EP2834645A1

EP2834645A1 - Laboratory device system and laboratory device for treating fluids and solids, and method for operating a laboratory device

Info

Publication number: EP2834645A1
Application number: EP13714631.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Arnold; Guido ERTEL; Lars Borrmann; Jan-Gerd Frerichs
Original assignee: Eppendorf SE
Current assignee: Eppendorf SE
Priority date: 2012-04-03
Filing date: 2013-04-03
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: US20150182961A1; WO2013150064A1; DE102012102918A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a laboratory device system and a laboratory device (1.6) for treating fluids and solids, comprising a device module (7) with a unit (2) for treating fluids and solids and an operating and/or display unit (3), an operating and/or display module (8) physically separated from the device module (7) and encompassing the operating and/or display unit (3) in whole or in part, and means (10, 11) for wireless communication (9) between the device module (7) and the operating and/or display module (8), wherein the laboratory device system has an information management system (40), which is arranged remotely from the laboratory device (1.6), is connected to the operating and/or display module (8) via at least one communication channel (CH) and exchanges data with the operating and/or display module (8) when the laboratory device (1.6) is operated.

Description

Laboratory device system and laboratory device for treating fluids and solids, and method for operating a laboratory device

The invention relates to a laboratory equipment system and a laboratory apparatus for treating fluids and solids. In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating such a laboratory device.

The invention more particularly relates to laboratory instrumentation systems in which laboratory equipment, such as e.g. Pipettes, photometers, centrifuges, mixers, thermo-mixers, shakers, thermocyclers, real-time cyclers, DNA sequencers, gel-based equivalents, array devices, laboratory workstations, dosing stations, bioreactors, bioreactors and controls other laboratory equipment is used to treat fluids and solids. As an example, the pipette is highlighted here.

Laboratory devices for treating fluids and solids have operating and display devices for setting, programming, starting, controlling, terminating and monitoring their functions. As laboratory equipment becomes more complex, operating and display devices with larger input devices and larger screens are generally used. This increases the space required and the weight and makes the laboratory equipment considerably more expensive. If the laboratory device has only a small operating and display device, this affects the ease of use. The example of pipettes this is explained in more detail below, the invention is applicable to any type of laboratory equipment:

Pipettes are manageable or stationary dispensers, which are used in particular in the laboratory for the dosing of liquids. Particular designs of pipettes are e.g. Bubble pipettes or Direktverdrängerpipetten, which may be designed as a dispenser. Furthermore, there are single channel pipettes for use with only a single and multi-channel pipettes for simultaneous use with multiple pipette tips or syringes.

Many of the known laboratory devices usually have operating elements. For example, pipettes have controls for controlling the intake and delivery of liquid and optionally for detaching the pipette tip or syringe from the pipette. Furthermore, they have operating elements which allow the manual input of user parameters (eg. Dosing volume, dosing rate, material values of the liquid, calibration data) and / or operating modes (eg pipetting, dispensing, titration, mixing) and / or operating procedures for sample processing (eg picking up, mixing and dispensing liquids). In addition, they are provided with a display device for displaying operating data (eg user parameters, operating mode, operating procedures,

Operating state) of the pipette is used.

The controls and indicators are located primarily at the top of the pipette (i.e., the labware). There, the pipette housing usually has a broadening to accommodate these elements. Are known pipettes with an approximately rod-shaped housing having at the top of a desk-like inclined, if necessary. On one side projecting housing head. In this housing head are electrical switches or buttons and at least one display housed. As displays liquid crystal displays (LCD displays) are common. Such pipettes are described in EP 1 825 915 A2, EP 1 859 869 A1 and EP 1 878 500 A1.

The example of pipettes can be seen that known constructions of laboratory equipment has disadvantages: A disadvantage of pipettes is that they unload because of the control and display devices contained therein, heavy and yet unfavorable to use and read due to their small size. This affects the handling of the pipettes with the risk of possible incorrect operation. In addition, the operating and display devices account for a considerable part of the costs of the pipettes. More complex tasks such as the creation of routines or programs are difficult to manage with the integrated operating and display devices. If pipettes are equipped with a smaller operating and display device, this further reduces the ease of use.

DE 199 11 397 A1 describes a laboratory device in the form of an autonomous pipette with a device control and a sensor device for recording operating data, which has a wireless interface for data transmission and / or for device control. By means of a remote control, the pipette can be controlled more conveniently via the interface. Without a remote control, the autonomous pipette can be used in a conventional manner. For this, the autonomous pipette requires operating and display devices.

EP 0 999 432 A1 describes a laboratory device system in the form of an electronic dosing system, in which routines for carrying out operating sequences are written into a manual dosing device by means of a data processing system via contact-bound or wireless data interfaces. In addition, by means of Data processing system operating parameters written in the manual dosing and controlled the manual dosing. The operating parameters are user parameters (eg dosing volume, dosing speeds), device type-specific parameters (eg parameters determining piston movement, parameters determining the parameters, monitoring of operating states) or device-specific parameters (eg device identification, identification code for stored parameter set). The manual dosing device has its own operating and display devices.

A similar laboratory device system in the form of a metering system is described in WO 2005/052781 A2. The pipette is also provided with its own operating and display devices.

US Pat. No. 7,640,787 B2 describes a checking device for a pipette. The pipette has means for measuring a volume displaced from the piston of the pipette and for comparing the measurement with a desired value and for indicating an error. The indication of an error is indicated by an LCD display on the pipette. Furthermore, the result of the comparison can be transmitted via an interface wirelessly to a computer for recording. The pipette has its own controls and its own counter for displaying the volume of liquid to be dispensed.

US 4 821 586 describes a laboratory instrumentation system in the form of a pipette system in which a pipette (the actual laboratory instrument) is controlled by a programmed control unit to perform a dosing function selected from a supply. This can be, for example, pipetting individual liquid volumes, dispensing several partial volumes of a volume of liquid received, dilutions and titrations. The control unit also allows writing and saving new programs for dispensing functions. The control unit contains the control of the pipette and is connected via a flexible electrical cable to the motor, switches and lights of the pipette.

WO 89/10193 describes a pipetting apparatus comprising a stationary unit with a piston pump, a stepping motor for driving the piston pump and a microprocessor for controlling the stepping motor. By means of an input box, which is connected via an electrical cable to the microprocessor, data and programs can be entered into the microprocessor. The input box includes a display that requests control commands, plays the response, and displays the status of the device. A pipette handle has electronic controls to perform various functions to trigger, which includes aspiration, delivery and mixing functions. The electronic controls are connected to the microprocessor via a second electrical cable and the pipette handle is connected to the piston pump via a pneumatic hose. A pipette tip is connectable to a connector of the pipette handle. Thus, the stationary unit with the piston pump and the microprocessor, the input box and the handle are separate device components which are interconnected via flexible lines.

DE 195 06 129 AI describes a toothbrush that has a pressure sensor to determine the correct contact pressure when brushing teeth in their handle. The determined pressure values are supplied by means of a transmitter and a transmitter antenna on the handle of an external display unit provided with a receiving antenna. This indicates whether it is cleaned with sufficient pressure. In addition, it can detect and signal the duration of cleaning scarce different tooth areas.

WO 2008/131874 A1 describes a method for wireless unidirectional data transmission between a transmitter and a receiver, in which the transmitter transmits a data record to be transmitted several times in succession on a plurality of transmission channels and the receiver receives data records on only one transmission channel. The number of transmission channels used is less than the number of repetitions with which the transmitter transmits the data record, and a sequence of transmission channels is used within which the order of the transmission channels used is predetermined. Further, it describes a toothbrush with a transmitter for performing the method described above and a system of a toothbrush and a separate attachment, wherein in the toothbrush a transmitter and in the additional device a receiver is present. The attachment is provided with a display device for displaying the transmitted data. For example, in the toothbrush, the contact pressure is determined with which a user presses the brush head while brushing teeth against the teeth and / or the cleaning time and / or the state of charge of an accumulator contained in the handpiece for powering the electric toothbrush.

WO 98/257 36 A1 describes an electric shaving system with an electric shaver and a remote control device with a display unit for displaying specific data. The display unit displays status reports via the razor and provides feedback to the user when shaving. The remote control device may also be provided with buttons, buttons or sliders for adjusting the shaving parameters of the razor. Also, environmental sensors may be included in the telemetry device to provide the electric shaver with information relevant to shaving comfort. Of the Data exchange between telecontrol device and razor can be wireless, if necessary bidirectional.

Further prior art can be found in EP 2 416 267 AI, WO 2009/066 179 AI and WO 2010/086 862 AI. Also, the non-prepublished but earlier DE patent application with the file number 10 2010 047 828.8 to call.

