EP2162217A1

EP2162217A1 - Pipette for withdrawing liquid by back and forth motion of the piston

Info

Publication number: EP2162217A1
Application number: EP08785880A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric MILLET; Hervé MALVOISIN
Original assignee: Gilson SAS
Current assignee: Gilson SAS
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-25
Publication date: 2010-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-25
Also published as: CN101687193A; CA2691370C; US8117927B2; EP2162217B1; ES2394255T3; WO2009000860A1; FR2917648A1; CN101687193B; BRPI0813476A2; KR20100049031A; CA2691370A1; KR101449086B1; JP2010531440A; JP5114559B2; FR2917648B1; US20100132486A1; PL2162217T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a withdrawal pipette (100) designed so that the movement of a piston (12) along one of its sliding directions (36, 38) simultaneously leads to the increase of the volume in a lower chamber (20) and the reduction of the volume in an upper chamber (22), and vice versa, the pipette additionally comprising fluid communication means (40) that alternately make it possible to establish a first fluid communication (A) between the lower chamber (20) and a channel emerging from a nozzle (28) isolated from this lower chamber, and a second fluid communication (B) between the upper chamber (22) and this same channel (28).

Description

PIPETTE FOR COLLECTING FLUID BY MOVING THE PISTON

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates generally to the field of sampling pipettes, also called laboratory pipettes or pipettes for transferring or transferring liquid, for the sampling and the introduction of calibrated liquid in containers.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

From the prior art, sampling pipettes having a conventional design of the type incorporating an upper pipette body forming a handle, and a lower pipette body having at its lower end one or more tips cone sampling pipette, whose known function is to carry sampling cones, also called consumables.

The lower pipette body houses a sliding piston, driven by a manual or motorized crew imposing a lift stroke during liquid withdrawal phases, and a lowering stroke during the liquid transfer phases, the lift stroke s' generally performing under the effect of relaxation of a previously compressed spring during the previous descent stroke.

In this respect, it is noted that this type of design is encountered both on pipettes single-channel, namely having a single tip cone pipette removal, than the multichannel pipettes, namely having a plurality of tips cone pipette sampling cone, and therefore whether the pipette is manual or motorized.

The rise stroke imposed on the piston determines the volume of liquid taken, volume which is also previously set by the user, for example by means of a wheel, a set screw or a keypad .

On conventional pipettes, the piston has a strictly cylindrical shape, and slides in a cavity of complementary shape, made in the lower pipette body and delimiting a so-called suction chamber. This chamber is partially delimited by the lower end of the piston, so that its volume varies during the setting in motion of this piston. Thus, the volume of liquid taken, corresponding to the increase of the volume of air in the suction chamber following a given stroke of the piston, is substantially equal to the product of the section of the piston by the length of said given stroke.

Consequently, the sampling capacity of a pipette is today conditioned both by the section of its piston, and by the maximum stroke length of the latter. Thus, to increase the capacity of a pipette, that is to say the maximum value of liquid volume that it is able to take, or the ratio between the maximum and minimum values of liquid volume that it is capable of of to collect, typically of the order of 10 to 20, it is necessary to increase the value of at least one of the two parameters indicated above.

In this respect, in the case of the first parameter constituted by the maximum stroke length, it is noted that increasing this length quickly leads to problems of overall ergonomics for the pipette.

On the other hand, as regards the second parameter constituted by the diameter of the piston, its increase is inevitably to the detriment of the accuracy and repeatability of the volume taken.

The design of conventional pipettes therefore does not allow to simultaneously combine the paramount criteria of high sampling capacity, the ergonomic concern, and the accuracy and repeatability of volumes collected.

To deal with this problem, it has been proposed so-called "multi-volume" pipettes, in particular known from US 3,640,434, or from the patent application FR 06 00134. This type of multivolume pipettes has a succession of chambers of diameter. / Increasing volumes from the cone end cap, each cooperating with a corresponding diameter piston section. The placing in communication or not of these rooms, isolated from each other, makes it possible to adapt the pipette to the value of the volume of liquid to be sampled.

Nevertheless, it is noted that this principle does not provide a fully satisfactory solution to the problem posed above, since more the capacity of the pipette must be increased, the more the number of suction chambers to be superimposed according to the direction of sliding of the piston is important. This increase in the number of chambers then leads to an increase in the total length of the pipette, which naturally affects the ergonomics of the latter.

Moreover, the larger the volume of liquid to be sampled, the less the accuracy and repeatability are satisfactory, and this because of the use of the chamber and the piston of larger diameter.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to remedy at least partially the disadvantages mentioned above, relating to the embodiments of the prior art.

To do this, the first object of the invention is a sampling pipette comprising a lower pipette body housing a sliding piston and having a sampling cone tip defining a mouthpiece opening channel, said lower pipette body and said piston defining a lower chamber and an upper chamber isolated from each other. According to the invention, said pipette is designed so that the movement of the piston in one of the sliding directions simultaneously increases the volume of the lower chamber and decreases the volume of the upper chamber, and vice versa when a movement of the piston in the other direction of sliding. In addition, said pipette further comprises means for placing in fluid communication alternatively to establish a first fluid communication between the lower chamber and said channel opening tip insulated from the lower chamber, and a second fluid communication between the upper chamber and the same channel.

