Lateral-Opening Pipetting Tip for Gentle Organoid Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipetting systems struggle to gently capture large organoids due to gravitational forces and limited suction rates, and automated devices face challenges accessing samples in deep and narrow containers with tilted pipette orientations.

Innovation Solution

A pipetting tip with a lateral opening that allows for lateral suction of large organoids and cell colonies, which is designed to operate in a substantially vertical orientation, with a tubular body comprising a tubular body comprising a tubular body comprising a first open end and a second open end, the tubular body comprising a tubular body comprising a tubular body comprising a first open end and a second open end, where the opening is surrounded by an opening surrounded by an opening's edge that is partially located within a bottom plane essentially perpendicular to the pipetting axis, allowing for a lateral flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vertical pipetting orientation is used, then the pipetting tip can access deep and narrow sample containers, but the suction force creates high shear forces that damage large organoids

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to deep and narrow sample containersVSAvoidshear forces damaging organoids

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening's edge is extended from a single-plane configuration to a multi-dimensional configuration that includes a lateral face portion. This dimensional change allows the opening to interact with the sample in both vertical and lateral directions, creating a lateral flow component that reduces shear forces while maintaining access to deep containers through the vertical pipetting orientation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a tilted pipetting orientation is used to create lateral flow, then shear forces are reduced, but the pipetting tip cannot access samples in deep and narrow containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear forces on organoidsVSAvoidaccess to deep and narrow sample containers

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of tilting the entire pipetting tip, the invention extends the opening's edge into the lateral dimension while maintaining the vertical orientation of the tubular body. This allows lateral flow generation through the extended lateral face portion without compromising the vertical access capability needed for deep and narrow containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If the pipetting tip opening is enlarged to capture large organoids, then more organoids can be captured, but the structural integrity of the tip is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganoid capture capacityVSAvoidpipetting tip structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The opening is extended along the lateral face of the tubular body, creating a larger effective capture area without requiring an overly large circular opening. This dimensional extension allows the tip to accommodate large organoids (up to 5 mm) while maintaining the structural integrity of the tubular body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables gentle suction of sensitive biological entities into a pipetting tip, accessing the bottom of deep and narrow sample containers, while preserving the integrity of the organoids during the pipetting process.

Implementation Method 1

an angled suction, as illustrated in Fig. 1B advantageously creates a lateral flow which pushes the target organoid 2 across a larger interaction surface, creating lower shear and requiring lower flow rates to drag the organoid 2 into the pipetting tip 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLateral flow:

Implementation Method 2

Only the periphery of the organoid 2 is pulled by the viscous forces of the surrounding liquid 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous forces:

Implementation Method 3

high shear forces are needed to pull the organoid 2 upwards

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear forces:

Implementation Method 4

operating the pipetting actuator to suck a defined volume of sample into the pipetting tip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4667104A1Pipetting tip with lateral opening and use of the same in organoid sorting automated devices

Publication Date: 2025.12.24 CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Pipetting tip for picking and sorting biological entities within a liquid sample having a tubular body defining a pipetting axis, the tubular body comprising a first open end configured for being mounted on a pipetting actuator, and a second open end comprising an opening partially defined on a bottom plane perpendicular to the pipetting axis, said opening further extending on a lateral face of the tubular body such that part of the opening's edge is defined outside said bottom plane. Method of operating an automated organoid sorting device using the pipetting tip of the invention.