EP4241886A1 - Air cushion pipette - Google Patents

Abstract

Air cushion pipette comprising• at least one seat for releasably holding a pipette tip,• a displacement device comprising a displacement chamber and a displacement element which can be displaced therein and which delimits a displacement volume within the displacement chamber,• a connecting channel connecting the displacement volume with an opening in the seat,• one coupled to the displacement element Drive device for displacing the displacement element, • an upper stop, a lower stop and a stop element connected to the drive device for limiting the displacement of the displacement element in the displacement chamber, • an overstroke device having the lower stop, which is designed and set up so that the stop element has the lower Stop shifted downwards when the stop element presses against the lower stop with a certain minimum force, whereby the downward displacement of the lower stop is limited to a first overstroke, • a displaceable overstroke limitation, which in a release position, the downward displacement of the lower stop allows the first overstroke and limits it in a blocking position to a second overstroke, which is shorter than the first overstroke, and • a switching device connected to the overstroke limitation in order to either shift the overstroke limitation to the release position for forward pipetting or to the blocking position for reverse pipetting.

Description

The invention relates to an air cushion pipette with at least one pipette tip.

Air cushion pipettes are used particularly in the laboratory for dosing liquids. For this purpose, a pipette tip with an upper opening is clamped onto a seat of the pipette. The seat is usually a conical and/or cylindrical projection at the lower end of a housing of the pipette, onto which a pipette tip can be clamped with an upper opening of its tubular body. The pipette tip can absorb and dispense liquid through a lower opening in its downwardly tapering body. Air cushion pipettes have a displacement device for air, which is connected to the pipette tip through an opening in the seat. Using the displacement device, an air cushion is displaced in order to suck liquid into the pipette tip and expel it from it. For this purpose, the displacement device has a displacement chamber with a displacement element that can be moved therein. The displacement device is usually a cylinder with a piston that can be moved inside.

After use, the pipette tip is removed from the seat and replaced with a fresh pipette tip. This means that contamination due to the transfer of liquid can be avoided during subsequent dosages. Pipettes usually have an ejection device that allows pipette tips to be ejected by pressing a button without touching the pipette tips. Single-use pipette tips are usually made of plastic.

The displacement element is coupled to a drive device which serves to displace the displacement element in the displacement chamber. At In known manually driven pipettes, the drive device has a lifting rod which can be moved with a stop element between an upper and a lower stop. Before air is displaced from the cylinder, the stop element rests against the upper stop. By moving the lifting rod downwards until the stop element rests on the lower stop, air is displaced from the cylinder. When the lifting rod is moved upwards until the stop element rests on the upper stop, air is sucked into the cylinder and sample liquid is sucked into the pipette tip. By moving the lifting rod downwards again, the liquid is released from the pipette tip. The amount of liquid absorbed or dispensed depends on the stroke of the lifting rod between the lower and upper stops.

With fixed-volume pipettes, the distance between the upper and lower stops is constant. On pipettes with an adjustable dosing volume, the position of the upper stop can be changed. Known pipettes with an adjustable dosing volume have an upper stop on the underside of a threaded spindle, which can be adjusted in a spindle nut fixedly arranged in the housing. To adjust the threaded spindle there are adjustment devices which are coupled to display devices for displaying the set dosing volume in the form of a counter.

Air cushion pipettes have an overstroke for dispensing remaining amounts of liquid from the pipette tip. To carry out the overstroke, the lower stop can be moved with increased effort. In known pipettes, the lower stop is formed on a stop body, which is supported in the housing via an overstroke spring, so that it can be moved by a certain overstroke with increased effort.

Furthermore, electronic pipettes are known in which the drive device comprises an electric motor and a gear that couples the electric motor to the displacement element and which have an electronic control device which controls the electric motor so that the displacement element carries out the desired strokes.

Both manual and electronic air-cushion pipettes are designed and calibrated for use with the forward pipetting technique. When pipetting forward, the lifting rod is moved from the upper stop to the lower stop by pressing the control button before liquid is taken up. After dipping the pipette tip into the liquid and releasing the control button, the lifting rod moves back to the upper stop and the desired amount of liquid is absorbed. To dispense liquid, the control button is pressed until the stop element hits the lower stop and the complete overstroke is carried out. There will then be no more liquid in the pipette tip.

