DE102011088144A1 - Device for carrying out a centrifuging process, container device and method for carrying out a centrifuging process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for carrying out a centrifuging process comprising: at least one container device having at least one fabric reservoir for holding at least one chemical substance and a data storage device for storing process data of the centrifuging process; a read-out device, which is designed to read out the process data from the data storage device and to transmit it to a control device; and the control device, which is designed to carry out the centrifuging process with the at least one chemical substance in dependence on the transmitted process data using a centrifuge device accommodating the container device.

Description

The invention relates to a device for carrying out a centrifuging process, a container device and a method for carrying out a centrifuging process.

State of the art

Purification of biological samples, as may be required for DNA analysis, is accomplished by numerous manual steps in the laboratory. In addition to dealing with many different reagents, a large number of manual process steps such as pipetting, filtering, cleaning and dissolving in solvent are required.

The WO 2008 014 117 A2 describes a system for the identification of vessels in devices for automated laboratory analyzes by radio frequency identification.

The EP 2 080 556 A1 describes a laboratory apparatus for processing samples, a corresponding test tube rack and a corresponding mounting arrangement.

The WO 2008 028 028 A2 describes a sample collection container having a label located on the sample collection container, the label comprising two bar codes, all the information encoded in the first bar code being identical to all the information encoded in the second bar code.

Disclosure of the invention

According to one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for carrying out a centrifuging process comprising: at least one container device having at least one substance reservoir for holding at least one chemical substance and a data storage device for storing process data of the centrifuging process; a read-out device, which is designed to read out the process data from the data storage device and to transmit it to a control device; and the control device, which is designed to carry out the centrifuging process with the at least one chemical substance in dependence on the transmitted process data using a centrifuge device accommodating the container device.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a container device for carrying out a centrifuging process, wherein the container device has at least one fabric reservoir for holding at least one chemical substance and a data storage device for storing process data of the centrifuging process.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for carrying out a centrifuging process comprising the steps of: storing process data of the centrifuging process in a data storage device of a container device, which has at least one substance reservoir for holding at least one chemical substance; Reading the process data from the data storage device and transmitting the process data to a controller; and performing the centrifuging process as a function of the transmitted process data with the at least one chemical substance in the container device using a centrifuge device.

Advantages of the invention

An idea of the present invention is to provide a combination of the container means, i. a tube kit comprising a microfluidic processor and the associated reagents with the associated process data. This is done by using a 2-dimensional barcode or an RFID chip to store all necessary information about the sequence program of the centrifuging process on the container device.

The essential advantage is a simple, fast and error-free transmission of the corresponding sequence program of the centrifuging process to the centrifuge device subsequently performing the centrifuging process.

Further advantages are given by the fact that changes and further developments are given as digitally coded information in a form that is not obviously readable by every person.

The program-controlled, automatic procedure reduces the susceptibility of the device to errors due to manual operating errors.

According to one embodiment of the device, the centrifuge device has a temperature control device for controlling a process temperature of the centrifuging process.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the data storage device is designed as an information label, the process data being printed on the information label as a data code. For quality assurance, advantageously an expiration date can be accommodated in the code and thus a start of the process can be prevented as soon as the perfect condition of upstream reagents can no longer be guaranteed.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the read-out device is designed as an optical camera.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the data storage device is designed as an RFID transponder, wherein the process data are stored in the RFID transponder.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the read-out device is designed as an RFID reader.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the centrifuging process has one or more process steps.

According to a further embodiment of the device, the process data comprise data relating to the at least one chemical substance and / or to a time duration and / or to a rotational speed of the centrifuge device and / or to parameters of a temporal course of a rotational speed change of the centrifuge device and / or to one of the temperature control device to be set process temperature for the one or more process steps.

Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

The described embodiments and developments can, if appropriate, combine with one another as desired. Further possible refinements, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations, not explicitly mentioned, of features of the invention described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments.

The accompanying drawings are intended to provide further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the stated advantages will become apparent with reference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale to each other.

