초록

Discussed herein are methods and devices for storing, handling, loading or dispensing of pipette tips. Some embodiments allow repetitive loading of an array of multiple pipette tips that are stored in a nested configuration.

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1. A method for simultaneously dispensing an array of pipette tips into a loading block, comprising: (a) providing a dispensing device that includes an array of nested pipette tip units and a distal barrier plate comprising a substantially flat top surface, a substantially flat bottom surface, a fir

1. A method for simultaneously dispensing an array of pipette tips into a loading block, comprising: (a) providing a dispensing device that includes an array of nested pipette tip units and a distal barrier plate comprising a substantially flat top surface, a substantially flat bottom surface, a first subset of channels and a second subset of channels, wherein each channel has a diameter larger than the widest portion of a pipette tip each of which nested pipette tip units is aligned with a channel in the distal barrier plate, whereby a one-layer pipette tip array is aligned with the channels;(b) engaging the dispensing device with a loading block such that distal ends of pipette tips are disposed above or within receptacles of the loading block:(c) actuating an actuator of the dispensing device so as to simultaneously apply a same axial force on all of the pipette tips in the array of pipette tips, wherein the axial force dispenses the array of pipette tips through the first subset of channels at a different time than the second subset of channels, thereby ejecting the array of pipette tips into respective receptacles in the loading block. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the channels comprise one or more channel features in or around each of the channels in the first subset of channels and one or more channel features in or around each of the channels in the second subset of channels, the one or more channel features in or around each of the channels in the first subset of channels confer a first frictional force to the pipette tips in the array ejected through the first subset of channels and the one or more channel features in or around each of the channels in the second subset of channels confer a second frictional force to the pipette tips in the array ejected through the second subset of channels, andthe second frictional force is different than the first frictional force. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the barrier plate comprises 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 of different subsets of channels, and each subset ejects pipette tips of one array at different times. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein each subset of channels apply a different frictional force to pipette tips in the array than the other subsets of channels. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more channel features that confers a different frictional force comprise channel diameter. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more channel features that confers a different frictional force comprises channel texture. 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more channel features that confers a different frictional force is selected from the group consisting of: one of more projections around the channels and extending from the top surface of the barrier plate; one of more projections around the channels and extending from the bottom surface of the barrier plate; and one of more projections around the channels and extending from the top surface and the bottom surface of the barrier plate. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more channel features that confers a different frictional force comprise projections and the projections around the first subset of channels have one or more projection features different than the projections around the second subset of channels, which projection features are chosen from shape, size, length, thickness, width, texture, angle or a combination thereof. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the channels comprise four (4) or more projections around each channel in the first subset of channels and four (4) or more projections around each channel in the second subset of channels. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the projections around each channel in the first subset of channels extend at an internal angle of about 90 degrees from the bottom surface of the distal barrier plate. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the projections around each channel in the first subset of channels extend at an internal angle of about 89° to about 80° from the bottom surface of the distal barrier plate. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein (a) the projections around each channel in the first subset of channels are not in the channels or (b) the projections around each channel in the second subset of channels are not in the channels. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the projection feature comprises length. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the projections around each channel in the first subset of channels independently are about 0.01 micrometers to about 2.0 millimeters in length. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the barrier plate comprises a first, a second and a third subset of channels wherein, the second subset of channels surround the first subset of channels and the projection features of the first subset of channels are longer than the projection features of the second subset of channels; and,the third subset of channels surround the second subset of channels and the projection features of the second subset of channels are longer than the projection features of the third subset of channels. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the barrier plate comprises a first, a second and a third subset of channels wherein, the second subset of channels surround the first subset of channels and the projection features of the first subset of channels are shorter than the projection features of the second subset of channels; and,the third subset of channels surround the second subset of channels and the projection features of the second subset of channels are shorter than the projection features of the third subset of channels. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the time lapse between the time the pipette tips are released from the first subset of channels to the time the pipette tips are released from the second subset of channels is about 0.00001 seconds to about 5 seconds. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the time lapse between the time the pipette tips are released from the first subset of channels to the time the pipette tips are released from the second subset of channels is about 0.0001 seconds to about 1 second. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the total time required to eject all of the pipette tips in the array is about 0.001 seconds to about 5 seconds. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the total time required to eject all of the pipette tips in the array is about 0.01 seconds to about 1 second. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein barrier plate comprises 96, 384 or more channels. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier plate comprises a polymer. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator housing and an alignment housing; wherein each of the actuator housing and alignment housing comprises a clear polymer material to visualize ejection of the pipette tips during actuation. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the actuator housing comprises a telescoping arrangement having multiple housing elements and wherein actuation of the actuator comprises collapsing the multiple housing elements from an extended state to a collapsed nested state.