DE2624899A1 - One handed dilution and pipetting device - for reagent and sample, e.g. for clinical analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

A striker is provided which operates in conjunction with the separate pipetting devices for the reagent and the sample independently, in order suck in and expel the respectively selected vols. of each liq. The reagent pipette is of the type having a moveable piston in a cylinder and inlet and outlet valves. The sample pipette is connected to the outlet of the reagent pipette. Single handed operation is combined with a wide range of independent adjustment of the two vols. of liq. to be handled. The device can be easily dismantled for maintenance and components can be made interchangeable between the two pipettes.

Description

"Dilution and pipetting device"

The invention relates to a dilution and pipetting device for additive Mixing a preselectable volume of a sample with a preselectable volume a reagent, in particular for analyzes, with a reagent pipetting device, with a piston that can be adjusted relative to a cylinder for sucking in an adjustable one Amount of liquid and with suction and discharge valve, with the discharge valve on a sample pipetting device is connected to the reagent pipetting device.

For withdrawing predetermined amounts of a liquid, for example of a reagent from a bottle are known dosing devices, so-called bottle dispensers, where with the help of a suction piston against the action of a suction valve sucked in a predetermined amount of liquid and then against the action of an outlet valve be released again via an outlet opening.

In a known bottle dispenser, one is on a bottle Screw-on valve head attached to a glass cylinder, overlapping a cylinder sleeve the glass cylinder slidable and rotatable and is with a sliding in the glass cylinder Piston connected, and means for adjusting the piston stroke and for display of the suction volume provided.

With such bottle dispensers, as explained at the beginning, suck in precisely reproducible, very precisely adjustable volumes of a liquid or give up.

There are also known pipetting devices that operate in a similar manner work, with a relative to a cylinder adjustable piston for suction an adjustable amount of liquid is used. The amount of liquid is in the cylinder held as long as the piston is raised accordingly. When lowering the Piston is the amount of liquid through the suction channel or the suction tube released again.

In laboratories or, for example, clinics or the like.

there is often a need for a predetermined amount of fluid to be diluted or mixed with another predetermined amount. This can by using the pipetting devices described above in successive Steps can be achieved. However, there are already devices known in which the two pipetting devices are structurally combined.

Thus, a glass device is known which is displaceable in a cylinder Piston whose stroke can be limited for the purpose of setting a certain amount of liquid is, the outlet valve of this pipetting device directly on a pipetting device to remove the second adjustable amount of liquid from another container connected. The stroke of the second pipetting device is also adjustable, so that to a certain extent any mixing ratio can be produced.

When operating this device, however, the two pipetting devices must be used be operated individually and one after the other, which is associated with considerable difficulties is.

Another disadvantage is that this known device is almost in one piece is made of glass, so that the production is associated with considerable effort is.

In another known device, a lifting device is in a sampler and lowerable piston provided with the help of a rotatable threaded spindle is raised and lowered. Again, the two are operated separately Dosing devices necessary. In addition, in this device the sample volume is not variable.

In yet another known device, the piston of the reagent pipetting device takes up via a connection with the piston of the sample pipetting device. So that's a Restricted one-handed operation possible, but the stroke length of the reagent piston always be greater than or equal to the stroke length of the test piston.

The previously known facilities and devices are able to meet the requirements insufficient practice.

The invention is therefore based on the task of a diluent and to create a pipetting device in which perfect one-handed operation is possible and any volumes for the reagent and for the sample are independent of one another can be set, This object is.according to the invention in a device of the type explained in the introduction essentially achieved in that an acquisition member is provided: that with each of the two pipetting devices independently of one another for aspirating the respectively set volume of the reagent and cooperates on the sample and to expel the aspirated and mixed volumes.

According to a preferred embodiment, reagent peeper devices are and sample pipetting device constructed in the same way and each have a glass cylinder on, wherein a cylinder sleeve slidably overlaps the glass cylinder and with a piston sliding in the glass cylinder is connected and wherein further means for Adjustment of the piston stroke and the display of the suction volume are provided.

The means for adjusting the piston stroke are advantageous formed by a locking screw and the driving member has receptacles for engagement of the locking bolts of the locking screws.

In a particularly expedient manner, the driving member is parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical sleeves arranged displaceably on a guide.

