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

Abstract

Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from an expanding mandrel pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device. The pipette tip couplers include circumferentially spaced apart segments for engaging a first interior working surface of a tip, an annular base disposed below the segments, a distal elastomeric element disposed around a distal stem portion for sealing against a second interior working surface of a tip, upwardly extending circumferentially spaced apart arms each supporting a different segment, and a segmented stop disk exteriorly disposed about a portion of the arms for abutting a stop shoulder in a tip. The pipette tips include a groove in a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical section, a pipette tip stop shoulder surface, a third cylindrical section, and a sealing seat surface.

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