DE2245711A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STIRRING A SAMPLE MATERIAL - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Ing. H. MITSCHERLICH 9 MDNCHEK 22, DipK.lng. K. GUNSCHMÄNN E £ S £ Dr. rer. not. W. KORBER

Patent Attorneys' ₁₈ September 1972

YIOKEES LIMIIBD.

Vioker's panties
Millbank Tower, Millbank
London S, Wt . England

Patent registration

Method and device for stirring a sample materialg

The invention relates to methods and devices for moving a liquid sample of material.

With many investigations carried out on material samples which sources of various types of relaxation, it is necessary to put the sample material together to move or stir with a reaction agent attached to it so that a homogeneous mixture of the Sample material and the reagent is created. For this purpose it has been customary until now to use the sample material With the help of a stirring rod. However, it is inconvenient to use a stir bar when the sample material is very small to use, and moreover, the use of such a stir bar can lead to mutual contamination of several Conduct rehearsals. Thus the task arises, very small To stir quantities of a sample material, in particular in such a way that a mutual contamination of several samples is prevented.

In order to achieve the stated object, the invention a method of stirring or moving a distributed on a sample carrier for the purpose of examination

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liquid sample material has been created in which a A flow of a gaseous fluid emerging from a supply channel is caused to be applied to the liquid sample material to occur, and in which a relative movement between the surface carrying the sample and the outlet of the Gas supply line is brought about.

Furthermore, a device has been created by the invention, which has a surface for receiving a pro ~ benmaterials, furthermore a feed channel which is arranged so that it allows from the outlet of the Channel to conduct a stream of a gaseous fluid onto the liquid sample material, which is used for the purpose of the investigation is distributed on the supporting surface, as well as a device that enables a relative movement between of the surface carrying the sample and the outlet of the channel, so that a stirring movement in the liquid sample material is caused *

Furthermore, the invention provides a device for stirring a liquid sample material that is distributed on the top of an elongated sample carrier, has been created which has a guide device by which a path is determined along which the sample carrier can be moved through the device in the direction of its longitudinal axis, as well as a pneumatic, for Generating a gas flow serving device with at least one outlet, which is arranged near the guide device and serves to impinge a stream of a gaseous fluid on the sample material on the sample carrier when the device is in use, so that the sample material is set in motion while the robe wearer is along the path on the or each Outlet moved past.

As a gaseous fluid, which is both a Gas and steam can be used, preferably air is used.

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The invention and advantageous details of In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments. It shows J.

1 shows a schematic side view of a device for use in examining sample materials;

FIG. 2 shows a part of FIG. 2 in an enlarged perspective, partially broken away illustration Device according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 in plan a part of a band-shaped

Sample carrier;

4 shows a first in a schematic longitudinal section Modification of the device according to FIG. 2;

Fig. 5 in an enlarged perspective, partially broken away partial illustration a ■ second modification of the device according to FIG. 2; and

6 shows a part of a further band-shaped sample carrier in plan view.

The device shown in Fig. 1 is used to examine sample materials, e.g. blood serum, by that in each case a subset of each material sample is mixed with a reactant, whereupon the result of a any reaction between the sample and the reactant is observed. For this purpose, the device has an application device 1, which is used in certain At intervals, drops of a reactant and, if necessary, a diluent on the top a horizontally arranged band-shaped sample carrier 2 to apply, which is detected by two transport rollers 3 »of which one is driven, and by the device is pulled through. In addition, the application device 1 serves to apply one drop to each drop of the reactant

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of the sample material to be added} so that a sequence of puddles is created along the band-shaped sample carrier 2 are distributed and each have a material sample and the Reactants included. On the other side of the applicator 1 is a pneumatic one in the path of the band-shaped sample carrier Stirring device 4 arranged, by means of which each of the existing from the sample material and the reactant Puddles are stirred thoroughly to create a homogeneous mixture. More details of the pneumatic Stirring device 4 can be seen from FIG. While the When puddles pass through the pneumatic agitator, a reaction may occur between the Sample material and the reactant, and the result the reaction can be observed with the aid of an optical device 5.

