BACKGROUND
1. Field on the Invention
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to multichannel air displacement pipettors employing
disposable pipette tips, and is concerned in the particular with the provision of
an adapter for providing an interface between the pipette tips and the pipettor.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Air displacement pipettors are typically used to transfer liquids between vessels
as part of an assay. Common vessels are microtiter plates, test tubes and reservoirs.
[0003] Air displacement pipettors frequently make use of a piston and cylinder arrangement,
which is used to create positive and negative pressure in an attached pipette tip.
When the open end of the tip is placed into a liquid, the change in pressure causes
the liquid to be aspirated into, or dispensed from, the interior of the pipette tip.
[0004] Cross contamination can occur when a first liquid sample aspirated into and then
dispensed from a pipette tip leaves a residual amount of sample in the tip. A subsequently
aspirated sample mixes with the residual first sample and is thus contaminated. This
type of cross contamination can also occur through residual sample on the exterior
of the pipette tip.
[0005] In order to avoid cross contamination errors, most air displacement pipettors are
designed to make use of pipette tips that are relatively low cost and therefore, in
critical applications, disposable after each aspirate-dispense cycle. The design of
the pipette tip and its associated mounting shaft is well established. The pipette
tips are commonly injection molded in a chemically resistant material such as polypropylene.
They are conical in shape. The pipettor's mounting shaft is typically cylindrical
with a slight taper that closely matches the conical angle and diameter of the tip.
The tip is installed by applying an axial force to the mounting shaft that forces
the tapered portion of the shaft into the tip. Flexibility of the tip material allows
it to stretch radially and provide both an air-tight seal and mechanical stability
of the tip to the pipetting device. The typical axial force required to securely mount
a single tip onto a tip mounting shaft is between 1.5 and 4 lbs (6.7 and 18 N). To
remove the pipette tip from the pipettor, a stripper mechanism is typically used to
push the tip from the mounting shaft. Tip ejection forces are in the same range as
the mounting forces.
[0006] In order to increase productivity, air displacement pipettors with 96, 384 and higher
numbers of channels have been developed. These multichannel pipettors must generate
relatively high force in the direction of the axis of the tips in order to simultaneously
install the array of tips. For example, a 96 channel pipettor using tips with average
insertion forces will require over 200lbs (890 N) of axial force to successfully install
all of the tips. These forces are typically generated through the use of mechanical
force multipliers (levers) or powered electromechanical systems. The structure of
the pipettor has to be robust in order to support the high tip loading force without
distortion. This leads to heavier designs that require more power to operate effectively.
In addition to these design issues, the safety of the user is also a significant concern
when such high forces are present.
[0007] Pipette tips are frequently packaged in a rack that positions them with their top
surfaces in a common plane with centerline spacing that matches that of the instrument.
For example, a 96 channel pipette tip rack holds an 8 x 12 array of tips with 9mm
between centers. The high forces required to attach all of the tips in the rack often
causes the tip rack to bow in the center of the array, resulting in poor sealing and
attachment of centrally located tips. To counter this, tip manufacturers reinforce
the tip racks intended for use with multichannel pipettors. This, in turn, increases
the cost of the racks and therefore the cost to operate the instrument.
[0008] Other multichannel pipettor manufacturers have developed proprietary pipette tips
that are designed to lower the insertion and ejection forces. These tips are often
more complex and expensive to produce and usually lock the customer into purchasing
the manufacturer's specially designed tip for the life of the instrument.
[0009] US 2002/086440 A1 discloses a known multichannel pipetting apparatus for simultaneous pipetting of
a plurality of sample wells or containers. The pipetting channels of the apparatus
have been divided into groups, which are connected via an adapter containing a plurality
of channels to pipetting tips of a known type. By changing the adapter or the adapter
zone, a suitable configuration for different sample plates or containers is selected.
[0010] US 4237095 A discloses a disposable pipette tip vessel intended for use in connection with a dosage
pipette. The upper part of said tip vessel is designed so that it can be connected,
by means of a friction joint, to the lower part of the cylindrical portion of the
pipette or of an extension of said cylindrical part. The lowest point of the tip vessel
is provided with a hole for suction of the liquid to be pipetted into the tip vessel
and, correspondingly, for emptying the tip vessel of the liquid contained therein.
