US4885945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micropipettes and fabrication thereof
Assignee: Activational Systems Inc
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Filing: 1989-01-23
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Granted: 1989-12-12
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Expires: 2009-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A novel method for fabricating glass micropipettes comprises assembling glass tubes side-by-side in a bundle, softening an axially central region of the bundle by heating, axially elongating the softened central region to create two opposing tapers, and then dividing the bundle in two at the axial midpoint of the central region to thereby create two micropipettes. The distal tip end of each micropipette at which it was separated from the other is then relatively advanced toward a hot flame to create a spherical enlargement at the tip end. This spherical enlargement facilitates subsequent gripping of this end when the micropipette is subsequently finished to produce desired orifice sizes for the barrels at the distal tip end. It is also desirable to perform a twisting step after the softening step and before the elongating step.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris Chiodo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:37
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B23/00; C03B23/04; C03B23/047; C03B23/0473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side and a central tube in the bundle is caused to have both of its opposite axial ends projecting axially beyond the remaining tubes in the bundle; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers and each of which has the central tube projecting axially beyond the remaining tubes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side and a central tube in the bundle is caused to have both of its opposite axial ends projecting axially beyond the remaining tubes in the bundle; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers and each of which has the central tube projecting axially beyond the remaining tubes.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers; including the further step of then forming in at least one of the pair of micropipettes, a bulbous shape at the one axial end thereof at which it was divided from the other, such bulbous shape being formed so as to be radially enlarged relative to an immediately contiguous portion of the micropipette.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers; including the further step of then forming in at least one of the pair of micropipettes, a bulbous shape at the one axial end thereof at which it was divided from the other, such bulbous shape being formed so as to be radially enlarged relative to an immediately contiguous portion of the micropipette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 2 in which the bulbous shape is formed by relatively advancing a heating source toward said one axial end.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
173 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers; including the further step of then relatively advancing a heating source toward the one axial end of at least one of the pair of micropipettes at which it was divided from the other to radially displace material at said one axial end in a manner that forms a shoulder via which said axial end can be gripped for pulling in a subsequent operation to size said one axial end.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
173 words
The method of making a pair of multiple barrel glass micropipettes comprising: assembling multiple individual glass tubes into a bundle such that portions of the tubes in an axially central region of the bundle are arranged side-by-side; softening the axially central region of the bundle; axially elongating the softened axially central region of the bundle to form a pair of axially spaced apart opposing tapers in the bundle; and then dividing the bundle in two at an axial location between the pair of opposing tapers to yield a pair of multiple barrel micropipettes each of which contains a corresponding one of the two tapers; including the further step of then relatively advancing a heating source toward the one axial end of at least one of the pair of micropipettes at which it was divided from the other to radially displace material at said one axial end in a manner that forms a shoulder via which said axial end can be gripped for pulling in a subsequent operation to size said one axial end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method set forth in claim 4 including the further step of then gripping said shoulder and conducting a sizing operation to size said one axial end while said shoulder is so gripped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method set forth in claim 5 in which the sizing operation is conducted by softening a portion of the micropipette that is immediately contiguous said shoulder and by axially elongating said immediately contiguous portion by means of an axial component of force that is exerted through said shoulder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 4 in which said radially displaced material is formed into a bulbous shape that contains said shoulder, and said shoulder extends generally coaxially around said one axial end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the step of dividing the bundle in two is conducted at an axial location that is substantially equidistant from the two tapers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 8 in which the dividing step is conducted by flame cutting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the elongating step is conducted so as to yield a reduced diameter portion between the two tapers that is reduced in diameter in comparison to the portions that are lying to the opposite sides of the respective tapers, and the axial location at which the dividing step is conducted is substantially at the middle of the reduced diameter portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which said bundle is fabricated by assembling multiple substantially equal length tubes, one of which is centrally disposed in the bundle, and subsequently joining a pair of additional tubes to opposite ends of the centrally disposed tube so that the centrally disposed tube and the pair of additional tubes become said central tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 11 in which one of said additional tubes is first joined to one end of the centrally disposed tube and subsequently the other additional tube is joined to the other end of the centrally disposed tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of twisting the softened axially central region of the bundle after the softening step and before the elongating step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one mioropipette made by the method of claim 2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one micropipette made by the method of claim 3.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one mioropipette made by the method of claim 4.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one micropipette made by the method of claim 5.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one micropipette made by the method of claim 6.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The at least one micropipette made by the method of claim 7.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claim 2 including the step of twisting the softened axially central region of the bundle after the softening step and before the elongating step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claim 4 including the step of twisting the softened axially central region of the bundle after the softening step and before the elongating step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A multiple barrel glass micropipette comprising a bundle of individual glass tubes that are arranged axially side-by-side along at least a distal end portion of the bundle and are tapered to a tip in said distal end portion which is subsequently axially drawn to a desired size and said distal end portion of said tip is endowed with a bulbous shape that is radially enlarged in comparison to an immediately proximal portion of said tip but is radially smaller than the radial dimension of the bundle as measured across the axially side-by-side arranged portion thereof immediately proximal the taper.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A multiple barrel glass micropipette comprising a bundle of individual glass tubes that are arranged axially side-by-side along at least a distal end portion of the bundle and are tapered to a tip in said distal end portion which is subsequently axially drawn to a desired size and said distal end portion of said tip is endowed with a bulbous shape that is radially enlarged in comparison to an immediately proximal portion of said tip but is radially smaller than the radial dimension of the bundle as measured across the axially side-by-side arranged portion thereof immediately proximal the taper.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 22 in which said bulbous shaped tip is a generally spheroidal shape.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 23 in which the radius of the generally spheroidally shaped tip is less than twice that of the immediately proximal portion of the tip.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 22 in which said immediately proximal portion of said tip has a radius that is at least about five times smaller than that of said immediately proximal portion of said bundle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 25 in which the radius of the generally spheroidally shaped tip is less than twice that of the immediately proximal portion of the tip.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 22 in which said tubes are circular in shape and axially joined together.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
A micropipette as set forth in claim 22 in which one of said tubes is central in the bundle and other of said tubes are arranged circumferentially around said one tube, said one tube projects axially proximally beyond said other tubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3095191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |