Pipette tip having plural channels and a titration kit therefor

Abstract

A pipette tip having at least two separate dispensing channels for dispensing liquid simultaneously into a corresponding number of micro titration wells or other container. The tip has a tubular body with one open end for mounting on a pipette. At the other end of the body, at least two spaced legs extend away from the body, each having a central channel communicating with the tip interior and an end opening. The tips are stored in a rack having an alignment arrangement, such as a ridge on each tip cooperating with a notch in the rack, to assure that all tips are aligned the same. In operation, the a tip is mounted on a pipette which is then brought to a supply plate having supply wells wide enough that all legs can enter and draw up liquid through the leg channels. The pipette is then moved to a micro titration plate having a number of closely spaced micro titration wells, such that each tip leg will enter a different micro titration well and dispense the liquid into them. The leg channels can be configured so that different amounts of liquid are dispensed into different micro titration wells in a predetermined pattern. The tip may also be used to transfer liquid from one micro titration plate to another, or any suitable container.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A plural channel pipette tip which comprises: 
 a tubular body for mounting on a single pipette at a first end;    a second end of said tubular body having a plurality of spaced, approximately parallel, legs extending away from said tubular body;    a channel extending through each leg having a proximal end in communication with said tubular body and an open distal end; and    said plurality of legs sized to permit all of said open distal ends to fit within a single supply well and to permit each leg to fit within a separate micro titration well in a micro titration plate.    
     
     
         2 . The plural channel pipette tip system according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of said channels have open distal ends with different cross sectional areas.  
     
     
         3 . The plural channel pipette tip according to  claim 1  wherein four legs are provided in a rectangular pattern.  
     
     
         4 . The plural channel pipette tip according to  claim 1  wherein two legs are provided.  
     
     
         5 . A plural channel pipette tip and storage rack system which comprises: 
 a tubular body for mounting on a single pipette at a first end;    a second end of said tubular body having a plurality of spaced legs extending away from said tubular body;    a channel extending through each leg having a proximal end in communication with said tubular body and an open distal end;    a rack having openings for storing a plurality of said pipette tips prior to use; and    cooperating alignment means on said tubular body first end and at said storage rack openings to assure that each pipette tip will mount on each pipette in a predetermined alignment.    
     
     
         6 . The plural channel pipette tip and storage rack system according to  claim 5  wherein at least some of said channels have open distal ends with different cross sectional areas.  
     
     
         7 . The plural channel pipette tip and storage rack system according to  claim 5  wherein said alignment means comprises a ridge on said pipette tip and a cooperating recess in said storage rack at said storage rack openings.  
     
     
         8 . The plural channel pipette tip and storage rack system according to  claim 5  wherein four of said legs are provided in a rectangular pattern.  
     
     
         9 . A kit for performing rapid and accurate titrations which comprises: 
 a tubular body for mounting on a single pipette at a first end;    a second end of said tubular body having a plurality of spaced legs extending away from said tubular body;    a channel extending through each leg having a proximal end in communication with said tubular body and an open distal end;    a storage rack having a plurality of holes for simultaneously receiving all of said plural legs on one pipette tip and at least a portion of said tubular body;    cooperating alignment means on said tubular body and said storage rack to assure that each pipette tip will mount on each pipette in a predetermined alignment;    a pipette for insertion into said pipette tip and for releasably retaining said pipette tip thereon;    a supply rack having a plurality of supply wells, each of said wells configured to admit all of said plural legs; and    a micro titration plate having a plurality of micro titration wells, said micro titration wells configured to admit individual said legs into a corresponding plurality of individual micro titration wells.    
     
     
         10 . The kit according to  claim 9  wherein at least some of said channels have open distal ends have different cross sectional areas.  
     
     
         11 . The kit according to  claim 9  wherein four approximately parallel legs are provided in a rectangular pattern.  
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 9  wherein two approximately parallel legs are provided.  
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 5  wherein said alignment means comprises a ridge on said pipette tip and a cooperating recess in said storage rack.