Patents by Inventor Felix H. Yiu

Felix H. Yiu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10857533
    Abstract: A mechanism that provides an improved method of loading and unloading a row of disposable pipette tips onto a handheld multichannel pipettor. A single button for tip load and unload operations is simpler than the current method of using a separate mechanism for ejecting the tips. The tips are configured in a rigid collar which is held by a clamp on the pipettor. An upward force combined with a sealing gasket that mates with the top of the pipette tips is used to provide the seal between the tips and the pipettor. This eliminates the requirement to “press downward” with excessive force in order to force the pipette tips onto a protruding sealing part. The loading and unloading of tips will be more reliable and repeatable, this providing better pipetting results. The low forces of the loading and unloading operations reduce the chance of repetitive stress injury for the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20190022635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipette dispensing block with an improved design for the piston chambers. In a multichannel pipetting block with a grid or array of pipetting piston of any order, the individual piston chambers are individually manufactured using the injection molding process. The individual piston chambers are assembled into a grid or single line array and held together by upper and lower plates in combination with either stabilizing posts or walls. The piston chambers are designed and assembled with a dual O-ring design at the tip and a tip sealing gasket at the bottom to provide the air-tight seal that is required for optimum pipetting performance. When combined with pistons and a motor-driven lifting plate for the pistons, the entire assembly forms a forms a multichannel pipetting block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20180221864
    Abstract: A mechanism that provides an improved method of loading and unloading a row of disposable pipette tips onto a handheld multichannel pipettor. A single button for tip load and unload operations is simpler than the current method of using a separate mechanism for ejecting the tips. The tips are configured in a rigid collar which is held by a clamp on the pipettor. An upward force combined with a sealing gasket that mates with the top of the pipette tips is used to provide the seal between the tips and the pipettor. This eliminates the requirement to “press downward” with excessive force in order to force the pipette tips onto a protruding sealing part. The loading and unloading of tips will be more reliable and repeatable, this providing better pipetting results. The low forces of the loading and unloading operations reduce the chance of repetitive stress injury for the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20170361313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipette dispensing block with an improved design for the piston chambers. In a multichannel pipetting block with a grid or array of pipetting piston of any order, the individual piston chambers are individually manufactured using the injection molding process. The individual piston chambers are assembled into a grid or single line array and held together by upper and lower plates in combination with either stabilizing posts or walls. The piston chambers are designed and assembled with a dual o-ring design at the tip and a tip sealing gasket at the bottom to provide the air-tight seal that is required for optimum pipetting performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20170282174
    Abstract: A disposable filter tip collar provides an improved system for using filters in conjunction with disposable pipette tips. The filters are installed into the tip-holding collar rather than inside each tip as in current use. The separation of the filters from the tips in this manner offers significant advantages for ease of use, cost, and pipetting performance. Because the filters are separate from the tips, the available liquid pipetting volume within the tips is not diminished as it is using the current system, which allows for more consistent pipetting and method development between filter and non-filter tips. Since the filters are not limited in size by the internal diameter of the pipette tips, larger diameter filters can be used which are more efficient and allow better pipetting performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20170282188
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips into a single line using a tip collar that will provide structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips and the method of incorporating such an apparatus. Such rigidity created by the tip collar apparatus will allow for an innovative method of connecting a single line of pipette tips to their respective pipettors that will reduce the amount of downward axial force required to impinge the plurality of pipette tips using the traditional connection method. The tips will be maintained in a consistent and straight pattern as required for pipetting, and not susceptible to breakage. The tips can also be customized by the user into any pattern of tips in a single line as needed for specialized applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20170282187
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips into a single line or a rectangular array using a tip collar that will provide structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips. The tips are manufactured with vertical ribs and the tip collar is manufactured to achieve a friction fit with the vertical ribs of the tips, thereby producing a tip and collar assembly that is easier to manufacture, lower in cost, and more convenient for the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: FELIX H. YIU
  • Publication number: 20170246624
