	US 7,429,360 B2
	Level-controlled pipette for automated analytic devices
Fareed Kureshy, Del Mar, Calif. (US); Vijay K. Mahant, Murrieta, Calif. (US); and Shailendra Singh, Carlsbad, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Autogenomics, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif. (US)
Appl. No. 10/509,986 PCT Filed May 28, 2003, PCT No. PCT/US03/17382 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Nov. 02, 2004, PCT Pub. No. WO03/100442, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 04, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/383896, filed on May 28, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0124059 A1, Jun. 09, 2005
Int. Cl. B01L 3/02 (2006.01); G01F 25/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 422—100 [73/1.74]

9 Claims

1. An analytic device with an automatic pipette, comprising:

a robotic arm comprising (1) a pipette tip receiving clement and (2) a manipulator, wherein the robotic arm is configured to allow translation of the pipette tip receiving element along at least two of an x-coordinate, a y-coordinate, and a z-coordinate, wherein the manipulator is configured to allow pushing of a biochip from one location in the analytic device to another location, and wherein the manipulator is further configured to allow movement of the manipulator in a linear and in a rotational motion;

wherein the pipette tip receiving element further comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to allow detection of presence of a disposable polymer pipette tip, and wherein the receiving element is further configured to allow removable coupling of the disposable polymer pipette tip to the pipette tip receiving element;

a first energy source and a first energy detector operably coupled to the pipette tip receiving element, wherein the first energy source is configured to allow providing of a first energy to a volume of a liquid that is aspirated into the pipette tip without passing across a wall of the tip, and wherein the first energy detector is configured to allow receiving at least a portion of the first energy from the volume without the portion of the first energy passing across the wall of the tip;

a second energy source and a second energy detector structurally coupled to the pipette tip receiving element, wherein the second energy source is configured to allow providing of a second energy to a surface of a biochip when the pipette tip approaches the surface of the biochip, and wherein the second energy detector is configured to allow receiving at least part of the second energy from the surface; and

a processor electronically coupled to the first and second energy detectors, wherein the processor is configured to allow calculation of an accurate aspiration volume of a predetermined volume using a signal from the first detector, and wherein the processor is further configured to allow control of movement of the pipette tip along a z-coordinate using a signal from the second detector.