However, when handled by the user, a second pipetting technique can also be used, the so-called “reverse pipetting”. Starting from the rest position in which the lifting rod rests against the upper stop, the control button is pressed down until the overstroke is carried out. After the pipette tip has been immersed in the liquid, the control button is relieved to absorb the liquid so that the lifting rod slides back to the upper stop. To dispense liquid, the control button is pressed down until the lifting rod reaches the lower stop. There will still be remaining liquid in the pipette tip since the overstroke is not carried out during delivery. This residual liquid is not part of the dosing volume and is discarded or returned to the original container. The Reverse pipetting has advantages especially with viscous solutions, solutions with high vapor pressure and strong wetting solvents. There are also laboratories, for example in the USA, that generally use this technology, i.e. also for aqueous liquids.

Gravimetric tests (EN ISO 8655-6) have shown that the reverse pipetting technique leads to a larger systematic measurement error (EN ISO 8655-1) than the forward technique. In addition, the use of the reverse pipetting technique is associated with increased reagent consumption, as the residual liquid (overflow) may be discarded when the tip is ejected. Finally, carrying out the overstroke when taking up liquid leads to an increased uptake of sample liquid, which can possibly be sucked into the pipette or the filter of a filter pipette tip.

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of creating an air cushion pipette which, in addition to forward pipetting, enables reverse pipetting with reduced measurement deviation, saves reagents and avoids the suction of liquid into the pipette or the filter of a filter pipette tip.

The task is solved by an air cushion pipette according to claim 1 and by an air cushion pipette according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the air cushion pipettes are specified in the subclaims and in the following description.

• mindestens einen Sitz zum lösbaren Halten einer Pipettenspitze,
• eine Verdrängungseinrichtung umfassend eine Verdrängungskammer mit einem darin verlagerbaren Verdrängungselement, das innerhalb der Verdrängungskammer ein Verdrängungsvolumen begrenzt,
• einen das Verdrängungsvolumen mit einer Öffnung im Sitz verbindenden Verbindungskanal,
• eine mit dem Verdrängungselement gekoppelte Antriebseinrichtung zum Verlagern des Verdrängungselementes in der Verdrängungskammer,
• einen oberen Anschlag, einen unteren Anschlag und ein mit der Antriebseinrichtung verbundenes Anschlagelement zum Begrenzen der Verlagerung des Verdrängungselementes in der Verdrängungskammer,
• eine den unteren Anschlag aufweisende Überhubeinrichtung, die ausgebildet und eingerichtet ist, dass das Anschlagelement den unteren Anschlag nach unten verlagert, wenn das Anschlagelement mit einer bestimmten Mindestkraft gegen den unteren Anschlag drückt, wobei die Verlagerung des unteren Anschlages nach unten auf einen ersten Überhub begrenzt ist,
• eine verlagerbare Überhubbegrenzung, die in einer Freigabestellung die Verlagerung des unteren Anschlages nach unten um den ersten Überhub zulässt und in einer Sperrstellung auf einen zweiten Überhub begrenzt, der kürzer als der erste Überhub ist, und
• eine mit der Überhubbegrenzung verbundene Schalteinrichtung, um wahlweise die Überhubbegrenzung zum Vorwärtspipettieren in die Freigabestellung oder zum reversen Pipettieren in die Sperrstellung zu verlagern.

According to claim 1 comprises an air cushion pipette according to the invention

• at least one seat for releasably holding a pipette tip,
• a displacement device comprising a displacement chamber with a displacement element which can be displaced therein and which limits a displacement volume within the displacement chamber,
• a connecting channel connecting the displacement volume with an opening in the seat,
• a drive device coupled to the displacement element for displacing the displacement element in the displacement chamber,
• an upper stop, a lower stop and a stop element connected to the drive device for limiting the displacement of the displacement element in the displacement chamber,
• an overstroke device having the lower stop, which is designed and set up so that the stop element displaces the lower stop downwards when the stop element presses against the lower stop with a certain minimum force, the downward displacement of the lower stop being limited to a first overstroke ,
• a displaceable overstroke limitation, which in a release position allows the lower stop to be displaced downwards by the first overstroke and in a blocking position limits it to a second overstroke that is shorter than the first overstroke, and
• a switching device connected to the overstroke limiter in order to either move the overstroke limiter to the release position for forward pipetting or to the blocked position for reverse pipetting.