The pneumatic stirring device according to FIG. 2 includes a guide 6 that holds the band-shaped sample carrier 2, which is provided with a hat? is provided, which has a flat bottom and straight ßeitenwand. A distributor bar 8 is arranged on the guide 6 and covers the entire groove 7. On the distribution rail 8 is a flat gasket 9 on which an upper distribution plate 10 is arranged «

The components 8, 9 and 10 are held together by screws 11, while the guide 6 with the assembly formed by the components 8, 9 and 10 by a resilient clip 12 is held together.

The distribution rail 8, the flat seal 9 and the upper plate 10 together delimit one above the Chamber 13 extending groove 7, which communicates with the space formed by groove 7 via a plurality of outlets 14 stands. According to FIG. 1, a bottle is filled with compressed air 20 available, which makes it possible to supply compressed air to the chamber 13 via a connecting piece built into the upper plate 10 15 feed so that the compressed air from the chamber 1 ^ escapes through the outlets 14 and down against the

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Bottom of the hat 7 forms directed currents or rays. According to FIG. 2, two are alternately next to each other along the groove 7 horizontal outlets and individual outlets 14 distributed at intervals.

The device 4 serves to stir the puddles 17 which contain a sample material and an reactant and on the top of the band-shaped sample carrier 2 are distributed longitudinally. If the device 4 is to be used, the clamp 12 is removed, whereupon the assembly formed by the components 8, 9 and 10 is lifted off the guide 6 in order to make the groove 7 accessible close. Then an insertion section of the band-shaped sample carrier 2 is inserted into the groove, whereupon the assembly comprising the components 8, 9 and 10 is arranged again on the guide 6 and with the aid of the clamp 12 is determined. The free end of the sample carrier 2 is passed between the transport rollers 3 so that the Sample carrier according to FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrow along the Groove 7 is moved; the connection piece 15 is connected to a compressed air source not shown in FIG. On that the band-shaped sample carrier along the path determined by the groove 7 of the guide 6 through the device pulled through while the chamber 13 is supplied with compressed air, which escapes via the outlets 14 and forms streams, which are directed against the top of the band-shaped sample carrier. Once containing a sample material Puddle 17 passes under one of the individually arranged outlets 14, the puddle is flattened by the compressed air, and the material is displaced from the central axis of the sample carrier 2 to both sides, as it is shown in Fig. 3; the same puddle then runs under two juxtaposed outlets 14, the material is shifted again in the direction of the center axis of the sample carrier, as is also shown in FIG. 3 is shown. Thus, the material of each puddle is stirred while the band-shaped sample carrier 2 through the

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Device 4- is pulled through. The amount of agitation depends on the total number of individually or in pairs provided outlets 14, while the speed, with which the individual stirring processes follow one another, through the longitudinal distances between the individual Outlet and the paired outlet along the groove 7 is determined.

The caused by the device of FIG The stirring movement serves to promote the chemical reactions between the sample material and the reactant, and _ to prevent excessive dehydration of the reaction participants and / or to prevent the reaction product, the compressed air supplied is humidified by removing it from the bottle 20 from according to FIG. 1 passed through a water bath 18 and mixed with a second bottle 21 extracted compressed air will. In addition, the temperature of the air is controlled by the fact that the water of the bath 18 with the help of a thermostatic controlled immersion heater 19 is heated. In some cases it may be desirable to use the reaction product to dry; if so desired, adjust the temperature and humidity of the air accordingly a. The sample material can be dry from the start or contain too little liquid; in this case can both reactants and diluents are added to the robe material before it reaches the device 4.

For practical use, a device according to Fig. 2 was made in which the components 6, 8 and made of a transparent plastic, like him under the legally protected name "Perspex" is available, while the flat seal 9 made of butyl rubber was established. A sufficient ear effect was achieved with Achieved with the aid of the device if you supplied air with a pressure of about 0.35 stü via the connection piece 15 became.

