Pipette tip system

1. A pipette tip system comprising:

a pipetter ( 90 ) comprising a suction lumen ( 95 ) with an opening and an ejection bar ( 100 ) that slides relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ), having an engaged configuration characterized by a user exerting a sliding force upon the ejection bar ( 100 ) to slide it downward relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ), and an unengaged configuration characterized by the absence of the sliding force on the ejection bar ( 100 ), and wherein in the unengaged configuration a distal edge ( 100 ) of the ejection bar is located a distance of D above the suction lumen ( 95 ) opening;

a pipette tip ( 10 A, 10 B, 10 C) comprising:

a distal end ( 15 ) with a distal end opening ( 16 );

a proximal end ( 25 ) with a rim ( 27 ), the rim ( 27 ) defining a proximal end opening ( 26 ) adapted to receive the pipetter ( 90 );

a central lumen ( 17 ) extending from the proximal end opening ( 26 ) to the distal end opening ( 16 ),

a pipette tip wall extending from the rim ( 27 ), the pipette tip wall forming the central lumen ( 17 ), the pipette wall comprising:

a plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) to allow stretching of the pipette tip wall;

a plurality of anti-nesting ribs ( 40 );

a low-force stretch region ( 46 ) located a distance of approximately D from the proximal end opening ( 26 ) where the plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) are present and the plurality of anti-nesting ribs ( 40 ) are not present;

a second region, located closer to the distal end ( 15 ) than the low-force stretch region ( 46 ), where both the plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) and anti-nesting ribs ( 40 ) are present;

wherein the system comprises at least three configurations:

an insertion configuration, wherein (1) the suction lumen ( 95 ) is inserted into the proximal end opening ( 26 ), and (2) the ejection bar ( 100 ) does not abut the rim ( 27 );

a sealed/installed configuration, wherein (1) the suction lumen ( 95 ) contacts the low-force stretch region, forming a liquid-tight seal between the suction lumen ( 95 ) and the pipette wall, and (2) the ejection bar ( 100 ) abuts the rim ( 27 ), preventing further insertion of the suction lumen ( 95 ); and

an ejection configuration, wherein (1) the ejection bar ( 100 ) is slid towards the rim ( 27 ) with an ejection force, and (2) the ejection bar ( 100 ) dislodges the pipette tip ( 10 A, 10 B, 10 C) from the suction lumen ( 95 ).

2. The pipette tip system of claim 1 , wherein the ejection force is less than 5 lbs.

3. The pipette tip system of claim 1 , wherein the ejection bar ( 100 ) is constructed to slide a distance of approximately equal to or less than D relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ).

4. A pipette tip system comprising:

a pipetter ( 90 ) comprising a first and a second suction lumen ( 95 ), each with an opening and an ejection bar ( 100 ) that slides relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ), having an engaged configuration characterized by a user exerting a sliding force upon the ejection bar ( 100 ) to slide it downward relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ), and an unengaged configuration characterized by the absence of the sliding force on the ejection bar ( 100 ), and wherein in the unengaged configuration a distal edge ( 100 ) of the ejection bar is located a distance of D above the suction lumen ( 95 ) opening;

a support card ( 50 A, 50 B) with a first and a second pipette tip receiver opening ( 52 );

a first and a second pipette tip ( 10 A, 10 B, 10 C) each comprising:

a distal end ( 15 ) with a distal end opening ( 16 );

a proximal end ( 25 ) with a rim ( 27 ), the rim ( 27 ) defining a proximal end opening ( 26 ) adapted to receive the pipetter ( 90 );

a central lumen ( 17 ) extending from the proximal end opening ( 26 ) to the distal end opening ( 16 ); and

a pipette tip wall extending from the rim ( 27 ), the pipette tip wall forming the central lumen ( 17 ), the wall comprising:

a plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) to allow stretching of the pipette tip wall;

a plurality of anti-nesting ribs ( 40 );

a low-force stretch region ( 46 ) located a distance of approximately D from the proximal end opening ( 26 ) where the plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) are present and the plurality of anti-nesting ribs ( 40 ) are not present;

a second region, located closer to the distal end ( 15 ) than the low-force stretch region ( 46 ), where both the plurality of thinning channels ( 45 ) and anti-nesting ribs ( 40 ) are present;

wherein the system comprises at least three configurations:

an insertion configuration, wherein (1) the first suction lumen ( 95 ) is inserted into the proximal end opening of the first pipette tip, and (2) a first ejection bar ( 100 ) does not abut the rim ( 27 ) of the first pipette tip;

a sealed/installed configuration, wherein (1) the first suction lumen ( 95 ) contacts the low-force stretch region of the first pipette tip, forming a liquid-tight seal between the first suction lumen ( 95 ) and the pipette wall of the first pipette tip, and (2) the first ejection bar ( 100 ) abuts the rim ( 27 ) of the first pipette tip, preventing further insertion of the first suction lumen ( 95 ); and

an ejection configuration, wherein (1) the first ejection bar ( 100 ) is slid towards the rim ( 27 ) of the first pipette tip with an ejection force;

and (2) dislodges the first pipette tip ( 10 A, 10 B, 10 C) from the first suction lumen ( 95 ).

5. The pipette tip system of claim 4 , wherein the ejection force is less than 5 lbs.

6. The pipette tip system of claim 4 , wherein one of the ejection bars ( 100 ) is constructed to slide a distance of approximately equal to or less than D relative to the suction lumen ( 95 ).