Optical Pipette Tip Carrier Assembly for Reliable Tip Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biochemical analyzers face inefficiencies in supplying pipette tips due to the need for robots to make multiple trips to collect tips from storage, leading to assay delays and increased completion times, especially when insufficient tips are available.
Innovation Solution
A pipette tip carrier assembly with holding elements and a light source that directs light along an axis, allowing detection of tip presence through light interception, enabling accurate counting and reliable supply of tips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot makes multiple trips to collect pipette tips from storage, then the robot can collect tips even when insufficient tips are available, but the assay completion time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of pipette tip presence and arrangement in the storage cartridge before the assay begins. This allows the robot to verify that sufficient tips are available and properly arranged for simultaneous collection, preventing the need for multiple trips during the assay and thus reducing assay completion time while maintaining reliable tip availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical detection to provide feedback about the presence and arrangement of pipette tips in the storage cartridge. This feedback enables the robot to adjust its collection strategy accordingly - when tips are properly arranged, it can collect multiple tips simultaneously; when insufficient tips are detected, it can identify this before the assay starts, allowing for timely intervention without delaying the assay
2Productivity
If the robot collects maximum number of pipette tips in one step, then the assay speed increases, but the tip arrangement in the cartridge must correspond to the receptacle arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the tip arrangement in the storage cartridge before the robot attempts to collect tips. This allows verification that the tips are arranged in a pattern that corresponds to the receptacle arrangement, enabling the robot to collect the maximum number of tips simultaneously without requiring multiple trips, thus maintaining high assay speed
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection system provides feedback about the actual arrangement of tips in the cartridge. This feedback enables the system to verify whether the tip arrangement corresponds to the receptacle arrangement, allowing the robot to optimize its collection strategy - collecting maximum tips simultaneously when arrangements match, while maintaining adaptability to handle cases where arrangements do not match
3Measurement precision
If ambient lighting conditions vary, then the detection of pipette tip presence becomes unreliable, but a light source can be introduced to improve detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a controlled light source as an intermediary between the detector and the pipette tips. This light source provides consistent illumination that is not affected by ambient lighting conditions, enabling reliable optical detection of tip presence by creating a stable reference for the detector to measure against
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces reliance on ambient lighting conditions with an active optical detection system using a controlled light source. This substitution eliminates the harmful effect of variable ambient lighting by providing a stable, controllable illumination source that ensures consistent detection accuracy regardless of environmental lighting conditions
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
Enhances assay speed by ensuring sufficient tip availability and optimizing tip collection, reducing delays and improving detection reliability by minimizing ambient lighting effects.
Implementation Method 1
a light source arranged to produce, at a position distal to the one or more holding elements along the first axis, light directed towards each of the one or more holding elements so as to be intercepted by one or more pipette tips held in use by the one or more holding elements
Data Source
AI summary
A pipette tip carrier assembly suitable for storing elongate pipette tips in a biochemical analyser is described. The pipette tip carrier assembly comprises one or more holding elements each adapted to hold, in use, a respective pipette tip oriented such that the elongate dimension of the held pipette tip is parallel to a first axis. The pipette tip carrier assembly also includes a light source arranged to produce, at a position distal to the one or more holding elements along the first axis, light directed towards each of the one or more holding elements so as to be intercepted by one or more pipette tips held in 10 use by the one or more holding elements.