Thus, in a general manner, the invention advantageously makes it possible to carry out a sampling of liquid at a time by performing a rise stroke of the piston causing the volume to increase in one of said two chambers, preferably the lower chamber. , and by performing a descent stroke of the piston causing the increase in volume in the other of said two chambers. Above all, this faculty offers the possibility of performing the same sampling of liquid by successively performing up and down strokes of the piston, as many times as necessary depending on the amount of liquid to be taken. Of course, during this sampling phase for taking a given amount of liquid in the same cone, it is ensured that before each inversion of the piston stroke direction, the fluidic communication means are tilted towards the other first and second fluidic communications, in order to obtain the desired suction effect. As will be detailed hereinafter, the control of the fluidic communication means, before each reversal of the piston stroke direction, can be performed indifferently manually by the operator, or automatically by a control module of the preprogrammed pipette, being nevertheless noted that this latter alternative is more particularly preferred.

Of course, if the invention allows a continuous liquid sampling operation during a movement back and forth of the piston, it is the same for the subsequent operation of dispensing / transferring the liquid taken from another container. Indeed, once the sampling operation completed, the dispensing of the liquid in another container is performed by an alternating succession of up and down strokes of the piston, with the rise stroke of the piston causing the decrease in volume in the cylinder. one of said two chambers, preferably the upper chamber, and with the descent stroke of the piston causing the volume to decrease in the other of said two chambers. Here also, during the dispensing phase for transferring the liquid from the cone to another container, it is ensured that before each reversal of the piston stroke direction, the fluidic communication means are tilted towards the other first and second fluidic communications, in order to obtain the desired effect of air expulsion in the direction of the channel opening tip, ensuring the pressurization thereof.

The number of back and forth of the piston again depends on the amount of liquid to be poured, however, it is specified that the pipette according to the invention is perfectly capable of being controlled in a conventional manner, namely by a single and single stroke. piston for the withdrawal of liquid, and a simple and single piston return stroke for dispensing this liquid to another container, even though this conventional procedure is only for operations involving small volumes of liquids.

It is therefore for the collection of larger volumes that the invention is extremely satisfactory, since the capacity of the pipette is no longer limited by the maximum stroke of the piston, nor by the diameter of the latter, nor by any another element of the pipette, since the number of back and forth of the piston dedicated to the same liquid sampling operation is theoretically unlimited. Above all, this large capacity associated with the pipette according to the invention, which requires only two chambers delimited in part by the piston, does not in any way prejudice the overall ergonomics, since the maximum stroke of the piston, independent of the capacity pipetting sample, can be freely set at a reasonable value.

For the same reasons as those just mentioned, the diameter of the piston does not need to be oversized to perform sampling of high volumes, which provides accuracy and good repeatability of volumes collected.

The invention, which therefore has the particular feature of isolating the tip channel of any suction chamber of the pipette body, is therefore entirely satisfactory in that it allows to simultaneously combine the essential criteria that are the high sampling capacity, the concern for ergonomics, and the accuracy and repeatability of volumes taken, without any compromise.

By way of indicative example, with the pipette according to the invention, if a maximum stroke in a given direction of the piston results in a sample of 100 μl with an accuracy of 0.1 μl, the removal of a volume of liquid of 863 , 2 μl will be performed by four back and forth piston, followed by a final partial stroke corresponding to 63.2 μl. Naturally, one of the advantages lies in the fact that this 863.2 μl sample is obtained with a precision analogous to the precision of a conventional pipette of the prior art having a maximum piston stroke resulting in a sample of 100 μl. , which is largely refined with respect to the accuracy of a conventional pipette of the prior art for which this total volume of 863.2 μl should be taken in a single piston stroke. Preferably, said pipette is provided with a control module automatically controlling said fluidic communication means, so as to allow, if necessary as a function of the quantity of liquid to be withdrawn, that a liquid sampling phase operated by a stroke of the piston in one of the sliding directions with said fluidic communication means in configuration establishing one of said first and second fluidic communications, is continued by a stroke of the piston in the other direction of sliding with said means for setting into fluid communication automatically switched to the configuration establishing the other of said first and second fluidic communications. In this case, as mentioned above, the piston races succeed one another as many times as necessary, with between each of them an appropriate automatic control of the communication means, provided by the control module of the pipette. A similar principle is naturally provided for the dispensing phase of the sampled liquid. In this respect, said control module is designed so as to determine, as a function of the quantity of liquid to be sampled, the number and extent of successive strokes of upward and downward movement of the piston necessary for taking said quantity of liquid, this control module being designed to drive automatically, during said liquid collection, the piston in the determined manner, also automatically controlling said fluidic communication means in order to obtain a changeover from one to the other of said first and second fluidic communications, prior to each reversal of sliding direction of the piston.

Thus, the control module, and in particular a program of the "software" type equipping this module, is capable of determining the number and extent of the races to be performed depending on the quantity of volume to be taken, for example following input of this volume value into the module by the user. The display of the calculated data may possibly be carried out on the module, to inform the user. As an indication, it is noted for the determination of the range of the races, the program preferably retains the maximum stroke offered by the design of the pipette, except possibly for the last race which may correspond to only a fraction of the maximum possible stroke, allowing reach exactly the desired total volume. It would nevertheless be alternatively possible to ensure that during the reciprocating movement of the piston leading to the same withdrawal of liquid, the full races of the piston take place over a length less than that of the maximum stroke offered by the piston. design, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In addition, it is also preferentially provided that the full stroke of the piston in each of the two sliding directions leads to a sampling of the same quantity of liquid, even if it could be otherwise, without departing from the scope of the invention. Following the order of initiation of pipetting, the program is then able to issue control instructions, both to the means for setting fluid communication, and to the motorized crew setting the piston in motion. Here again, it is noted that this management of the pipette by the program of the control module operates in a similar manner during the subsequent operation of dispensing the liquid into another container. As mentioned above, it would alternatively be possible to provide that the means of Fluidic communication is controlled manually, as is the movement of the piston, even if the automatic solution described above is preferred. Preferably, the fluidic communication means comprise at least one three-way solenoid valve, or any equivalent means.

As such, it is noted that the fluidic communication setting means also allow, alternatively, alternatively establish a third fluid communication between the upper chamber and the outside of the pipette, and a fourth fluid communication between the chamber lower and the outside of the pipette. These third and fourth alternative communications of the suction chambers with the outside of the pipette allow the chamber whose volume decreases during a liquid sampling, to empty its air to the outside of the pipette so as not to generate overpressure in it, and the chamber whose volume increases during a liquid dispensing, fill with air from outside the pipette so as not to generate depression therein. In such a case, to manage the activation / deactivation of the four fluidic communications, the fluidic communication means may comprise two three-way solenoid valves, controlled in a synchronized manner, and possibly communicating with each other. Nevertheless, other alternative solutions could be envisaged, including that in which the opening / closing of each chamber vis-à-vis the outside would be ensured respectively by two simple solenoid valves "all or nothing", independent of the means of the three-way solenoid valve type alternately allowing the first and second fluidic communications, while being synchronized with these means. More generally, each three-way solenoid valve can be replaced by two solenoid valves "all or nothing", also called two-way.

It is noted that the pipette can be single-channel or multichannel, without departing from the scope of the invention. In the latter case, it can be ensured that all the cone sampling tips, each housing their respective piston, are made in accordance with the present invention, in particular in that they are each associated with means for setting fluid communication . These fluidic communication means associated with each nozzle are then controlled simultaneously, when the crew carrying the set of pistons is at the end of the race.

Furthermore, said piston preferably comprises an upper portion of larger section than the section of a lower piston portion, said upper chamber of revolution shape being delimited between the lower pipette body and the upper piston portion, and said lower chamber being delimited beneath a lower end of the lower piston portion. With this arrangement, it is easily possible, by adequately fixing the diameters of the two piston portions and the inner diameter of the lower pipette body, to obtain, for a given displacement of the piston, an identity in absolute value between the variation of volume in the inner chamber, and volume variation in the upper chamber.

Other configurations are nevertheless possible for the realization of the piston. The invention also aims at a method for controlling a sampling pipette as described above, said method comprising a liquid sampling step in a sampling cone carried by the tip cone holder, this step being set implemented so that following a stroke of the piston in one of the sliding directions with said means for setting fluid communication in configuration establishing that of said first and second fluidic communications which ensures the removal of liquid in the cone, this step of sampling is continued, if necessary depending on the amount of liquid to be taken, by a stroke of the piston in the other direction of sliding, with said fluidic communication means pivoted in configuration establishing the other of said first and second fluidic communications , ensuring the removal of liquid in the cone.

Furthermore, said method further comprises a subsequent step of dispensing / transferring the liquid taken from the sampling cone to another container, this step being implemented so that following a stroke of the piston in one of the sliding directions with said means for setting fluid communication in configuration establishing that of said first and second fluidic communications which ensures the dispensing of the liquid in said other container, this step of dispensing / transferring is continued, if necessary depending on the amount of liquid to be dispensed, by a stroke of the piston in the other direction of sliding, with said fluidic communication means pivoted in configuration establishing the other of said first and second fluidic communications, ensuring dispensing the liquid in said other container.

Here again, it is recalled that the switching from one to the other of said first and second fluidic communications preferably takes place automatically, even if a manual solution could possibly be envisaged.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent in the detailed non-limiting description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This description will be made with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatic view in front section of a sampling pipette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2a to 2d show schematic views explaining the operation of the sampling pipette shown in Figure 1; - Figures 3 to 5 show schematic front sectional views of sampling pipettes according to other preferred embodiments of the present invention; FIGS. 6a and 6b show more detailed views in front section of a sampling pipette according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS. 7a and 7b are partial exploded detailed views of the fluidic communication means equipping the sampling pipette shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there can be seen a sampling pipette 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, of the single channel and motorized type. Throughout the following description, the indications "up" / "higher" / "down" / "lower" are to be considered with respect to a longitudinal main axis 5 of the pipette, when it is held in the hand by an operator during a pipetting operation.

The pipette 100 comprises in the upper part a handle body (not shown), and a lower part 3 incorporating a lower pipette body 4, at the lower end of which is arranged a cone holder 6, conventionally frustoconical shape . As is known to those skilled in the art, the lower part 3 is preferably mounted in a screwed manner on the upper body forming a handle. In addition, the pipette is equipped with a control module 10, which can indifferently be totally integrated with one of its bodies, in particular with the upper body forming a handle, or be constituted by a remote device remotely from these same bodies. pipette, for example in a control room.

The lower pipette body 4 is hollow, so as to accommodate a sliding piston 12 in a suitable cavity. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the piston 12 housed in said cavity has a cylindrical upper portion 12a, which continues with a cylindrical lower portion 12b of greater diameter, each of these portions 12a, 12b being respectively guided by a section of the body 4a, 4b of complementary shape. In addition, each of these two hollow sections 4a, 4b respectively has a fixed seal, fitting the piston 12 sliding relative thereto. With such a configuration, a lower suction chamber 20 is delimited, from top to bottom, by the lower seal 14, the lower end of the piston 24, the inner wall of the section 4b, and an obstruction towards the bottom 26 made on the pipette body 4. It is noted that this obstruction 26 is essentially intended to isolate the chamber 20 of a channel opening tip 28, made at least partly along the axis 5 in the tip 6 , so as to be able to communicate permanently with a sampling cone 30 when the latter is fitted on the end piece 6. More precisely, the channel 28 opens down into the sampling cone 30, and, present, more upwards, a bifurcation allowing it to emerge at its other end radially / laterally with respect to the lower body, in order to be able to communicate with fluidic communication which will be described below.

In addition, an upper suction chamber 22 is delimited, from top to bottom, by the upper seal 16, the upper piston portion 12a, the inner wall of the section 4b, the upper end 32 of the lower portion. piston 12b, and the seal 14. It is noted that the latter seal 14 participates in the insulation of the two suction chambers 20, 22, being further noted that the upper chamber 22 is also isolated from the channel tip 28.

With this arrangement in which the piston portions 12a, 12b respectively follow the inner wall of the section 4a and that of the section 4b, it can be generally considered that the chamber 20 has a constant cross section relative to the axis 5, disc shape of the same axis and diameter identical to that of the inner wall of the large section 4b. In addition, it can also be generally considered that the chamber 22 has a constant cross section relative to the axis 5 in the form of an annular ring of the same axis having an outer diameter identical to that of the inner wall of section 4b , and of an inner diameter identical to the outside diameter of the small section 12a.

The piston 12 is preferably controlled by a motorized crew (not shown) connected to the control module 10, imposing movements in one or other of the two directions 36, 38 of the sliding direction 35 of the piston by relative to the body 4, this direction 35 being parallel to the axis 5. As an indication, in the following description, the direction of sliding 36 upwards will be called "rise" of the piston, while the sliding direction 38 down will be referred to as "descent" of the piston.

Thus, with the preferred design described above, a rise stroke of the piston simultaneously causes the increase of the volume of the lower chamber 20 and the decrease of the volume of the upper chamber 22, while inversely, a downward stroke of the piston simultaneously increases the volume of the upper chamber 22 and the decrease in the volume of the lower chamber 20. The effects presented above could be reversed with a different design chambers 20, 22, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The pipette 100 furthermore comprises means for putting in fluid communication, generally indicated by the reference numeral 40 in FIG. 1, these means preferably comprising two three-way solenoid valves of a known type which will not be detailed further. . However, as an indication, it may for example be a linear piston solenoid valve having three inputs 1, 2, 3, which allows, through the movement of the linear piston, alternately the communication between the inputs 1 and 2 and between the inputs 2 and 3, such as that sold by LEE COMPANY under the reference LHDA 053 1115H.

As will be detailed below, the peculiarity of these means 40 is that they can, while being appropriately controlled, take up liquid both during the upstroke stroke of the piston and during its downstroke, so that liquid can be introduced into the cone 30 continuously during a reciprocating movement of the piston 12. The only limitation as to the maximum volume that can be taken is therefore the capacity of the sampling cone, and no longer the design of the the pipette as was the case in the embodiments of the prior art. In addition, it is noted that the subsequent dispensing of the liquid into another container is effected in a similar manner, namely by a reciprocating movement of the piston 12, which may if necessary include several round trips.

In this preferred embodiment, the first three-way solenoid valve 42 is dedicated to the alternating communication of the two chambers 20, 22 with the nozzle channel 28, while the second three-way solenoid valve 44 is dedicated to the in alternating communication of the two chambers 20, 22 with the outside of the pipette, these two valves 42, 44 being synchronized, and controlled automatically by the control module 10 to which they are electrically connected. Thus, the first solenoid valve 42 has three inputs 1, 2, 3 whose input 1 communicates with the tip channel 28, at its upper end opening radially / laterally relative to the body 4, the input 2 communicates with the lower chamber 20 crossing the section 4b, and the inlet 3 communicates with the upper chamber 22, also through the section 4b. The communications indicated above are established permanently, for example by simple connecting conduits, or by channels made directly within the pipette body. In contrast, the inputs communicate with each other only when the solenoid valve 42 is controlled so that it is in this way, still being indicated that in the embodiment described, only communications between the inputs 1 and 2 on the one hand, and between the inputs 1 and 3 on the other hand, can alternatively be established by the sliding valve piston. Indeed, the communication between the inputs 2 and 3 is not implemented, and preferably made impossible by the design of the solenoid valve, for example of the linear piston type mentioned above.

Similarly, the second solenoid valve 44 has three inputs 1, 2, 3 whose inlet 1 communicates with the upper chamber 22, through the cross section 4b, whose inlet 2 communicates with the lower chamber 20, also through of section 4b, and whose input 3 communicates with ambient air outside the pipette. Here again, the communications indicated above are permanently established, for example by simple connecting pipes. In contrast, the inputs communicate with each other only when the solenoid valve 44 is controlled so that it is so, being indicated that in the embodiment described, only communications between the inputs 1 and 3 of a on the other hand, and between the inlets 2 and 3, can alternatively be established by the sliding valve piston. The communication between the inputs 1 and 2 is not implemented, and preferably made impossible by the design of the solenoid valve.

Thus, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the first solenoid valve 42, when the inlets 1 and 2 communicate with each other, provides a first fluid communication referenced A, allowing a free flow of air between the lower chamber 20 and the duct. tip 28 opening into the cone 30, but prohibits the communication of the latter channel with the chamber 22. In addition, when the inputs 1 and 3 communicate with each other, it provides a second fluid communication referenced B, allowing a free flow of air between the upper chamber 22 and the nozzle channel 28 opening into the cone 30, but forbidden in this case the communication of the latter channel with the chamber 20.

Similarly, the second solenoid valve 44, when the inputs 1 and 3 communicate with each other, provides a third fluid communication referenced C, allowing a free flow of air between the upper chamber 22 and the outside of the pipette, However, when the inputs 2 and 3 communicate with each other, it provides a fourth fluid communication referenced D, allowing free circulation of air between the lower chamber 20 and the second chamber. outside the pipette, but forbidden in this case the communication between the outside and the chamber 22.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2a to 2d, it will be explained the operation of the sampling pipette 100 described above.

Firstly, the user of the pipette enters the volume value to be sampled, by means of gripping means 46 provided on the module 10, these means 46 taking for example the shape of a wheel, a screw of setting, or a numeric keypad. The value entered preferably fits on a digital screen 48, and is transmitted to a program 50 of "software" type equipping this module.

The program 50 determines the number and extent of piston strokes to be performed, depending on the amount of volume to be taken. For example, if the desired value is 400 μl, and each maximum rise and fall stroke of the piston makes it possible to generate a sample of 100 μl, the program will determine that it is necessary to carry out two return trips of piston 12, with maximum stroke lengths, each providing a 100 μl sample. As a reminder, it is indicated that in case of different sections of the two rooms, to obtain the same withdrawal or the same dispensation of liquid in both directions of displacement of the piston, one of the two races is set to a larger value than the other.

The aforementioned data, once determined, can optionally be displayed on the screen 48 to be viewed by the user, who can then order, for example using a button of the module 10 provided for this purpose, the initiation of pipetting after plunging the cone 30 into the liquid container to be withdrawn. Before the program 50 issues an instruction to move the piston in the upward direction 36, it issues instructions to the solenoid valves 42, 44 so that they switch to a configuration establishing communications A and C, if this is not already the case. Then, the instruction of movement of the piston in the direction of the ascent 36 is delivered to the piston crew. During this movement, there is an increase in the volume of the chamber 20, which creates a suction in the communication A in the direction from the channel 28 to the chamber 20, since the communication C isolates the latter from the outside air. This aspiration results in a rise of liquid in the cone 30, whose distal end is immersed in the same liquid.

At the same time, the communication C allows the air to escape from the upper chamber 22 whose volume decreases, and to the outside of the pipette, which prevents the appearance of an overpressure in this chamber 22. At the end of the first piston upstroke shown in FIG. 2a, which can be obtained by the simple expansion of a compressed spring during a preceding downward phase of the piston, the quantity of liquid introduced into the cone is therefore 100 μl. The pipette 100 is ready to automatically continue the piston descent sampling operation, but before this, the program 50 issues instructions to the solenoid valves 42, 44 so that they switch simultaneously into a configuration establishing the B and D communications. .

Then, the instruction of movement of the piston in the direction of descent 38 is delivered to the piston crew. During this movement shown in FIG. 2b, there is an increase in the volume of the chamber 22, which creates a suction within the communication B in the direction from the channel 28 to the chamber 22, since the communication D isolates the latter from the outside air. This aspiration results in a new rise of liquid in the cone 30, the distal end is always immersed in the same liquid.

At the same time, the communication D allows the air to escape from the lower chamber 20, the volume of which decreases, and towards the outside of the pipette, which prevents the appearance of an overpressure in this chamber 20.

Thus, the up and down races piston 12 succeed alternately as many times as necessary, namely here four times to reach the desired volume of 400 .mu.l. It is also possible to ensure that the user is informed by the screen 48, the number of races already performed and / or yet to perform.

When the second and last reciprocating piston is completed, the desired volume of 400 μl being in the sampling cone 30 can then be dispensed / transferred into another container, in a manner similar to that which comes from to be presented.

Here too, the screen 48 can automatically display the number of races that will be performed to ensure all of the desired liquid dispensation, and then display the number of races already performed and / or still to be performed during this dispensing operation. Once the cone 30 has been introduced into the collection container of the previously aspirated liquid, the user can then order, for example by means of a button of the module 10 provided for this purpose, the initiation of the dispensing of the liquid. At the moment of initiation of the dispensing, the piston is in low position with solenoid valves 42, 44 establishing the communications B and D. The program 50 then issues a set of instructions to put the piston 12 in motion in the direction from the lift 36.

During this movement shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2c, there is a decrease in the volume of the upper chamber 22, which creates a pressure within the communication B in the direction from the chamber 22 to the channel 28, since the communication D insulates this chamber 22 from the outside air. This pressure results in a liquid ejection by the distal end of the cone 30, in the appropriate container.

At the same time, the communication D allows the outside air to be introduced into the lower chamber 20 whose volume increases, which prevents the appearance of a depression in this chamber 20.

At the end of the first upstroke of the piston, the amount of liquid extracted from the cone is therefore 100 .mu.l. The pipette 100 is ready to automatically continue the dispensing operation by descent of the piston, but before this, the program 50 issues instructions to the solenoid valves 42, 44 so that they switch to a configuration establishing communications A and C. Then, the instruction of movement of the piston in the direction of descent 38 is delivered to the piston crew. During this movement shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2d, there is a decrease in the volume of the lower chamber 20, which creates a pressure within the communication A in the direction going from the chamber 20 to the channel 28, since the communication C isolates this chamber 20 from the outside air. This pressure results in a new liquid ejection by the distal end of the cone 30, in the appropriate container.