On this basis, in particular from the laboratory device system known from DE 199 11 397 A1, the object of the invention is to provide an improved and / or expanded laboratory device system and a laboratory device suitable for this purpose in terms of function and handling.

The object is achieved by a laboratory device system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the laboratory device system are specified in subclaims.

The laboratory device system according to the invention has a laboratory device for treating fluids and solids, which comprises the following components or modules:

- At least one device module for use in the laboratory for the treatment of fluids and solids

- At least one operating and / or display device for treating fluids and solids

- At least one of the device module physically separate control and / or display module, which includes the operating and / or display device wholly or partly, and

first means for wireless communication between the device module and the operating and / or display module,

wherein the laboratory equipment system has a remote from the laboratory device and connected to the control and / or display module via at least one communication channel superior information management system that can exchange data directly with the control and / or display module, or with the device module.

Laboratory devices in the sense of this patent application are devices for the treatment of fluids (liquids or gases) as well as of solids by acting on them in order to achieve a specific work objective, without changing the liquids and / or by changing the liquids. The action may include, inter alia, in a recording and / or dispensing and / or dosing and / or pipetting and / or dispensing and / or titration and / or Mixing and / or transporting and / or storing and / or storing and / or tempering and / or analyzing and / or changing the physical and / or chemical and / or biochemical properties of liquids exist. By liquids are meant liquid media in the form of samples, which are single-phase liquids or liquid mixtures or multiphase liquid mixtures (eg emulsions) or liquid-solid mixtures (eg suspensions) or liquid gas mixtures (eg foams). For the purposes of this patent application, laboratory equipment can be any type of equipment with which liquids can be treated in a laboratory, such as photometers, centrifuges, mixers, thermo-mixers, shakers, thermocyclers, real-time cyclers, DNA sequencers, Gel-based equivalents, devices: for arrays, laboratory workstations, dosing stations, bioreactors (multiuse use or single use) or bioreactor controls.

Conventionally, the parts of laboratory equipment for treating fluids and solids are grouped together in one physical unit. The control and display elements are accommodated with the device for treating the liquid in a common housing. The laboratory device according to the invention is subdivided in one expression into physically separate parts, namely in a device module and in a physically separate operating and / or display module. The device module includes the means for treating fluids and solids. The means for treating fluids and solids is that part of the laboratory equipment that acts on the fluids to achieve a particular work objective without altering the fluids and / or altering the fluids. The operating and / or display module comprises all or part of the operating and / or display device. Furthermore, the laboratory device according to the invention has means for wireless communication between the device module and the control and / or display module. These are designed so that they transfer data from the device module to the operating and / or display module and / or in the reverse direction. The device module and the operating and / or display module communicate via the means for wireless communication (preferably in the near field area less than 5 cm) in order to carry out the data exchange required for operation and / or display. The communication between the modules can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

Furthermore, the laboratory device system comprises an information management system, which is arranged away from the laboratory device and which is connected to the operating and / or display module or the device module directly via at least one communication channel (preferably over a distance that exceeds the near field area, or established via a remote communication link) to data with the operator and / or Exchange display module when operating the laboratory device. For this example, Bluetooth, WLAN and / or UMTS connections can be established. Similarly, ΓΡ data connections (intranet / internet) are suitable. The information management system is preferably installed centrally at a location (company headquarters, maintenance center, customer center, etc.) and has one access to the Internet (World Wide Web). This device architecture and network structure creates a laboratory device system that is very user-friendly with regard to the handling of the laboratory device and can centrally provide or support numerous operating and maintenance functions. In addition, the components and functionalities of the control and / or display module (smartphone, tablet PC) can work together with the information management system to perform many new user-friendly functions.

The information management system, which will be described in more detail later, fulfills numerous purposes and can be understood as a system for aggregation, accumulation, manipulation, analysis, combination and synthesis of data from an environment consisting of at least one laboratory instrument system. The data generated from this system can be used to control processes, to gain insight, to create profiles, to create and access administration to user groups, to control access to systems, devices and device modules, for maintenance purposes, to locate devices and people, for the creation of a database, for the documentation of experiments, for the prosecution of samples, for the automatic generation of offers, for inventory, for exchange in expert / user forums and for the systematic preparation of experiments (keyword DoE). In principle, all forms of use / processing for the information are conceivable, which result from the use of an electronic data processing system.

In addition, the information management system may also have access to the Internet / Intranet, for example, to network global corporations and to integrate the information of third parties into the data processing (e.g., link to a purchased item from a third party vendor).

The realization of the implementation of information management can be variable. There are conceivable laboratory equipment systems that have displayed your complete information management on a stand-alone PC. In another embodiment, it is possible to have a central server in a company, which in turn access clients, which are "responsible" for a particular laboratory equipment system. In a further embodiment, it is possible to install the server in a cloud of whatever kind whose Localization is not necessarily seen in the company, which operates the / the laboratory equipment systems. In this case, the client machines would also act as the gateway to the cloud.

In order for this flexible implementation to be implemented, the information management system has a correspondingly modular design. In one embodiment, therefore, different or / and same program parts of the information management system are implemented at different locations and / or on different computers, which are networked via a connection of whatever kind.

Integral software components of this information management system are the interfaces to the laboratory device system with the corresponding devices, the interfaces within the information management system, the interfaces to the user of the system, the interfaces to other users, the interfaces to the Internet / intranet and the interfaces to any coupled third-party systems. Furthermore, such a system has one or more databases, or access to one or more databases. The data from the databases and online data are then processed by a corresponding main program, which can also be realized in a modular manner (see above). The basis here are corresponding information models.

The laboratory system according to the invention is preferably designed as defined in the subclaims:

The operating and / or display module of the laboratory device and / or the device module preferably has second means for wireless and / or wired communication between the operating and / or display module or the device module and the information management system.

The information management system preferably has third means for wireless or wired communication between the operating and / or display module or the device module and the information management system. The third means can be designed for IP communication via a network, in particular an intranet and / or the Internet.

Preferably, the device module can be handled and / or the operating and / or display module can be worn and / or handled by a person. For example, the operating and / or display module is designed as a mobile telephone and / or a personal digital assistant and / or a smartphone and / or a tablet PC. The operating and / or display module can also have at least one camera and / or barcode reader in order to carry out an identification of samples and / or consumables by means of the information management system. Alternatively or additionally, the operating and / or display module may have at least one device for locating, in particular a GPS module, in order to carry out a localization of laboratory devices, samples, consumables and / or users by means of the information management system.

The information management system and the at least one database are suitable for creating and managing a user account for the user (s) of the at least one laboratory device. For example, the information management system can create and manage an information forum for at least one group of users and / or laboratory devices by means of the at least one database.

In the laboratory device system also several device modules and / or multiple control and / or display modules may be provided which communicate with each other via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections. Likewise, a plurality of, in particular physically separate, operating and / or display devices may be present, which communicate with one another via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections. The plurality of device modules and / or operator and / or display modules can communicate with the multiple operator and / or display connections via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections.

The information management system comprises at least one arithmetic unit which is connected to at least one database, in particular a database designed as a cloud.

The first means for wireless communication between the device module and the operating and / or display module can be designed such that they communicate with each other only within a defined spatial area, in particular within a near field area. On the other hand, the second means for wireless or wired communication between the operating and / or display module or the device module and the information management system can be designed so that they over a defined spatial distance, in particular over a distance exceeding the near field range or over a remote communication link, communicate with each other. The device module may comprise an electronic control device for acquiring operating data and / or for controlling the device for treating fluids and solids.

The operating and / or display module is preferably designed so that operating parameters and / or operating modes of the device module and / or programs for controlling the device module and / or routines for carrying out operating sequences of the device module can be input or retrieved by means of its operating device. Furthermore, the operating and / or display module can be designed so that it can be used for remote control of device modules.

The operating and / or display module may preferably be designed such that it recognizes the respective device module in the case of communication with one of a plurality of device modules and automatically sets a device-specific user interface on the operating and / or display device. Also, the control and / or display module may be designed so that use only when entering a proof of the authorization (authentication) is possible. Furthermore, the operating and / or display module can be designed such that specific programs, routines, measurement results and other data can only be processed when a proof of authorization (authentication) is entered. In addition, the operating and / or display module can be designed so that it has a Resememngsfunktion with which the laboratory device for certain time intervals for certain users can be blocked.

The laboratory device system according to the invention can be connected to an electronic data processing system which is physically separate from the device module and from the operating and / or display module and on which the information management system is implemented. The control and / or display module can be detachably connected to the device module.

As a laboratory device, e.g. a mechanical or electronic or monocular pipette, or a photometer or centrifuge, or a mixer or thermocycler, or a real-time cycler, or a DNA sequencer, or a laboratory or dosing station, or a bioreactor or bioreactor system.

The invention also proposes a method for operating a laboratory apparatus which comprises a device for treating fluids and solids and at least one operating and / or display device, wherein: • at least one device module comprising the device for treating fluids and solids is operated physically separate from at least one display module comprising the operating and / or display device, and

• information, control data and / or data to be displayed is transmitted wirelessly between the device module and the operating and / or display module; and

Wherein data is exchanged via at least one communication channel with an information management system (40) remote from the laboratory device.

The method is preferably configured such that a plurality of device modules exchange data with at least one operating and / or display module or that at least one device module exchanges data with a plurality of operating and / or display modules. In the method can be pipetted with the device module and / or analyzed by photometry and / or centrifuged and / or tempered and / or mixed and / or cultivated and / or fermented and / or PCR.

The invention also proposes a use of the laboratory device system according to the invention for the detection and documentation of:

(a) usage data (such as the identity of the user, duration of the device usage, type of device usage (e.g., which rotors in centrifuges, gas supply to an incubator and / or bioreactor selected / entered program, flow disturbances), and / or

(b) data of the treated fluid and / or solid sample (such as sample type;

Sample properties; Name of the sample); and or

(c) data on consumables used (e.g., type of vessel) and / or

(d) measurement data (e.g., pH, temperature, cell density, flows) if the laboratory instrument makes active measurements; and or

(e) application data of applications (geo-localization, data for techno-social networks, etc.)

The collected and documented data is made available for the access of other users.

The device module has no or only a reduced operating and / or display device compared to conventional laboratory equipment. In particular, the device module can be designed such that it has no operating and no display device or no operating device or no display device or only parts of said devices. The operating and / or display device is completely or partially outsourced into a separate from the device module control and / or display module. The Operating and / or display module can provide all operating and / or display functions of a conventional laboratory device. If the device module has only a reduced operating and / or Ajizeigefunktion, it will be unable without the control and / or display module to perform the basic function of. Laboratory equipment and / or display the relevant for the execution of the basic function operating data. Preferably, without the operating and / or display module, the device module is able to execute an already set operating state, but not to set a new operating state with the aid of a display device. Data and / or data for the display module generated by actuating the operating device can be transmitted in real time between the operating and / or display module and the device module.

According to the invention, the handling of the laboratory device is improved by the operating and / or display device is completely or partially released from the device module and moved to a separate control and / or display module. The device module can be made more space-saving and lighter than a conventional laboratory device. The control and / or display module can also have a more user-friendly operating and / or display device than a conventional laboratory device. In particular, the operating and / or display device can have a more extensive input device and / or a more advantageous screen in terms of size and / or resolution than a conventional laboratory device. Given a suitable size of the operating and / or display device, simplified and / or expanded operating options and / or a better and more extensive display of information than with conventional laboratory devices are thus made available. This concerns in particular data of the laboratory device, which otherwise can not be displayed due to lack of space. The operating and / or display module can in particular start and / or control (ie, influence on the course of) the workflow and / or terminate operating data (eg, operating parameters, operating modes, operating conditions, operating conditions) and / or performance data (eg, measurement results , Dosage quantities, output) of the device module are output. The operating and / or display module can be placed separately from the device module so that the operation of the laboratory device facilitates and / or the visibility of the displayed information is improved. In this case, the operating and / or display module is in communication with the device module in order to carry out the data exchange required for the operation and / or the display of information. If the communication is via NFC, it will be necessary to bring the display / control module to the device (distance d <5cm), so that the connection may not be present at all times. However, it is sufficient if an exchange of information between the device module and the control and / or display module takes place only when needed, for the operation or the display exchange required data. The wireless communication can be done not only by radio waves, but also optically and / or inductively and / or capacitively.

According to a variant of the invention, the entire operating device and the entire display device are arranged in the operating and / or display module.

According to a further variant, only the entire operating device and according to yet another variant, only the entire display device in the control and / or display module is arranged. According to further variants, the operating device is predominantly and / or the display device predominantly arranged in the operating and / or display module. Accordingly, the larger number of controls in the control and / or display module and the smaller number of controls in the device module and / or the larger and / or higher-resolution display device in the control and / or display module and the smaller display device in the device module is arranged. In particular, the device module can only be equipped with a few control elements for basic functions (eg triggering a sequence and dropping a disposable article) and / or a secondary display for a part of the data and the operating and / or display module with more operating elements (eg for the input of Dosierparametern, routines or programs) and be equipped with a display device for all data to be displayed. The operation of the device module is facilitated if it is equipped with only a single or a few controls.

According to one embodiment, the device module only a part of the functionally necessary operating and / or display devices of the laboratory device and the remaining functionally necessary operating and / or display devices are arranged on the control and / or display module. For example, in a laboratory device in the form of a mechanical pipette with a variable metering volume, a pushbutton, an adjustment element (eg, an adjusting wheel or an adjustment knob) for the metering volume and a volume indicator for the set metering volume are the only functionally necessary operating and / or display devices.

According to one embodiment, the laboratory device has operating devices for starting, controlling and terminating workflows and at least one display device. Furthermore, at most a part of the operating and / or display devices is arranged on the device module and at least part of the operating and / or display devices on the operating and / or display module. As a result, the equipment of the device module is reduced with operating and / or display devices. According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module in addition to other control and / or display devices on additional control and / or display devices, which also has the device module. As a result, specific operating operations can optionally be made on the operating and / or display module or on the device module or read by the user displays on the control and / or display module or on the device module. In accordance with a further embodiment, the laboratory device has operating devices for setting and / or programming work processes, these operating devices being distributed to the device module and the operating and / or display module in accordance with the operating devices for starting, controlling and terminating work processes. According to one embodiment, the device module has only operating devices for starting and / or controlling and / or terminating work processes, and the operating and / or display module has the remaining operating devices. According to a further embodiment, the display devices are arranged exclusively on the control and / or display module.

The operating and / or display device allows cost savings, since it can be designed so that it can be used for several similar device modules and / or for different types of device modules. Thus, several similar or different device modules come out with a single control and / or display module. In addition, the manufacturer reaches with a certain operating and / or display module higher volumes, which can be made more economical. The display device can in particular display operating data and / or performance data of the laboratory device. Several device modules can be operated in succession with the same operating and / or display module. It is also possible to operate several device modules simultaneously with the same operating and / or display module. For this purpose, the means for wireless communication may comprise a plurality of channels, each channel having a channel associated therewith. Also, communication over a single channel is possible, the assignment of the device modules e.g. can be done via device-specific data packets. Further, a device module with multiple control and / or display modules work together, for example, to operate the device module from multiple locations and / or display information about the work of the device module in several places.

According to one embodiment, the device module comprises an electronic control device for detecting operating data and / or controlling the device for treating fluids and solids. The control device may comprise, for example, at least one sensor for detecting operating data of the device module and electronics for converting the signal of the sensor into a signal suitable for wireless communication. The electronic control device for controlling the device for Treatment of fluids and solids may in particular comprise electronics for operating an electric drive motor and / or an electrical heating device.

According to one embodiment, the sensor (a pipette or the like) is a sensor for detecting the adjusted and / or actually metered dosing volume. The sensor is for example a sensor for detecting the rotational position of a setting knob for the dosing or a sensor for detecting the position of a stop for limiting the stroke of a displacement member of a displacement device or a sensor for detecting the respective position or the reached end position of a manually controlled stroke of a displacement member the displacement device (eg a piston in a cylinder). For this purpose, distance measuring sensors can be used. If the display device displays the actually metered dosing volume, it can display the currently achieved dosing volume and / or the dosing volume displayed when the end position has been reached.

According to one embodiment, the sensor is a step counter for counting metering steps, a force sensor for measuring the attachment force of a pipette tip, a touch sensor for detecting the placement of a pipette tip on a substrate, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor for detecting the use of the device module or a tilt sensor for detecting the orientation of the device module.

According to a further embodiment, the sensor is a sensor for acquiring data of an RFID chip integrated in the device module.

According to a further embodiment, data is exchanged between the device module and the operating and / or display module according to the NFC (near field communication) transmission standard. NFC goes back to the wireless identification by radio waves (RFID). However, unlike RFID technology, which allows only the reader to transmit radio waves to a passive electronic tag (tag) for identification and tracking, NFC allows for active communication between the device module and the control and / or display module or other modules. The NFC technology allows either read-only or read and write access to another NFC-compatible device, depending on the severity. There are two types of NFC communication between the device module and the control and / or display module (s): the passive communication mode where the initiating device provides a carrier field (carrier wave) and the destination device by modulating the existing one Feldes (carrier field) answers. In this mode, the target device can obtain its power supply from the electromagnetic field provided by the initiating device, and thus the target device becomes a transponder. This would correspond to the emulation of an RFID tag. In the active mode, both devices, initiator and target device, communicate by alternately generating their own fields (waves). A device disables its radio frequency field while waiting for data. In this mode, both devices usually have power supplies. NFC is particularly useful for authenticating communication partners (device module and control and / or display module (s)) and increases the certainty that only approved devices communicate, ie exchange data.

