Manual Pipetting Support With Guided Vessel Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual pipetting of liquid samples in laboratories is prone to errors due to the risk of mixing up source and destination vessels, leading to long processing times and work-related stress.
Innovation Solution
A pipetting support device comprising a first plate with rows of first vessels and a second plate with rows of second vessels, where a moving unit holds the second plate and is movable relative to the first plate, providing guidance through an edge to support manual pipetting between the plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pipetting is performed without support device, then operation flexibility is maintained, but error rate increases due to risk of mixing up vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The pipetting support device acts as an intermediary between the operator and the vessels. It provides a structured interface with guiding edges and vessel arrangements that mediate the pipetting operation, ensuring correct source and destination vessel selection without requiring complex memorization or attention from the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The device implements local quality by providing specific guidance features at critical locations - guiding edges at vessel access points, differentiated vessel positioning, and localized indicators. This ensures accuracy exactly where needed during the pipetting operation without adding unnecessary complexity elsewhere.
2Reliability
If laboratory staff work extremely concentrated and slow to avoid pipetting mistakes, then accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipetting support device performs preliminary action by pre-arranging vessels in a structured manner with guiding edges and designated positions before the pipetting operation begins. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for slow, concentrated decision-making during the actual pipetting, allowing operators to work faster while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides self-service by incorporating built-in guidance features that automatically prevent errors without requiring active cognitive engagement from the operator. The guiding edges and vessel arrangements self-correct potential mistakes, freeing the operator to maintain higher speed without sacrificing accuracy.
3Productivity
If multiple liquid samples are transported using a pipette in cycles, then throughput is achieved, but processing time increases due to repeated emptying and cleaning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the pipetting process by providing dedicated source and destination zones with clearly defined vessel arrangements. This segmentation allows for more efficient cycle operations by reducing the movement distance and decision time between source and destination vessels, thereby decreasing the time lost in each pipetting cycle.
4Reliability
If guidance features are added to support manual pipetting, then accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs asymmetry in its guiding features and vessel arrangements to provide intuitive directional guidance. The asymmetric design creates natural flow paths and obvious correct positions, improving accuracy without requiring symmetric complexity. The guiding edges and vessel positions are deliberately asymmetric to guide the operator's hand and pipette in the correct direction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a device for supporting manual pipetting of liquids, to the use of such a pipetting support device, and to a method for pipetting liquid, for example from a number of first vessels to a number of second vessels, wherein a moving unit is movable in relation to a first plate and at least partially covers the first plate during use of the pipetting support device, and at least one edge of the moving unit provides guidance to support a manual pipetting procedure from said first plate to said second plate, or vice versa.