Abstract: A porous protective sheath for active extraction media used in solid phase microextraction (SPME). The sheath permits exposure of the media to the environment without the necessity of extending a fragile coated fiber from a protective tube or needle. Subsequently, the sheath can pierce and seal with GC-MS septums, allowing direct injection of samples into inlet ports of analytical equipment. Use of the porous protective sheath, within which the active extraction media is contained, mitigates the problems of: 1) fiber breakage while the fiber is extended during sampling, 2) active media coating loss caused by physical contact of the bare fiber with the sampling environment; and 3) coating slough-off during fiber extension and retraction operations caused by rubbing action between the fiber and protective needle or tube.

Abstract: A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles.

Abstract: A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles.

Abstract: An automatic fluid sampler includes a substantially watertight housing and a structure for drawing fluid from outside the housing, wherein the fluid drawing structure is powered by stored potential energy within the housing. A method of automatic fluid sampling employs such samplers, and a fluid sampling system includes a plurality of interconnected samplers.

Abstract: A method and a multichannel pipetting apparatus (40) for simultaneous pipetting of a plurality of sample wells (44) or containers. The pipetting channels (12) of the apparatus have been divided into groups, which are connected via an adapter (30) containing a plurality of channels (31) to pipetting tips (20) of a known type. By changing the adapter or the adapter zone (22), a suitable configuration for different sample plates (42) or containers is selected.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing and/or aspirating device to be operated manually repeatedly, having a controlling device, a motor drive, control electronics, a manually actuatable actuating element, and a programming element, where the quantity of liquid which is conveyed by motor on actuation of the actuating element is adjusted in the control electronics by the programming element. A process interval (tp) for a plurality of process steps to be carried out in succession is stored in the control electronics. A first type of actuation of the actuating element triggers an individual process step, while a second type of actuation automatically results in repeated successive triggering of process steps, each in the process interval (tp). Handling of the device in practice is greatly improved by the fact that the process interval (tp) is automatically determined by the control electronics by analyzing the interval(s) occurring between the individual actuations of the actuating element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipette having a body (2), a casing (4), sheathing the body (2), and a graduation means (6) located between the body (2) and the casing (4).

Abstract: A sample suction apparatus includes: first through third members; a drive source; and a suction needle provided on the third member. The drive source reduces a distance between the first member and the third member to perform: a first action of shifting the first member toward the third member to contact the first member with a portion of a specimen vessel; a second action of shifting the second member together with the third member toward the first member to contact the second member with another portion of the specimen vessel so that the specimen vessel is sandwiched between the first and second members; and a third action of shifting the third member toward the first member to bring the third member close to the second member so that the suction needle is inserted in the specimen vessel.

Abstract: A pin tool assembly is provided for transferring small amounts of liquids to a substrate. The assembly includes a base plate with an array of apertures formed therethrough. Pins are disposed in the apertures. The pins and the apertures are dimensioned to permit sliding movement along the axis of the pins but to prevent wobbling movement. A weight plate is mounted over the pins to urge the pins into a fully seated position in the apertures. A transition cover is releasably engaged over the base plate. The cover includes a plurality of upwardly opening receptacles for releasable engagement with a pipette head. The pipette head can be employed with a robotic device for moving the pin tool assembly from a well plate or other liquid source to a selected destination for the liquid. The pin tool assembly then can be separated from the pipette head and discarded or recycled.

