Disposable Filtered Pipet Tip Calibration for Anomaly Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disposable pipet tips with varying filter resistance cause difficulties in detecting anomalies during sample pipetting, leading to errors and data spread in pipetting surveillance.

Innovation Solution

Calibrate pipetting instruments by performing air aspirations with defined parameters to measure filter resistance, and use this data to correct pressure measurements during liquid aspirations, reducing errors and data spread.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If disposable pipet tips include an aerosol filter to avoid cross contamination, then sample safety is improved, but filter resistance varies causing difficulties in detecting anomalies during pipetting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross contaminationVSAvoidanomaly detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary air aspiration step before actual liquid pipetting to measure the filter resistance of each disposable pipet tip. This preliminary measurement allows the system to establish baseline pressure characteristics for each filter, enabling subsequent anomaly detection during liquid pipetting to account for individual filter variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the measurement parameter from direct liquid pipetting pressure to air aspiration pressure. By measuring pressure during air aspiration through the filter, the system obtains filter-specific baseline data that can be used to normalize and correct subsequent liquid pipetting pressure readings, improving anomaly detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pressure measurements are taken during liquid pipetting to detect anomalies, then pipetting surveillance is performed, but filter resistance variations cause errors and data spread

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipetting surveillanceVSAvoidpressure measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the air aspiration pressure measurement to adjust the interpretation of liquid pipetting pressure data. The baseline filter resistance obtained during air aspiration is fed back into the anomaly detection algorithm, allowing the system to compensate for individual filter variations and reduce false positives in pipetting surveillance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Air aspiration serves as an intermediary measurement that indirectly characterizes filter properties without involving the actual liquid sample. This intermediary step provides filter-specific calibration data that mediates between the pressure sensor and the liquid pipetting process, eliminating the direct impact of filter variations on sample measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If air aspiration calibration is performed for each pipet, then measurement precision is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter resistance measurementVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a simplified air aspiration measurement that uses partial action (a single rapid aspiration stroke) rather than multiple measurements or complex calibration sequences. This partial action approach obtains sufficient filter characterization data with minimal time investment, balancing precision improvement with time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Improves pipetting surveillance sensitivity by significantly reducing errors and data spread caused by filter variations and defects, ensuring accurate pipetting performance.

Implementation Method 1

measuring air pressure in the interior volume of the pipet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

varying pressure resistance which can cause difficulties when detecting anomalies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentEP4607204A1Methods for increased pipetting surveillance sensitivity and systems for performing the same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 F HOFFMANN LA ROCHE & CO AG
  • EP4607204A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4607204A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4607204A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described herein are methods for pipetting liquids using a pipet comprising a disposable pipet tip having a filter using pressure data calibration for improved pipetting surveillance sensitivity and/or identifying defective pipets.