SUMMARY
[0011] Broadly stated, embodiments of the present invention address the drawbacks of the
prior art by providing a pipette tip adapter whose purpose is to adapt commonly available
low cost pipette tips to a multichannel air displacement pipettor in a way that reduces
the mounting and ejection forces described above. Any universal pipette tip available
in the marketplace can be assembled to the pipette tip adapter. End users of the related
multichannel air displacement pipettor designed to accept the pipette tip adapter
would install the assembly onto the pipettor. The pipette tip adapter reduces the
forces required to mount and seal the tips to less than 10 lbs (44 N). Ejection forces
are equally reduced.
[0012] The method of connecting a multichannel air displacement pipettor to an array of
pipette tips, using the adapter as disclosed herein, is defined by the appended claims.
Further embodiments are set out in the dependent claims, in the following description
and in the drawings.
[0013] In exemplary embodiments, the pipette tip adapter as disclosed herein comprises a
planar base with an array of openings extending between its top and bottom surfaces.
Sealing tubes project upwardly from top surface of the base, and tip mounting tubes
project downwardly from the bottom surface of the base. Pairs of sealing tubes and
tip mounting tubes re arranged coaxially and in communication with respective ones
of the openings in the base. The tip mounting tubes are externally dimensioned and
configured for insertion into the conical upper ends of pipette tips, and the sealing
tubes are externally configured and dimensioned for insertion into ports of a multichannel
air displacement pipettor.
[0014] The base may preferably be strengthened by networks of reinforcing ribs on its top
and/or bottom surfaces.
[0015] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become
more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016]
Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a pipette tip adapter in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the pipette tip adapter;
Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the pipette tip adapter;
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the pipette tip adapter;
Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view showing the pipette tip adapter attached to an
array of pipette tips;
Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view through the pipette tip adapter and attached pipette
tips;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a multichannel air displacement pipettor designed
to employ the pipette tip adapter as described herein;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken through the operating head of
the pipettor shown in Fig. 7, and showing the pistons fully withdrawn;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the illustration in Fig. 8; and
Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the pistons of the pipettor partially
advanced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] With reference initially to Figs. 1- 6, a pipettor tip adapter in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment as described herein is generally indicated at 10. The pipette
tip adapter comprises a planar base 12 with an array of openings 14 extending between
bottom and top surface 16, 18 of the base.
[0018] Sealing tubes indicated typically at 20 project upwardly from the top surface 16,
and tip mounting tubes indicated typically at 22 project downwardly from the bottom
surface 18. Pairs of sealing tubes 20 and mounting tubes 22 are arranges coaxially
and in communication with respective ones of the openings 14 in the base 12.
[0019] The sealing tubes 20 and tip mounting tubes 22 may be arranged in an array of rows
and columns. The spacing of the rows and columns matches the commonly available tip
spacing of both multichannel pipettors and associated racks found in the marketplace.
These in turn match the well positions of commonly available micro titer plates. Nine
and four and a half millimeters are two common spacing distances. By way of example,
a 96 channel pipettor has twelve rows and eight columns of tips on nine millimeter
spacing, while a 384 channel pipettor has a twenty four by sixteen matrix on a four
and a half millimeter spacing. This channel pipettor can also be used in a one-dimensional
array format. For example, a single row of twelve on a nine mm spacing.
[0020] As can be best seen in Fig. 6, the tip mounting tubes 22 comprise truncated conical
cones configured and dimensioned for insertion and sealing interengagement with the
conical upper ends 24 of pipette tips 26. Fig. 5 shows an array of pipette tips 26
secured to the tip mounting tubes of the adapter.
[0021] Base 12 may be advantageously strengthened by a network of upper reinforcing ribs
28 on its top surface 16, and/or a similar network of lower reinforcing ribs 30 on
its bottom surface 18. The sealing tubes 20 may be located where the upper reinforcing
ribs 28 converge, whereas the tip mounting tubes 22 may be located in areas of the
bottom surface bracketed by the lower reinforcing ribs 30.
[0022] The sealing tubes 20 have cylindrical walls with chamfered upper ends 20a. The tip
mounting tubes 22 project downwardly below the lower reinforcing ribs 30, and the
sealing tubes 20 project upwardly above the upper reinforcing ribs 28.