    Abstract: A mechanism that provides an improved method of loading and unloading a row of disposable pipette tips onto a handheld multichannel pipettor. A single button fur tip load and unload operations is simpler than the current method of using a separate mechanism for ejecting the tips. The tips are configured in a rigid collar which is held by a clamp on the pipettor. An upward force combined with a sealing gasket that mates with the top of the pipette tips is used to provide the seal between the tips and the pipettor. This eliminates the requirement to “press downward” with excessive force in order to force the pipette tips onto a protruding sealing part. The loading and unloading of tips will be more reliable and repeatable, this providing better pipetting results. The low forces of the loading and unloading operations reduce the chance of repetitive stress injury for the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Felix H Yiu
  • Patent number: 8117925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips using a tip collar that will provide structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips and the method of incorporating such an apparatus. Such rigidity created by the tip collar apparatus will allow for an innovative method of connecting the plurality of pipette tips to their respective pipettors that will reduce the amount of downward axial force required to impinge the plurality of pipette tips using the traditional connection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20100154921
    Abstract: A method for accurately and precisely aspirating and dispensing liquid from a in the nano-liter range without contacting the syringe tip to the target reservoir during dispensing. Such a method utilizes a partially collapsible syringe tip that compresses when subjected to pressurized fluid around its outer surface area to discharge a liquid at the tip of said partially collapsible syringe tip with a high velocity. Such a discharge of liquid at such a high speed allows even the smallest amount of liquid in the nano-liter range to be dispensed to a target reservoir without contacting the target reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: FELIX H. YIU
  • Publication number: 20090035186
    Abstract: An apparatus for accurately and precisely aspirating and dispensing liquid from a in the nano-liter range without contacting the syringe tip to the target reservoir during dispensing; and a method to utilize such an apparatus. Such an apparatus utilizes a partially collapsible syringe tip that compresses when subjected to pressurized fluid around its outer surface area to discharge a liquid at the tip of said partially collapsible syringe tip with a high velocity. Such a discharge of liquid at such a high speed allows even the smallest amount of liquid in the nano-liter range to be dispensed to a target reservoir without contacting the target reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20090007702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for lumping together a plurality of pipette tips using a collar that will provide structural rigidity to the loose plurality of pipette tips; and the method of incorporating such an apparatus. Such rigidity created by the collar apparatus will allow for an innovative method of connecting the plurality of pipette tips to their respective pipettors that will reduce the amount of downward axial force required to impinge a plurality of pipette tips using the traditional connection method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: FELIX H. YIU
  • Publication number: 20040223888
    Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way. Additionally, seals may be seated in grooves engraved in either the pipette tip or the pipette block to provide a sliding seal between the pipette block and pipette tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Patent number: 6780381
    Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20040071602
    Abstract: A pipettor head adapter allows the adaptation of pipettors having a set number of pipettor channels to successfully pipette microtiter trays having a different number of wells than the pipettor has pipettor channels. For example, in a pipettor having 384 channels for pipetting a 384 well microtiter tray, the pipettor head adapter of the present invention will allow a “stepping down” or adaptation, such that the pipettor with its 384 pipettor channels can successfully and reliably pipette microtiter trays having 96 wells. Such adaptation occurs without the need for special microtiter trays. Industry standard operations are then preserved, even though they were previously unavailable from such a pipettor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Publication number: 20030190263
    Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Patent number: 6464943
    Abstract: A laboratory evaporator device is disclosed which is modular in form so that the modular member supporting depending, upraised hollow needles or tubes through which evaporating fluid is conducted, may be individually sterilized and cleansed to thereby forestall cross-contamination. The laboratory device is simple in use, of relatively low cost and is of rugged construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Patent number: 6258324
    Abstract: A pipette dispensing block has an improved piston seal and lift plate engagement/disengagement means. In a pipette dispensing block where a piston is used to create a pressure differential to aspirate or extract and dispense or eject fluid material, the maintenance of a vacuum or increased pressure is enhanced by a pair of O-ring seals engaging the piston. A reservoir separates the O-rings and is filled with a low vapor pressure lubricant such as silicone oil or grease. The lubricant is maintained in the reservoir by the O-rings and serves to enhance the vacuum seal while maintaining the O-rings in a pliable and resilient manner. The heads of the pistons are engraved or grooved to leave a circular central pillar surrounded above and below by the piston head and a lower intermediate piston pillar section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Patent number: D366496
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu
  • Patent number: D422689
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Felix H. Yiu