Abstract:
A manual pipette (12) including a delayed action home position latch (26) for engaging only after the plunger unit (16) of the pipette has moved downward through its home position to thereafter releasably connect a moveable bottom stop member (46) to the plunger unit to move therewith and upon an upward return of the plunger unit by the pipette's return spring (18) to engage a home position stop (28) to releasably lock the plunger unit in its home position without any downward force being exerted by the pipette user on the plunger unit.
Abstract:
A manual pipette (10) including user controllable latch (26) and trigger mechanisms (28) for releasably locking the plunger (16) of the pipette in a home position ready for immersion of a pipette tip in a fluid to be drawn into the tip and further including a user controllable velocity governor (30) for regulating the rate of plunger return from the home position to a first or upper stop position in drawing the fluid into the tip.
Abstract:
A system for depassivating a passivated lithium battery in a battery powered microprocessor (220) controlled device by successively and momentarily drawing current from the passivated battery after a turn on of the device while monitoring the power delivery condition of the battery under a load condition until salt crystals on an electrode of the battery are dissipated and the battery is returned to a useful power delivery condition or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed without the battery returning to the useful power delivery condition, whichever is sooner.
Abstract:
A volume adjustable pipette (30) for aspirating and dispensing precise volumes of liquid comprising an elongated hollow hand-holdable housing (32) supporting a plunger (34) for turning and for axial movement within the housing. The pipette includes an upper stop (40) which is axially adjustable within the housing in response to a turning of the plunger to adjust the volume of liquid which may be drawn into a tip (1b) secured to a lower end of the housing upon upward axial movement of the plunger to the upper stop. The pipette further includes a manually actuated lock mechanism (48) for locking the plunger against rotation to set the volume adjustment for the pipette. The lock mechanism comprises a hand-turnable knob (50) for actuating and releasing the lock mechanism by virtue of two thumb and/or finger engageable wings (68a, 68b) extending outwardly from diametrically opposite sides of the hand-turnable knob. A thumb and/or finger turning force exerted on the wings in one direction effects an actuation of the lock. A thumb and/or finger turning force exerted on the wings in an opposite direction effects a release of the lock. The lock further comprises a gripping member (62) for fixedly securing the plunger against turning. A gripping member is actuated by a turning of the hand-turnable knob to force a cam surface of the knob against a cam surface of the gripping member.
Abstract:
A fluid sample flow cell (10) characterized by a circumferentially uniform radial fluid flow into an entry port (20) to and/or from an exit port from a fluid passageway through the body of the cell.
Abstract:
A reusable pipette tip rack (12) for successively receiving and dispensing arrays of pipette tips (20) and including a manually releaseable latch mechanism (10) for securing a support plate (14) carrying an array of pipette tips (20) flat on the top (16) of a support tray (18) of the pipette tip rack with the array of tips seated in an array of openings (24) in the top of the support tray. The latch mechanism (10) comprises a latch (26) including a laterally extending locking surface (28) on one of the support plate (14) or the support tray (18) and a manually releasable locking member (30) extending from the other of the support plate (14) or the support tray (18). Preferably, the latch mechanism (10) comprises a combination of two such latches (26a, 26b) each including a locking member and locking surface located at opposite edges of the support tray of the pipette tip rack.
Abstract:
A pipette tip ejector mechanism for a pipette (12) comprising a releasable connector (42) between a lower end of an ejector shaft (20) and an upper end of an ejector arm (40). The connector has a female receptor (44) and a male connector (46) which can be adapted to fit either the shaft (20) or arm (40). A cantilever (48) carries a locking member (50) or a locking shoulder (52) to engage and lock a respective shoulder (52) or member (50) on the shaft (20) or arm (40). The cantilever (48) also carries a tab (54) extending outwardly for finger engagement by a user to move the cantilever (48) for disengaging the locking member (50) from the locking shoulder (52), allowing the arm (40) to be separated from the shaft (20) of the pipette (12) for cleaning, service, replacement, or use of the pipette (12) without the arm (40).
Abstract:
A refill pack (35) of light weight low mass material containing an array of replacement pipette tips (24) for a reusable tip rack (12). The refill pack (35) comprises a support plate (22) with an array of holes (28) containing pipette tips (24) arranged in an organized manner. Preferably the refill pack includes a skirt-like guide (27) for centering and guiding the support plate (22) onto the tip rack (12) with distal end portions (30) of the pipette tips (24) aligned with and vertically entering corresponding holes in an organizing tray (21) in the tip rack (12).