Show it:

1 a schematic representation of an apparatus for performing a Zentrifugierprozesses according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 a schematic representation of an apparatus for performing a Zentrifugierprozesses according to another embodiment of the invention; and

3 a schematic representation of a flowchart of a method for performing a Zentrifugierprozesses according to another embodiment of the invention.

The 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for performing a centrifuging process according to an embodiment of the invention.

A device 100 for carrying out a centrifuging process comprises at least one container device 10 , a readout device 60 , a control device 70 and a centrifuge device 80 ,

The device 100 is designed for example in the form of a laboratory centrifuge and can a plurality of container devices 10 take up.

The device 100 can with the readout device 60 and the controller 70 and the centrifuge device 80 be integrated in a common housing.

However, it is also conceivable to design the readout device 60 , the control device 70 and the centrifuge device 80 as separate technical devices in each case autonomous housings, wherein the individual technical devices are then coupled to each other via wireless or wired communication interfaces.

Furthermore, the control device 70 with the centrifuge device 80 or with the readout device 60 be integrated in a common housing.

The container device 10 For example, it is designed as a microfluidic system in the form of a centrifuge tube. The container device 10 includes, for example, one or a plurality of fabric reservoirs 20 . 30 . 40 , which are for example rotatably mounted and via connecting lines 25 . 35 coupled together. For example, the fabric reservoirs 20 . 30 . 40 additional, subordinate fabric reservoirs 21 . 22 . 31 . 32 . 41 . 42 exhibit.

Furthermore, by micropumping and / or by the centrifuge device 80 centrifugal forces generated liquids from the subordinate fabric reservoirs 21 . 22 . 31 . 32 . 41 . 42 and / or the fabric reservoirs 20 . 30 . 40 conveyed or dosed where microvalves determine the direction or mode of movement of the media being pumped, and micromixers allow for deliberate blending of fluid volumes.

By way of example, microsystems referred to as lab-on-a-chip systems, or "lab-on-a-chip devices", are also contained in the container device 10 integrated.

The centrifuge device 80 may further include a temperature control device 90 for controlling a process temperature of the centrifuging process. The process temperature can, for example, for the entire centrifuge device 80 or for individual container facilities 10 be set. The centrifuging process can be achieved by using the temperature control device 90 include a variety of process parameters from the chemical and biochemical process engineering.

Furthermore, the container device 10 a data storage device 50 for storing process data of the centrifuging process. The data storage device 50 is designed, for example, as a sign, with the process data being printed or applied on the sign as a data code. For example, the data code can also be applied to the container device by means of laser material processing 10 be applied.

The data code may be embodied as a bar code, as a bar code or as a bar code, "bar" for "bars", or as any other opto-electronically readable data code having different width, parallel bars or gaps or areas.

The readout device 60 is designed to process data from the data storage device 50 read out and to the control device 70 to convey.

The control device is 70 designed, depending on the transmitted process data, the centrifuging process with the at least one chemical substance using the centrifuge device 80 perform.

The process data include, for example, data on the at least one chemical substance, wherein a shelf life or a use date of the chemical substance may be stored.

The centrifuging process can be subdivided, for example, by the process data into one or more process steps. The data can be, for example, a period of time and / or a rotational speed of the centrifuge device 80 and / or parameters of a time course of a speed change of the centrifuge device 80 and / or one of the temperature control device 90 Describe the process temperature to be set. For example, describe the parameters of the time course of a speed change of the centrifuge device 80 an applicable speed ramp of the centrifuge device 80 ,

The readout device 60 For example, it is designed as an optical camera or as a 2D barcode scanner. The readout device 60 may be embodied as a bar code reader or other data acquisition device that can read and pass various bar codes. The detection of these bar codes takes place, for example, optically with red or infrared light. The readout device 60 may also be designed as a CCD scanner. For example, the barcode can be passed through light emitting diodes of the readout device 60 be illuminated. Depending on the brightness or darkness, the barcode reflects on a CCD or photodiode line of the readout device 60 ,

For example, a plurality of container devices 10 in the centrifuge device 80 be provided. Furthermore, the read-out data code of the container device 10 Information on a use-by date or a processing date for the substance reservoirs 20 . 30 . 40 have located chemical substances.