[0023] With reference to Fig. 7, a multichannel air displacement pipettor is generally indicated
at 32. The head 34 of the pipettor is designed to accept the pipette adapter 10. To
this end, the pipette adapter may be provided with laterally extending rails 36 which
are designed to slide into receiving slots in the pipettor head. Tabs 35 also may
be provided to facilitate handling the adapter.
[0024] As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the pipettor head has an array of cylinders indicated
typically at 38 matching the array of sealing tubes 20 of the tip adapter 10. The
cylinders 38 lead to ports lined with O-rings providing compliant internal sealing
surfaces. Although O-rings 40 are shown, any equivalent compliant seal material and
appropriate geometry could be employed. For example, a sheet of elastomeric material
with a matrix of aligned bore holes could be employed.
[0025] The chamfered upper ends 20a of the sealing tubes serve to lower the insertion forces
of the sealing tubes into the ports of the pipettor cylinders 38 while also reducing
wear and tear of the O-rings 40 or other like compliant sealing surfaces.
[0026] Pistons indicated typically at 42 are arranged for reciprocal movement in the cylinders
38. In Fig. 8, the pistons 42 are withdrawn in the cylinders 38 away from the adapter
10, and in Fig. 10, the pistons are shown advanced in the cylinders.
[0027] The tip adapter 10 is preferably injection molded using standard tooling methods
and common processing techniques. Materials can include any rigid injection moldable
polymer, with polypropylene being preferred. Additionally, a polymer with an internal
lubricant that blooms to the surface of the part is preferable because the presence
of the lubricant on the surface will reduce insertion forces and wear and tear on
the seals.
[0028] The exemplary embodiment herein described is preferably disposable. A non-disposable
version is also possible, its design being essentially identical but produced from
a material that is more robust and autoclavable. In such a design, the tips are installed
to the adapter by the user with a dedicated fixture.
[0029] To reduce the capital cost required to build injection molds, multiple tip size geometries
can be accommodated in a single adapter by arranging the tip mounting tubes in a tiered
geometry, where the larger tips fit on one tier and the smaller tips on a second tier.
[0030] Often, disposable pipette tips incorporate filters. The purpose of the filter is
to avoid aerosol contamination of the pipette mechanism by the liquid being pipetted.
The pipette tip adapter may be configured to accept such filters, thereby eliminating
the need to use expensive tips with filters pre-installed in them.
[0031] In light of the above, it will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the adapter as described herein offers significant and heretofore unavailable advantages.
The chamfered upper ends 20a of the sealing tubes 20 interact with the O-rings or
equivalent compliant sealing materials to beneficially reduce the forces required
to connect the pipette tips to the pipettor. For example, in the case of a 96 channel
pipettor, the adapter's sealing tubes 20 can be successfully inserted into the cylinder
ports of the pipettor with a minimal coupling force on the order of 10lbs (44 N).
This can be accomplished safely without exposing an operator to potential injury.
[0032] The adapter base 12, preferably when strengthened by the upper and/or lower reinforcing
ribs 28, 30, provides a rigid platform supporting the tip mounting tubes 22 and sealing
tubes 20. Thus, the adapter can be pressed onto an array of pipette tubes without
undergoing deflection that might otherwise compromise uniform and reliable sealed
insertion of the tip mounting tubes 22. This same rigidity, when coupled with the
minimal coupling forces referenced above, results in a more uniform and reliable insertion
of the sealing tubes into the pipettor cylinder ports.
[0033] Higher forces may be required to install the pipette tips on the adapter, but this
can be accomplished in a factory setting prior to supplying the loaded adapter to
a user, or by the user with a specially designed press incorporating appropriate safety
features.