Abstract: A device for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples has a hollow body with a cavity for the liquid. A movement element for aspirating and/or dispensing the liquid is moved by a movement unit having a first drive element driven by a first drive. A pipette tip or adapter therefor, receives liquid from the cavity over a line, and a flush line discharges into the cavity. A carrier unit movably carries the movement unit in at least one spatial axis and includes at least one second drive element driven by a second drive. The movement unit includes the hollow body, the movement element, the first drive element, the second drive element and the pipette tip or adapter, as well as a pulse generator for generating pressure waves in the liquid in the cavity during dispensing, all these elements being movable together with respect to the carrier unit.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: A dispenser includes a plurality of arranged micropipettes, each including a sample-pouring port for pouring a sample solution from the outside, a cavity for pouring and charging the sample solution thereinto, and a sample discharge port for discharging the sample solution, and formed on at least one or more substrates. The micropipette further includes an actuator section disposed on at least one wall surface of the substrate which forms the cavity so that the sample solution is movable in the cavity, and the sample solution is discharged from the sample discharge port of each of the micropipettes. A pin, which protrudes upwardly, is provided at the sample-pouring port of each of the micropipettes.

Abstract: A pipette assembly (10) having a suction device (12 or 52) and a small volume disposable tip (14) having a capacity with a range of 0.1 &mgr;l to 2.0 &mgr;l, the disposable tip being removably secured to the suction device. The suction device is provided with a female tip receiver (38.2 or 78.1) which receives a disposable male tip (14). The tip is in the form of a short piece of extruded tubing. The tubing has a very small i.d., for example 0.3 mm. It is preferably formed of Teflon®, or another hydrophobic material.

Abstract: A sample solution measuring device for detecting dissolved substances in a sample solution by measuring a potential difference between the sample solution and a reference solution, the sample solution measuring device, including: a sample solution container; a reference solution container; a substrate thin film is located between the sample solution container and the reference solution container and having a hole in which a bilayer lipid membrane is formed, where the sample solution and the reference solution come into contact with each other; a mechanism which forms the bilayer lipid membrane by ejecting a lipid solution; and, a mechanism which ejects a cleaning fluid to the substrate thin film.

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.

Abstract: A method for detaching a barrier means adapted to the end part of the suction device for closing an opening in the end part by the movement of a plunger intended for changing the volume of a cylindrical space provided in the end part whereby the barrier means is removed by bringing means for limiting the movement of the plunger in the cylindrical space, e.g. means intended for removing the disposable tip, in such a position that the plunger can be brought into contact with the barrier means for detaching the barrier means from the end part of the suction device.

Abstract: A method comprises positively displacing a first candidate luminescence material precursor from a dispenser to a first position of an array, displacing a second candidate luminescence material precursor from a dispenser mechanism to a second position of an array and simultaneously reacting the first and second candidates to produce a library of luminescence materials. A combinatorial high throughput screening liquid dispenser assembly comprises a battery of positive displacement driven dispensers for dispensing solutions of precursor luminescence materials, an array plate with wells to receive dispensed solution from the dispenser, a robotic positioning table supporting the array plate to position wells beneath respective dispensers and a controller to control dispensing of the solutions and positioning of the plate.

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.

Abstract: A position of a piston fluid-tightly sliding along an inner surface of a pipette is instantaneously changed by a short distance to jet a portion of a liquid in the pipette through the nozzle of the pipette as a drop. The instantaneously changed position is provided by a motor which is commonly used for moderately changing the position of the piston to taking-in and taking-out the liquid. The instantaneous minute position changing may be provided with a piezoelectric actuator. An attachable nozzle cap having a nozzle-cap nozzle (through hole) of which diameter is smaller than that of the nozzle of the pipette may be used. The portion of the liquid jetted from the pipette may be detected. The instantaneous changing may be repeated to jet a desired amount of said liquid. The short distance may be adjusted in accordance with the desired amount.

Abstract: An improved sorbent cartridge for use in preparing fluid samples by solid phase extraction for chemical analysis is provided that uses a pipette having a longitudinal axis and a tip having walls defining a uniformly tapered interior cavity extending along the axis and opening at a distal end of the tip. A porous barrier is placed in the tapered cavity at a predetermined location in the tip to define a sorbent volume between the barrier, the cavity walls and the opening at the distal end of the tip. The barrier allows processing fluids to pass through the barrier while retaining the sorbent. A slurry of sorbent material is drawn into the sorbent volume by a syringe in fluid communication with the pipette tip. The solvent is drawn through the barrier, filing the sorbent volume with sorbent material. A serum to be analyzed is similarly drawn into the sorbent through the opening in the distal end of the tip, by applying a suction to the tip.