• mindestens einen Sitz zum lösbaren Halten einer Pipettenspitze,
• eine Verdrängungseinrichtung umfassend eine Verdrängungskammer mit einem darin verlagerbaren Verdrängungselement, das innerhalb der Verdrängungskammer ein Verdrängungsvolumen begrenzt,
• einen das Verdrängungsvolumen mit einer Öffnung im Sitz verbindenden Verbindungskanal,
• eine mit dem Verdrängungselement gekoppelte Antriebseinrichtung zum Verlagern des Verdrängungselementes in der Verdrängungskammer,
• wobei die Antriebseinrichtung einen Elektromotor und ein den Elektromotor mit dem Verdrängungselement koppelndes Getriebe umfasst,
• eine elektronische Steuerungseinrichtung mit dem Elektromotor verbunden ist, die den Elektromotor so steuert, dass in einer Betriebsweise für das Vorwärtspipettieren das Verdrängungselement aus einer oberen Endposition in eine untere Endposition, aus der unteren Endposition in die obere Endposition und aus der oberen Endposition in eine um einen ersten Überhub tiefer als die untere Endposition angeordnete erste Überhubposition verlagert wird und in einer Betriebsweise für das reverse Pipettieren das Verdrängungselement aus der oberen Endposition in eine um einen zweiten Überhub, der kleiner als der erste Überhub ist, tiefer als die untere Endposition angeordnete zweite Überhubposition, aus der zweiten Überhubposition in die obere Endposition und aus der oberen Endposition in die untere Endposition verlagert wird, und
• eine mit der elektronischen Steuerungseinrichtung verbundene Schalteinrichtung, um die elektronische Steuerungseinrichtung wahlweise in die Betriebsweise für das Vorwärtspipettieren oder in die Betriebsweise zum reversen Pipettieren zu versetzen.

According to claim 10 comprises an alternative air cushion pipette according to the invention

• at least one seat for releasably holding a pipette tip,
• a displacement device comprising a displacement chamber with a displacement element which can be displaced therein and which limits a displacement volume within the displacement chamber,
• a connecting channel connecting the displacement volume with an opening in the seat,
• a drive device coupled to the displacement element for displacing the displacement element in the displacement chamber,
• wherein the drive device comprises an electric motor and a gearbox coupling the electric motor to the displacement element,
• an electronic control device is connected to the electric motor, which controls the electric motor so that in an operating mode for forward pipetting, the displacement element moves from an upper end position to a lower end position, from the lower end position to the upper end position and from the upper end position to one first overstroke lower than the lower end position and in an operating mode for reverse pipetting the displacement element is moved from the upper end position into a second overstroke position which is lower than the lower end position by a second overstroke which is smaller than the first overstroke, is shifted from the second overstroke position to the upper end position and from the upper end position to the lower end position, and
• a switching device connected to the electronic control device in order to selectively set the electronic control device into the operating mode for forward pipetting or into the operating mode for reverse pipetting.

In the air cushion pipette according to the invention (hereinafter also "pipette"), the overstroke volume during reverse pipetting is reduced compared to that Overstroke volume during forward pipetting significantly reduces the systematic measurement error during reverse pipetting and adjusts it to the systematic measurement error during forward pipetting. According to the findings on which the invention is based, the systematic error in the same air cushion pipette with a certain overstroke during forward pipetting and reverse pipetting is clearly different. By switching from a first overstroke during forward pipetting to a smaller second overstroke during reverse pipetting, the systematic measurement deviations in these two pipetting techniques can be brought closer together. This makes test results from different users who prefer different pipetting techniques more comparable.

Using the switching device, you can easily switch between the first overstroke for forward pipetting and the second overstroke for reverse pipetting without having to recalibrate the air cushion pipette. This gives the user maximum freedom to alternately use their air cushion pipette for forward pipetting of aqueous liquids and for reverse pipetting of non-aqueous or special liquids.

With reverse pipetting, the reduced overstroke saves reagents compared to reverse pipetting with the same overstroke as with forward pipetting, since with reverse pipetting the sample volume taken up with the overstroke is usually discarded.

