Unitary serological pipette and methods of producing the same

Abstract

A pipette may comprise a length, a longitudinal axis, and an inner curved surface enclosing a space. The pipette may have a tip region having a tip thickness. The tip region may be connected to a body region having a body thickness. The tip thickness may be greater than the body thickness. The body region may be connected to a mouth region having a mouth thickness. The mouth thickness may be greater than the body thickness. The inner curved surface may not contain bumps or ridges either between the tip region and the body region or between the body region and the mouth region. The pipette may be formed by blow molding or vacuum forming.

1 . A pipette comprising:
 a length, a longitudinal axis, and an inner curved surface enclosing a space;   a tip region having a tip diameter and a tip thickness, wherein the tip region is connected to   a body region having a body diameter and a body thickness, wherein the body diameter is greater than the tip diameter, and wherein the body region is connected to   a mouth region having a mouth diameter and a mouth thickness,   wherein the body thickness is less than one of the tip thickness or the mouth thickness, and   wherein the inner curved surface is substantially smooth in the transition regions between the tip region and the body region or between the body region and the mouth region.   
     
     
         2 . The pipette of  claim 1  wherein the body thickness is less than the tip thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The pipette of  claim 1  wherein the body thickness is less than the mouth thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the inner curved surface is substantially smooth along the length of the pipette. 
     
     
         5 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the tip thickness is 0.3 mm or greater. 
     
     
         6 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the tip thickness is 0.6 mm or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the body thickness is 0.6 mm or less. 
     
     
         8 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the body thickness is 0.4 mm or less. 
     
     
         9 . The pipette of  claim 1 , wherein the mouth thickness is 0.3 mm or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The pipette of  claim 9 , wherein the mouth thickness is 0.6 mm or greater. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a pipette comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a parison or preform, the parison or preform having a longitudinal axis and an inner curved surface enclosing a space;   (b) inserting the parison or preform into a mold, the mold having a mold cavity and proximal and distal mold end features; and   (c) blow-molding or vacuum forming the parison or preform to form a pipette in the shape of the mold, the pipette having proximal and distal ends.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (c) involves blow-molding the parison or preform. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (c) involves vacuum forming the parison or preform. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal and distal mold end features are orifices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step prior to step (b) of printing the mold cavity to create mold surface features, wherein during step (c) pipette surface features are formed on the pipette corresponding to the mold surface features. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step prior to step (b) of depositing ink on a surface of the mold cavity, wherein during step (c) the ink is transferred to a surface of the pipette. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step prior to step (b) of inserting a label into the mold cavity, wherein during step (c) the label attaches to the pipette. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step subsequent to step (c) of drawing the distal end to form a pipette tip. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mold cavity comprises a cutting or scoring feature configured to cut or score the pipette during or after step (c). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step subsequent to step (c) of cutting or scoring the pipette at its distal end to form or prepare to form a distal aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step subsequent to step (c) of cutting or scoring the pipette at its proximal end to form or prepare to form a proximal aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a step of inserting a filter into the formed proximal aperture of the pipette. 
     
     
         23 - 49 . (canceled)