Patent ID: 8287806

Claim:
A pipetting apparatus ( 1 ) comprising: a fluidic space ( 7 ); a pump ( 4 ) having an active part ( 6 ); a first tubing ( 5 ) that connects a pipette tip ( 2 ) to the pump ( 4 ), said pipette tip ( 2 ) having an orifice ( 3 ); wherein the pipette tip ( 2 ), the first tubing ( 5 ), and the active part ( 6 ) of the pump ( 4 ) define the fluidic space ( 7 ) of the pipetting apparatus; a pressure transducer ( 11 ) with a pressure sensor ( 12 ) for recording a pressure variation; a first data processing unit ( 13 ) for processing the recorded pressure variation; a column ( 10 ) of an incompressible system liquid ( 8 ) within the fluid space ( 7 ), said column ( 10 ) of an incompressible system liquid ( 8 ) being in direct contact with the active part ( 6 ) of the pump ( 4 ); a gas-filled space ( 15 ), that is pneumatically-connected to the fluidic space ( 7 ); wherein the pipetting apparatus ( 1 ) further comprises means for liquid level detection and/or detection of gas bubbles, said means comprising: the pressure transducer ( 11 ) with the pressure sensor ( 12 ); the column of an incompressible system fluid ( 8 ); an impulse-generating means ( 16 , 18 , 19 ) that is in operative contact with the column ( 10 ) of system liquid ( 8 ), the impulse-generating means ( 16 , 18 , 19 ) being adapted to induce a vertical oscillation movement in this system liquid column ( 10 ); and the gas-filled space ( 15 ); and wherein the pressure sensor ( 12 ) limits the gas-filled space ( 15 ) to detect pressure variations in said gas-filled space ( 15 ), the pressure variations being the result of vertical movements of the system-liquid column ( 10 ).