The control device 70 can also be designed to check if all in the device 100 introduced or located container facilities 10 are also provided for the following centrifuging process. In this case, a signal device can be used to provide the user with the presence of a container device not provided for the subsequent centrifuging process 10 display.

The 2 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for performing a centrifuging process according to another embodiment of the invention.

Deviating from the 1 is the one in the 2 illustrated device 100 equipped with an RFID system.

In this case, the data storage device 50 be designed as an RFID transponder, wherein the RFID transponder a the container device 10 contains identifying code and, for example, further process data are stored in the RFID transponder.

For example, the read-out device 60 as an RFID reader for reading the code as Identification of the container device 10 and / or designed for reading the process data.

The coupling between RFID transponder and RFID reader can be done by magnetic fields generated by the RFID reader short range or by high-frequency radio waves. This not only data can be transmitted, but it can also be the RFID transponder and the container device 10 be powered by the RFID reader. The RFID transponder is for example in a lid at the top of the container device 10 arranged.

The others in the 2 Reference numerals shown are already in the figure description of 1 are described and therefore not further explained.

The 3 shows a schematic representation of a flowchart of a method for performing a centrifuging process according to another embodiment of the invention.

In a first step, the method comprises a storage S1 of process data of the centrifuging process in a data storage device 50 a container device 10 on which at least one fabric reservoir 20 . 30 . 40 for holding at least one chemical substance.

Furthermore, readout S2 of the process data from the data storage device takes place 50 and transmitting the process data to a controller 70 ,

In a further step of the method, the centrifuging process is carried out S3 as a function of the transmitted process data with the at least one chemical substance in the container device 10 using a centrifuge device 80 ,

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2008014117 A2 [0003]
• EP 2080556 A1 [0004]
• WO 2008028028 A2 [0005]

Claims (10)

Device for carrying out a centrifuging process with: - at least one container device ( 10 ) containing at least one fabric reservoir ( 20 . 30 . 40 ) for holding at least one chemical substance and a data storage device ( 50 ) for storing process data of the centrifuging process; - a read-out device ( 60 ), which is adapted to process data from the data storage device ( 50 ) and to a control device ( 70 ) to transmit; and - the control device ( 70 ), which is designed, depending on the transmitted process data, the centrifuging process with the at least one chemical substance using a container device ( 10 ) receiving centrifuge device ( 80 ). Device according to claim 1, wherein the centrifuge device ( 80 ) a temperature control device ( 90 ) for controlling a process temperature of the centrifuging process. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the data storage device ( 50 ) is formed as a sign, wherein the process data are printed on the sign as a data code. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the read-out device ( 60 ) is formed as an optical camera. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the data storage device ( 50 ) is designed as an RFID transponder, wherein the process data are stored in the RFID transponder. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the readout device ( 60 ) is designed as an RFID reader. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the centrifuging process comprises one or more process steps. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the process data comprise data on the at least one chemical substance and / or at a time duration and / or at a rotational speed of the centrifuge device ( 80 ) and / or to parameters of a time profile of a speed change of the centrifuge device ( 80 ) and / or to one of the temperature control device ( 90 ) comprise the process temperature to be set for the one or more process steps. Container device for carrying out a centrifuging process, wherein the container device ( 10 ) at least one fabric reservoir ( 20 . 30 . 40 ) for holding at least one chemical substance and a data storage device ( 50 ) for storing process data of the centrifuging process. Method for carrying out a centrifuging process comprising the steps of: - storing (S1) process data of the centrifuging process in a data storage device ( 50 ) a container device ( 10 ) containing at least one fabric reservoir ( 20 . 30 . 40 ) for holding at least one chemical substance; - reading out (S2) the process data from the data storage device ( 50 ) and transmitting the process data to a control device ( 70 ); and - performing (S3) the centrifuging process as a function of the transmitted process data with the at least one chemical substance in the container device ( 10 ) using a centrifuge device ( 80 ).

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