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DE-202017007756-U1 - Pipetting device, pipette tip coupler and pipette tip

DE202017007756U1DE 202017007756 U1DE202017007756 U1DE 202017007756U1DE-202017007756-U1

Abstract

Arrangement comprising a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220), comprising: a pipette tip (220) comprising a circumscribing side wall (226) with an open inner passage (238) enclosing an inner surface (236) and extending along a central longitudinal axis (224) of the pipette tip (220) between an open proximal end (232) and an open distal end (234) of the pipette tip (220); and a pipette tip coupling device (100), comprising: a shaft (102) with a proximal end face (104); a coupling body (120) distal to the shaft (102), wherein the diameter of the widest section of the coupling body is larger than the diameter of the widest section of the shaft; a distal shaft section (138); a distal endplate (142); an inner circumscribing surface (148) with an open end forming an open passage (150) extending longitudinally from the proximal end surface (104) through the distal end plate (142); an elastomeric element (160) arranged around the distal shaft section (138) and adjacent to the distal end plate (142); characterized in that a pipette tip ball arrangement is provided which circumscribes the shaft (102), comprising: a multitude of spherical spheres; and a cylindrically shaped raceway body, comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide bushings for carrying the plurality of spherical balls; and a multitude of circumferentially spaced circular spherical openings for receiving and holding the multitude of spherical spheres.

Assignees

  • HAMILTON BONADUZ AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20170131
Priority Date
20170131

Claims (6)

  1. An arrangement comprising a pipette tip coupling device (100) and a pipette tip (220), comprising: a pipette tip (220) comprising a circumscribing side wall (226) with an open inner passage (238) enclosing an inner surface (236) and extending along a central longitudinal axis (224) of the pipette tip (220) between an open proximal end (232) and an open distal end (234) of the pipette tip (220); and a pipette tip coupling device (100) comprising: a shaft (102) with a proximal end surface (104); a coupling body (120) distal to the shaft (102), wherein the diameter of the widest section of the coupling body is larger than the diameter of the widest section of the shaft; a distal shaft section (138); and a distal end plate (142). an inner circumscribing surface (148) with an open end forming an open passage (150) extending longitudinally from the proximal end surface (104) through the distal end plate (142); an elastomeric element (160) arranged around the distal shaft section (138) and adjacent to the distal end plate (142); characterized in that a pipette tip ball arrangement is provided circumscribing the shaft (102), comprising: a plurality of spherical balls; and a cylindrically shaped raceway body, comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide bushings for carrying the plurality of spherical balls; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced circular ball openings for receiving and retaining the plurality of spherical balls.
  2. Arrangement comprising a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220) according to the preceding claim, wherein each of the plurality of spherical spheres (410) bears against a first inner surface of the circumscribing side wall (226) of the pipette tip (220) to secure the pipette tip (220) to the pipette tip coupling device (100), and wherein the elastomeric element (160) bears against a second inner surface of the circumscribing side wall (226) of the pipette tip (220), thereby forming a fluid-tight seal between the pipette tip coupling device (100) and the pipette tip (220).
  3. Arrangement comprising a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second inner surface of the circumscribing side wall of the pipette tip is a sealing surface (270) angled radially inwards in the circumferential direction and extending distally.
  4. Arrangement with a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220) according to Claim 3 , wherein the sealing surface (270) is arranged at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal axis (224) of the pipette tip (220).
  5. Arrangement with a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220) according to Claim 2 , wherein the second inner surface of the circumscribing side wall of the pipette tip is a sealing surface (2270) having an angle of substantially ninety degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip (220).
  6. Arrangement with a pipette tip coupling device (100) and pipette tip (220) according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , wherein the sealing surface (270, 2270) is located in a region below an axially stepped shoulder of the pipette tip.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATIONS This application claims priority under 35 USC Section 119(e) of the preliminary US patent application No. filed on June 15, 2016. 62/350,302 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority under 35 USC Section 119(e) of the preliminary application filed on June 15, 2016. US patent application no. 62/350,291 , the entirety of whose revelation is incorporated herein by reference. AREA This disclosure relates generally to pipetting devices and in particular to pipette tip couplers, disposable pipette tips, tip and coupler combinations and coupling and decoupling methods of at least one disposable pipette tip with or of at least one pipette tip coupler carried by a pipette device. BACKGROUND Pipette devices are used in a wide variety of industries for transferring liquids to perform experimental analyses. As such, disposable tips are used for control purposes within the experiments and are intended for single use. Disposable tips are used with both manual and automated pipette devices, which have a large number of pipette units arranged in a row or matrix to simultaneously aspirate samples from multiple vessels and dispense them to other locations. Disposable pipette tips have historically been designed to interface with either a tapered or stepped coupling spigot. When a tapered spigot is used, the disposable tip is designed to require preloading onto the spigot to create an airtight seal. Due to tolerances in the two interface components, the distance to the end of the tip that comes into contact with the liquid is not well controlled. Furthermore, high pressing forces are required to preload the tip to create the airtight seal. As a result, microcracks can form in the pipette tip, which can lead to leakage. Additionally, the high pressing forces required to insert the pipette tip have the disadvantage that correspondingly high forces are required to remove it. The applicant of the present application, HAMILTON Company, teaches in US Patent No. 7,033,543 The patent, issued on April 25, 2006, describes a stepped coupling stud in conjunction with an O-ring, which provides a solution for reducing the high pressing force required to create an airtight seal, as well as providing a well-defined axial positioning of the end of the tip that comes into contact with fluid. When the O-ring is compressed, it provides an axially directed force to not only provide the airtight seal, but also to engage the axial coupling feature on the coupling stud with the axial mating coupling feature on the tip. Nevertheless, current systems that use a stepped coupling pin and a single O-ring configuration are problematic if the O-ring is compromised, as the result is a compromise of the airtight seal and the performance of the pipette device. Additionally, compressing the O-ring causes it to deform, which in turn provides the axial force and airtight seal against the working surface of the pipette tip. Conversely, when the compression is released, the O-ring must detach from the working surface of the pipette tip to allow the tip to be removed from the coupling pin and pipette assembly for disposal. If the O-ring does not fully decompress, some residual force remains, causing the tip to be held engaged with the coupling pin. Therefore, an automated external axial counterforce is required to remove the tip for disposal. Furthermore, as the size of the holes to and/or from which fluid is transferred decreases, the need for precise positioning of all tips in a controlled manner increases in order to enable successful targeting. Therefore, there is a need to improve or overcome one or more of the significant deficiencies described above. SUMMARY Accordingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure improves or overcomes one or more of the defects in one aspect. of the known prior art by providing a pipette tip coupler and disposable pipette tip combination comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged elements or segments engaging with an inner circumferential working surface defining a first working surface of an inner circumscribing surface of a side wall of the pipette tip in a region above a proximally facing axial stop surface of the pipette tip to provide a resultant preload force that axially preloads the pipette tip upwards, causing a distal elastomeric element of the coupler to be preloaded against a second working surface of the pipette tip, thereby forming a sealing configuration that eliminates the sealing deterioration or failure of the known prior art. Additionally, and in one aspect, when compressed against the second working surface, the distal elastomeric element provides an axial counterforce for the plurality of elements or segments, with at least one advantage of this axial counterforce being that an additional force is applied to the first working surface by the plurality of individual elements or segments when th