The driving member is advantageously on at least one rod out, the same time for the guidance of return arms connected to the cylinder sleeves serves.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention serve as Guide two parallel round bars.

But it is also possible a triangular, square or polygonal one Provide guide rod for the drive link.

To facilitate assembly and disassembly of the device are Advantageously, the return arms are fork-like and encompass the Guide rod (s).

The cylinder axes and the axis of the guide can essentially lie in one plane; but they can also be arranged in a triangle.

The driving member has: a handle part in an expedient manner on. This can either be formed by finger recesses or by special handles or hand parts. It when the handle part is particularly advantageous through a slot of the reagent beeper device and the sample pipetting device surrounding mantle protrudes.

In a modified embodiment, a handle part is as an extension of the axis of the guide, on one connected to the driving member Rod arranged, handle formed.

In yet another embodiment of the invention is a mechanically driven one Sliding device provided for the driving link. Serves in an expedient manner a servomotor acting on a screw spindle as a drive for the driving member.

Instead of the mechanical drive, there is also a modification the invention an electro-magnetic lifting device for the Drive link applicable. Instead of the mechanical or the electromagnetic Drive can also be a hydraulic (pneumatic) Cylinder-piston drive can be provided for the displacement of the driving member.

According to a modified exemplary embodiment, the scales for the reagent pipetting device and the sample pipetting device on a jacket arranged. The locking means for the piston stroke limitation of the reagent pipetting device and the sample pipetting device are arranged in slots in the jacket.

Further advantages and features of the invention are based on the drawing which is explained in more detail and which schematically represents exemplary embodiments, FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention partially in section, FIG. 2 shows a modified exemplary embodiment ' and FIG. 3 shows yet another exemplary embodiment.

A dilution and pipetting device according to the invention essentially consists from a reagent pipetting device 1 and a sample pipetting device 2, the can be operated with one hand by a driving member 3, the respective Volumes can be set as required independently of one another. The reagent pipetting device 1 has a valve head 16, on the upper side of which a tubular glass cylinder 15 by pressing in, if necessary with the aid of adhesives or the like.

is attached. This Glaszllinder 15 is opposite to the Glass cylinder 15 longitudinally displaceable. Cylinder necks 14 overlapped. In the cylinder sleeve 14 a piston 12 is arranged coaxially and fastened by means of a piston bearing 11. For this purpose, one end of the piston, which is the upper end in the drawing, is used into a corresponding recess in the cap-shaped piston bearing 11, if necessary also with the help of adhesives, pressed in and held in place, That so-. with the piston 12 provided piston bearing 11 is then, for example attached to the upper end of the cylinder sleeve 14 by a screw connection.

The piston 12 is covered with a plastic, preferably made of PUTZE, Mistake. This coating can be applied as a coating or drawn over as a shrink film or be attached to the piston 12 in some other way. Finally it is also possible to produce the piston 12 directly from an appropriate plastic. At the top At the end of the glass cylinder 15, a stop ring 13, for example made of warm pressed plastic, attached. The stop ring 13 has an outer diameter the somewhat ge ringer than the inner diameter of the cylinder sleeve 14, so that their Longitudinal displacement movements are not hindered.

The cylinder sleeve 14 has a longitudinal slot 24 in which an adjustable Stop is attached. This stop consists of a side next to the longitudinal slot 24 behind the wall of the cylinder sleeve 14 engaging stop segment 21, from a on the outside laterally next to the elongated slot 24 against the outer wall of the sydinaer sleeve 14 adjacent counterpart 22 and from a locking screw 23, by means of which the Stop element 21 and the counterpart 22 can be screwed together so that be locked in any height position within the longitudinal slot 24 can. The counterpart 22 is expediently designed as a pointer.

The cylinder sleeve 14 can cylinder together with the piston 12 in the glass 15 can only be pulled out upwards until the stop segment 21 from below strikes against the stop ring 13. So this is what goes into the glass cylinder 5 liquid volumes can be selected.

The cylinder sleeve 14 is provided with a scale 27, preferably one or on both sides of the slot 24 provided. To display the with the stop 21, 22 and 23 set volume is used an attached to the counterpart or with this integrally formed pointer 22. This pointer 22 can, for example, also as the cylinder sleeve 14 outside surrounding ring band or the like. Be formed.

In the valve head 16 there is a suction valve 17 ', 18', 19 'and an outlet valve 17 ", 18" and 19 "arranged.