At the same time, the communication C allows the outside air to enter the upper chamber 22 whose volume increases, which prevents the appearance of a depression in this chamber 22. Thus, the up and down races piston 12 succeed alternately as many times as necessary, namely here four times to transfer the desired volume of 400 .mu.l. The embodiment shown in the figure

3 is substantially similar to that which has just been described, the elements bearing the same reference numerals correspond to identical or similar elements, this being applicable for all the modes described and shown. Thus, it can be seen that in this preferred embodiment, only the connections of the first and second solenoid valves 42, 44 have been modified compared to those described above. Indeed, the first solenoid valve 42 has three inputs 1, 2, 3 whose input 1 communicates with the nozzle channel 28, at its upper end opening radially / laterally relative to the body 4, the inlet 2 communicates with the lower chamber 20 through the cross section 4b, and whose inlet 3 communicates with the outside of the pipette. The communications indicated above are established permanently, for example by simple connecting pipes. In contrast, the inputs communicate with each other only when the solenoid valve 42 is controlled so that it is in this way, still being indicated that in the embodiment described, only communications between the inputs 1 and 2 on the one hand, and between the inlets 2 and 3 on the other hand, can alternatively be established by the sliding valve piston. Indeed, the communication between the inputs 1 and 3 is not implemented, and preferably made impossible by the design of the solenoid valve.

The second solenoid valve 44 has three inputs 1, 2, 3, whose input 2 communicates with the nozzle channel 28, at another upper end opening radially / laterally relative to the body 4, which Inlet 1 communicates with the chamber 22 through the cross section 4b, and the inlet 3 communicates with the outside of the pipette. The communications indicated above are established permanently, for example by simple connecting pipes. In contrast, the inputs communicate with each other only when the solenoid valve 42 is controlled so that it is in this way, still being indicated that in the embodiment described, only communications between the inputs 1 and 2 on the one hand, and between the inputs 1 and 3 on the other hand, can alternatively be established by the sliding valve piston. Indeed, the communication between the inputs 2 and 3 is not implemented, and preferably made impossible by the design of the solenoid valve.

Thus, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that the first solenoid valve 42, when the inlets 1 and 2 communicate with each other, provides the first fluid communication A, allowing a free flow of air between the lower chamber 20 and the end channel. 28 opening into the cone 30, while prohibiting the communication of this chamber 20 with the outside. On the other hand, when entries 2 and 3 communicate with each other, it provides the fourth fluid communication D, allowing a free flow of air between the lower chamber 20 and the outside of the pipette, but prohibited in this case the communication channel 28 channel with the chamber 20. It can therefore consider that this solenoid valve 42 is particularly dedicated to the management of air in the lower chamber 20, without ever communicating with the upper chamber 22. Similarly, it can be seen in Figure 3 that the second solenoid valve 44, when the inputs 1 and 2 communicate with each other, ensures the second fluid communication B, allowing a free flow of air between the chamber 22 and the nozzle channel 28 opening into the cone 30, while prohibiting the communication of this chamber 22 with the outside . On the other hand, when the inputs 1 and 3 communicate with each other, it provides the third fluid communication C, allowing a free flow of air between the upper chamber 22 and the outside of the pipette, but in this case forbids the communication of the channel. 28 channel with this chamber 22. It can therefore also be considered that this solenoid valve 44 is particularly dedicated to the management of air in the upper chamber 22, without ever communicating with the lower chamber 20.

With this preferred embodiment, the risk of liquid leakage is reduced to nothing, even if the synchronization of the two solenoid valves is not perfect. For example, following a rise stroke of the piston 12 which led to a sampling of liquid through the establishment of communications A and C, a tilting of the solenoid valve 42 in the configuration D operated slightly before the tilting of the solenoid valve 44 in the configuration B does not involve any rupture of the depression in the channel 28 and the cone 30 filled with liquid, since the volume inside these latter elements becomes tight, so non-communicating with the outside. It is the same for the opposite case where the rocking of the solenoid valve 44 would be carried out slightly before that of the solenoid valve 42, since the volume of air of the channel 28 and the cone 30 would first be put in communication with the chamber 22, become isolated from the outside by the fluidic communication B. Here again, the absence of rupture of the depression in the channel 28 and the cone 30 prevents leakage of liquid already taken in the cone 30.

This beneficial effect applies both when reversing the direction of travel with the piston in the up position, than when reversing the direction of travel with the piston in the down position. The pipette thus produced is then able to present a very high precision, because whatever the order of switching of the solenoid valves ordered by the control module 10 before each reversal of piston stroke, there is no risk of leakage of liquid .

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the module 10 is preprogrammed so that the operation of the pipette is that described above, in particular with regard to the automatic alternating setting of the fluidic communications A and C on the one hand, and fluidic communications B and D on the other hand.

In the other embodiment shown in FIG. 4, only the design of the piston and its associated suction chambers has been modified with respect to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2a to 2d. Thus, the control of solenoid valves 42 and 44 being the same as one of those presented above, it will not be further described. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the lower pipette body 4 is always hollow, so as to accommodate the double-section sliding piston 12 in a suitable cavity.

This piston 12, housed in said cavity, has a cylindrical upper portion 12a, which continues with a lower cylindrical portion 12b of smaller diameter. The portion 12b is guided by a section of the lower body 4b of complementary shape, while the portion 12a is housed concentrically and remotely in a section of the upper body 4a of greater diameter. In addition, each of these two hollow sections 4a, 4b respectively has a fixed seal, fitting the piston 12 sliding relative thereto. This same piston 12 has in turn a seal 17 which is fixed externally on its portion 12a, and which matches the inner wall of the large section 4a, while remaining housed under the upper seal 16 during the movement of movement. and-coming piston. With such a configuration, the lower suction chamber 20 is delimited, from top to bottom bottom, by the lower seal 14, the lower end of the piston 24, the inner wall of section 4b, and the downward obstruction 26 made on the pipette body 4. In addition, the chamber of upper suction 22 is delimited, from top to bottom, by the upper seal 16, the inner wall of the section 4a, the piston portion 12a, and the movable seal 17. It is noted that the space variable volume located between the seals 17 and 14 is not directly used for sampling and dispensing liquid, so it is not considered a suction chamber, unlike the rooms 20 and 22.

