Abstract: A pipette for repeatedly aspirating and dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid. The pipette includes a hollow body having first and second extremities. The second extremity is adapted to removably receive the pipette tip. An ejector is carried by the body and has a first extremity disposed within the first extremity of the housing and a second extremity movable vertically about the second extremity of the housing. The ejector is movable from a first position for permitting the pipette tip to be securely mounted on the second extremity of the housing and a second position for pushing the pipette tip off of the second extremity of the housing. A spring is carried by the housing and is compressed so as to store energy in the spring. A locking mechanism is additionally carried by the housing for retaining the spring in the compressed position.

Abstract: A method for testing IC devices for radiation hardness in a non-destructive manner, comprising subjecting a device under test (DUT) originally in an insensitized state, to a state in which the DUT is more sensitive to adverse effects of ionizing dose radiation and while the DUT is in the more sensitive state, subjecting the DUT to a low level of ionizing radiation to degrade performance of the DUT and electrical testing followed by a restoration of the DUT to its original insensitized state.

Abstract: A volume adjustable manual pipette having a hand-holdable housing supporting (i) an electronic digital display and associated position sensing and control circuitry, (ii) a plunger unit and (iii) a quick set volume adjustment mechanism for simultaneously controlling the volume setting of the pipette and the electronic display, the quick set volume adjustment mechanism comprising a pipette volume setting member for limiting upward movement of the plunger unit within the housing to define the volume setting for the pipette and the volume setting member being supported for axial movement on the plunger unit and releasably secured relative to the housing by a pipette user operable locking mechanism. When released from the housing, the volume setting member is axially moveable on and with the plunger unit to quickly set the volume for the pipette.

Abstract: A blowout springless manual air displacement pipette including a mechanical assist for generating a mechanical force opposing a return spring force on a plunger unit to aid a pipette user in locating and maintaining the plunger unit at a “home” position within a pipette body and ready for immersion of a pipette tip in a liquid to be drawn into the tip.

Abstract: An ergonomic, manually precisely controllable return springless air displacement pipette relying on the friction of a piston seal to maintain a plunger unit of the pipette in any axial location established by a user of the pipette.

Abstract: A bilaterally symmetrical lightweight hand holdable battery powered microprocessor controlled electronic pipette including an axially elongated hollow housing having a vertically extending longitudinal axis. An upper portion of the housing includes a forward compartment containing a forwardly facing alpha-numeric display, a plurality of columns of forwardly facing control keys and plurality of forwardly facing trigger switches arranged in a vertically spaced pattern such that a user in gripping a lower handle portion of the housing in either his or her right or left hand can easily reach with his thumb the control keys, trigger switches as well as a push button of a pipette tip ejector.

Abstract: A refill pack of light weight low mass material containing an array of replacement pipette tips for a reusable tip rack. The refill pack comprises a support plate with an array of holes containing pipette tips arranged in an organized manner and including a guide for centering and guiding the support plate onto the tip rack with distal end portions of the pipette tips aligned with corresponding holes in an organizing tray in the tip rack, the support plate including vertically extending lateral support means adjacent at least some of the holes in the plate to engage sides of the pipette tips to laterally support such tips against lateral rocking on the plate.

Abstract: A battery powered, microprocessor controlled portable electronic pipette, comprising a hand holdable housing supporting a battery, a linear actuator for driving a plunger lengthwise in a cylinder to aspirate and dispense fluid into and from a pipette tip extending from the housing and a control circuit for the linear actuator. The linear actuator is powered by the battery and comprises a stepper motor with current receiving windings for electromagnetically driving a rotor to impart the lengthwise movement to the plunger.

Abstract: An air displacement pipette having axially spaced annular sealing and frusto-conical lateral support zones and regions on the pipette's mounting shaft and tip, respectively, in combination with structure for insuring uniform depth of mounting shaft penetration into the pipette tip to maintain uniform tip interference with the mounting shaft as successive tips are mounted on and ejected from the mounting shaft whereby the pipette tip is easily and firmly mountable on and ejectable from the pipette tip mounting shaft by the application of reduced user generated axial forces.

Abstract: A plastic pipette tip easily and firmly mountable on and easily ejectable from a pipette mounting shaft of a pipette by application of relatively small axial mounting and ejection forces of about six and three (3) pounds respectively. The pipette tip includes a tubular proximal portion comprising (i) a frusto-conical open upper end portion having an inner diameter at its upper end greater than the diameter of a mounting shaft of the pipette to which the pipette tip is to be mounted, (ii) a hollow mid-portion and (iii) an annular sealing region at a junction of the open end and mid-portions. The annular sealing region has an inner diameter less than “x” and is designed to engage a lower end of a sealing zone of the mounting shaft to stretch radially outward as the mounting shaft is guided and stably oriented in the proximal portion thereby creating a fluid tight seal between the sealing zone and the sealing region.