公开(公告)号：US06734424B2

公开(公告)日：2004-05-11

申请号：US10146134

申请日：2002-05-16

申请人： John Lennon ,  Taraneh Norouzi

发明人： John Lennon ,  Taraneh Norouzi

IPC分类号： B01D5944

CPC分类号： G01N35/1016 ,  B01L3/0262 ,  B01L2400/022 ,  B01L2400/0487 ,  G01N35/1004 ,  G01N2035/102 ,  H01J49/00

摘要： An automated pipetting apparatus and method for forming sample spots on a support include a pipette. A robotic assembly moves a sample container, such as a multiwell microtiter plate, and the support to the pipette for receiving and dispensing liquid samples. The pipette draws a predetermined volume of the liquid sample from the sample container into the axial passage of the pipette and forms a pocket of a gaseous material above and forms a barrier material below the volume of the liquid sample. The liquid sample is drawn into the pipette a distance sufficient to form a space between the liquid sample and the outlet of the pipette and to contain the liquid sample completely within the pipette. The volume of the barrier material, which is typically air or other fluid, separates the liquid sample a suitable distance from the outlet end of the pipette to prevent the liquid sample from flowing outward under gravity and being drawn along the outer surfaces of the pipette by the surface tension of the liquid, thereby preventing or inhibiting evaporation and preventing deposits from forming on the outer surface of the pipette. The pipette dispenses the liquid sample with sufficient force so that substantially the entire volume of the liquid sample is dispensed from the pipette directly onto the support. The support can be, for example, a sample plate of a MALDI mass spectrometer. The pipette deposits the liquid samples to form sample spots on the sample plate for analysis by the mass spectrometer.

摘要翻译： 用于在支撑体上形成样品斑点的自动移液装置和方法包括移液管。 机器人组件将诸如多孔微量滴定板的样品容器移动到移液管上以接收和分配液体样品。 移液管将样品容器中的预定体积的液体样品从吸液管的轴向通道吸入，并在上面形成气态物质的口袋，并在液体样品的体积之下形成阻隔材料。 将液体样品吸入移液管中足以在液体样品和移液管出口之间形成空间并将液体样品完全包含在移液管内的距离。 通常为空气或其他流体的阻隔材料的体积将液体样品与吸液管的出口端隔开合适的距离，以防止液体样品在重力作用下向外流动并沿着吸液管的外表面被拉伸 液体的表面张力，从而防止或抑制蒸发并防止沉积物在移液管的外表面上形成。 移液管以足够的力分配液体样品，使得液体样品的基本上整个体积从移液管直接分配到载体上。 载体可以是例如MALDI质谱仪的样品板。 移液管沉积液体样品，在样品板上形成样品点，用于质谱仪分析。