A suction tube connector and pipette

Abstract

This invention relates to a suction tube connector, comprising: a suction tube connector body, wherein a through hole for gas or liquid flow is formed within the suction tube connector body; a first connecting portion is formed at one end of the suction tube connector body, and a second connecting portion is formed at the other end of the suction tube connector body; the two ends of the through hole respectively penetrate the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion; a wrapping portion is provided on the side wall of the second connecting portion away from its end face. The advantages of this structure are: the wrapping portion is made of a highly elastic and wear-resistant material; the wrapping portion and the suction tube connector are formed by mold overmolding or by adhesive bonding; thus, during use, the wrapping portion will not loosen or shift with the suction tube connector, nor will it twist.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the following application: Application No. 2023102242095, Invention Title: A suction tube connector and pipette. Technical Field

[0002] This invention belongs to the field of medical device technology, specifically, it relates to an aspiration tube connector and a pipette. Background Technology

[0003] In the life sciences, experiments frequently require the aspiration and dispensing of liquids. This often involves attaching a pipette tip to aspirate and dispensing the liquid, then retracting the tip. During these processes, the airtightness between the pipette and the tip is a crucial requirement.

[0004] Depending on the volume of liquid aspirated and the standards of different suppliers, pipette tips come in various shapes and sizes. Even for the same type of pipette tip, there are certain dimensional tolerances between different batches and different manufacturers. Therefore, pipettes also need to be matched according to the size of the pipette tip's mounting adapter, and a certain amount of tolerance is required. This applies to both manual pipettes and automated pipetting equipment.

[0005] The part of the pipette that mates with the tip is the suction tube connector. Because it needs to be inserted into the tip to form a seal, a certain amount of installation force is required; after the experimental procedure is completed, the tip also needs to be manually or by other means to be removed, which also needs to withstand the removal force; therefore, the suction tube connector itself needs to have a certain strength, and the sealing structure needs to achieve a sealing effect, accommodate the tip tolerance as much as possible, and have a certain degree of solvent resistance and abrasion resistance.

[0006] When aspirating or dispensing liquid, one end of the suction tube connector is inserted into the inner hole at the top of the pipette tip, and the other end is connected to the pipette; For example... Figure 1 As shown, the suction tube connector 1 and the inner wall of the suction head 2 need to be sealed; the seal between the suction tube connector 1 and the suction head 2 is now usually achieved in the following three forms: The first method involves creating a groove in the area where the suction tube connector mates with the suction head, and installing an O-ring. When the suction head is installed, the O-ring is compressed, achieving a seal between the suction head and the suction tube connector. Its advantages include the use of standard O-rings, offering some compatibility with the tolerances of the suction tube connector itself, especially the dimensional tolerances of the suction head; and the ability to easily replace the O-ring manually when it wears out and can no longer seal, without affecting the suction head, which can be reused. However, because standard O-rings have a relatively small wire diameter, typically around 0.5~1mm, and the compression is usually 10~20%, their tolerance compatibility is limited. In some cases, during use, the O-ring may twist or fold due to external friction, leading to uneven contact surfaces, leakage, and affecting the lifespan of the O-ring itself.

[0007] The second type features a raised ring at the groove where the suction tube connector mates with the pipette tip. When installing the tip, a certain force is required to insert it, causing local deformation and expansion. The suction tube connector and tip fit tightly together, achieving a seal. The advantage of this structure is that the sealing part of the suction tube connector is the connector itself, made of hard plastic or metal, which is more wear-resistant and has a longer lifespan than O-rings. However, its dimensional tolerance compatibility is obviously lower, and the connector has poor compatibility with consumables. Furthermore, the force required to install and remove the tip is greater. For manual pipettes, this is relatively laborious. For automated equipment, especially multi-channel pipettes (e.g., 18, 96, or more channels), the force required to install and remove the tip places higher demands on the strength and power of the entire mechanism. Additionally, the tip used in this type of pipette cannot be repeatedly used due to deformation and friction during use. After repeated installation and removal, the sealing requirement will not be met, leading to leakage.

[0008] The third type: Similar to the second type, the installation part of the suction tube connector that mates with the suction head is designed as a conical surface, with the same angle as the groove part of the suction head; within a certain range, it achieves surface contact to achieve a sealing effect; its installation force may be greater than that of the second type; its advantages and disadvantages are basically the same as those of the second type. Summary of the Invention

[0009] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this invention provides a suction tube connector and pipette, which, compared to traditional O-rings, offers greater consumable installation compression and compatibility, and the larger cross-sectional area also contributes to improved service life; it also boasts a longer lifespan compared to O-ring structures.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: As a first aspect of the present invention, a suction tube connector is provided, comprising: a suction tube connector body, wherein a through hole for gas or liquid flow is provided in the suction tube connector body, a first connecting portion is formed at one end of the suction tube connector body, and a second connecting portion is formed at the other end of the suction tube connector body; the two ends of the through hole respectively penetrate the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion; a wrapping portion is provided on the side wall of the second connecting portion away from the end face of the second connecting portion; at least two protrusions are formed on the outer wall of the wrapping portion away from the bottom of the wrapping portion, adjacent protrusions are spaced apart, and each protrusion is continuously larger than or partially continuously larger than the bottom size of the wrapping portion.

[0011] Optionally, a groove is provided on the side wall of the second connecting part away from the end face of the second connecting part, and the wrapping part fills the groove.

[0012] Optionally, the groove portion is provided with a first contact portion to prevent the wrapping portion from flipping over, and the wrapping portion is provided with a second contact portion that fills the first contact portion.

[0013] Optionally, the first connecting part can be detachably connected to the aspiration and dispensing part of the pipette.

[0014] Alternatively, the wrapping portion and the groove portion are formed by overmolding with a mold.

[0015] Alternatively, the wrapping portion and the groove portion are connected by an adhesive.

[0016] Alternatively, the wrapping part may be made of a highly elastic and wear-resistant material.

[0017] Optionally, the contact surface between the wrapping part and the second connecting part is a rough surface.

[0018] As a second aspect of the invention, a pipette is provided, comprising the suction tube connector as described above.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the suction tube connector and pipette of the present invention are specifically reflected in the following aspects: 1. The wrapping part and the suction tube connector are formed by mold coating or by adhesive bonding; thus, the wrapping part will not loosen or shift with the suction tube connector during use, nor will it twist; the wrapping part is made of a highly elastic and wear-resistant material; the wrapping part has a certain hardness and solvent resistance, and is made of materials such as silicone or nitrile rubber; its shape is designed according to different consumables; compared with traditional O-rings, it has a larger consumable installation compression amount, and the larger cross-sectional area is also conducive to improving service life; and the wrapping part can also be fully fixed with the suction tube connector; it has a longer service life than the O-ring structure.

[0020] 2. Unlike the traditional method of replacing O-rings, this suction tube connector is replaced as a whole, while existing technologies only replace the O-rings. Replacing the entire suction tube connector can maintain its better sealing performance, thereby avoiding sample waste or loss.

[0021] 3. Compared to O-rings, the wrapping part of this application is limited at the first contact part of the groove, making it less prone to flipping and leakage due to wear, and has a long service life.

[0022] 4. Compared to O-rings, the consumable installation compression of the wrapping part in this application is greater, and it can accommodate more sizes of consumables. O-rings have fixed cross-sectional shape and size specifications due to their shape characteristics. The wrapping body of this application is a non-circular cross-section irregular structure, and the thickness of the convex part can be adjusted, resulting in a greater consumable installation compression. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the existing suction tube connector and suction head. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the suction tube connector of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the suction tube connector of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the suction tube connector of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the suction tube connector of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To better explain and facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] This application provides a suction tube connector and a pipette, which solves the sealing problem at the connection between the suction tube connector and the pipette tip in the prior art. A wrapping part is designed in the groove of the suction tube connector and the pipette tip to achieve both sealing and lifespan performance.

[0027] The technical solution of this application embodiment is to solve the above-mentioned sealing problem. The general idea is as follows: by setting up a wrapping part, both sealing and lifespan performance are achieved.

[0028] Example 1 One embodiment of this application provides a suction tube connector, such as... Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, it includes: a suction tube connector body 3, wherein a through hole 31 for gas or liquid flow is provided in the suction tube connector body 3, one end of the suction tube connector body 3 forms a first connecting part 32 that is detachably connected to the liquid suction and discharge part of a pipette, and the other end of the suction tube connector body 3 forms a second connecting part 33; the two ends of the through hole 31 respectively penetrate the first connecting part 32 and the second connecting part 33; a wrapping part 4 is provided on the side wall of the second connecting part 33 away from the end face of the second connecting part 33; the connection method between the wrapping part 4 and the second connecting part 33 includes, but is not limited to, molding by mold or bonding with adhesives such as glue.

[0029] It should be noted that the connection method between the first connecting part 32 and the liquid aspiration and dispensing part of the pipette includes, but is not limited to, threaded connection, slot connection or magnetic connection. The specific structures of threaded connection, slot connection or magnetic connection are all existing technologies and will not be described in detail.

[0030] Optionally, the contact surface between the wrapping part 4 and the second connecting part 33 is a rough surface to increase the friction of the wrapping part 4, making the connection between it and the second connecting part 33 more snug and less prone to folding over, thus preventing leakage due to wear.

[0031] Example 2 The difference between Example 2 and Example 1 is that the structure of the wrapping part 4 is different, such as... Figures 4-5 As shown, specifically in this embodiment, a protrusion 41 is formed on the outer wall of the wrapping part 4 away from the bottom of the wrapping part 4, which is continuously larger than or partially continuously larger than the bottom size of the wrapping part 4. The shape of the protrusion 41 is an inverted cone, an inverted round cone, etc.; the protrusion 41 can also be a partially protruding irregular structure, etc.; the protrusion 41 has a larger consumable installation compression amount than the traditional O-ring, and the larger cross-sectional area is also conducive to improving the service life; and the protrusion 41 of the wrapping part 4 can also be fully fixed with the suction tube connector; it has a longer service life than the O-ring structure, and when it is replaced, it needs to be replaced together with the suction tube connector as a whole or partially, which can maintain its better sealing performance and thus avoid sample waste or loss.