Several similar or different sensors of the type described above can be housed together in a device module.

According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module is designed such that operating parameters and / or operating data of the device module and / or programs for controlling the device module and / or routines for carrying out operating sequences of the device module can be input and retrieved by means of its operating elements.

The control and / or display module is designed according to one embodiment so that it can be used for remote control of device modules. For example, a device module can be started and stopped remotely by means of the operating and / or display module. Operating data and / or performance data may be displayed by the display device in real time. Furthermore, it is possible to control and retrieve the transfer of measurement results and events from the device module to the control and / or display module by remote control.

The control and / or display module is designed according to one embodiment so that it recognizes the respective device module in case of communication with a device module of several device modules and automatically sets a device-specific user interface on the operating and / or display device. For this purpose, the means for wireless communication can transmit data from different device modules on different channels or transmit data from different device modules, each with a device-specific identifier. Alternatively, the operating and / or display module can be designed so that the setting of a device-specific user interface based on a list offered by the control and / or display module is possible and / or by entering a device number and / or device name.

If an operating and / or display module with one or more device modules is used by several users, a personalization function can be integrated into the operating and / or display module. For this purpose, according to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module designed so that a use of one or more specific device modules is possible only when entering a proof of entitlement. This makes it possible, for example, to restrict access to sensitive samples to a certain group of people. According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module is designed so that the proof of authorization by entering a passwords and / or scanning a fingerprint and / or retina scan or other suitable method is carried out. According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module is designed so that certain programs, routines, measurement results and other data can only be created, displayed or edited upon entry of a proof of authorization.

Furthermore, an organizational function can be integrated in the laboratory device. According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module is designed such that a reservation function is integrated, according to which the laboratory device can be blocked for specific time intervals for specific users. These are by means of an associated identification uniquely identifiable persons and / or groups of people for which the laboratory device is reserved during precisely defined time intervals. According to a further refinement, the operating and / or display module is designed such that it outputs the information as to whether the laboratory device is free for use, if utilization has been completed, if a desired operating state (eg a desired temperature is reached) or which status a running application has reached. This feature can be controlled, managed and / or supported by the parent information management system.

According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module has switches and / or keys and / or a keyboard and / or a microphone and / or a screen / projector ("display" or projection device) and / or a touch-sensitive screen ("touchscreen"). ) and / or a loudspeaker and / or an acoustic signal generator. By means of the keyboard a particularly convenient data input is possible. The microphone allows operation by voice input. By means of the screen, images and / or symbols can be displayed next to alphanumeric characters. The screen may, in particular, be an LCD, LED, TFT, OELD or CRT. In addition, audible output of information (e.g., voice output and / or beeps) is possible by means of the loudspeaker and / or sounder. The acoustic output of sounds, sounds or other frequencies can be used to guide the operator.

For the recognition of device modules and / or the selection of a user interface and / or the remote control and / or the interpretation of Personalisierangsfunktion and / or organization function and / or the output of information, the Operating and / or display device to be equipped with a correspondingly designed electronic control.

According to a further embodiment, the device module is manageable (ie it can be held in use by the user in the hand, in particular only in one hand and more preferably also operated with a single hand) and / or the control and / or Display module portable (ie, it can be worn by the user and placed at a location of his choice) and / or manageable (ie it can be held in the application by the user in the hand, especially in one hand and more preferably with only one Hand operated). The advantages of the invention are particularly evident in a manageable device module. This has compared to conventional laboratory equipment due to the more compact Fonn and the lower and cheaper distributed weight better handling. A portable operating and / or display module can be placed by the user in such a way that it can be optimally reached for operation and is optimally arranged in the field of vision of the user when the laboratory device is used. A manageable control and / or display module has such a low weight and size that it can be carried by the user in the application. For example, the manageable control and / or display module is dimensioned so that it fits easily into the pockets of a conventional lab coats. Preferably, it has a size such that it can be held in one hand by the user and operated simultaneously.

The operating and / or display module can be a device specially created for use in the laboratory device according to the invention. According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module is a mobile telephone and / or a personal digital assistant ("Personal Digital Assistant") and / or a combination of a mobile telephone and a personal digital assistant ("smartphone"). Newly developed or commercially available products of the above type may be used. In particular, smartphones can be used with the operating systems IOS (Apple Corporation) or Android (Google Inc.), but also with the operating systems of other manufacturers. In particular, the iPhone Apple Corporation can be used, which can be equipped with a specially developed program ("App") accordingly. According to the need of the users of laboratory equipment also so-called tablet PCs can be used, such as. the iPad (Apple Corporation), PlayBook (RIM Research in Motion) or Galaxy Tab from Samsung including the required apps.

The screen is preferably high resolution with at least about 480 x 320 pixels at about 150 ppi, preferably at least 960 x 640 pixels. Preferred is a diagonal of the screen of at least 3.5 inches and 8.89 cm, respectively. Monitors can be used for black and white and / or color display. Buttons, arrows and other buttons can be used as controls analogous to the keyboards of PDAs, smartphones etc. Alternatively, the screen may be a touchscreen, analogous to the iPhone or other devices, and have a simulated keyboard, e.g. B. according to the standards of the Apple Developer Kits. These include multi-touch displays and screens with oleophobic fingerprint-resistant coating. Alternatively, other pressure or touch-sensitive input devices can be used as operating elements, including the necessary measures for text recognition. Alternatively, a voice input can be made. In the case of pressure- or touch-sensitive input media, the function of a gesture pad may also be implemented according to the standards of Apple and / or beyond.

According to a further embodiment, the operating and / or display module comprises a front-view display ("head-up display" (HD)) and / or a transparent display screen which can be placed in front of a work area. These embodiments allow an optimal arrangement of the information in the field of view of the user. These are equipped according to a further embodiment with buttons and / or a keyboard and / or other controls.

According to one embodiment, the laboratory device comprises a physically separate from the device module and the control and / or display module electronic data processing system and means for wireless or wired communication between the control and / or display module and the electronic data processing system. The electronic data processing system includes, for example, PC and / or network and / or server. By means of the data processing system, programs for one or more laboratory devices and / or routines for controlling operating sequences for one or more laboratory devices can be developed and / or updated (update) and / or data obtained from one or more laboratory devices can be evaluated and / or further processed and / or compressed and / or stored. The programming of programs and / or routines and / or the analysis and / or further processing and / or compression and / or storage of data and / or the central update of the device modules and / or operating and / or display modules are by means of the electronic data processing system in particularly user-friendly way possible. This function can be controlled, managed and / or supported by the higher-level information management system, whereby the connected database (s) can be accessed. According to a further embodiment, the means for wireless communication communicate by means of radio waves and / or optically and / or inductively and / or capacitively. Communication may include all current and future technologies and protocols. Particularly suitable RF protocols, such. Keyboards or mice, Bluetooth, wireless local area network (WLAN), WCUSB (wireless certified USB), Zigbee and 4G. Typical formats for this are Bluetooth from 2.1 plus EDR wireless technology, Bluetooth from 3.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Wibree, UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA / GSM / EDGE or Wi-fi 802.1 lb / g / n. In particular, transmission by means of infrared radiation is considered for the optical transmission, in particular according to the Infrared Data Association (IrDA).

The transmission of data by radio is described in WO 2008/131874 A1, DE 19506129 AI, DE 199 24 017 A, US 2004/152479 A, WO 95/34960 A. The techniques described therein can be used in the context of the present invention. The related descriptions of the above documents are incorporated by reference into the application.

According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module can be detachably connected to the device module. The laboratory device can be used if the operating and / or display module is disconnected from the device module. In addition, the modules can be used in a connected state like a conventional laboratory device. In the connected state, they can form a manageable and / or a stationary laboratory device.

According to a further embodiment, the laboratory device has an electrical charging device for charging an electrical energy store of the device module and / or the operating and / or display module. The electrical energy store is preferably an accumulator or a battery, for example a lithium / ion battery. According to a further embodiment, the charging device can be connected via electrical contacts to the device module and / or the operating and / or display module. According to a further embodiment, the device module has an electrical charging device for charging an electrical energy storage of the operating and / or display module. This makes it possible to charge an electrical energy store of the operating and / or display module with the aid of the electrical charging device of the device module. According to an alternative embodiment, the control and / or display module has an electrical charging device for charging an electrical energy store of a device module. This allows charging of the electrical energy storage of the device module using the control and / or display module. Preferably, the control and / or display module is provided with an electrical charging device, as it often fails to easy handling of the Operating and / or display module arrives, which can often be arranged stationary in use.

According to a further embodiment, the device module and the operating and / or display module have connectable contacts for communication and / or transmission of electrical charge between the device and the control and / or display module.