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It has been shown that 'that instead of using individual outlets, which are arranged in pairs Alternate outlets, as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 became, for the purpose of sighing a, homogeneous Mixture of the sample material and the reactant it is preferable to use the one shown schematically in FIG To use variation.

In the modified embodiment according to FIG. 4, there are two individual outlets in the form of flow-generating cannulas 22 which are separated by a distance along the groove and between which no additional outlets are arranged in pairs. The Kaaulen 22 have a cylindrical cross-section, and their axes are inclined to a deep perpendicular at 45 °, are docli in the same vertical plane. The inclined cannulas are directed towards the front, i.e. they generally point in the direction of travel of the band-shaped sample carrier 2, and when compressed air flows are generated with the help of the cannulas, the air flows create a vortex movement in the liquid puddles, which leads to a thorough mixing of the participants . The depth of the hat for receiving the sample carrier 2 is chosen so that the distance between the wiping, free ends of the cannulas on the one hand and the free surface of a puddle with a height of 0.2 mm is less than five times the inner diameter of the cannulas. It was found that with a puddle of 10 mm, which contains blood serum and a water-based reagent, and with a running speed of the sample carrier of 10 mm / sec, sufficient mixing is achieved if about 0.6 ltr / min Supplies air. The effect of the air flows is reduced if the distance between the openings of the cannulas and the puddles is increased beyond five times the inner diameter of the cannulas, or if the angle of inclination between the cannulas and the vertical is made less than 45 °.

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In the field of serology, agglutination reactions are carried out in numerous cases; here will a mixture of blood serum and a reactant during held in rocking motion for a certain period of time. Will such a mixture in the form of puddles on the horizontal sample carrier 2 is used, such a rocking movement can be caused by the fact that the sample carrier passes under a plurality of outlets 14 arranged in pairs, as shown in FIG. In the Embodiment according to FIG. 5, the outlets are designed as cylindrical channels. The axis of each of these channels is inclined below 30 ° to the vertical, and the axes of the channels of each pair lie in a vertical plane which is at right angles to the direction of movement of the sample carrier runs. The two air currents created by the outlets of each pair converge so that they form an air curtain above the sample carrier, which causes the liquid in the direction of the rear The end of the puddle is displaced until it finally passes the air curtain and then flows back to the front. The pairs of outlets are spaced along the groove at intervals' slightly larger than the length of the puddles, so that the movement of the liquid takes place in the manner described. For puddles with a length of 12 mm the pairs of outlets are e.g. distributed along the groove at intervals of 15 mm. The openings of the outlets are in a height of about 4 mm above the sample carrier 2, and in puddles with a volume of 10 nmr it is required to supply air to each pair of outlets at a rate of approximately 0.6 liters / min.

If you use the modified embodiment after Figo 5 for reactions that have long mixing times and a require a large number of rocking movements, there is an undesirably large length of this part of the device; under these circumstances it has proven to be more expedient to supply a plurality of air currents which produce a stirring movement

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use as it is based on 3Pig. Described 4- ", and to distribute the successive outlets at intervals which are smaller than the length of puddles on the belt-shaped sample carrier. For example, the longitudinal distance between adjacent discharging at 12 mm long puddles having a volume of 10 nmr ⁵ is about 8 With this arrangement, a constant vortex movement is created in the puddles, as shown in E ¹ Xg ₀ 6. In FIG In the case of puddles with a volume of 10 nmr, it is sufficient to feed an air volume of 0.3 ltr / min into each outlet.

The guiding effect produced by the device according to Fig. or the modified devices according to FIGS. 4 and 5 caused can be used for puddles that contain only one sample material dry. It is possible to apply the sample material to the sample carrier in the dry state; in this case a diluent is added to the sample material before it reaches the device 4. Further needs that Sample material not to form separate puddles in the manner shown in the drawings, but one could apply the sample material to the sample carrier in the form of a coherent strip.