[0032] It should be noted that the number of protrusions 41 is one or more. When there are two or more protrusions 41, adjacent protrusions 41 are spaced apart, and the outer diameter of the upper protrusion 41 is larger than that of the lower protrusion 41. This arrangement allows the protrusions 41 to be fully fixed to the suction tube connector, resulting in a larger contact area between them. This avoids sample leakage while ensuring... As a further step, a groove 34 is provided on the side wall of the second connecting part 33 away from the end face of the second connecting part 33, and the wrapping part 4 fills the groove 34; the wrapping part 4 and the groove 34 are formed by molding with a mold; or the wrapping part 4 and the groove 34 are connected by an adhesive; in this way, the wrapping part 4 will not loosen or shift with the suction tube connector during use, and will not twist itself; the wrapping part 4 is made of a highly elastic wear-resistant material, which has a certain hardness and solvent resistance, specifically using high silicone or nitrile rubber, and its shape is designed according to different consumables.

[0033] It should be noted that the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 34 is not limited to the groove shape described in this application; a T-shape or other irregular shape can also achieve the corresponding technical effect.

[0034] As a further embodiment, the groove portion 34 is provided with a first contact portion 341 to prevent the wrapping portion 4 from flipping over, and the wrapping portion 4 is provided with a second contact portion that fills the first contact portion 341; the wrapping portion 4 is limited by the first contact portion 341 of the groove portion 34, so that it is not easy to flip over and leak due to wear.

[0035] As another embodiment of this application, a pipette is proposed, which includes: the suction tube connector as described above.

[0036] From the above description, it can be seen that the above embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: 1. The wrapping part and the suction tube connector are molded together or glued together; in this way, the wrapping part will not loosen or shift with the suction tube connector during use, nor will it twist; the wrapping part is made of a highly elastic wear-resistant material; the wrapping part has a certain hardness and solvent resistance, and is made of silicone or nitrile rubber; its shape is designed according to different consumables; compared with traditional O-rings, it has a larger consumable installation compression amount, and the larger cross-sectional area is also conducive to improving service life; and the wrapping part can also be fully fixed with the suction tube connector; it has a longer service life than the O-ring structure.

[0037] 2. Unlike the traditional method of replacing O-rings, this suction tube connector is replaced as a whole, while existing technologies only replace the O-rings. Replacing the entire suction tube connector can maintain its better sealing performance, thereby avoiding sample waste or loss.

[0038] 3. Compared to O-rings, the wrapping part of this application is limited at the first contact part of the groove, making it less prone to flipping and leakage due to wear, and has a long service life.

[0039] 4. Compared to O-rings, the consumable installation compression of the wrapping part in this application is greater, and it can accommodate more sizes of consumables. O-rings have fixed cross-sectional shape and size specifications due to their shape characteristics. The wrapping body of this application is a non-circular cross-section irregular structure, and the thickness of the convex part can be adjusted, resulting in a greater consumable installation compression.

[0040] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0041] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this application. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0042] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this application; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0043] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0045] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A suction tube connector, characterized in that, It includes: a suction tube connector body, wherein a through hole for gas or liquid flow is provided in the suction tube connector body, a first connecting part is formed at one end of the suction tube connector body, and a second connecting part is formed at the other end of the suction tube connector body; the two ends of the through hole respectively penetrate the first connecting part and the second connecting part; a wrapping part is provided on the side wall of the second connecting part away from the end face of the second connecting part. At least two protrusions are formed on the outer wall of the package portion away from the bottom of the package portion, adjacent protrusions are spaced apart, and each protrusion is continuously larger or partially continuously larger than the bottom size of the package portion.

2. The suction tube connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A groove is provided on the side wall of the second connecting part away from the end face of the second connecting part, and the wrapping part fills the groove.

3. The suction tube connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The groove portion is provided with a first contact portion to prevent the wrapping portion from flipping over, and the wrapping portion is provided with a second contact portion that fills the first contact portion.

4. The suction tube connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting part is detachably connected to the liquid aspiration and dispensing part of the pipette.

5. The suction tube connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The wrapping part and the groove part are formed by encapsulation with a mold.

6. The suction tube connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The wrapping portion and the groove portion are connected by an adhesive.

7. The suction tube connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The wrapping part is made of a highly elastic and wear-resistant material.

8. The suction tube connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The contact surface between the wrapping part and the second connecting part is a rough surface.

9. A pipette, characterized in that, Includes the suction tube connector as described in any one of claims 1-8.

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