The invention is preferably used in laboratory devices (in particular networked laboratory devices) whose operation uses the connection with a higher-level information management system. According to a further embodiment, the laboratory device is a pipette or a photometer or a centrifuge or a mixer or a thermocycler or a real-time cycler or a DNA sequencer or a laboratory automatic or dosing station.

In a laboratory device in the form of a pipette, treating the liquid consists in dosing the liquid. The device for treating the liquid comprises a displacement device for liquid and a drive device for driving the displacement device. In a photometer, the treatment of the liquid is the optical determination of the composition of the liquid. The device for treating the liquid comprises an optical system with a light source, an electro-optical light receiver and a position for placing the liquid in the beam path between the light source and the light receiver. In the position, for example, a liquid-receiving cuvette can be placed. In a centrifuge, the treatment of the liquid in the separation of substances by means of centrifugal force. The means for treating the liquid comprises a rotor with receptacles for the liquid receiving sample vessels and a drive motor for the rotor. In a mixer, treating the liquid consists of mixing liquid. The means for treating the liquid comprises a carrier for the liquid receiving sample containers with a drive for shaking the carrier. A thermal mixer additionally tempered the liquid by means of a heating device. For a thermal cycler, the treatment of the fluid is to perform a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The device for treating the liquid comprises a heating block with receptacles for the liquid-receiving sample vessels, an electrical heating device and cooling device associated therewith, and an electrical power controller for controlling the heating device. In a DNA sequencer, treating the fluid consists in amplifying, chemically tagging, and analyzing DNA sequences in fluids. In a laboratory machine, treating liquids involves automatic execution at least one of the aforementioned treatments of liquids. The device for treating fluids and solids comprises at least one automatic device for the treatment of fluids and solids of the type described above. In a dosing machine, the treatment of fluids consists in an automatic dosing of liquids. Further examples from the field of bioprocess technology relate to fermentation, cultivation, etc. The device for treating fluids and solids is an automatic metering device, eg an automatic pipette.

When the laboratory device is designed as a pipette, the device module according to one embodiment has a mechanical drive with an operating element which the user drives by means of muscular force. For this purpose, the pipette preferably has a conventional push button or button for thumb operation. Furthermore, the device module is provided with at least one sensor for detecting operating data and / or performance data. By means of the means for wireless communication, the data detected by the sensor are transmitted to the operating and / or display module and displayed by the display device. The communication via the means for wireless communication is unidirectional directed from the device module to the control and / or display module. The user uses the mechanical pipette, taking into account the displayed information. On the way from the operating and / or display device to the device module, communication takes place via the user. The device module requires only a small power supply for the sensor, means for converting the sensor signals, and the means for wireless communication associated with the device module. A battery or a rechargeable battery or a capacitor suffice as a power supply device.

According to one embodiment, the sensor and / or the means for wirelessly communicating the device module are encapsulated, so that the device module as a whole is autoclavable. If necessary. For this purpose, the power supply device is removed from the device module. According to a further embodiment, the power supply device and optionally the means for wireless communication and possibly the sensor is accommodated in an electronics module detachably connected to the device module, which can be separated from the device module for autoclaving. The electronic module can be snapped on or clipped onto the device module, for example. For this purpose, the electric module and / or the device module are provided with means for snapping or clipping.

According to one embodiment, the device module has several (eg 3) control elements. According to one embodiment, the device module has an operating element for starting and, if necessary, for controlling and, if necessary, for terminating dosing processes. According to a further embodiment, the device module has a further operating element for releasing a pipette tip or syringe from the device module. According to yet another embodiment, the device module has yet another control element for adjusting the dosing volume to be dosed.

According to one embodiment, a device module as a control element has a push button for displacing a displacement element of the displacement device. In this embodiment, the device module preferably has a spring which displaces the displacement element and the push button back to an initial position after an output stroke, wherein the displacement element executes the reception stroke. The push button may be a drive element for manually driving a mechanical drive device. Further, it may be an electrical operating element (e.g., button) connected to an electromechanical drive device via an electronic control device to control it. For ejecting the pipette tip or syringe according to an embodiment, a further control element is present, which is coupled to an ejector which separates the pipette tip or syringe from its seat when the further control element is actuated. According to one embodiment, the push button is coupled to the ejector and also serves to release the pipette tip or syringe. To do this, the push button is actuated beyond the output stroke, so that an ejector coupled to the push button acts on the pipette tip or syringe to separate it from its seat on the device module. According to a further embodiment, the device module has a knob or an adjusting wheel for adjusting the metering volume. The knob is connected to means for adjusting the metering volume of the instrument module, e.g. an adjustable deflection for limiting the stroke of the displacement element of the displacement device or an electronic control device for starting and / or stopping and / or controlling an electromechanical drive device. The knob or the adjusting wheel is according to an embodiment still another Bedienelernent. According to another embodiment, the push button is also the knob. This device module manages with a single control element.

According to another embodiment of the laboratory device as a pipette, the device module is a semi-or fully electronic device module. A semi-electronic device module is a device module that has an electric servo drive: for the displacement device. The operating force of the user acting on an operating member is amplified by the electric servo drive to drive the displacer of the displacer. In a fully electronic pipette, the displacement member of the displacement device is driven by an electric drive motor with control electronics. The half and the fully electronic device module can also be unidirectionally connected to a control and / or display device to Operating data of the device module, which are determined by means of at least one sensor of the device module to display on the operating and / or display device. In accordance with one embodiment, the operating and / or display device has operating elements by means of which the semi- or fully electronic device module can be operated. The communication can be unidirectional from the operating and / or display module to the device module. However, it can also be bidirectional in order to transmit the operating data from the device module to the operating and / or display module and, in the reverse direction, control commands to the device module. The device module preferably has an operating element for starting and / or stopping and / or controlling dosing processes. Furthermore, the device module preferably has a further operating element for ejecting a pipette tip or syringe. A pipette is understood to mean in particular the embodiments of a pipette specified in the introduction to the description.

According to a further embodiment of the pipette, the operating and / or display module is arranged on a pipette holder. According to a further embodiment, the pipette holder has an electrical charging device for charging an electrical energy store of the device module of the pipette.

According to a further embodiment, the device module has a manually driven mechanical and / or electromechanically driven drive device for a displacement device and / or an ejector. According to one embodiment, the at least one operating and / or display device is designed such that it only communicates with device modules within a defined spatial area. For this purpose, e.g. the means for wirelessly communicating have a defined and / or adjustable range and / or comprise means for determining whether the device module is arranged within a predetermined range around the control and / or display module, e.g. due to the strength of the received radio signal. The defined range of the means for wireless communication is preferably 5 cm, more preferably 1 -2 cm.

According to a further embodiment, the defined spatial area is limited by a maximum distance or by a room or several rooms or a part of a room of a building. If the defined spatial area is limited to one or more rooms or parts of rooms of a building, for example, an identification is stored in the device modules, which are located in a defined spatial area. The identification can be stored by means of the control and / or display module in the device module or by means of an operating device of the device module in this. The deposit of the identification can be made from a central point via radio means a device that has stored identifications associated with a building plan. Based on the location of the device modules determines the associated identification of the respective device module. The location data can be entered into the respective laboratory device and transmitted to the central facility or entered directly into the central facility. The transmission of the location and the identification can be wireless, preferably via radio.

The operating and / or display device determines the identification of the device modules communicating with it and displays device modules which are located in a defined spatial area. The user selects the defined spatial area (s) to which the control and / or display module displays the device modules. With the help of the operating and / or display module, one or more device modules can be operated and / or monitored from the defined spatial area. Accordingly, the device modules can be operated and / or monitored from a plurality of defined spatial areas by means of the operating and / or display module. According to one embodiment, the control and / or display module simultaneously displays the data of several device modules and at the same time enables the operation and / or monitoring of several device modules.

The designed according to the invention laboratory equipment system comprises a plurality of device modules and at least one control and / or display module, the modules are physically separated from each other in separate housings and the modules preferably wirelessly communicate with each other, in particular via near field communication (NFC) exchange data. It may also be provided at least one device module, the data with several control and display modules, e.g. via NFC, exchanges. Furthermore, a central information management system is provided, which is remote from the laboratory device, e.g. at the headquarters of the company that manufactures, supplies and / or maintains the laboratory equipment or in the company using the laboratory equipment. The communication or the data exchange between the laboratory device and the central information management system is via at least one communication channel (WLAN, UMTS, secure IP connection ...) and allows central support of the user in the operation of the laboratory device.

