Patent ID: 8309036

Claim:
A method for separating a viscous material suspended from a probe of an automated pipettor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) lowering the probe into a receptacle through an opening foamed in a cover disposed over the receptacle, the receptacle containing a viscous material; (b) drawing at least a portion of the viscous material into the probe; (c) removing the probe from the vessel to a position above the cover, whereby a string of the viscous material is suspended from the probe; (d) moving the probe laterally with respect to the opening to a position offset from the opening and adjacent a raised structure formed on the cover; and (e) moving the probe laterally along a path comprising movement in first and second directions, wherein the transition from movement in the first direction to movement in the second direction causes the string of viscous material to contact the raised structure, and wherein the continued movement of the probe along the path causes at least a portion of the string of viscous material to be separated from the probe.