The suction valve connects the interior of a bottle 49 or one Container on which the reagent pipetting device 1 is screwed, with the Glass cylinder 15.

When sucking, d. H. when the piston 12 is pulled up, a valve ball lifts 17 'of a valve seat bushing 18' with a conical seat for the valve ball 17 'and gives the way for a liquid flow through a hose or a tube 26, a closure cap 19 ', the valve seat bushing 18 ' into the interior of the glass cylinder 15 freely. One made of a hard material Closure cap f9 'holding the valve seat bush 18' is in a corresponding recess of the valve head 16 held by a corresponding press fit.

As soon as the suction stroke has ended, the ball 17 'falls under the influence their weight back on the conical valve seat of the valve seat bushing 18 'by themselves, whereby a backflow of the liquid sucked into the glass cylinder 15 immediately is finished.

The drain valve is mounted approximately horizontally on the valve head 16, in a connecting piece 10 which has a connecting channel 40.

The exhaust valve also consists of a valve seat socket 18 '', with a conical seat for a valve ball 17> 1 and a closure cap 19 '>. The valve seat bushing 18 ″ is inserted into a corresponding recess in the valve head 16 and is secured by the closure cap fixed in front of it in the valve head 16 from the outside 19 "secured against slipping out. A valve compression spring 20 is also provided, on the one hand against the cap 19 '> and on the other hand against the Valve ball 17 ″ is supported so that in the unloaded state the valve ball 17 ″ is always is pressed against the conical valve seat of the valve seat bushing 18 ″. When depressing of the piston 12, the valve ball 17 ″ is counteracted by the fluid pressure the spring 20 is lifted from the valve seat in the valve seat socket 18iiang and gives the Fluid path to the connecting channel 40 free. By doing Moment in which the depression of the piston 2 is ended, the valve ball 17 ″ of the Spring 20 is pressed again against the valve seat so that even with a subsequent Suction stroke no longer a dripping of the liquid through the valve 17l '18' 'and 19 '' can occur.

This reagent pipetting device 1 described is used for suction an adjustable volume of a reagent from a reagent bottle 49. On the The connecting piece 10 is a sample pipetting device which is essentially constructed in the same way 2 provided, but in which there are no suction and discharge valves. Much more the sample pipetting device 2 acts via a connection head 36 on which, for example a suction or discharge hose 46 is attached / with a corresponding sample vessel together. The suction means essentially consist of one that can be raised and lowered Piston 32 which is guided in a piston bearing 31 and in a cylinder sleeve 34 is movable up and down in a cylinder 35. A stop ring 33 acts with a locking screw 43 displaceable in a slot 44 of the cylinder sleeve 34 a pointer 42 together. By adjusting the locking screw 43 accordingly Any volume can in turn be preselected and permanently set. the Locking screw 43 or an associated locking screw 45 is with a Pointer 42 is provided, which indicates the set volume on a scale 47.

The reagent pipetting device 1 and the sample pipetting device 2 are advantageously arranged on a support plate 5 with the valve head 16 or the Connector 10 is connected. For fixing Nuts 6 and 7 are used for this. In the middle between the two pipetting devices 1 and 2 is a guide 4, for example in the form of two parallel guide rods 37 ', 37 "are provided for a driving member 3. The two guide rods 37 'and 37' ' can at the upper end by a connecting piece 38 at a defined distance are held, the connecting piece 38 at the same time as a support piece for the entire device can serve. The guide rod (s) 37 can be slid on the driving member 3 attached. This Mltnahmeglied 3 has upwardly open slots 28 and 29, each of a locking device of the reagent pipetting device 1, namely a locking screw 25 for the locking screw 23 or the locking screw 45 for the locking screw 43 of the sample pipetting device 2 are assigned.

The guide rod of the guide 4 can, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, screwed into the support plate 5 or by means of a fastening screw 39 be screwed on.

When using the device according to the invention, the Reagent volume with the aid of the locking device 23, 24, with the aid of the Pointer 22 and the scale 27 are set. Similarly, the amount of sample preselected with the aid of the locking device 43, 45, the pointer 42 and the scale 47.