Furthermore, the invention comprises a method for operating a laboratory apparatus for treating fluids and solids. Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in subclaims.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings show:

1 shows a conventional laboratory device in a rough schematic block diagram;

Fig. 2a and b variants of inventive laboratory equipment systems in a rough schematic

Block images;

3 a to c variants of inventive laboratory equipment systems in block diagrams;

4a and b, a laboratory device according to the invention in the form of a pipette in a schematic

Perspective view (Figure 4a) and with existing modules in front view (Figure 4b); and

5a to c show a device module of a laboratory device according to the invention (here for example pipette) in front view (FIG. 5a), in side view (FIG. 5b) and with pipette tip in a rear view (FIG. 5c).

According to FIG. 1, a conventional laboratory device 1.1 has a device for treating fluids and solids 2 and an operating and / or display device 3. The operating and / or display device 3 comprises an operating device 4 and a display device 5. The device for treating fluids and solids 2 and the operating and / or display device 3 are physically combined in a common housing 6.1. Usually, the data (measurement data) acquired by the laboratory device 1.1 are entered manually by the user into a computer or PC. Alternatively, laboratory equipment systems are known in which the labware is connected directly to the PC via a data link (e.g., RS 232 serial interface).

In a laboratory device system according to the invention or a laboratory device designed for this purpose, as shown schematically in the device 1.2 according to FIG. 2 a, the device for treating fluids and solids 2 is part of a device module 7 with a compact housing 6.2. The operating and / or display device 3 is physically completely separated from the device module 7 in a housing 6.3 of an operating and / or display module 8. The operating and / or display module 8 comprises both the operating device 4 and the display device 5.

Furthermore, the device module 7 and the operating and / or display module 8 have means for wireless communication 9, which comprise an interface for wireless communication 10 of the device module 7 and an interface for the wireless communication 11 control and / or display module 8. This example has bidirectional wireless communication means 9. In particular, these transmit data, which are triggered by operating processes, from the operating and / or display module 8 to the device module 7. Furthermore, these in particular transmit operating data, which are acquired in the device module 7, from the device module 7 to the operating and / or display module 8.

Furthermore, the laboratory device system according to the invention has an information management system 40 which is arranged remotely from the laboratory device (eg in the center of the device manufacturer and / or the maintenance company) and which communicates via one or more communication channels CH with the laboratory device, in particular with the operating device. and / or display module 8 exchanges data. The communication channel CH is constructed over one or more networks (with corresponding gateways), the operating and / or display module having means 19 for wireless communication establishment with a radio network, e.g. a WLAN or UMTS represents. Thus, the means 19 assumes the function of a (first) gateway. The information management system 40 also includes means 41 for establishing the communication connection, e.g. Also, the information management system 40 includes at least one computing unit 45 and at least one database DB (see also Fig. 2b) for managing data for operating one or more laboratory devices.

The device architecture and network structure described here create a laboratory device system which is very user-friendly with regard to the handling of the laboratory device 1.2 and can centrally provide or support numerous operating and maintenance functions. In addition, the components and functionalities of the operator and / or display module 8 may work with the information management system 40 to perform numerous new user-friendly functions. This will be described later in detail.

The laboratory device 1.3 of FIG. 2 b differs from the variant of FIG. 2 a in that only part of the operating and / or display device 3 is outsourced to the operating and / or display module 8. Only the operating device 4 or the display device 5 or parts of the operating or display device 4, 5 or parts of the operating and the display device 4, 5 can be outsourced. Accordingly, the device module 7 has the operating or display device 4, 5 or parts of the operating or display device 4, 5 or the operating and the display device 4, 5. In particular, it is possible to outsource operating elements and display elements which have to be particularly easy to operate or which must provide very well recognizable representations, whereas operating and display elements for basic functions are present on the device module 7.

The laboratory device 1.4 of FIG. 3 a comprises a device module 7, an operating and / or display module 8, which can be connected directly to a PC 12. The operating and / or display module 8 is preferably portable and connected via the wireless communication channel CH to a network in which the (later described in detail) central information management system 40 is integrated. For example, the operating and / or display module 8 is a PDA. As a control and / or display device 4.5 is preferably a touch screen is used. The communication between the operating and / or display module is wireless (eg via radio). In particular, one or more of the specified technologies Bluetooth, WC USB, WLAN, ZigBee or IrDA can be used for the communication. For the use of WLAN, a router is also available. WLAN allows the bridging of larger distances. Furthermore, the communication can take place via a modem 13.

The laboratory device 1.4 can be designed so that in addition a wired communication between the modules 7, 8 is possible. For this purpose, the device module 7 and the control and / or display module 8 each have electrical contacts that are contactable with each other. For this purpose, the modules 7, 8 may be mechanically interconnected, for example by clipping, magnetic attachment or attachment. Optionally, an electrical connection of the modules 7, 8 with each other via cable is possible. After establishing an electrical contact between the modules 7, 8, the laboratory device 1.4 can be used in a conventional manner as a stationary or manageable laboratory device.

The communication between the control and / or display module 8 and the PC 12 is optional and can be wirelessly via one of the mentioned technologies via wire or via contacts. The communication between the control and / or display module 8 and information management system 40 is via the wireless communication gateway 19 and provides numerous new operation and maintenance functions.

The information management system 40 allows, for example, a particularly convenient way of working for tasks that otherwise have to be performed on the control and / or display module 8. Examples include the creation of sequence programs for the flow control of device modules 7, the evaluation of operating data (in particular measurement results) of the device modules 7 and the structured storage of operating data (in particular measurement results). A laboratory device 1.5 according to FIG. 3b comprises a device module 7 in the form of a mechanical pipette with at least one sensor 14 for acquiring operating data. The device module 7 has operating elements 15.

Furthermore, an operating and / or display module 8 is present, which can be designed so that it comprises only a display device 5 in the form of a screen 16 and no control device.

The operating data are wirelessly transmitted by means for wireless communication 9 using one of the aforementioned technologies and optionally additionally wired or via contacts from the device module 7 to the control and / or display module 8. Subsequently, individual or all data, directly or processed, can be transmitted to the central information management system 40. The information management system 40 can also query data from the laboratory device, in particular from the operating and / or display module 8.

The connection of the laboratory device to a central information management system 40 enables i.a. the use of the operating and / or display module 8 as part of an asset management. If the control and / or display module 8 is implemented by a mobile communication device (e.g., smartphone, iPAD), e.g. the location function ("geo-location" function) of the mobile device are used. For today's smartphones are typically equipped with GPS or other localization devices that increasingly operate within buildings with a sufficiently high local resolution. In this way, an operating and / or display module in the form of a smartphone (or the like) can be used in addition to the identification for the inventory including location information of laboratory equipment. The corresponding data or information can be forwarded offline and / or online from the smartphone (control and / or display module 8) to the information management system 40 and further processed there.

For example, in combination with a database / table in the laboratory device or else in the external control device or in the higher-level structure, the current geo-information can also be used to adapt the respective laboratory device to local conditions and to configure. So it is a location-specific device configuration possible. This can also be used to comply with country-specific, statutory provisions. For example, the transmission power and / or frequency of an electromagnetic wave transmitter may be dependent on the current location. The use of the functions of the mobile control and / or display module 8 (eg smartphone, tablet PC, etc.) also supports and facilitates maintenance tasks. Thus, the module 8 perform the function of a maintenance personnel module, for example by special authorization of the staff compared to the laboratory device (with the help of eg NFC) further maintenance (maintenance) relevant information wirelessly from the laboratory device 1.2 - 1.6 8s. Fig. 2a-3c) can be accessed and appropriate maintenance measures can be initiated. Since NFC only: is set for the transmission of small amounts of data, via NFC, after successful authorization, to build a more powerful transmission channel between device module 7 and the module 8 (ie between the actual laboratory device and the smartphone) an automatic pairing for eg Bluetooth or WIFI be carried out.

It is also possible to assign the respective user (users) to one or more user groups (usergroups) in order to offer targeted help and support. The user groups (for example, laboratory technicians, maintenance personnel, device developers) are managed in the higher-level information management system 40, wherein a user forum can also be set up and managed as a platform for the exchange (chat, e-mail, SMS, etc.) via the used laboratory device. The information on which "user" uses which laboratory device is determined as a data pair via NFC. The assignment of this "user" to a user group for a device in the higher-level information management system 40 can take place through the wireless network connection 19 (Wifi / Bluetooth etc.) of the laboratory device. However, it is also possible that this information via a Wifi / Bluetooth etc. capable control and output device is done. As a further characteristic also an "expert" is conceivable, which accompanies the forum, which answered rising questions, news about the device and firmware updates spreads etc. The forum can then also the attributes, as from CMS or WIKI constructs or also from social networks, operate (hierarchy levels, subgroups, etc.).

About the identification can be decided very granular, which status messages (alarm, "I'm ready" etc.), which produces the used laboratory device, via SMS.E-mail, etc. sent.

