with a respective one of the apertures 46 of the first frame member 44.
• Each of the pins 34 is received in a respective pair of the apertures 46, 50 for axial movement with respect thereto.
• the second support frame 48 serves as a stop, engaging an edge formed between the first and second portions 40, 42 of the pins 34 to limit the axial travel of the pins 34.
• Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the pin support frame 32 employing a single frame member 52 having apertures 46 formed in an upper surface 54 and apertures 50 formed in a lower surface 56.
• the pins 34 are again supported for axial movement, the difference in the diameters of the first aperture 46 and the second aperture 50 forming a stop to limit the axial travel of the pins 34.
• the actuation assembly As illustrated in Figures 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the actuation assembly
• the pin engagement member 60 may include a plate 62 having an engagement surface 63 and a resilient member or pad 64 attached to the engagement surface 63 of the plate 62.
• the actuation assembly 36 includes a linkage 66 coupled to move the pin engagement member 60 toward the disengaged position when a drive member such as the dispense head 26 of the dispensing apparatus 10 moves toward the pin support frame 32, and to move the pin engagement member 60 toward the engaged position when the drive member moves away from the pin support frame 32.
• the linkage 66 may, for example, take the form of a scissor linkage, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 9.
• the linkage 66 may include two pairs of linkage members, pivotally coupled by a pivot pin 67, to provide balance and even force across the pin engagement member 60.
• the linkage 66 may also includes rollers or bushings 69 at the extremities thereof.
• the actuation assembly 36 may also include a pin engagement actuation member 68, opposed across the pin engagement member 60 from the pin support frame 36.
• the pin engagement actuation member 68 may include a plate 70 and resilient member or pad 72, the resilient pad 72 attached to a surface of the plate 70 which is engaged by the drive member, such as the dispense head 26.
• the linkage 66 couples the pin engagement actuation member 68 and the pin engagement member 60 to move the pin engagement member 60 toward the disengaged position as the pin engagement actuation member 68 moves toward the pin engagement member and the pin support frame 32, and to move the pin engagement member toward the engaged position as the pin engagement actuation member 68 moves away from the pin engagement member 60 and the pin support frame .32.
• the actuation assembly 36 may also include biasing members such as leaf springs or coil springs 71 to bias the pin engagement member 60 toward the disengaged position.
• the actuation assembly 36 may also include additional biasing members such as leaf springs or coil springs 74 biasing the arms of the linkage 66 into engagement with the plates 62, 70 in order to prevent unintended "chatter" or movement of the parts.
• Proper dimensioning of the various holes 75 and fasteners 77 received through the holes 75 also helps to reduce or eliminate chatter. (Only a small number of the fasteners 77 are illustrated for sake of clarity of the drawings.) As indicated in the Figures, many of the holes 75 may be countersunk, particularly where the holes 75 must accommodate springs 71.
• the pin engagement member 60 engages the ends 38 of the pins 34 in a single plane in response to movement by a drive member such as the dispense head block 26, or a pin head block 76 illustrated in Figure 10.
• the pin head block 76 is similar to the dispense head block 26, however, the pin head block eliminates the internal cylinders 13 found in the dispense head block 26.
• the actuation assembly 36 may include an actuation assembly frame member 78 having a pair of slots 79 through which the linkage 66 is received and mounted via the pivot pins 67.
• the actuation assembly 36 also includes coupling members 80 which may have L-shaped ears or lugs 82 or other attachable/detachable coupling structures for selectively coupling the pin support assembly 30 to the carrier plate 16 ( Figure 1) of the fluid dispensing apparatus 10.
• the pin support assembly 30 may include coupling members 80 for selectively engaging and disengaging the loading pins 24 of the movable carrier plate 16 ( Figure 1).
• the coupling members 80 may take the form of two pairs of generally L-shaped ears or lugs.
• the pin support assembly 30 may include a mating portion having a complementary shape to mate with the loading pins 24.
• the ears or lugs may include a lip formed at a distal end, defining an interior diameter sized and dimensioned to matingly receive a respective one of the loading pins 24.
• the pin support assembly 30 may further include a mating portion having a complementary shape to mate with a mating potion of the dispense head apparatus 10.
• the coupling members 80 may form all or a part of a mating portion for mating with a portion of the carrier plate 16.
• the coupling members 80 may, as illustrated, be tapered or curved in a first direction parallel to a direction of movement of the pin engagement actuation member 68 and may be tapered or curved in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the pin engagement actuation member 68. This ensures precise positioning of the pins 34 with respect to a target such as locations on a plate, slide or array.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
• Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
• Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

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Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2002
  • 2002-08-07 US US10/214,943 patent/US6997066B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-07-31 EP EP03784859.5A patent/EP1526919B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-07-31 JP JP2004527691A patent/JP4905910B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-07-31 CA CA2493085A patent/CA2493085C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-07-31 WO PCT/US2003/023954 patent/WO2004014555A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-07-31 AU AU2003257080A patent/AU2003257080B2/en not_active Expired
• 2005
  • 2005-06-30 US US11/171,687 patent/US7387037B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2009
  • 2009-03-11 AU AU2009200967A patent/AU2009200967B2/en not_active Expired
• 2011
  • 2011-02-28 JP JP2011042037A patent/JP5201750B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (6)

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