With this arrangement, it can be generally considered that the chamber 20 has a constant cross section relative to the axis 5, in the form of disc of the same axis and of identical diameter to that of the inner wall of the small section 4b. In addition, it can also be generally considered that the chamber 22 has a constant cross section relative to the axis 5 in the form of an annular ring of the same axis having an outer diameter identical to that of the inner wall of the large section 4a, and of an inner diameter identical to the outer diameter of the section 12a.

With this arrangement, it is easily possible, by adequately fixing the diameters of the two piston portions 12a, 12b and the inside diameter of the section 4a of the lower pipette body, to obtain a cross section of the same value for both. rooms 20 and 22. So for a given displacement of the piston, an identity is obtained in absolute value between the variation of volume in the inner chamber 20, and the variation of volume in the upper chamber 22. In the other embodiment shown in FIG. only the design of the piston and its associated suction chambers has been modified with respect to the previous preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2a to 2d, and 4. Thus, the operation of the solenoid valves will not be further described, since it is identical or similar to one of those presented previously.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the lower pipette body 4 is always hollow, so as to accommodate the single-section sliding piston 12 in a suitable cavity.

This piston 12, housed in said cavity, has a cylindrical upper portion guided by an upper body section 4a of complementary shape, the piston continuing with a cylindrical lower portion of the same diameter housed concentrically and remotely in a section of the lower body 4b of greater diameter. In addition, the lower hollow section 4b securely houses the upper seal 16 and the lower seal 14, both of which embrace the sliding piston 12 relative thereto, and located radially away from each other. interior compared to the large section 4b. Moreover, this same piston 12 has meanwhile the seal 17 which is fixed thereto externally, and which marries the inner wall of the large section 4b, while remaining housed under the upper seal 16 during the movement back and forth of the piston. In the same way, it has another seal 19 which is attached to it externally, and which also marries the inner wall of the large section 4b, while remaining housed under the seal 17 and above the lower seal 14 during the movement of the piston back and forth. With such a configuration, the lower suction chamber 20 is delimited, from top to bottom, by the movable seal 19, the inner wall of the section 4b, the piston 12 of single section, and the seal Similarly, the upper suction chamber 22 is delimited, from bottom to top, by the movable seal 17, the inner wall of the section 4b, the piston 12 of single section, and the seal of fixed sealing 16.

With this arrangement, it can be generally considered that the chambers 20 and 22 have the same constant cross section relative to the axis 5, in the form of an annular ring of the same axis having an outer diameter identical to that of the inner wall of the large section 4b, and an inner diameter identical to the diameter of the piston. Therefore, in this embodiment where the piston advantageously has a simple shape facilitating its implementation, for a given displacement of the piston, an identity in absolute value is also obtained between the volume variation in the inner chamber 20, and the volume variation in the upper chamber 22.

Ideally, the distance between the seals 16 and 17 at the end of the upper stroke of the piston is equal to the distance between the seals 14 and 19 at the end of the low stroke of the piston, in order to have an equality of the dead volumes of the chambers 20 and 22 , and thus complete the symmetry of pipetting during the displacement of the piston in each of the two directions, being reminded that the pipetted volume depends not only on the volume displaced by the piston, but also on the dead volume.

FIGS. 6a to 7b show in greater detail another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the design of which of the piston and its associated suction chambers is identical or similar to that of the preceding mode shown in FIG. it could be identical or similar to that of any of the other embodiments presented above, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 6a shows the pipette 100 with its piston 12 in the low position, while Figure 6b shows the pipette 100 with its piston 12 in the high position. The peculiarity lies here in the design of the means of setting in fluidic communication 40, which will now be detailed.

There are two three-way solenoid valves 42, 44, of the type incorporating a linear piston 52, and having three inlets 1, 2, 3. Thanks to the movement of the linear piston 52 having a communication groove, each solenoid valve can alternatively establish the fluid communication between the inputs 1 and 2 and between the inputs 2 and 3, the communication between the inputs 1 and 3 being made impossible by construction. As mentioned above, these solenoid valves 42, 44 may be of the type sold by LEE COMPANY under the reference LHDA 053 1115H.

The first solenoid valve 42 is fixed on the section 4a of the lower pipette body, via a mounting plate 54 having three orifices 1 ', 2', 3 'communicating respectively and permanently with the three inputs 1, 2 , 3 of the solenoid valve secured to this plate. The orifice 1 'communicates on the one hand with the lower chamber 20, and on the other hand with a connector 56 carrying a duct 58. The orifice 2' communicates only with the opening channel, while the orifice 3 'communicates only with a connector 60 carrying a conduit 62. As an indication, the conduits 58, 62 may be replaced by channels made directly within the pipette body.

Similarly, the solenoid valve 44 is fixed on the section 4b of the lower pipette body, via a mounting plate 64 having three orifices 1 ', 2', 3 'communicating respectively and permanently with the three inputs 1, 2, 3 of the solenoid valve 44 secured to this plate. The orifice communicates on the one hand with the upper chamber 22, and on the other hand with a connector 66 connected to the other end of the conduit 62. The orifice 2 'communicates only with the outside of the the pipette, whereas the orifice 3 'only communicates with a connector 68 connected to the other end of the duct 58.