For actuation, it is only necessary to move the driving member 3 longitudinally to move the guide 4 from bottom to top. Depending on the position of the locking devices the reagent pipetting device 1 and the sample pipetting device 2, depending on the volume set, either the locking device the reagent pipetting device 1 d. H. the locking screw 25 in the slot 28 engage and then the locking screw 45 of the sample pipetting device 2 in the slot 29. With correspondingly different volumes, the sequence of cooperation can also be reversed. With further upward movement of the driving link 3, the associated pistons 12 and 32 are then raised until the locking devices 25 and 45 with their associated stop elements against the stop rings 13 and 33 bump. It is assumed that the O-position of both pipetting devices is attached at the same height. This means that the hub of the driving member 3 is limited by the height of the stop rings 13 and 33.

The upward movement of the piston 12 turns the bottle 49 into the set volume is drawn in on the reagent.

A leakage of the reagent is prevented by the valve 17 'and 18'. Simultaneously or shortly before or. afterwards by lifting the piston 32 over the tube 46 a set amount of sample from a (not shown) sample vessel sucked in.

When the operator then lets go of the handle 3 or leads downwards, the pistons 12 and 32 can move downwards due to their weight slide. In doing so, the sample quantity is first delivered via the hose 46. Simultaneously or later, depending on the ratio of the selected volumes / will the amount of reagent through the Outlet valve 17 ", 18" and the connecting channel 40 also ejected.

In order to return the pistons with certainty, are with the cylinder sleeves 14 and 34 return arms 8 and 9 connected, which are in the path of movement of the driving member 3 tower. When the driving member 3 leads downwards, the return arms are successively or at the same time until they are in their rest position above the nuts 6 and 7 have arrived. In this resting position, the two volumes are out of the reagent pipetting device 1 and the sample pipetting device fully ejected, with the desired Dilution or mixing ratio is given.

From the above description it is readily apparent that the volumes on both sides can be set independently of one another, since only the chronological order of the engagement of the locking devices or locking bolts in the correspondingly designed bearings or slots in the Change drive link 3.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that that the reagent pipetting device 1 and the sample pipetting device constructed analogously 2 from largely identical parts, apart from their volume dependency, can be constructed. The individual pipetting devices are also independent can be dismantled again from the common device, so that any defects or Defects by replacing only the desired part are possible without a complete destruction or dismantling of the device becomes necessary.

The guide rod 37 for the guide 4 is preferably circular formed, then in order to prevent tilting of the driving member 3, expedient two parallel guide rods 37 'and 37 "are provided.

Twisting or tilting can also be prevented by that a guide rod with triangular, square or polygonal cross-section is provided.

In the illustrated embodiment, the three axes are narrow namely the reagent pipetting device 1, the sample pipetting device 2 and the guide 4, located on one level. But it is also possible, for example, the guide 4 to lift out of the plane (of the drawing) 1 so that a triangular arrangement of the three axes emerges. In this case, the locking bolts have 25 or 45 at an angle to one another, the slots 28 and 29 in the driving member 3 are arranged at the same angle.

A further modified embodiment is shown in FIG. One is the reagent pipetting device 1 and the sample pipetting device 2 surrounding jacket 30 is provided which has a slot 41 in which a handle part 48 for the driving member 3 is displaceable. The sheath 30, which is preferably is only placed on a corresponding edge part is very easy to remove, so that a volume adjustment is made possible in a similarly simple manner as in that Embodiment according to Fig. 1. To an unintentional or intentional change to prevent the volume the casing 30 is put on, wherein the material for the jacket 30 can also be transparent or translucent.

The reset arms 8 and 9 are appropriately fork-shaped, which at least partially surround the guide rods, advantageously a left-right offset opposite the line connecting the axes of the cylinders 15 and 35 is provided so that in each case a Rücstellarm 8 and 9 a guide rod 37 'or 37' 'encompassed.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is the entrainment member 3 housed entirely in a jacket 50, with its actuation takes place with the aid of a rod 56 and a handle 55.

The volumes are set with the help of the slots 51 and 52 of a shell 50 slidable locking devices. There are again Pointer 22 and 42 are provided with a jacket scale 53 or a jacket scale The mutual entrainment of the pistons of the reagent pipetting device 1 and the ProDenpipettiervorrichtung 2 takes place again with the help of a driving member 3, which, as described, is lifted over the rod 56 by means of the handle 55 and can be lowered.