An NFC identification can exclude the unauthorized use of a laboratory device resulting from a user's health disposition. For example, the operation of a laboratory device, which generates high magnetic fields outside of its housing, can be deactivated if the user belongs to a risk group (persons with pacemakers). Using the NFC authentication corresponding entries on the use of the laboratory device in electronic "laboratory books" can be automatically generated.

The user-friendly support of the respective user is of great advantage for numerous applications: Should the user or even the service technician have to remove or replace a part of the laboratory device, then after the NFC pairing and after the pairing with a powerful transmission protocol (Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.) to the higher-level information management system 40, with the (mobile) device, the corresponding working instructions / service instructions (pictures, movies, etc.) are output for exactly this device on the (mobile) NFC device.

The laboratory equipment system described herein may e.g. can also be used for the identification and tracking of (consumption) materials and "samples": Since smartphones are nowadays equipped with digital cameras (barcodes, 2D barcodes, ...) in addition to NFC / RFID transmitters, they can also be used for automatic identification and tracking Tracking of identifiable (consumable) materials (by RFID, 2DBarcode, ...) that are used by or for the laboratory device. Also identifiable (by RFID, 2D barcode, ..) identifiable samples, which were processed by the laboratory device (liquid handling, analysis, thermo-cycler, mix, ..). The information obtained in this way can be forwarded offline and / or online from the smartphone or the laboratory device to the higher-level information management system and further processed there. In particular, this enables largely automatic sample tracking across laboratories and device boundaries, which is of particular importance in view of the ever-increasing regulatory requirements.

By identifying the user / user in connection with the data from the laboratory device (by reading a runtime memory) can be generated by the laboratory device proposals and recommendations for the replacement of spare parts, which shortly before the expiry of their max. Operating time ("lifetime"). Likewise, suggestions and recommendations regarding the purchase of e.g. Single-use products, insofar as these were included in the inventory and administration. (Preventive maintenance).

In this context, an account can be managed centrally for the user identified for the NFC, via which the purchase of materials or also the purchase of optimized "recipes" or "workflows" (services in general) for his used laboratory equipment is handled. With reference to FIG. 3b, the construction of the laboratory apparatus 1.5 will now be described in more detail:

The sensor 14 is e.g. a sensor for detecting the adjusted and / or actually metered dosing volume, a step counter for counting dosing steps, a force sensor for measuring the Aufsteckkraft a pipette tip, a Aufsetzsensor for detecting the placement of a pipette tip on a substrate, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor for detecting the use of the device module 7 or an inclination sensor for detecting the orientation of the device module 7. The inclination sensor is used to improve the accuracy of the device module by detecting the inclination of the device module.

Furthermore, the sensor 14 used is, for example, a sensor for acquiring data of an RFID chip integrated in the device module. In principle, however, the data of the RFID chip can also be read out of the device module 7 by means of a suitable reading device of the operating and / or display module 8.

By means of the means for wireless communication 9 is a unidirectional communication from the device module 7 to the control and / or display module 8. This method is cost-effective, fast and straightforward. The operating data acquired by the sensor 14 are transmitted in real time, displayed and optionally stored permanently in the operating and / or display module 8. The user can be guided in the application of the laboratory device 1.5, where appropriate additional acoustic signals are given by the control and / or display module 8.

Using the example of the pipette, the selection of data allows the following additional benefits:

When displaying the set volume and its change, an interactive volume setting is possible. The user can perceive the set volume in a location favorable for his activity.

The operating and / or display module 8 can be equipped with a calibration function. This allows the input of a material value (eg viscosity) of the liquid to be metered or the geographical height of the respective location and displays the assigned calibrated metering volume for a desired metering volume. The user can then set these, possibly interactively. Furthermore, the operating and / or display module 8 can determine and display a service interval. The laboratory device can offer a call for service, for example by e-mail or SMS, which can be triggered by the user. In principle, the laboratory device can also call for service automatically.

Furthermore, the operating and / or display module 8 can be designed such that it indicates the perfect fit of the pipette tip and / or outputs a warning and / or an error message if the pipette tip is not plugged on with the required attachment force and / or the pipette tip a subsoil and / or if the device module is unfavorably aligned.

The recorded operating data can be forwarded by the operating and / or display module 8 to a downstream application. The transfer can be made to a PC 12 (see Fig. 3a), but preferably the information management system 40 via the communication channel CH or corresponding networks, servers, etc. The disclosure may be wireless or wired according to one of the technologies already mentioned.

The device module 7 requires an electrical power supply 17 for the operation of the sensor 14, a device for converting the signals of the sensor 14 (eg A / D converter) and the interface for the wireless communication with the control and / or display module 8. This can be done via batteries, such as lithium / ion batteries. The charging of the batteries can be done via electrical contacts by means of a charging device 18. This can also charge an electrical power supply 19 of the control and / or display module 8.

The transmission protocol of the device module 7 allows the operating and / or display module 8 to identify the device module 7. As a result, several device modules 7 can cooperate with the operating and / or display module 8 and operating data of a plurality of device modules 7 can be assigned to them. The operating data of multiple device modules 7 can be displayed together and clearly assignable.

According to one embodiment, the operating and / or display module 8 contains a mobile telephone with a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) in order to enable data transmission via the mobile radio network. Accordingly, the device module 7 may be equipped with a mobile phone and a SIM card. According to FIG. 3c, the laboratory device 1.6 comprises a device module 7 with a control device 20 for controlling the device for treating fluids and solids. Furthermore, it has an operating and / or display module 8, which comprises a screen 16 and a rudimentary keyboard with keys 21. The wireless communication means 9 allow unidirectional or bidirectional communication. The above-mentioned techniques of wireless communication can be used. In particular, wireless communication may be via WLAN and via a router or modem 13.

The control and / or display module 8 may e.g. be realized by means of a smartphone 22. A suitable program can be developed and e.g. be made available over the internet.

The control and / or display module 8 and the device module 7 communicate via unidirectional or bi-directional wireless communication means 9. Via unidirectional means for wireless communication 9, operating data of the device module 7 can be transmitted to the smartphone 22 and displayed by it, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3b. Via bidirectional means for wireless communication, the user can additionally use the operating and / or display module 8 as a programming unit. The data for this is generated by the device module 7, the operating and / or display device 8 with the aid of external programs and loaded onto the device module 7, wherein the programs run centrally on a computing unit (see 45 in Fig. 3 c) of the information management system can. As a result, the hardware and software of the device module 7 can be significantly reduced. For example, with an electric pipette, the operating and / or display devices 8 can be reduced to push buttons for starting and, if necessary, stopping doses, an acoustic signal generator and possibly a discharge device for pipette tips or syringes.

According to one embodiment, the electrical charging device 18 for the power supply of various device modules 7 and / or control and / or display modules 8 is combined into a single power supply, which is connectable via electrical contacts with the modules 7, 8.

In the case of thermal cyclers or photographic or spectrometers, the operating and / or display module 8 can transmit the operating and program data to the device module 7 and / or reproduce the operating data of the device module 7 on the display device 5. The operating data can be stored on the operating and / or display module 8 and transmitted to other media, for example in external databases. When using a Application: for smartphones, eg iPhone accounts for a high proportion of costs of conventional laboratory equipment.

According to FIG. 4 a, a laboratory device (pipette) 1. 7 comprises a device module 7 with a displacement device and a drive device. Furthermore, the laboratory device (pipette) comprises an operating and / or display module 8 with an operating device 4 in the form of buttons 21 and a display device 5 in the form of a screen 16. Device module 7 and control and / or display module 8 have interfaces 10, 11 for wireless communication.

The display device 5 can be detached from the operating and / or display module 8. After loosening the operating and / or display module 8, the display device 5 can be attached as a mobile clip on the clock, clothing or other objects in the field of view of the operator.

In Fig. 4a, the use of the device module 7 is shown as a manageable pipette.

Further, the device module 7 of the pipette can be connected via a stand 23 with the control and / or display module 8 to a stationary pipette, as shown in Fig. 4b.

5 a to c show an exemplary embodiment of a manageable device module 7 of a laboratory device designed as a pipette according to the invention. The device module 7 has an elongated, substantially rod-shaped handle body 24.

The handle body 24 has a front gripping surface 25, which is curved in the upper part of the handle body 24 above the area which comes into contact with the palm over the handle body to a thumb rest 25.1. The front grip surface 25 is arched in one direction only.

The grip body 24 has a rear grip surface 26 with a recess 26.1 below the upper end. The rear gripping surface 26 is arched on both sides of the vertical sectional plane ZU to lateral gripping surfaces 27.1, 27.2, which expire with gradually decreasing curvature on the two sides to the front gripping surface 24, with which it meets on the two sides in a chamfer 27.3, 27.4.