Abstract: In this invention we describe a magnet or magnetic material that is attached to a pipette to hang it on a ferrous or magnetic material. The magnet can be attached to any place on the pipette in such a way that the pipette can be hung as desired on the magnetic or ferrous surface such as ferrous clips, iron or steel sheets (refrigerator, lab bench, hood etc.). This will help to organize the laboratories. Furthermore this will reduce the contamination from pipette to pipette and sample to sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing a high density biological or chemical array onto a solid support. Specifically, the apparatus is made up of a plurality of open ended channels collectively forming a matrix. The matrix has been redrawn and cut such that the pitch of the channels on the loading end is larger than the pitch of the channels on the liquid delivery end. The upper portion of each channel serves as a reservoir, while the opposing end, which has been formed by the redrawing process, is diametrically sized such that liquid in the reservoir is retained by capillary pressure at the delivery end. At any point along the height of the capillary reservoir device, all cross-sectional dimensions and areas are uniformly reduced. In other words, the on-center orientation of any two channels, also referred to as the pitch between 2 channels, measured as a function of the diameter of any cross section, is constant throughout the structure.

Abstract: Laboratory pipette (1) composed particularly of a transparent tube (3) comprising one end (4) for sampling a liquid and one suction end (5) into which a piece (2) of fibrous material is inserted with a colour color corresponding to at least one characteristic of the pipette and particularly to its nominal volume, characterised characterized in that the piece of fibrous material (2) is in the form of a braid of interlaced threads of synthetic fibres fibers, the said braid being folded such that the fold (21) thus formed is located towards the inside of the pipette, and a method of identifying at least one characteristic of the pipette.

Abstract: A method for detecting the type of replaceable piston-cylinder unit mounted in pipetting or dosing apparatus with the help of a code marking on the piston rod head, so as to eliminate the influence of the chain of tolerances piston rod head/piston rod/piston/cylinder bottom/cylinder flange so that, to a certain extent, larger tolerances may be tolerated for the parts of the piston-cylinder units involves generating relative movement between the piston rod head and a detection device, and thereby detecting a reference point on the piston head with the detection device from laterally of the piston head, and generating relative movement between the piston rod head and the detection device and thereby detecting a code marking of the piston rod head in order to determine the type of piston-cylinder unit mounted.

Abstract: An air displacement pipette having axially spaced annular sealing and substantially cylindrical lateral support zones on the outer surface of the pipette's mounting shaft for mating with axially spaced annular sealing and substantially cylindrical lateral support regions on the inner surface of a pipette tip, whereby the pipette tip is easily and firmly mountable on and easily ejectable from the pipette tip mounting shaft by the application of minimal axial mounting and ejection forces.

Abstract: A pipette gun and holster apparatus having a remote source of positive and negative air pressure. The holster supports the pipette gun above a work table with the pipette connector oriented generally, vertically downwardly. The holster has a base which may be fastened to a vertical wall. A mounting bracket is fixed to and extends transverse to the base. The bracket has a bottomless socket constructed and arranged to receive and removably hold the pipette gun by inserting the pipette connector into the socket. A switch deactivates the remote air pressure source when the pipette gun is parked in the holster and energizes the remote air pressure source when the pipette gun is removed from the holster. A method of metering fluid using a pipette gun and holster apparatus. The holster is removable fastened to a vertical surface next to or proximate a horizontal work table top.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with a vessel capable of receiving fluid specimens for clinical analysis and diagnosis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between the fluid specimen and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device, and may include a plurality of striations which were discovered to further improve penetrability of the cap. In this way, substances can be dispensed into or withdrawn from the vessel without having to physically separate the cap from the vessel. Also featured are fluid transfer devices and caps having surface ribs and/or grooves which aid in creating passageways for venting displaced air from a penetrated collection device.

