Patent ID: 6443022
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
A device for processing biological samples, comprising:any of a well, receptacle, vessel, plate, slide, phial, body or medium that maintains a sample; a movable mount; a pipette that processes the sample and that is coupled to the movable mount for movement relative to the sample; an illumination source for generating a beam directed at a predetermined point relative to a distal end of the pipette; and a photodetector substantially aimed at the point, the photodetector adapted to sense the beam as reflected from a fluid, and to produce an output representative of an amount of the reflected beam impinging on the photodetector; at least one of the photodetector or the illumination source are disposed for movement with the pipette, whereby movement of the pipette relative to the sample results in variation of the output of the photodetector; thereby, facilitating detection of a position of the end of the pipette relative to the sample.