Due to the reduced overstroke during reverse pipetting, conventional pipette tips, especially filter tips, can also be used with the nominal volume during reverse pipetting. On the other hand, reverse pipetting of the nominal volume of the pipette tip can be done with the same overtravel as with Forward pipetting can lead to sample liquid being sucked into the working cone of the pipette and possibly becoming contaminated or getting into the filter of the pipette tip and the sample liquid being contaminated by the filter material or being dispensed incompletely, i.e. inaccurately. Overall, the invention improves the pipetting accuracy, makes it easier to switch between forward pipetting and reverse pipetting, saves reagents during reverse pipetting and expands the scope of application of pipette tips during reverse pipetting.

The first overstroke and the second overstroke are each a displacement path of the displacement element with a specific, defined length. In one exemplary embodiment, the first overstroke for forward pipetting is 4 mm and the second overstroke for reverse pipetting is 1 mm with a distance from the upper stop to the lower stop (dosing stroke) of 16 mm.

The invention relates to both manually driven and electronic pipettes. Claim 1 is directed to a manually driven pipette and claim 10 to an electronic pipette.

According to one embodiment of the manually driven pipette, the drive device is connected to an operating button with which the displacement of the displacement element can be controlled. The control button is preferably a push button which protrudes upward from the upper end of a rod-shaped housing. By pressing the control button downwards, the drive device can be actuated to displace the displacement element in the displacement chamber.

According to a further embodiment, the drive device has a lifting rod coupled to the displacement element at the lower end, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction and has the stop element on the outer circumference, and an operating button connected to the upper end of the lifting rod for displacing the displacement element in the displacement chamber. According to a further embodiment, the coupling between the lifting rod and the displacement element is designed such that the lower end of the lifting rod presses against the top of a plate which is connected to the upper end of a piston which can be displaced in a cylinder and which forms the displacement element. According to a further embodiment, the plate is loaded towards the lifting rod by a spring device. This is advantageous for a structural design in which the pipette has an upper part comprising the drive device and a lower part comprising the displacement device, the coupling of the lifting rod and displacement element being produced when the upper part and lower part are put together. Alternatively, the lifting rod is firmly connected to the displacement element.

A further embodiment has a return spring which loads the drive device in the direction of the stop element resting on the upper stop. This ensures that when the control button is relieved, the drive device automatically assumes a rest position in which the stop element rests on the upper stop.

According to a further embodiment, the lifting rod is passed through a central bore of a threaded spindle, which is screwably held in a spindle nut and has the upper stop for the stop element on the lower end face. By adjusting the threaded spindle, the stroke that the lifting rod performs when the stop element is moved from the upper stop to the lower stop and vice versa can be adjusted. Through this The dosage volume that is absorbed or dispensed during pipetting can be adjusted. According to a further embodiment, the threaded spindle is coupled to an adjustment knob in order to adjust the threaded spindle in the spindle nut. According to a further embodiment, the adjustment button is designed separately from the control button. According to a further embodiment, the adjustment button is designed like a sleeve and encloses the control button, which protrudes upwards with respect to the adjustment button. According to another embodiment, the adjustment button is also the control button.

According to a further embodiment, the stop element is at least one projection on the circumference of the lifting rod. According to a further embodiment, the stop element is a single circumferential projection or bead on the circumference of the lifting rod.

According to a further embodiment, the displaceable overtravel limiter is a slide that is guided in a guide in the control button and in the guide from a release position in which it does not protrude outwards from the control button into a blocking position above a partially projecting outward relative to the control button The edging arranged next to the control button can be moved. In the release position, the slide does not limit the displacement of the control button, so that the control button can be actuated so that the first overstroke is carried out. In the locked position, the slider limits the downward displacement of the control button by resting against the surround, so that it can only control the implementation of the second overstroke. According to a further embodiment, the surround is an adjustment button.

According to another embodiment, the movable overtravel limiter is a slide that is guided in a fixed guide and in the guide consists of a Release position, in which it does not protrude outwards from the guide, can be moved into a blocking position which partially protrudes outwards from the guide in the displacement path of the control button, the lifting rod or the overlift device. In the release position, the slide does not limit the displacement of the control button, the lifting rod or the overstroke device, so that the first overstroke can be carried out. In the locked position, the slider limits the displacement of the control button, the lifting rod or the overstroke device, so that only the second overstroke can be carried out.

According to a further embodiment, the switching device is an operating element or tool handle formed on the slide. The slider can be moved by manually operating the control element (e.g. a protruding hook or a groove) or by attaching a tool to the tool grip (e.g. a slot for attaching a screwdriver blade).

