Pipetting System Positional Relation Detector

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pipetting devices struggle to accurately position liquid reagents into small wells in microplates, leading to incorrect pipetting due to the small size and complexity of the pipetting positions.

Innovation Solution

A pipetting system equipped with a positional relation detector that verifies the alignment of the pipetting device's tip with pre-defined pipetting positions before allowing liquid aspiration or dispensing, ensuring accurate positioning through a circuitry-controlled mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation is used for pipetting, then the device is simple to operate, but positioning accuracy deteriorates leading to incorrect pipetting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operation simplicityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated detection system using a camera and image processing. The positional relation detector captures images of the microplate and tip positions, automatically calculates spatial relationships, and provides feedback control to guide the operator to correct positions, eliminating reliance on manual positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by detecting the actual positions of the microplate and pipette tip, comparing them with target positions, and providing real-time guidance information to the operator. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate positioning even with manual operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If no position verification is implemented, then the pipetting process is fast, but incorrect positioning occurs leading to pipetting errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipetting speedVSAvoidpipetting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the microplate and tip positions before the actual pipetting action. The positional relation detector captures images and calculates spatial relationships in advance, allowing the operator to verify positions before dispensing liquid, thus preventing errors without significantly slowing down the overall process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Manual visual inspection for position verification is replaced with automated image capture and processing. The system automatically detects positions, calculates relationships, and provides feedback, which is faster and more reliable than manual verification methods, thereby maintaining productivity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If automated detection is added to verify tip position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera and image processing system serve multiple functions: detecting microplate position, detecting tip position, calculating spatial relationships, and providing feedback guidance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving high positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary image processing approach rather than direct complex mechanical measurement. By capturing images and calculating positions through software algorithms, the system achieves high precision without requiring complex hardware, thus managing device complexity while improving positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents incorrectly positioned pipetting by ensuring the tip is correctly aligned with designated wells, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of liquid handling in microplates.

Implementation Method 1

a positional relation detector configured to detect a positional relation between a front-end position of the tip and each of the pipetting positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10265695B2Pipetting system

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 ICOMES LAB

AI summary

A pipetting system includes: a pipetting device; a pipetting container including a plurality of pipetting positions into each of which the pipetting device pipettes liquid; and a positional relation detector configured to detect a positional relation between a front-end position of a tip and each of the pipetting positions. The pipetting device includes circuitry configured to, when a pipetting switch that orders pipetting is turned on, on condition that the front-end position of the tip detected by the positional relation detector is located at one of pipetting positions that is indicated by a pipetting pattern set up in advance, allow pipetting corresponding to the pipetting pattern, and on condition that the front-end position of the tip detected by the positional relation detector does not correspond to a corresponding one of pipetting positions that is indicated by the pipetting pattern set up in advance, disallow the pipetting.