Low carryover liquid handling probe for an automated analyzer

Abstract

Provided herein is a carryover-reducing liquid handling probe for an analytical system, incorporating a rigid sheath and a polymer core that extends from the sheath to act as the fluid contact surface.

1 . A system for minimizing collision damage to a liquid handling probe of an automated analyzer, comprising:
 a probe mount having a channel;   a liquid handling probe coupled to the probe mount; the liquid handling probe is movable within the channel of the probe mount when the liquid handling probe makes an unintended contact with an object;   a collision detection sensor configured to generate a signal when the liquid handling probe is moved by the unintended contact with the object; and   a controller configured to alter a trajectory of the liquid handling probe after receiving the signal from the collision detection sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collision detection sensor is a position-dependent sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collision detection sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the optical sensor is used in combination with a positional flag, the optical sensor includes an optical path, and the positional flag is configured to move through the optical path when the liquid handling probe is moved by the unintended contact with the object. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pliant member, the collision detection sensor configured to generate the signal when the pliant member is distorted, wherein the plaint member is distorted when the liquid handling probe is moved by the unintended contact with the object. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the collision detection sensor is an optical sensor, the optical sensor is used in combination with a positional flag, the optical sensor includes an optical path, and the positional flag is configured to move through the optical path when the pliant member is distorted. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a probe guide, the liquid handling probe is mounted to the probe guide, and the probe guide is mounted to the probe mount, and the liquid handling probe and the probe guide are movable within the channel of the probe mount when the liquid handling probe makes the unintended contact with the object. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a pliant member, the pliant member interposed between the probe mount and the probe guide, and the collision detection sensor configured to generate a signal when the pliant member is distorted. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid handling probe includes a conductive polymer core, the conductive polymer core having a conductive polymer tip, and the conductive polymer tip is configured to serve as a sensing portion for liquid level sensing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a probe guide mounted to the probe mount, wherein the optical sensor is mounted on the probe mount, and the positional flag is mounted on the probe guide. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a probe guide mounted to the probe mount, wherein the optical sensor is mounted on the probe guide, and the positional flag is mounted on the probe mount. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collision detection sensor is a Hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe mount is affixed to a transport carriage system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to alter the trajectory of the mounted liquid handling probe by directing the transport carriage system to halt movement. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to alter the trajectory of the mounted liquid handling probe by directing the transport carriage system to reverse movement. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to notify a user of a collision after receiving the signal from the collision detection sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method for minimizing collision damage to a liquid handling probe of an automated analyzer, comprising the steps of:
 generating, using a collision detection sensor, a signal when a liquid handling probe is moved by an unintended contact with an object, wherein the liquid handling probe and the collision detection sensor are coupled to a probe mount;   receiving, using a controller, the signal from the collision detection sensor; and   altering, using the controller, a trajectory of the liquid handling probe after receiving the signal from the collision detection sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of causing a positional flag to move through an optical path of the collision detection sensor when the liquid handling probe is moved by the unintended contact with the object. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a distortion of a pliant member causes the collision detection sensor to generate the signal, the pliant member is distorted when the liquid handling probe is moved by the unintended contact with the object. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of notifying a user of a collision after receiving the signal from the collision detection sensor.