The device according to FIG. 2 or each of the modified embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5 can also be used in Can be used in combination with other devices to treat a sample material and use it for a subsequent one Prepare microscopic examination, e.g. with the help of a cytological examination device the Vickers type is carried out.

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The with the help of the device of FIG. 2 or the Variations after Pig. 4 and 5 induced stirring movement can then if the puddles 1? contain only one sample material, to which no reagent is added, serve to dry the robe material.

Claims ;

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Claims (8)

EXPECTATIONS My ¹ method for stirring a liquid sample material distributed on a sample receiving surface for the purpose of examination, characterized in that a flow of a gaseous fluid emerging from the outlet of a feed channel is caused to strike the liquid sample material, and that a relative movement between which the prot> enmaterial-bearing surface and the outlet of the feed channel is brought about. 2. Device for stirring a liquid sample material, characterized in that a There is a guide device (6) which determines a path along which an elongated sample carrier extends (2), on the upper side of which the sample material is distributed, can move in the longitudinal direction through the device, and that a pneumatic device for generating of streams of a gaseous fluid is present having at least one outlet which is close to the Guide device is arranged and serves to each have a flow of the gaseous fluid on the sample material to be allowed to impinge on the sample carrier, so that a stirring movement of the sample material is brought about when the sample carrier is moved along the path past the or each outlet. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the pneumatic device for Generating streams of a gaseous fluid multiple outlets has, which are distributed along the path of the sample carrier (2) that along the path in each case a single Outlet and two outlets arranged in pairs alternately follow one another, and that the two outlets each 309813/0870 Pairs of outlets opposite the web at a transverse distance are arranged from each other. 4-. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pneumatic device for generating of flows of a gaseous fluid has a plurality of outlets (22) which are arranged along the path of the sample carrier (2) are spaced such that there are no additional outlets between these outlets, and that each of the various outlets forms the end of a cylindrical channel, the central axis of which is at 45 opposite the perpendicular is inclined and lies in a perpendicular plane parallel to the path of the sample carrier. 5. Combination of a device according to claim 4- with a device for moving the sample carrier length of the path determined by the guide device, characterized in that a device (1) is present, which serves on the top of the sample carrier (2) a series of puddles (17) with a predetermined To apply depth, which are distributed along the top of the sample carrier at intervals and each one Sample material and a reactant contain such that the arrangement is such that when the combination is used the puddles on the sample carrier are moved away from the device for applying the puddles and then moved along the path be that the central axes of the supply channels (22) for the gaseous fluid in the direction of movement of the Pro ~ benträgers are inclined from top to bottom, and that between the outlet ^ edes supply channel and the top the sample carrier is a distance that is less than the sum of the depth of a puddle and five times the inner diameter of the cylindrical channels. 6. Combination according to claim 5 »characterized in that there are more than two outlets and that the longitudinal distance between successive outlets is less than the length of a puddle (17) 309013/0870 7. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the serving for applying material Device (1) on the top of the sample carrier (2) has a sequence of a certain length, longitudinally of the sample carrier applied puddles (17), each of which contains a sample material and a reactant that the pneumatic device for generating Flow of a gaseous e-liquid several pairs of outlets " comprises that these pairs are distributed along the path of the sample carrier at intervals that between adjacent ones Pairs of outlets do not have additional outlets exist that the distance between adjacent pairs of outlets is greater along the path of the robentrafeer is than the length of each puddle, and that each outlet of each pair forms the end of a cylindrical channel, its The central axis is inclined from the vertical and lies in a vertical plane which is at right angles to the path of the Sample carrier extends and the central axis of the cylindrical channel crosses whose end through the other outlet of the Pair under the two outlets. Is formed. 8. Device according to one of claims 2, 5 »6 and 7 or combination according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by means (18, 19, 20, 21) for regulating the temperature and the moisture content of the gaseous fluid. The patent attorney: 309813/0870 Lee r side