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.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly for liquid droplets that includes a dispenser connected to a liquid carrying pipe which in turn is connected to a source of pressurized liquid. The dispenser has an elongated body member having a main bore connected to the liquid carrying pipe. At the other end, the main bore has a valve seat that is connected to a nozzle having a nozzle bore terminating in a dispensing tip. A valve boss of ferromagnetic material covered with a soft polymer is mounted in the main bore and has a cross-sectional area less than that of the main bore. A separate valve boss actuating coil assembly has upper and lower coils that are separate from the main body that can be unplugged from both coils and from the liquid carrying pipe. As such, the main body can be a disposable member.

Abstract: A three stage needle for use with a sampling station of an autosampler to facilitate gas and liquid extractions and injections. The needle includes a bottom stage, a middle stage, and a top stage. Each of the stages of the needle includes at least one aperture used to extract gas or liquid from a specimen or perform an injection. In addition, each of the stages can be placed in fluidic communication with the sampling station to facilitate the desired extraction or injection.

Abstract: A spot picker is comprised of a pipette and a disposable cutting tip. The pipette is comprised of a housing with a suction tube projecting from a lower end. An actuation button is positioned at the top end of the housing. The actuation button is connected to a piston inside the suction tube. A plunger attached to the piston has a lower end positioned outside the suction tube. The cutting tip is comprised of a hollow tube with an open proximal end attached to the suction tube. A compressible porous hydrophobic filter is securely but movably positioned within the hollow tube. The cutting tip cuts a gel spot when its open lower end is pushed into a sheet of gel. The plunger pushes the filter outward to discharge the gel spot from the cutting tip when the actuation button is fully depressed.

Abstract: A pipette tip member having an elongated tubular receptacle having a sidewall having a plurality of stabilizing projections extending from the sidewall for aligning the pipette shaft and a sidewall with a bifurcated section that comprises first, second, and third sidewall portions. The first sidewall portion comprises a base wall and the second and third sidewall portions branch therefrom. The second sidewall portion comprises an outside branch wall, and the third sidewall portion comprises an inside branch wall spaced substantially parallel with and radially inward from the second sidewall portion. The inside branch wall is flexible in the radial direction and engages a pipette tip when it is inserted into the receptacle and to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. A method of forming a pipette tip member is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for automatically transferring and weighing a powder material. The apparatus comprises a weigh station including a device for weighing the powder material in a container. A transfer device for collecting and dispensing the powder material is provided in which the device has a hollow body having a first end and a second end. The first end being operatively connected to a vacuum source so that a vacuum is selectively formed in the body. A collecting/dispensing tip is detachably coupled to the second end of the body. The tip is a hollow member with a tip orifice at one end so that a vacuum is formed in the tip upon actuation of the vacuum source. A controller for causing the selective actuation of the vacuum source and movement of at least one of the transfer device and the container is provided.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) for liquid droplets of the order of 30 &mgr;l or less in volume. The dispenser (1) comprises a metering valve body (2) having a main bore (3) connected by a pipe (4) to a pressurised liquid delivery source (not shown). The body (2) comprises a base (5) from which is mounted a nozzle (6) projecting above the base (5) to form a valve seat (7). An actuating coil assembly (11) is mounted on the exterior of the body (2) for moving a floating valve boss (15) of a ferromagnetic material. Sensing coils (20, 21) are mounted around and spaced-apart along the body (2) forming part of a valve boss detector. The valve boss detector acts as a positional movement detector so that the opening and closing of the valve can be accurately controlled and bouncing of the valve boss (15) either against an end stop (9) or on the valve seat (7) can be greatly minimized, if not prevented fully, by careful operation of the actuating coil assembly (11).