[0034] The disclosure herein relates to the following aspects:
- a) An adapter for connecting a multichannel air displacement pipettor to an array
of pipette tips, said pipette tips having through bores with conical upper ends, and
said pipettor having a plurality of ports with compliant internal sealing surfaces,
said adapter comprising:
a planar base with an array of openings extending between top and bottom surfaces
of said base; sealing tubes projecting upwardly from said top surface, and tip mounting
tubes projecting downwardly from said bottom surface, pairs of sealing tubes and tip
mounting tubes being arranged coaxially and in communication with respective ones
of the openings in said base, said tip mounting tubes being externally dimensioned
and configured for insertion into the conical upper ends of said pipette tips, and
said sealing tubes being externally configured and dimensional for insertion into
the ports of said pipettor and into sealing interengagement with said compliant internal
sealing surfaces.
- b) The adapter of aspect a wherein said base is strengthened by a network of upper
reinforcing ribs on said top surface.
- c) The adapter of aspect b wherein said sealing tubes project upwardly above said
upper reinforcing ribs.
- d) The adapter of aspects a or b wherein said base is strengthened by a network of
lower reinforcing ribs on said bottom surface.
- e) The adapter of aspect d wherein tip mounting tubes project downwardly below said
lower reinforcing ribs.
- f) The adapter of aspect a wherein said tip mounting tubes comprise hollow truncated
conical cones.
- g) The adapter of aspect a wherein said sealing tubes comprise cylindrical walls with
tapered upper ends.
- h) An adapter for connecting a multichannel air displacement pipettor to an array
of pipette tips, said pipette tips having through bores with conical upper ends, and
said pipettor having a plurality of ports with compliant internal sealing surfaces,
said adapter comprising:
a planar base with an array of openings extending between top and bottom surfaces
of said base, said base being strengthened by networks of upper and lower reinforcing
ribs arranged respectively on said top and bottom surfaces; sealing tubes projecting
upwardly from said top surface and above said upper reinforcing ribs, and tip mounting
tubes projecting downwardly from said bottom surface and below said lower reinforcing
ribs, pairs of sealing tubes and tip mounting tubes being arranged coaxially and in
communication with respective ones of the openings in said base, said tip mounting
tubes being externally dimensioned and configured for insertion into the conical upper
ends of said pipette tips, and said sealing tubes being externally configured and
dimensional for insertion into the ports of said pipettor and into sealing interengagement
with said compliant internal sealing surfaces.
- i) The adapter of aspect h wherein said tip mounting tubes comprise hollow truncated
conical cones.
- j) The adapter of aspect h wherein said sealing tubes comprise cylindrical walls with
tapered upper ends.
- k) A pipette tip adapter comprising:
a planar base with an array of openings extending between top and bottom surfaces
of said base; sealing tubes projecting upwardly from said top surface, and tip mounting
tubes projecting downwardly from said bottom surface, pairs of sealing tubes and tip
mounting tubes being arranged coaxially and in communication with respective ones
of the openings in said base, said tip mounting tubes being externally dimensioned
and configured for insertion into conical upper ends of pipette tips, and said sealing
tubes being externally configured and dimensional for insertion into ports of a multichannel
air displacement pipettor.
1. A method of connecting a multichannel air displacement pipettor to an array of pipette
tips (26), said pipette tips (26) having through bores with conical upper ends, (24)
wherein said pipettor has a plurality of ports with compliant internal sealing surfaces,
(40), said method comprising the steps of:
providing an assembly comprising an adapter (10) and the array of pipette tips (26),
wherein:
the adapter (10) includes a planar base (12) with an array of openings (14) extending
between top and bottom surfaces (16, 18) of said base (12), sealing tubes (20) that
project upwardly from said top surface (16) and tip mounting tubes (22) that project
downwardly from said bottom surface (18) such that pairs of sealing tubes (20) and
tip mounting tubes (22) are arranged coaxially and are in communication with respective
ones of the openings (14) in said base (12); and
said tip mounting tubes (22) are inserted in the conical upper ends (24) of said pipette
tips (26);
inserting said sealing tubes (20) into the ports of said pipettor; and
engaging the sealing tubes (20) in sealing interengagement with said compliant internal
sealing surfaces (40) within the plurality of ports of the pipettor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said base (12) is strengthened by a network of upper
reinforcing ribs (28) on said top surface (16).
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said sealing tubes (20) project upwardly above said
upper reinforcing ribs (28).
4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said base (12) is strengthened by a network
of lower reinforcing ribs (30) on said bottom surface (18).
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said tip mounting tubes (22) project downwardly below
said lower reinforcing ribs (30).
