Pipette Pivotable Nozzle Assembly Reduces Arm Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laboratory technicians experience repetitive strain injuries and discomfort due to sub-optimal ergonomic pipette devices, particularly when performing pipetting tasks in confined or restricted spaces, which existing ergonomic designs fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable pipette device with a pivotable nozzle assembly, featuring a pivot mechanism with indexing holes and a nozzle release mechanism that allows for adjustable pivot angles to reduce arm strain and improve user comfort and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed nozzle assembly is used in traditional pipette devices, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it causes arm strain and discomfort when pipetting in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed nozzle assembly into a pivotable one. The nozzle assembly can now rotate relative to the device housing around a pivot axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the nozzle angle to suit different working conditions and reduce arm strain, while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through the use of a straightforward pivot mechanism with indexing holes and release button.
2Measurement precision
If a pivotable nozzle assembly with multiple angles is provided, then user comfort and pipetting accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable nozzle assembly allows dynamic adjustment of the nozzle angle to optimize pipetting accuracy for different working conditions. The indexing mechanism provides discrete angular positions that ensure precision while limiting the mechanism's complexity through predefined stop positions rather than continuous adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing holes and pivot mechanism are pre-configured to provide specific angular positions that have been optimized for common pipetting scenarios. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustment mechanisms while still providing multiple accurate positioning options for the user.
3Ease of operation
If the nozzle assembly is made adjustable to reduce arm strain, then repetitive strain injury risk is reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable nozzle assembly introduces dynamic adjustability to reduce arm strain during repetitive pipetting operations. The manufacturing complexity is managed by using a relatively simple pivot mechanism consisting of a pivot axis, indexing holes, and a release button, which can be integrated into the device housing with minimal additional components and assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a pipette device with a pivotable nozzle assembly. The pipette device includes a housing with a barrel portion defining a device axis therethrough. The nozzle assembly includes a pivot mechanism that is rotatably engaged with the housing, and includes pivot bosses that are held captive within a portion of the housing. A pivot selector is slideably retained by a portion of the housing, and is operative to engage and disengage a plurality of indexing holes on the pivot mechanism thereby locking and permitting rotation of the nozzle assembly, respectively.