Abstract: A self contained dispensing head apparatus wherein a modified pipette tip box tray carrier is utilized to furnish pipette tips, carried in a standard pipette tip box, by a pipette tip box tray carrier to the head apparatus and wherein means are provided to engage the pipette tip box tray carrier in a manner whereby the pipette tips are loaded into corresponding internal cylinders formed in the dispense block head. The dispense block head comprises a solid block of material having a plurality of internal cylinders to engage the pipette tips in a sealing arrangement. The pipette tips are modified from the conventional design in that a disk-shaped ring portion is interposed adjacent one end of the pipette tip, a tapered end of the tip allowing a seal to be formed with the dispense block head internal cylinders.

Abstract: A pipette tip member having an elongated tubular receptacle having a sidewall with a bifurcated section that comprises first, second, and third sidewall portions. The first sidewall portion comprises a base wall and the second and third sidewall portions branch therefrom. The second sidewall portion comprises an outside branch wall, and the third sidewall portion comprises an inside branch wall spaced substantially parallel with and radially inward from the second sidewall portion. The inside branch wall is flexible in the radial direction and engages a pipette tip when it is inserted into the receptacle and to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. A method of forming a pipette tip member is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for mixing a liquid within a disposable aspirating probe tip so that most of the liquid is forced to move past a transition zone between two different inside diameters to cause rotational mixing. The apparatus and method can be used to provide agglutination of blood, which in turn can be used for blood typing. The probe tip can comprise a single integral piece, or two separate portions. The transition zone can comprise a sharp demarcation between inside diameters, or a smooth one.

Abstract: A dual-manifold assembly is provided for the rapid, parallel transfer of liquid reagents from a microtiter plate to a solid state microelectronic device having biological sensors integrated thereon. The assembly includes aspiration and dispense manifolds connected by a plurality of conduits. In operation, the aspiration manifold is actuated such that the aspiration manifold is seated onto an array of reagent-filled wells of the microtiter plate. The wells are pressurized to force reagent through conduits toward the dispense manifold. A pressure pulse provided by a standard ink-jet printhead ejects nanoliter-to-picoliter droplets of reagent through an array of printhead orifices and onto test sites on the surface of the microelectronic device.

Abstract: A multiple channel pipetting device and pipette shaft, in which each pipette shaft has a circumferential seal receptacle inside, at its upper end in which the circumferential plunger seal is positioned and in which the circumferential plunger seal, at least in the case of a pulled back pipette plunger, definitely remains in the seal receptacle when the pipetted shaft is removed from the shaft carrier.

Abstract: The drop-by-drop evaporation of a liquid or solution is controlled by monitoring the disappearance of each successive droplet and by actuating the deposition of the next droplet until the desired volume is deposited. In the case of a solution, non-volatile residue (NVR) is collected on a deposition surface plate as a relatively small mound. One of a variety of methods may be employed to measure the evaporative behavior of each droplet and to key the deposition procedure. The process is preferably carried out employing a clean deposition surface plate that is maintained at or below the boiling point of the particular liquid or solvent being deposited. The environment is preferably controlled so that inadvertent contamination is precluded from interfering, and thus the method permits the automatic, micro-processor controlled evaporation of liquids with the resultant deposition of non-volatile residues from solutions within relatively short periods of time.

Abstract: The invention disclosed in this application is a method and device for combining the sampling and analyzing of sub-dermal fluid samples, e.g., interstitial fluid or whole blood, in a device suitable for hospital bedside and home use. It is applicable to any analyte that exists in a usefully representative concentration in the fluid, and is especially suited to the monitoring of glucose.

