Light beam guided liquid delivery device

Abstract

A light beam guided liquid delivery device for tracking the placement of a sample by a liquid delivery device into a receptacle like a milliliter or microliter scale tube, or a microtiter plate, includes a liquid delivery device and a light beam generator. The light beam generator may be positioned on the outside or inside of the liquid delivery device. The light beam generator may be adapted to shoot a light beam below the tip of the liquid delivery device, whereby, a user may track the placement of the tip of the liquid delivery device via the light beam.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A light beam guided micropipette for tracking the placement of a sample by a micropipette into a receptacle comprising:
 a micropipette having a channel with an exterior grip, a tip at one end and a plunger at its other end; and   a light beam generator mounted on the outside of said micropipette;   said light beam generator being adapted to shoot a light beam below a tip of said micropipette;   where, said light beam generator shooting a light beam on or below said tip of said micropipette, whereby, a user may track the placement of said tip of said micropipette via said light beam.   
     
     
         2 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 1  wherein said light beam generator being aimed at said tip of said micropipette where said tip deflecting said light beam directly below said tip, thereby illuminating said tip and directly below said tip. 
     
     
         3 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 1  wherein said micropipette being selected from the group consisting of: a manual micropipette, and an electronic micropipette. 
     
     
         4 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 1  wherein said micropipette being selected from the group consisting of: a single channel micropipette, and a multi-channel micropipette. 
     
     
         5 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 1  further including a mount mounting said light beam generator on the outside of said micropipette, said mount being selected from the group consisting of: tape, Velcro, an adhesive, a bracket, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 5  wherein said bracket comprising:
 a first clamp attaching said bracket to said micropipette at a first connection point being approximate to a channel of said micropipette; 
 wherein, said light beam generator being connected to said bracket approximate to said first clamp. 
 
     
     
         7 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 6  wherein said bracket further comprising an adjustable connection between said first clamp and said light beam generator, said adjustable connection allowing the angle of said light beam generator to said bracket to be adjusted. 
     
     
         8 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 7  wherein said adjustable connection being a flexible wire. 
     
     
         9 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 7  wherein said adjustable connection being a plurality of bars being hingedly connected to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 6  wherein said bracket further comprising:
 a second clamp attaching said bracket to said micropipette at a second connection point being approximate to said tip of said micropipette. 
 
     
     
         11 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 1  wherein said light beam being a laser or an LED light. 
     
     
         12 . A light beam guided micropipette for tracking the placement of a sample by a micropipette into a receptacle comprising:
 a micropipette having a channel with an exterior grip, a tip at one end and a plunger at its other end; and   a light beam generator mounted on the outside of said micropipette via a mount;   said mount comprising an adjustable connection between said first clamp and said light beam generator, said adjustable connection allowing the angle of said light beam generator to said bracket to be adjusted;   said light beam generator being adapted to shoot a light beam below a tip of said micropipette;   where, said light beam generator shooting a light beam on or below said tip of said micropipette, whereby, a user may track the placement of said tip of said micropipette via said light beam.   
     
     
         13 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said light beam generator being aimed at said tip of said micropipette where said tip deflecting said light beam directly below said tip, thereby illuminating said tip and directly below said tip. 
     
     
         14 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said micropipette being selected from the group consisting of: a manual micropipette, and an electronic micropipette. 
     
     
         15 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said micropipette being selected from the group consisting of: a single channel micropipette, and a multi-channel micropipette. 
     
     
         16 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said bracket further comprising:
 a first clamp attaching said bracket to said micropipette at a first connection point being approximate to a channel of said micropipette; 
 a second clamp attaching said bracket to said micropipette at a second connection point being approximate to said tip of said micropipette wherein, said light beam generator being connected to said bracket approximate to said first clamp. 
 
     
     
         17 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said adjustable connection being a flexible wire. 
     
     
         18 . The light beam guided micropipette of  claim 12  wherein said adjustable connection being a plurality of bars being hingedly connected to one another. 
     
     
         19 . A method of guiding the tip of a micropipette with a guiding light beam comprising the steps of:
 providing a light beam guided micropipette comprising:
 a light beam generator positioned on the outside or inside of a micropipette, where said light beam generator being adapted to shoot a light beam below the tip of said micropipette; 
   aiming said light beam generator to shoot a light beam below the tip of said micropipette; and   tracking the placement of said tip of said micropipette via said light beam.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said step of aiming said light beam generator including aiming said light beam at the end of said tip, where said tip deflects said light beam directly below said tip, thereby illuminating said tip and directly below said tip.