According to one embodiment of the electronic pipette, the electronic control device is connected to a switch (eg a button), touchscreen, microphone and/or another input device in order to operate the pipette. By means of one or more input devices, in particular the displacement of the displacement element can be controlled, pipetting parameters (e.g. the dosing volume, the piston speed) can be set and the electronic pipette can be set either to the operating mode for forward pipetting or for backward pipetting. According to a further embodiment, the input device is a button, with different displacements of the displacement element being controlled by successive actuations of the button. According to a further embodiment, the switching of the different operating modes is controlled by an additional button or other switch (eg toggle switch or slide switch) or another input device.

A touchscreen can be used in particular for entering dosing parameters and/or switching between different operating modes. A microphone can be used to operate the pipette through voice control.

According to a further embodiment, the electronic control device controls the electric motor in the operating mode for reverse pipetting so that after the displacement element has been moved from the upper end position to the lower end position, in a further step the displacement element is moved downwards by the first overstroke or by the second overstroke is relocated. This allows remaining sample liquid to be released from the pipette tip.

The following information applies to both manually driven and electronic pipettes.

According to one embodiment, during forward pipetting after liquid intake, the displacement element is displaced from the upper end position to the lower end position by moving the displacement element from the lower end position to the upper end position for the delivery of the dosing volume and then remains in the lower end position for at least a short pause, so that possibly Liquid can run down the inner wall of the pipette tip. According to a preferred embodiment, the displacement element is then displaced from the lower end position by the first overstroke and residual liquid is blown out of the pipette tip, preferably into a waste container or, if necessary, back into the starting container ( "blow out" ). From the first overstroke position, the displacement element is moved back into the upper end position, which forms the starting position for renewed liquid absorption. The overstroke step is good laboratory practice when pipetting forward. However, it can also be omitted and the displacement element can be moved from the lower end position directly back to the upper end position. The manually driven pipette according to the present invention can be operated in accordance with the above, and the electronic pipette according to the present invention can be controlled by means of the electronic control device and the switching device in accordance with the above.

According to a further embodiment, there are two options for reverse pipetting after dispensing liquid by moving the displacement element from the upper end position to the lower end position: According to a first possibility, the pipette tip can be dipped into the liquid again and then the displacement element can be removed from the lower end position to take up liquid again End position can be moved to the upper end position. According to a second possibility, the remaining liquid in the pipette tip can be z. B. be emptied into a waste container or possibly back into an initial container, i.e. the displacement element is displaced downwards from the lower end position by the second overstroke. The pipette tip can then be thrown away. The manually driven pipette according to the present invention can be operated in accordance with the above, and the electronic pipette of the present invention can be controlled by means of the electronic control device and the switching device in accordance with the above.

According to a further embodiment, the displacement device comprises a cylinder and a piston which can be displaced in the cylinder. By displacing the piston in the cylinder, the displacement volume in the displacement chamber can be changed. Air cushion pipettes with a displacement device that include a cylinder and a piston that can be moved therein are widely used.

Alternatively, the displacement device is a flexible membrane which is fixed in the displacement chamber in a sealing manner at the edge.

According to a further embodiment, the pipette has a housing, a frame, a chassis or another support structure. The support structure is used to hold the components of the pipette. Pipette components that do not change their relative position during operation can be attached to the support structure. These include, for example, a fixed working cone or another seat for releasably holding a pipette tip, the displacement chamber, parts of the drive device (e.g. the spindle nut or the electric motor), parts of the overstroke device, a fixed guide for the overstroke limitation, the electronic control device, the switching device and / or another input device. Other components of the pipette are held on the support structure in a movable manner. This includes, for example, the displacement element, parts of the drive device (e.g. the lifting rod), the upper stop, the lower stop, the threaded spindle and the movable overstroke limiter.

According to a further embodiment, the pipette is a hand pipette, an automatic pipetting device or a pipetting device integrated into an automatic laboratory device. A hand pipette is a pipette that can be held and operated with just one hand. The hand pipette can be a manually powered pipette or an electronic pipette. An automatic pipetting device or a pipetting device integrated into a laboratory machine is preferably an electronic pipette.

According to a further embodiment, the pipette is a mechanically driven pipette, an electrically driven pipette or a combined mechanically and electrically driven pipette. One combines mechanical and electrical driven pipette can have a mechanical drive with electrical support (servo drive).