Thus, it can be seen in FIG. 7a that the first solenoid valve 42, when the inlets 1 and 2 communicate with each other, provides the first fluid communication A, allowing a free flow of air between the lower chamber 20 and the end channel. 28, opening into the cone 30. In fact, the air leaving the chamber 20 flows successively through the orifice 1 ', the inlet 1 of the solenoid valve 42, the piston groove, the inlet 2 of the solenoid valve 42, the orifice 2 'of the plate 54, then the nozzle channel 28. Still, in this figure 7a, when the inputs 1 and 2 of the solenoid valve 44 communicate with each other, this solenoid valve provides the third fluid communication C allowing a free flow of air between the upper chamber 22 and the outside of the pipette. Indeed, the air leaving the chamber 22 flows successively into the orifice 1 'of the mounting plate 64, the inlet 1 of the solenoid valve 44, the piston groove, the inlet 2 of the solenoid valve 44. , the orifice 2 'of the plate 64, then the outside of the pipette. In addition, with reference to FIG. 7b, when the inlets 2 and 3 of each of the solenoid valves 42, 44 communicate with one another, they jointly provide, on the one hand, the second fluidic communication B allowing a free flow of air between the upper chamber 22 and the tip channel 28 opening into the cone 30, and the fourth fluidic communication D allowing a free flow of air between the lower chamber 20 and the outside of the pipette.

Indeed, the air leaving the chamber 22 flows successively into the hole 1 'of the mounting plate 64, the connector 66, the conduit 62, the connector 60, the orifice 3' of the plate 54, the input 3 of the solenoid valve 42, the piston groove, the inlet 2 of the solenoid valve 42, the orifice 2 'of the plate 54, then the nozzle channel 28. In addition, the air coming out of the chamber 20 flows successively into the hole 1 'of the mounting plate 54, the connector 56, the conduit 58, the connector 68, the orifice 3' of the plate 64, the inlet 3 of the solenoid valve 44, the piston groove, the inlet 2 of the solenoid valve 44, the orifice 2 'of the plate 64, then the outside of the pipette.

In this embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a to 7b, the module 10 is of course preprogrammed so that the operation of the pipette is that described above, in particular with regard to the alternating automatic establishment of the fluidic communications. A and C on the one hand, and fluidic communications B and D on the other hand. Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the invention which has just been described, solely by way of non-limiting examples.

Claims

A sampling pipette (100) comprising a lower pipette body (4) housing a sliding piston (12) and having a sampling cone tip (6) defining a tip channel (28), said pipette body lower and said piston defining a lower chamber (20) and an upper chamber (22) insulated from each other, characterized in that said pipette is designed so that the movement of the piston (12) according to one of direction of sliding (36, 38) simultaneously increases the volume of the lower chamber (20) and decreases the volume of the upper chamber (22), and vice versa when the piston moves in the other direction of sliding; and in that said pipette further comprises fluidic communication means (40) for alternately establishing a first fluidic communication (A) between the lower chamber (20) and said tip outlet channel (28) isolated from this lower chamber, and a second fluidic communication (B) between the upper chamber (22) and the same channel (28).

2. Pipette (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a control module (10) automatically controlling said fluid communication means (40), so as to allow, if necessary depends on quantity of liquid to be withdrawn, that a phase of sampling of liquid, operated by a stroke of the piston

(12) in one of the sliding directions (36, 38) with said fluid communication means (40) in the configuration establishing one of said first and second fluidic communications (A, B) is continued by a race the piston (12) in the other direction of sliding, with said fluid communication means (40) automatically switched to the configuration establishing the other of said first and second fluidic communications (A, B).

3. Pipette (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said control module (10) is designed to determine, as a function of the amount of liquid to be taken, the number and extent of successive courses of ascent and descent of the piston (12) necessary for taking said quantity of liquid, and in that this control module (10) is designed to automatically drive, during said liquid sampling, the piston (12) in the manner determined, also by automatically controlling said fluidic communication means (40) in order to obtain a tilting of said first and second fluidic communications (A, B) from one to the other, before each reversal of the sliding direction of the piston ( 36, 38).

4. Pipette (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for setting fluid communication (40) are provided to be manually controlled.

5. Pipette (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fluid communication means (40) comprise at least one three-way solenoid valve (42, 44).

6. Pipette (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for placing in fluid communication (40) also make it possible alternatively to establish a third fluid communication (C) between the upper chamber (22) and the outside of the pipette, and a fourth fluidic communication (D) between the lower chamber (20) and the outside of the pipette.

7. Pipette (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a single-channel pipette or multichannel.

8. Pipette (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said piston (12) comprises an upper portion (12a) of larger section than the section of a lower piston portion (12b), said upper chamber (22) being delimited between the lower pipette body (4) and the upper piston portion (4a), and said lower chamber (20) being delimited beneath a lower end (24) of the lower piston portion (12b).

9. A method of controlling a sampling pipette according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises a step of sampling liquid in a sampling cone carried by the cone-tip, this step being implemented so that that following a stroke of the piston in one of the sliding directions with said means of fluid communication in configuration establishing that of said first and second fluidic communications which ensures the removal of liquid in the cone, this sampling step is continued, if necessary depending on the amount of liquid to be taken, by a stroke of the piston in the other direction of sliding, with said fluidic communication means pivoted in configuration establishing the other of said first and second fluidic communications, ensuring the sampling of liquid in the cone.

10. Control method according to claim 9, characterized in that the switching from one to the other of said first and second fluidic communications takes place automatically.