Interleaved Pipette Tip Support Cards for Static-Free Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipette tip systems suffer from static electricity buildup due to tips moving within support cards, leading to misalignment and difficulty in mating and sealing, and the use of aprons increases shipping costs and waste.
Innovation Solution
An interleaved support card bundle with two or more pipette tip support cards, where tips are interleaved and secured by lids, reducing static electricity and minimizing contact during shipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pipette tips are disposed in support cards allowing movement, then tips can be easily accessed and removed, but static electricity builds up causing misalignment and sealing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The support card is segmented into individual tip receptacles with friction-fit features that independently secure each tip. This segmentation allows tips to be easily accessed and removed one at a time while maintaining precise alignment through the friction-fit mechanism in each receptacle.
Solution Approach 2:
A friction-fit interface acts as an intermediary between the tip and support card. This intermediary mechanism provides controlled interaction that prevents excessive movement and static buildup while allowing easy removal when needed, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and alignment.
2Reliability
If support cards are individually wrapped and boxed for shipping, then tips are protected during transport, but tips rub against each other building static electricity
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful friction interface between tips is extracted by designing receptacles that secure tips individually rather than allowing tips to contact each other. Tips are taken out of the harmful interaction environment while maintaining protection through the secure-fit receptacles during shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual wrapping films or shells encase each support card, providing protection during shipping while preventing tip-to-tip contact. The flexible wrapping maintains tip security without creating friction-induced static electricity.
3Ease of operation
If an apron or stand extends from the support card to suspend tips, then tips are suspended above the bench surface, but the support card size increases shipping costs and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension function is merged into the support card structure itself through integrated receptacles that extend slightly above the card surface. This eliminates the need for separate aprons or stands, reducing overall size and shipping waste while maintaining tip suspension and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support card is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a protective container during shipping and as a suspension structure during use. The integrated receptacles provide both secure containment and elevated tip positioning, eliminating the need for additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
An interleaved support card bundle with two pipette tip support cards, the first support card with a first top surface that contains a first plurality of pipette tip support holes. A first plurality of pipette tips is seated in the support holes, and those tips extend away from the first top surface. The bundle also has second support card with a similar construction as that of the first support card. The first top surface is parallel to the second top surface, and the first plurality of pipette tips extends towards the second top surface. Likewise, the second plurality of pipette tips extends towards the first top surface. The pipette tips interleave with each other in the interleaved region. Four and six card bundles are also possible.