6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein said tip mounting tubes (22) comprise
hollow truncated conical cones.
7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said sealing tubes (20) comprise cylindrical
walls with tapered upper ends (20a).
8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the adapter is formed by injection moldable
polymer.
9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the adapter includes laterally extending
rails (36) that are adapted to slide into receiving slots in a pipettor head.
10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the adapter includes tabs (35) to facilitate
handling the adapter.
11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the multichannel air displacement pipettor
(32) includes an array of pipettor cylinders (38).
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the multichannel air displacement pipettor (32) further
includes an array of pistons (42) arranged for reciprocal movement in the array of
pipettor cylinders (38).
13. The method of claim 12, wherein each pipettor cylinder (38) of the multichannel air
displacement pipettor (32) further includes compliant sealing material (40).
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the compliant seal material is provided as an array
of O-rings (40) that interact with an outer surface of each sealing tube (20).
15. The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the method further includes the step
of reciprocally moving pistons (42) in the cylinders (38).
1. Verfahren zum Anschließen eines Mehrkanal-Luftverdrängungspipettors an eine Anordnung
von Pipettenspitzen (26), wobei die Pipettenspitzen (26) Durchgangsbohrungen mit konischen
oberen Enden (24) aufweisen, wobei der Pipettor eine Vielzahl von Anschlüssen mit
konformen inneren Dichtungsflächen (40) aufweist, und wobei das Verfahren die Schritte
umfasst:
Bereitstellen einer Anordnung, die einen Adapter (10) und die Anordnung von Pipettenspitzen
(26) umfasst, wobei:
der Adapter (10) eine planare Basis (12) mit einer Anordnung von Öffnungen (14), die
sich zwischen oberen und unteren Oberflächen (16, 18) der Basis (12) erstrecken, Dichtungsrohre
(20), die von der oberen Oberfläche (16) nach oben ragen und Spitzenmontagerohre (22),
die von der unteren Oberfläche (18) nach unten ragen, umfasst, wobei Paare von Dichtungsrohren
(20) und Spitzenmontagerohren (22) koaxial und in Verbindung mit jeweiligen Öffnungen
(14) in der Basis (12) angeordnet sind, und wobei die Spitzenmontagerohre (22) in
die konischen oberen Enden (24) der Pipettenspitzen (26) eingesetzt sind;
Einsetzen der Dichtungsrohre (20) in die Anschlüsse des Pipettors; und
Einrasten der Dichtungsrohre (20), so dass diese in dichtenden Eingriff mit den konformen
inneren Dichtungsflächen (40) in der Vielzahl von Anschlüssen des Pipettors kommen.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Basis (12) durch ein Netzwerk von oberen Verstärkungsrippen
(28) auf der oberen Oberfläche (16) verstärkt ist.
3. Verfahren Anspruch 2, wobei die Dichtungsrohre (20) nach oben über die oberen Verstärkungsrippen
(28) ragen.
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Basis (12) durch ein Netzwerk von unteren
Verstärkungsrippen (30) auf der unteren Oberfläche (18) verstärkt ist.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Spitzenmontagerohre (22) nach unten unter die
unteren Verstärkungsrippen (30) ragen.
6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 5, wobei die Spitzenmontagerohre (22) hohle
kegelstumpfartige Kegel umfassen.
7. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 6, wobei die Dichtungsrohre (20) zylindrische
Wände mit sich verjüngenden oberen Enden (20a) umfassen.
8. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 7, wobei der Adapter aus spritzgußfähigem Polymer
gebildet ist.
9. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 8, wobei der Adapter seitlich verlaufende Schienen
(36) aufweist, die so gestaltet sind, dass sie in Aufnahmeschlitze in einem Pipettorkopf
gleiten können.
10. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 9, wobei der Adapter Laschen (35) zur erleichterten
Handhabung des Adapters aufweist.
11. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 10, wobei der Mehrkanal-Luftverdrängungspipettor
(32) eine Anordnung von Pipettorzylindern (38) aufweist.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Mehrkanal-Luftverdrängungspipettor (32) ferner
eine Anordnung von Kolben (42) aufweist, die zur Hin- und Herbewegung in der Anordnung
von Pipettorzylindern (38) angeordnet sind.
