Pipette tip disposal assembly
Inventors
Courtney, Paul • Reid, Martin • Jackson, Stuart • LaMont, John • McConnell, Ivan • Fitzgerald, Peter
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12208397-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a pipette tip disposal assembly. The assembly comprises a receiving element adapted to support an end of at least one pipette tip, the at least one pipette tip being toppled in use from the receiving element along a first direction; and a container positioned to receive the at least one toppled pipette tip, the at least one pipette tip falling towards a base of the container on being received by the container. The base of the container has a first linear dimension aligned with the first direction corresponding to the length of a pipette tip.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a biochemical testing system in which at least one pipette tip is discarded by a pipette tip disposal assembly. The assembly includes a receiving element adapted to support an end of the at least one pipette tip, wherein the at least one pipette tip is toppled in use from the receiving element along a first direction.
The system further includes a container positioned to receive the at least one toppled pipette tip, with the pipette tip falling towards a base of the container on being received. A key geometric constraint is that the base of the container has a first linear dimension aligned with the first direction, and the first linear dimension corresponds to the length of one of the pipette tips.
A delivery mechanism is adapted to hold the at least one pipette tip in use and is configured to deliver the at least one pipette tip to the receiving element and release it so as to cause the at least one pipette tip to topple into the container along the first direction. The design promotes regular ordered stacking of toppled pipette tips in the container, increases stacking density, and limits receiving-element-to-container separation to reduce rebound and disorder.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a biochemical testing system with a pipette tip disposal assembly and a delivery mechanism that deliver and release pipette tips to topple along a first direction into a container. The core inventive coverage centers on the receiving-and-container topology, the base dimension constraint aligned with pipette-tip length, and the delivery mechanism that causes toppling along the first direction.
Toppling pipette tips from a receiving element along a first direction into a receiving container
A pipette tip disposal assembly comprising a receiving element adapted to support an end of the at least one pipette tip, the at least one pipette tip being toppled in use from the receiving element along a first direction; and a container positioned to receive the at least one toppled pipette tip, the at least one pipette tip falling towards a base of the container on being received by the container.
Container base linear dimension aligned with first direction and corresponding to pipette-tip length
Wherein said base of the container has a first linear dimension aligned with the first direction, the first linear dimension corresponding to the length of one of the at least one pipette tip.
Delivery mechanism for delivering and releasing the pipette tip to topple along the first direction
A delivery mechanism adapted to hold the at least one pipette tip in use, wherein the delivery mechanism is configured to deliver the at least one pipette tip to the receiving element of the pipette tip disposal assembly and release the at least one pipette tip so as to cause the at least one pipette tip to topple into the container of the pipette tip disposal assembly along the first direction.
Force-based toppling release along the first direction
Releasing the pipette tip further comprises applying a force so as to cause the pipette tip(s) to be toppled along the first direction.
Cartesian coordinate robot delivery mechanism
The delivery mechanism comprises a Cartesian coordinate robot.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the claimed concept requires toppling from a receiving element into a container along a defined first direction, aligning a container-base first linear dimension with that direction to correspond to the pipette-tip length, and using a delivery mechanism that delivers and releases tips to cause the toppling along the first direction, including force-based toppling and a Cartesian coordinate robot implementation.
Stated Advantages
Promotes regular ordered stacking of toppled pipette tips in the container, increasing stacking density.
Reduces container replacement frequency by enabling increased packing density.
Limits receiving-element-to-container separation to reduce rebound and disorder during disposal.
Supports automated biochemical testing, including compatibility with a Cartesian coordinate robot and orientation guide features.
Documented Applications
Automated biochemical testing using a biochemical testing system that includes a pipette tip disposal assembly and a delivery mechanism for delivering and releasing pipette tips to a container for disposal.
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