Patent ID: 6325114
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A pipetting station for transferring liquid from one container to another to perform a protocol, comprising:a back plate having at least one horizontal slot and at least one vertical slot;at least one substantially horizontally movable shelf,said shelf being movably attached to said back plate in a cantilever fashion;said shelf being functionally associated with said horizontal slot;said shelf adapted to receive a container to hold said liquid;a shelf driving means functionally associated with said shelf to movesaid shelf in a horizontal direction along said horizontal slot;an X-Y head being movably associated with said at least one vertical slot in said back plate;a modular pipette head attached to said X-Y head functionally adapted to aspirate and dispense liquid into and out of said container;a Z-axis driving means functionally associated with said backplate and said X-Y head to move said X-Y head in a vertical direction; anda control system being functionally associated with said shelf driving means to selectively engage said shelf driving means;the control system selectively engaging said Z-axis driving means to move said X-Y head in a vertical direction,wherein said control system controls said shelf and said X-Y head to cooperatively move to perform said protocol.