Pipetting Device, Pipette Tip Coupler, and Pipette Tip: Devices and Methods

Abstract

Pipette assembly comprising a pipette device, a pipette tip, and an expanding mandrel collet coupling device coupling the tip to the pipette device, the coupling device comprising: circumferentially spaced apart segments, an annular base disposed below the segments and comprising a distal portion, an elastomeric element circumscribing the distal portion, and upwardly extending circumferentially spaced apart arms attached at first ends to the annular base and having upper free ends each supporting a different one of the segments configured to expand between a first and a second greater circumference for engaging a first interior working surface of the tip in concurrence with the elastomeric element sealing against a second interior working surface below the first surface and in concurrence with an abutment between a disk exteriorly disposed about a medial portion of the arms and a stepped interior shoulder of the tip disposed between the first and second working surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipette tip comprising:
 a circumscribing sidewall with an open interior passage extending along a central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip between an open proximal end and an open distal end;   a first section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the open proximal end, the first section comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical upper first portion having a first diameter; 
 a substantially cylindrical lower first portion having the first diameter; and 
 an annular groove interposed between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the substantially cylindrical lower first portion; 
   a second section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the first section, the second section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;   a stop shoulder surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at the interface of the first section and the second section;   a third section comprising a substantially cylindrical surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the second section, the third section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter;   a sealing seat surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall at an interface of the second section and the third section; and   at least one frustoconical section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall between the third section and the distal open lower end.   
     
     
         2 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip. 
     
     
         3 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip. 
     
     
         4 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the sealing seat surface is a frustoconical annular surface further comprising:
 an upper annular sealing seat surface edge at an interface of the second section and the sealing seat surface; 
 a lower annular sealing seat surface edge at an interface of the sealing seat surface and the third section; and 
 wherein the upper annular sealing seat surface edge is greater in diameter than the lower annular sealing seat surface edge. 
 
     
     
         5 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove is concave. 
     
     
         6 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section. 
     
     
         7 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
     
     
         8 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the annular groove is concave; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is a frustoconical annular surface further comprising:
 an upper annular sealing seat surface edge at the interface of the second section and the sealing seat surface; and 
 a lower annular sealing seat surface edge at the interface of the sealing seat surface and the third section; 
 wherein the upper annular sealing seat surface edge is greater in diameter than the lower annular sealing seat surface edge; 
 
 wherein the annular groove is concave; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the circumscribing sidewall is made from an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         11 . The pipette tip of  claim 8  wherein the circumscribing sidewall is made from an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         12 . The pipette tip of  claim 9  wherein the circumscribing sidewall is made from an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular concave surface. 
     
     
         14 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular convex surface. 
     
     
         15 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the sealing seat surface further comprises a circumferential upward facing tooth edge surface. 
     
     
         16 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove is a V-shaped groove. 
     
     
         17 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove further comprises a plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The pipette tip of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces is an inclined surface. 
     
     
         19 . The pipette tip of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces is an inclined surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces is a concave surface. 
     
     
         20 . The pipette tip of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         21 . The pipette tip of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         22 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove further comprises:
 a first annular inclined groove surface; 
 an annular concave groove surface adjacent to the first annular inclined groove surface; and 
 a second annular inclined groove surface adjacent to the annular concave groove surface. 
 
     
     
         23 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove further comprises:
 an annular inclined groove surface; and 
 an annular concave groove surface adjacent to the annular inclined groove surface. 
 
     
     
         24 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein the annular groove further comprises:
 a first annular concave groove surface; 
 an annular groove surface adjacent to the first annular concave groove surface; and 
 a second annular concave groove surface adjacent to the annular groove surface. 
 
     
     
         25 . The pipette tip of  claim 1 :
 wherein a first interface between the substantially cylindrical upper first portion and the annular groove is chamfered; and   wherein a second interface between the substantially cylindrical lower first portion and the annular groove is chamfered.   
     
     
         26 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular concave surface; 
 wherein the annular groove is concave; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         27 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular convex surface; 
 wherein the annular groove is concave; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface further comprises a circumferential upward facing tooth edge surface; 
 wherein the annular groove is concave; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         29 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the annular groove is a V-shaped groove; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         30 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an annular chamfered interior surface formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall extending radially inward from the open proximal end and terminating at a proximal end of the first section; 
 wherein the stop shoulder surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the sealing seat surface is an annular, substantially planar surface substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the pipette tip; 
 wherein the annular groove further comprises a plurality of adjacent annular groove surfaces; and 
 wherein the at least one frustoconical section further comprises:
 a fourth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the third section; and 
 a fifth section formed in the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall distal to the fourth section and proximal to the distal open end, wherein the fifth section has a greater taper than the fourth section.