The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 06, 1990
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1987
Haakon T Magnussen, Jr, Orinda, CA (US);
Gary L Smith, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Stephen J Ruskewicz, Kensington, CA (US);
Anthony K Wingo, San Leandro, CA (US);
Rainin Instrument Co., Inc., Emeryville, CA (US);
Abstract
A hand held self-contained automated pipette for portable operation having an electrically operated digital linear actuator. The actuator preferably includes a stepper motor driving a rotor. A threaded screw is coaxially positioned within the rotor and is connected to an actuator shaft having elongate grooves slidable in a guide for preventing shaft rotation so that precise linear motion is imparted to the shaft. A pipetting displacement assembly having one of various sizes is removably attached for actuation by a common actuator including programmed movement of a displacing piston in a displacement cylinder to optimize air interface volume, neutralize variations in vacuum pipette effects, and provide an accommodated stroke and readout for improved accuracy while pipetting and/or titrating different ranges of volumes. Upon calibration the piston undertakes immediate excursion to an end of travel limit and after motor slippage is retracted to a home position. This home position is chosen for optimum preservation of an air interface volume between drawn liquid and the piston tailored with particularity to the displacement assembly being used. Multiple precision modes, including pipetting, multiple dispensing, titration, dilution, and measurement, are provided. Other features are also disclosed.