Pipette Tip with Variable Taper Angles for Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In biochemical examination apparatuses, existing pipette tips struggle to properly inject and suck liquids between vessels and channel chips without leaking, while also requiring smaller through holes and reduced pipette tip sizes for downsizing and environmental protection.

Innovation Solution

A pipette tip design with distinct axial parts, including a distal end with a large taper angle, a proximal end with a smaller taper angle, and intermediate parts with varying outer diameters, ensures close contact with sealing films to maintain pressure and minimize through hole size, allowing efficient liquid transfer and system downsizing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional pipette tip design is used, then liquid transfer between vessels and channel chips can be performed, but liquid leakage occurs and sealing is unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidliquid leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pipette tip employs different taper angles in different axial regions: a larger taper angle in the distal end portion for reliable sealing with the first film, and a smaller taper angle in the proximal end portion for proper fit with the nozzle. This local differentiation of geometric properties resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region's contact characteristics with its corresponding sealing surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pipette tip is divided into distinct axial portions (distal end, intermediate, proximal end) with different outer diameter profiles and taper angles. This segmentation allows each portion to independently optimize its sealing function - the distal end seals with the first film while the proximal end interfaces with the nozzle, preventing liquid leakage through localized sealing zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If larger through holes are used in sealing films, then liquid transfer is easier, but liquid leakage and environmental contamination increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid transfer efficiencyVSAvoidliquid leakage and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pipette tip's distal end portion is designed with a specific outer diameter and larger taper angle that matches the first film's through hole dimensions. This local optimization enables the tip to seal effectively around smaller through holes, maintaining liquid transfer efficiency while reducing leakage and environmental contamination risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If pipette tip and nozzle size are reduced for downsizing, then system compactness improves, but sealing contact and pressure maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipette tip sizeVSAvoidsealing contact reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The proximal end portion of the pipette tip is designed with a smaller outer diameter and smaller taper angle to accommodate compact nozzle dimensions, while the distal end portion maintains a larger outer diameter and larger taper angle for reliable sealing contact. This local differentiation enables system downsizing without compromising sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pipette tip is segmented into functional zones where the proximal end optimizes for compact nozzle integration and the distal end optimizes for sealing performance. This segmentation allows the overall tip size to be reduced while maintaining adequate sealing contact area through the optimized distal portion geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If a single taper angle is used throughout the pipette tip, then manufacturing is simpler, but proper sealing with both films cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipette tip fabricationVSAvoiddual film sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11247203B2Pipette tip, liquid delivery method and liquid delivery system

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 OTSUKA PHARM CO LTD

AI summary

This pipette tip includes: a first part having an outer diameter which increases gradually from a distal end side toward a proximal end side; a second part in which a taper angle of an outer surface of the second part is smaller than a taper angle of an outer surface of the first part; a third part in which a taper angle of an outer surface of the third part is larger than the taper angle of the outer surface of the first part; and a fourth in which a taper angle of an outer surface of the fourth part is smaller than the taper angle of the outer surface of the third part.