Temperature control apparatus and method for pipetting robot

Abstract

A temperature control apparatus in the form of a plate is provided for pipetting robots, the plate having a spiral tube for a temperature control medium and which apparatus is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates. A pipetting robot which utilizes a maximum amount of its working space, increasing the efficiency of pipetting liquids for analysis, is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A temperature control apparatus for pipetting robots for holding microtitration plates, comprising a plate having a spiral tube therein for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates.  
     
     
         2 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an upper part and a lower part, and wherein both the upper and lower parts are rectangular, the upper part resting on top of the lower part; and 
 wherein the upper part includes grooves in an upper surface thereof, which is facing away from the lower part, said grooves dividing the upper surface into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates.    
     
     
         3 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an upper part and a lower part, and wherein both the upper and lower parts are rectangular, the upper part resting on top of the lower part; and 
 wherein the upper part includes grooves in an upper surface thereof, which is facing away from the lower part, said grooves dividing the upper surface into at least three segments for holding microtitration plates.    
     
     
         4 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is divided into at least three segments for holding microtitration plates.  
     
     
         5 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an upper part and a lower part, and wherein both the upper and lower parts are rectangular, the upper part resting on top of the lower part; 
 wherein the lower part includes a channel in an upper surface of the lower part, which is in contact with the upper part, wherein the channel forms a spiral tube in the assembled state.    
     
     
         6 . The temperature control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an upper part and a lower part, and wherein both the upper and lower parts are rectangular, the upper part resting on top of the lower part; 
 wherein the upper part includes grooves in an upper surface thereof, which is facing away from the lower part, said grooves dividing the upper surface into at least three segments for holding microtitration plates; and    wherein the lower part includes a channel in an upper surface of the lower part, which is in contact with the upper part, wherein the channel forms a spiral tube in the assembled state.    
     
     
         7 . A pipetting robot, comprising: 
 a working area;    a pipetting apparatus;    at least one microtitration plate; and    a temperature control apparatus including a plate having a spiral tube for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates.    
     
     
         8 . A programmable pipetting robot, comprising: 
 at least one temperature control apparatus including a plate having a spiral tube for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments for holding microtitration plates;    a working area containing the at least one temperature control apparatus;    one microtitration plate holding containers for liquids located on each segment of the temperature control apparatus;    a pipetting apparatus; and    a controller for recognizing the position of each microtitration plate, wherein the pipetting robot is programmed such that, when the temperature-control apparatus and the microtitration plates are arranged correctly, the robot recognizes and fills each of the containers with a liquid.    
     
     
         9 . A method of automatically pipetting fluids into wells of microtitration plates resting on a temperature control apparatus in a working area of a pipetting robot, comprising: 
 defining the working area of the robot to include an entire working table surface;    placing microtitration plates in at least the middle of the working area;    inputting into a controller a fluid source position;    inputting into a controller a fluid destination position within the middle of the defined working area;    moving a pipetting apparatus to the destination position; and    filling a well of a microtitration plate located at the destination position.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the placing step includes filling the entire working area with microtitration plates, and the inputting step includes inputting a fluid destination position for each well of each microtitration plate located within the working area.  
     
     
         11 . A method of automatically pipetting fluids into wells of a microtitration plate, comprising: 
 providing at least one temperature control apparatus to a working area of a programmable pipetting robot, the apparatus having a width and a length and including a plate having a spiral tube therein for receiving a temperature-control medium, wherein the plate is divided into at least two segments across its width for holding microtitration plates;    placing a microtitration plate on each segment of the temperature control apparatus;    moving a pipetting apparatus across the width of the temperature control apparatus; and    filling each well of each microtitration plate as the pipetting apparatus moves across the width of the temperature control apparatus.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the placing step includes placing at least three microtitration plates across the width of the temperature control apparatus.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including inputting into a controller a destination position to designate a well to be filled prior to moving the pipetting apparatus.