13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei jeder Pipettorzylinder (38) des Mehrkanal-Luftverdrängungspipettors
(32) weiter ein konformes Dichtungsmaterial (40) aufweist.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, wobei das konforme Dichtungsmaterial als eine Anordnung
von O-Ringen (40) bereitgestellt ist, die mit einer äußeren Oberfläche jedes Dichtungsrohrs
(20) zusammenwirken.
15. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 14, wobei das Verfahren weiterhin den Schritt
umfasst, die Kolben (42) in den Zylindern (38) hin- und herzubewegen.
1. Procédé de raccordement d'un dispositif de pipetage à déplacement d'air multicanal
à un ensemble d'embouts de pipette (26), lesdits embouts de pipette (26) ayant des
trous traversants avec des extrémités supérieures coniques, (24), dans lequel ledit
dispositif de pipetage a une pluralité d'orifices avec des surfaces d'étanchéité internes
compatibles, (40), ledit procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
fournir un assemblage comprenant un adaptateur (10) et l'ensemble d'embouts de pipette
(26), dans lequel :
l'adaptateur (10) inclut une base plane (12) avec un ensemble d'ouvertures (14) s'étendant
entre les surfaces supérieure et inférieure (16, 18) de ladite base (12), des tubes
d'étanchéité (20) qui font saillie vers le haut à partir de ladite surface supérieure
(16) et des tubes de montage d'embout (22) qui font saillie vers le bas à partir de
ladite surface inférieure (18) de telle sorte que des paires de tubes d'étanchéité
(20) et de tubes de montage d'embout (22) sont disposés de manière coaxiale et sont
en communication avec des ouvertures respectives des ouvertures (14) dans ladite base
(12) ; et
lesdits tubes de montage d'embout (22) sont insérés dans les extrémités supérieures
coniques (24) desdits embouts de pipette (26) ;
insérer lesdits tubes d'étanchéité (20) dans les orifices dudit dispositif de pipetage
; et
mettre en prise les tubes d'étanchéité (20) en mise en prise réciproque d'étanchéité
avec lesdites surfaces d'étanchéité internes compatibles (40) au sein de la pluralité
d'orifices du dispositif de pipetage.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite base (12) est renforcée par un
réseau de nervures de renfort supérieures (28) sur ladite surface supérieure (16).
3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdits tubes d'étanchéité (20) font
saillie vers le haut au-dessus desdites nervures de renfort supérieures (28).
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel ladite base (12)
est renforcée par un réseau de nervures de renfort inférieures (30) sur ladite surface
inférieure (18).
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel lesdits tubes de montage d'embout (22)
font saillie vers le bas en dessous desdites nervures de renfort inférieures (30).
6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel lesdits tubes
de montage d'embout (22) comprennent des cônes coniques tronqués creux.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel lesdits tubes
d'étanchéité (20) comprennent des parois cylindriques avec des extrémités supérieures
effilées (20a).
8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel l'adaptateur
est formé par un polymère moulable par injection.
9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel l'adaptateur
inclut des rails d'extension latérale (36) qui sont adaptés pour coulisser dans des
fentes de réception dans une tête de dispositif de pipetage.
10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel l'adaptateur
inclut des pattes (35) pour faciliter la manipulation de l'adaptateur.
11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel le dispositif
de pipetage à déplacement d'air multicanal (32) inclut un ensemble de cylindres de
dispositif de pipetage (38).
12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le dispositif de pipetage à déplacement
d'air multicanal (32) inclut en outre un ensemble de pistons (42) disposés pour un
mouvement réciproque dans l'ensemble de cylindres de dispositif de pipetage (38).
13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel chaque cylindre de dispositif de pipetage
(38) du dispositif de pipetage à déplacement d'air multicanal (32) inclut en outre
un matériau d'étanchéité compatible (40).
14. Procédé selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le matériau d'étanchéité compatible
est fourni en tant qu'ensemble de joints toriques (40) qui interagissent avec une
surface externe de chaque tube d'étanchéité (20).
15. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, le procédé incluant en outre
l'étape consistant à déplacer de manière réciproque des pistons (42) dans les cylindres
(38).