The handle body 24 has a height of 100 to 180 mm and / or a circumference of 80 to 130 mm. The handle body 24 with dimensions in the specified ranges is perceived by users with different hand sizes as pleasant. A seat 28.1 for a pipette tip 28.2 is disposed on a tubular support 28 projecting downwardly from the lower end of the handle body 24. *** "

Between the seat 28.1 and the handle body 24 is a locking device for fixing a (not shown) hinge in a certain position exists. The locking device has a screw ring 29 for clamping the joint at the lower end of the handle body. By means of the locking device, the orientation of the seat 28.1 can be fixed with respect to the handle body 24 so that it does not move unintentionally.

In the thumb rest 25.1 an operable with the thumb control element 30.1 is arranged. The operating element 30.1 is a button-shaped button. The key is lens-shaped in vertical section and is slightly above the front grip surface 25 addition.

The operating element 30.1 is a start / stop button with which operating sequences or parts of operating sequences can be started and optionally stopped. According to one embodiment, the pipette is set via an external operating and display device (e.g., mode, dosing amount, piston speed) and / or programmed (e.g., several consecutive operations) so that only the operations are started or stopped, if necessary, by means of the control element 30.1. Preferably, the operating element 30.1 is an electrical button.

In the rear gripping surface 26, another operating element 30.2 is arranged in the indentation 26.1. The further operating element 30.2 is the operating element of a tip ejector 30.3, i. means for ejecting or detaching a pipette tip or syringe from the pipette.

The further control element 30.2 is coupled to a mechanical drive device, not shown, which is coupled to a Spitzenabwerfer 30.3, which is associated with the seat 28.1 for a pipette tip or syringe to solve a pipette tip arranged there on actuation of the further Bedienelernents from the seat.

In the front gripping surface 25, a display device, not shown, is optionally arranged, for example an LCD display. The display device preferably has an elongate shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the front gripping surface 25. The display device is preferably arranged in the lower part of the handle. It serves the display operating data, eg an operating mode or the dosing volume and / or the state of charge of a battery or a rechargeable battery and / or a fault indication and / or a warning.

The device module 7 can be made compact and lightweight with a favorable weight distribution. The controls 30.1, 30.2 are ergonomically arranged.

As shown in FIGS. 5a-c using the example of a pipette, the device module 7 can have at least one operating element (15) for controlling metering operations and / or releasing a pipette tip (26) or syringe from the device module (7). Also, the device module (7) have a manual and / or motor drive for a displacement device and / or a ejector. Furthermore, the device module (7) can have at least one mechanical drive device coupled to a displacement element of the displacement device and / or the ejector and a control element coupled to the mechanical drive device for driving the displacement device by means of the user's muscular force. It can also be provided that the device module 7) has no display device. The device module (7) may be rod-shaped at the upper end. In addition, the control and / or display module can be arranged on a pipette holder.

The laboratory device may be designed such that the device module 7 (see Fig. 3c) has an electrical charging device 18 for charging an electrical energy storage device 17, 19 of the control and / or display module 8 or vice versa, and that electrical contacts for transmitting electrical charge are present from the device module 7 on the control and / or display module 8 or vice versa. The device module 7 and the operating and / or display module 8 have interconnectable contacts for communication and / or transmission of electrical charge between the device module 7 and the control and / or display module 8.

Claims

claims

1. Laboratory device system with at least one laboratory device (1.2 - 1.6) for treating

Fluids and solids comprising:

• at least one device module (7) with a device for treating fluids and solids (2) and

At least one operating and / or display device (3),

• at least one of the device module (7) physically separate control and / or

Display module (8), which comprises the operating and / or display device (3) in whole or in part, and

• first means (10, 11) for wireless and / or wired communication (9) between the device module (7) and the control and / or display module (8), the laboratory device system being removed from the laboratory device (1.2 - 1.6)

arranged and with the control and / or display module (8) via at least one communication channel (CH) connected information management system

(40), the data with the control and / or display module (8)

and / or with device module (7) when operating the laboratory device (1.2 - 1.6)

exchanges.

2. Laborgeräteesystem according to claim 1, wherein the control and / or display module (8) of the laboratory device (1.2; 1.3) and / or the device module (7) second means (19) for wireless and / or wired communication between the operating and / or display module (8) or the device module (7) and the information management system (40).

3. Laboratory system according to spoke 1 or 2, wherein the information management system (40) third means (41) for wireless or wired communication between the control and / or display module (8) or the device module (7) and the information management System (40).

4. Laboratory device system according to claim 3, wherein the third means (41) for a ΓΡ communication via a network, in particular an intranet and / or the Internet, are formed.

5. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device module (7) is manageable and / or the operating and / or display module (8) by a person portable and / or manageable.

6. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is a mobile phone and / or a personal digital assistant and / or a smartphone (22) and / or a tablet PC.

7. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) has at least one camera and / or barcode reader to perform by means of the information management system (40) an identification of samples and / or consumables ,

8. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) at least one means for locating, in particular a GPS module, by means of the information management system (40) localization of laboratory equipment, samples, consumables and / or users.

9. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Information management system (40) and the at least one database (DB) for the one or more users of the at least one laboratory device each creates and manages a user account.

10. Laboratory equipment system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Information Management System (40) and the at least one database (DB) for at least one group of users and / or laboratory equipment each one

Information Forum creates and manages.

11. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality

Device modules (7) and / or a plurality of control and / or display modules (8) are provided, which communicate with each other via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections.

12. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of, in particular physically separate, operating and / or display devices (3) are present, which communicate with each other via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections ,

13. Laboratory device system according to claims 11 and 12, wherein the plurality of device modules (7) and / or control and / or display modules (8) via point-to-point connections and / or point-to-multipoint connections with the plurality of operating and / or display devices (3) communicate connections.

14. Laboratory equipment system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Information management system (40) at least one arithmetic unit (45) which is connected to at least one database (DB), in particular configured as a cloud database.

15. Laboratory equipment system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first

Means (10, 11) for wireless communication (9) between the device module (7) and the control and / or display module (8) are formed so that they only within a defined spatial area, in particular within a near field area with each other communicate.

16. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second means (19) for wireless or wired communication between the control and / or display module (8) or the device module (7) and the

Information management system (40) are designed so that they communicate over a defined spatial distance, in particular over a distance exceeding the near field range or via a remote communication link with each other.

17. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Device module (7) an electronic control device for detecting

Operating data and / or for controlling the device (2) for treating fluids and solids.

18. Laboratory system according to one of the preceding address, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that by means of its operating device operating parameters and / or operating modes of the device module and / or programs for controlling the device module and / or routines for the Carrying out of

Operations of the device module can be entered or retrieved.

19. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that it is for remote control of

Device modules (7) is usable.

20. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that in case of communication recognizes the respective device module (7) with one of several device modules (7) and automatically sets a device-specific user interface on the operating and / or display device (8).

21. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that use only when entering a proof of the authorization (authentication) is possible.

22. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that certain programs, routines, measurement results and other data can only be edited when entering a proof of authorization (authentication).

23. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) is designed so that it has a reservation function with which the laboratory device can be blocked for certain time intervals for specific users.

24. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims with a physically separated from the device module and the control and / or display module (8)

electronic data processing system (12) on which the information management system is implemented.

25. Laboratory device system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and / or display module (8) releasably connected to the device module (7) is connectable.

26. Laboratory equipment system according to one of the preceding claims, which is a mechanical or electronic or semi-electronic pipette or a photometer or a centrifuge or a mixer or a thermal cycler or a real-time cycler or a DNA sequencer or a laboratory or dosing or a bioreactor or bioreactor system.

27. A method for operating a laboratory device (1.2 - 1.6) for treating fluids and solids comprising a device for treating fluids and solids (2) and at least one operating and / or display device (3), wherein

At least one device module (7) comprising the device for treating fluids and solids is operated physically separate from at least one display module comprising the operating and / or display device, and • information, control data and / or data to be displayed are transmitted wirelessly between the device module (7) and the operating and / or display module (8); and

Where data is transmitted via at least one communication channel (CH) with a

Information Management System (40), which is located away from the laboratory device (1.2 - 1.6).

28. The method of claim 27, wherein multiple device modules exchange data with at least one control and / or display module or in which at least one device module exchanges data with a plurality of control and / or display modules.

29. The method according to any one of claims 27 or 28, wherein the device module

pipetted and / or analyzed photometrically and / or centrifuged and / or tempered and / or mixed and / or cultured and / or fermented and / or a PCR is performed.

30. Use of the laboratory equipment system according to one of claims 1 to 26 for

Recording and documentation of:

(a) usage data; and or

(b) data of the treated fluid and / or solid sample; and or

(c) data on consumables used; and or

(d) measurement data, if the laboratory device makes active measurements;

and or

(e) application data of applications.

31. Use according to claim 30, wherein the collected and documented data are provided to the access of other users.