According to a further embodiment, the pipette is a single-channel pipette or a multi-channel pipette. A single-channel pipette has only a single seat for releasably holding a pipette tip and a single displacement device. A multi-channel pipette has multiple seats for releasably holding pipette tips, which are connected to a single displacement device or to multiple displacement devices.

Fig. 1

eine Pipette in einem Längsschnitt von der linken Seite;

Fig. 2

dieselbe Pipette in einem Längsschnitt von der rechten Seite;

Fig. 3.1 bis 3.4

einen Einstellmechanismus derselben Pipette vergrößert in einer Seitenansicht von der rechten Seite (Fig. 3.1), in einer Vorderansicht (Fig. 3.2), in einer Seitenansicht von der linken Seite (Fig. 3.3) und in einer Rückansicht (Fig. 3.4);

Fig. 4.1 bis 4.4

denselben Einstellmechanismus in einer anderen Schaltstufe geschaltet, vergrößert in einer Seitenansicht von der rechten Seite (Fig. 4.1), in einer Vorderansicht (Fig. 4.2), in einer Seitenansicht von der linken Seite (Fig. 4.3) und in einer Rückansicht (Fig. 4.4);

Fig. 5.1 bis 5.3

die Pipette beim Vorwärtspipettieren in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 6.1 bis 6.3

die Pipette beim reversen Pipettieren in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 7.1, 7.2

eine verlagerbare Überhubbegrenzung mit im Bedienknopf geführtem stabförmigen Schieber in Freigabestellung (Fig. 7.1) und in Sperrstellung (Fig. 7.2), jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 8.1, 8.2

eine verlagerbare Überhubbegrenzung mit im Bedienknopf geführtem L-förmigem Schieber in Freigabestellung (Fig. 8.1) und in Sperrstellung (Fig. 8.2), jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 9.1, 9.2

eine verlagerbare Überhubbegrenzung mit im Gehäuse geführter Blende in Freigabestellung (Fig. 9.1) und in Sperrstellung (Fig. 9.2), jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht schräg von oben,

Fig. 10

eine verlagerbare Überhubbegrenzung mit einem in einer Führung im Einstellring geführten Schieber in einem Längsschnitt durch den Oberbereich einer Pipette.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. Shown in the drawings:

Fig. 1

a pipette in a longitudinal section from the left side;

Fig. 2

the same pipette in a longitudinal section from the right side;

Fig. 3.1 to 3.4

an adjustment mechanism of the same pipette enlarged in a side view from the right side ( Fig. 3.1 ), in a front view ( Fig. 3.2 ), in a side view from the left side ( Fig. 3.3 ) and in a rear view ( Fig. 3.4 );

Fig. 4.1 to 4.4

the same adjustment mechanism switched to a different switching stage, enlarged in a side view from the right side ( Fig. 4.1 ), in a front view ( Fig. 4.2 ), in a side view from the left side ( Fig. 4.3 ) and in a rear view ( Fig. 4.4 );

Fig. 5.1 to 5.3

the pipette when pipetting forward in a perspective view diagonally from above;

Fig. 6.1 to 6.3

the pipette during reverse pipetting in a perspective view diagonally from above;

Fig. 7.1, 7.2

a movable overtravel limiter with a rod-shaped slide guided in the control button in the release position ( Fig. 7.1 ) and in the locked position ( Fig. 7.2 ), each in a perspective view diagonally from above;

Fig. 8.1, 8.2

a movable overtravel limiter with an L-shaped slide guided in the control knob in the release position ( Fig. 8.1 ) and in the locked position ( Fig. 8.2 ), each in a perspective view diagonally from above;

Fig. 9.1, 9.2

a movable overtravel limiter with a panel guided in the housing in the release position ( Fig. 9.1 ) and in the locked position ( Fig. 9.2 ), each in a perspective view diagonally from above,

Fig. 10

a movable overstroke limiter with a slide guided in a guide in the adjusting ring in a longitudinal section through the upper region of a pipette.

In the present application, the information "top" and "bottom", "above" and "below" and terms derived therefrom such as "bottom" and "top" and "horizontal" and "vertical" refer to an orientation of the pipette the seat is located at the bottom of the pipette and is aligned vertically downwards. In this orientation, a pipette tip mounted on the seat can be directed toward a vessel below to draw liquid into and dispense liquid from the pipette tip.

