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:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 29, 2000
Scott P. Hunicke-Smith, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Omar Medeiros, Mountain View, CA (US);
Genomic Instrumentation Services, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);
Abstract
A micropipetter a plurality of hollow needles to deliver fluid, the needles being anchored in a sample block; a needle guide assembly with a plurality of needle guide shafts and compression springs attached at one end to the sample block and at the other end to a needle guide plate, each spring surrounding a needle guide shaft, and the needle guide plate controlling the spacing of the needles; a sample block having a plurality of hollow, tapered spaces, each of which connect with the hollow needle; a displacement volume block having a plurality of hollow spaces, each being occupied by a piston pin, each piston pin being sealed with a stationary seal assembly; a stationary sheet seal located between the sample block and the displacement volume block, the sheet seal having a plurality of holes corresponding to and separating the spaces in the sample block and the displacement volume block, such that precise volume displacement is provided; a seal constraint plate located above the displacement volume block, the seal constraint plate positioned to hold in place an airtight, low-friction seal assembly around each of the piston pins; the piston pins being attached to a piston pin plate; and a motive means for moving the pistons vertically and thereby alternately aspirating fluid into the needles and dispensing fluid from the needles. The seal assembly has at least one sleeve and one O-ring. The motive means is at least one motor having at least one lead-screw drive which goes through the core of the motor, the lead-screw drive being attached to an armature, such that actuating the motor causes the lead-screw drive to pull up or lower the rest of the micropipetter. Optionally, the micropipetter has at least one set of crossbars, each crossbar being attached to the constraint plate and the piston pin plate to increase stability and precise movement. The micropipetter needles can number 1, 8, 16,24, 96, 384 or 1536. Optionally, the micropipetter has a counter-balance to aid in hand-held use.