Pipette Tip with Integrated Light Guides in the Body and Method of Spectroscopic Analysis Using Same

Abstract

Novel disposable pipette tips that enable spectroscopic analysis of analytes held within the tip while attached to a microspectrometer or microspectrometer which is a micropipette with the functional capability to irradiate an attached tip with light of a defined wavelength and measure the impact of the sample within the tip on the irradiated light as the modified light is directed back to sensors on or within the instrument. Spectroscopic sample analysis is integral to a wide range of research sciences including microbiology, molecular biology, medical, chemistry, environmental, food, and forensics.

1 . A pipette tip comprising:
 a top portion for interconnecting said pipette tip to a barrel of a microspectrometer;   a middle portion including a light guide;   a lower portion including a sampling chamber;   wherein said light guide is configured to direct input light along a vector from said microspectrometer through said sample chamber and back to said microspectrometer, said light changing direction at least twice to return to said microspectrometer along a vector in opposing direction to said vector of said input light.   
     
     
         2 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein said middle portion is generally in the shape of a conical frustum. 
     
     
         3 . The pipette tip of  claim 2  wherein said lower portion is generally rounded at an extreme end, said light internally reflecting from said rounding into said sample chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The pipette tip of  claim 1  wherein said pipette tip is formed from two halves, each of said halves including generally half of each of said portions, bonded together 
     
     
         5 . The pipette tip of  claim 4  wherein said bonding is ultrasonic welding. 
     
     
         6 . The pipette tip of  claim 4  wherein said halves are molded as strip containing a plurality of said halves. 
     
     
         7 . The pipette tip of  claim 4  wherein said halves are identical. 
     
     
         8 . A pipette tip comprising:
 a top portion for interconnecting said pipette tip to a barrel of a microspectrometer;   a bottom portion comprising two light guide arms separated by a sample region at a terminal end spaced from said top portion;   wherein said light guide arms are configured to direct input light along a vector from said microspectrometer through said sample region and back to said microspectrometer, said light changing direction at least twice to return to said microspectrometer along a different arm from an arm guiding said input light to said sample region.   
     
     
         9 . The pipette tip of  claim 8  wherein each of said arms has a non-circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         10 . The pipette tip of  claim 8  wherein said top portion comprises a collar. 
     
     
         11 . A pipette tip comprising:
 a top portion for interconnecting said pipette tip to a barrel of a microspectrometer;   two light guide arms connected to said top portion and separated from each other, each of said light guide arms forming a light guide internally reflecting input light from said microspectrometer within said light guide arm;   a sample region between said light guide arms at a terminal end spaced from said top portion;   wherein a first of said two light guide arms directs said input light to exit said first light guide arm, pass through said sample region, and enter into a second of said two light guide arms, said second of said two light guide arms directing said light back to said microspectrometer, said light changing direction at least twice before returning to said microspectrometer.   
     
     
         12 . The pipette tip of  claim 11  wherein each of said arms has a non-circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . The pipette tip of  claim 11  wherein said top portion comprises a collar.