The lifting and lowering movement of the driving member 3 can also be through a mechanical drive, for example with the help of a threaded spindle or a servomotor be carried out, or with the help of an optionally switchable lifting magnet or a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder piston drive.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments limited. It also includes all professional modifications and further training as well as partial and sub-combinations of the features described and / or shown and measures.

List of reference symbols 1 reagent pipetting device 26 suction tube 2 sample pipetting device 27 scale 3 take-along song 28 slot in 3 4 filhrang 29 slot in 3 5 support plate 30 sheathing 6 nut 31 piston bearing 7 nut 32 piston 8 reset arm 33 stop ring 9 Reset arm 34 cylinder sleeve 10 connector 35 cylinders 11 Piston bearing 56 Connection head 12 piston 37 t 37 "guide rod from 4 15 stop ring 38 connecting piece 14 cylinder sleeve 39 fastening screw from 57 15 cylinder 4O connection channel 16 valve head 41 slot in 30 17 '17 "valve ball 42 pointer 18 '18 "valve seat 4) Locking screw 19 '19 "cap 44 slot in 34 2O valve spring 45 locking bolt 21 Stop segment 46 suction / discharge hose 22 pointers 47 scale 23 locking screw 48 handle part 24 slot in 14 49 bottle 25 locking bolts 50 jacket 51 jacket slot 52 jacket slot 55 jacket scale 54 jacket scale 55 handle of 5 56 bar, blank side

Claims (1)

Claims 1. Dilution and pipetting device for additive mixing a preselectable volume of a sample with a preselectable volume of a reagent especially for analyzes, with a reagent pipetting device, with a cylinder relatively adjustable piston for sucking in an adjustable amount of liquid as well as with suction and outlet valve, whereby on the outlet valve of the reagent pipetting device a sample pipetting device is connected, characterized in that a Driving member (3) is provided with each of the two pipetting devices (1, 2) independently of each other to suck in the set volume Reagent and sample and to expel the aspirated volumes interacts 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reagent bottle dispenser (1) Sample pipetting device (2) have a glass cylinder (15 or 55) that ene Cylinder sleeve (14 or 34) the glass cylinder (15 or 35) displaceable and rotatable overlaps and with a piston sliding in the glass cylinder (15 or 35). (12 resp. 32) is connected and that means for setting the piston stroke and for display of the suction volume are provided. 30 Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for adjusting the piston stroke are formed by a locking screw (23, 43) and that the driving member (5) receptacles (28, 29) for engaging locking screw bolts (25, 5) of the locking screws (23, 4)). 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or the following, characterized; that the driving member d v, parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical sleeves (14, 34) is arranged displaceably on a guide (4), 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the entrainment member (5) at least a rod () 7) is guided, which at the same time for guiding with the cylinder sleeves (14,) 4) connected return arms (8, 9) is used. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by two parallel round bars () 7 ', 37 ") as a guide (4). 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by a droi-, four- or Polygonal guide rod for the driving link (3). 8, device according to claim 5 or the following, characterized in that the return arms (8, 9) are fork-like and the guide rod (s) () 7) reach around. 9. Device according to claim 4 or? Olenden, characterized in that daA the cylinder axes and the axis of the guide (4) essentially in one plane lie. 10. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized characterized in that the driving member ()) has a handle part (48, 54). 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the handle part (48) through a slot of the reagent pipetting device (1) and the sample pipetting device (2) surrounding jacket protrudes 12. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that that a handle part (55) as an extension of the axis of the guide (4) on one with the driving member ()) connected rod (56) arranged handle piece formed is. 15. Apparatus according to claim 1 or the following, characterized by one mechanically driven displacement device for the driving member (5). 14. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that dai3 as the drive a servomotor acting on a screw spindle is used for the driving member (3). 15. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized by an electro-magnetic lifting device for the driving member (5). 16. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized by a hydraulic (pneumatic) cylinder-Wolben drive for the displacement of the driving link (5). 17. Apparatus according to claim 12 or the following, characterized in that that scales (55, 54) for the reagent pipetting device (1) and the sample pipetting device (2) are arranged on a jacket (50). 18. Apparatus according to claim 12 or the following, characterized in that that the locking means (25, 25 or 43, 45) for limiting the piston stroke of the reagent dispensing device (1) and the sample pipetting device (2) in slots (51, 52) of the jacket (50) are arranged.