Abstract: Several pin transfer assemblies are disclosed that utilize the surface tension of liquids for picking up and dispensing minute volumes of liquid from wells in a first well plate to a flat substrate surface or into wells in a second well plate. In one embodiment, a plurality of pins reciprocate through complementary arrays of holes in a base plate and an overlying spring plate biased apart by coil springs located around the periphery of the base plate. A foam layer sits on top of the spring plate and a weight plate sits on top of the foam layer. A single coil spring is positioned between a center of the weight plate and the cover to push the weight plate downwardly. The periphery of the cover guides the vertical movement of the weight plate and is connected to the periphery of the base plate. The periphery of the base plate is supported by a frame used to register the pin assembly in a receptacle of a manual or automated liquid transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A present micro array manufacturing apparatus includes a substrate placement portion 11 on which a plurality of substrates can be arranged, a tighter plate 12 for storing a solution including a living body sample, a solution storing member 52 for taking in the solution from the tighter plate 12 and storing the solution therein, and a needle 51 which can be inserted into the solution storing member 52 to allow the solution stored in the solution storing member 52 to adhere onto each of the substrates by a given quantity, wherein the solution storing member 52 and needle 51 are moved in directions where they approach and part away from the substrates to thereby form spots on the substrates. And, the individual operations of the solution storing member 52 and needle 51 are carried out by single drive means 32.

Abstract: A multi-channel dispensing head including a plurality of micropipettes, each micropipette having an electrically actuatable trigger device with a ground and signal terminal; and a shared carrier having a plurality of receptacles located in a one- or two-dimensional arrangement and sized and shaped to receive said micropipettes, each receptacle having a ground and signal contact, wherein the ground and signal contacts on the carrier are spaced apart in the direction of a longitudinal axis extending through the respective micropipettes and each of the ground and signal contacts on the carrier contacting the ground and signal terminals of the trigger devices, respectively.

Abstract: A pipette tip member having an elongated tubular receptacle with a protrusion on an inner surface of the receptacle, and a recess on the inner surface adjacent the protrusion. The tip member has a generally conical shape and the protrusion extends around the inner surface to form an annular sealing ring. The protrusion has a V-shaped axial cross section with edges that intersect at an angle between about 30° and about 120°. The recess has a generally circular axial cross section and the recess is disposed proximal to the protrusion in the axial direction. The recess depth is about as great as the protrusion height. A method of forming a pipette tip member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dosing device is provided and comprises a withdrawal container and a dosing means comprising at least one dosing unit which is a piston-cylinder unit designed as a disposable member. The piston-cylinder unit discharges into a receiving container and valve means is provided to control flow into and out of the piston-cylinder unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a one-piece pipette/dropper assembly that includes a pipette portion, a threaded cap portion, and bulb portion. The cap potion has a top wall including a top and bottom surface and the bulb portion has a first end integrally formed with the top wall of the cap on the top surface. The pipette portion has a first end integrally formed with the top wall of the cap on the bottom surface thereof. The bulb potion communicates with the pipette potion through the first end of the pipette portion and the pipette portion has an opening in a second end for receiving and discharging a fluid.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser characterized by a dispensing head which is movable upward and downward as a whole and comprises a plurality of plungers supported by a plunger plate, drive means for moving the plunger plate upward and downward, a plurality of cylinders in which the plungers slidably fit, and a plurality of nozzles arranged at the lower ends of the cylinders and having configurations adapted to engage airtightly with holes for holding specific dispensing tips, the plurality of nozzles being supported by a single nozzle holder, which is built to be detachable from said dispensing head. According to the invention, only the nozzle holder that support nozzles has to be replaced with another holder conforming to dispensing tips of different dimensions. The arrangement facilitates the replacement and make the dispenser available at lower cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipette having a body (2), a casing (4), sheathing the body (2), and a graduation means (6) located between the body (2) and the casing (4).

Abstract: The invention provides multichannel pipette heads and autopipettors for loading, measuring, transporting and dispensing, particularly from one micro-plate to another. An exemplary multichannel pipette head comprises a pump housing, pistons, a drive plate, an aspiration drive and bearing rails, wherein the pump housing comprises chambers adapted to receive the pistons, the pistons each comprise a shaft, the drive plate retains the pistons and translocates the piston shafts through the chambers, the aspiration drive translocates the drive plate along the bearing rails which pass through the drive plate and attach to the pump housing.