Based on Fig. 1 to 6 Basic features of a manually driven air cushion pipette are explained, which are or can also be present in the air cushion pipette designed according to the invention. A movable overstroke limitation of the pipette according to the invention is in the pipette of Fig. 1 to 6 unavailable. Examples of the different versions of a movable overtravel limiter are given using the Fig. 1 to 10 explained. These versions of a movable overstroke limitation can be used in a pipette according to Fig. 1 to 6 be trained with appropriate adjustments and additions to the design. The Fig. 1 to 6 Although they do not show all the features of an air cushion pipette according to the invention, they do make it easier to understand.

According to Fig. 1 and 2 A pipette 1 has a rod-shaped housing 2 with a lower housing part 3 and an upper housing part 4. The lower housing part 3 has a tubular base body 5 at the top with a conical base, from which a slender tubular, slightly conical extension 6 protrudes downwards, which has a at the lower end Seat 7 for attaching a pipette tip 8. A displacement chamber 9 is formed in the approach 6 in the form of a cylinder, which is connected to an opening 11 in the underside of the seat 7 via a connecting channel 10.

The lower housing part 3 includes a displacement element 12 in the form of a piston of the displacement device, which is guided into the cylinder 11 via a sealing system 13 on the top of the base. The displacement element 12 has a plate 14 at the upper end, which has a dome-shaped depression centrally on the top. A first spring device 15 in the form of a coil spring is arranged between the plate 14 and the top of the base. The first spring device 15 presses the plate 14 from below against a closure cap 16, which is connected to the base body 5 and has a passage in the center through which the plate 14 is accessible from above.

The upper housing part 4 contains a lifting rod 17 which rests on the top of the plate 14. The lower end of the lifting rod 17 engages in the recess of the plate 14.

A control button 18 is fixed to the top of the lifting rod 17 and protrudes outwards from the upper end of the housing 2.

The lifting rod 17 is passed through a central spindle bore 19 of a threaded spindle 20, which is arranged in the upper housing part 4. The threaded spindle 20 has an external thread 21 on the outside, which can be screwed into an internal thread 22 of a lifting body 23, which is held at the bottom on a first support 24 in the upper housing part 4. The lifting body 23 forms a spindle nut.

The lower end face of the threaded spindle 20 is an upper stop 25 for a stop element 26 in the form of an annular bead on the outer circumference of the lifting rod 17.

The threaded spindle 20 is connected at the upper end in a rotationally fixed manner to a driver 27, which engages in axial grooves 29 of a driver sleeve 30 by means of ribs 28 projecting radially outwards. The driving sleeve 30 is arranged concentrically to the threaded spindle 20 and is rotatably mounted on the outer circumference of the lifting body 23. The driver sleeve 30 has a circumferential first toothing 31 at the lower edge on the outer circumference (cf. Fig. 3 , 4 ).

An adjusting sleeve 32 is pushed onto the driver sleeve 30. The adjusting sleeve 32 is rotatably mounted on the outer circumference of the driver sleeve 30 and is guided on the driver sleeve 30 so that it can be moved in the axial direction between two boundaries. The upper end of the adjusting sleeve 32 projects outwards from the upper end of the housing 2. There, the adjusting sleeve 32 has an adjusting ring 33 on the outer circumference, which has a corrugation on the outer circumference.

The adjusting sleeve 32 has a second toothing 34 running around the outer circumference at the lower edge and a third toothing 35 running around the outer circumference a little further up. The first toothing 31 and the second toothing 34 have the same diameter and the same number of teeth. The third toothing 35 has a larger diameter and a larger number of teeth than the second toothing 34.

The second toothing 34 is on the top and the third toothing 35 is closed on the bottom by a disk 36 in between. The underside of the disc 36 forms a lower limit 37 and the top of the disc 36 forms an upper limit 38 for the displacement of the adjusting sleeve 32.

In addition to the driver sleeve 30 and the adjusting sleeve 32, a transmitter shaft 39 is rotatably mounted on the first carrier 24. The transmitter shaft 39 is provided with a fourth toothing 40 at the bottom, a fifth toothing 41 above it and a sixth toothing 42 above it. The fourth toothing 40 and the fifth toothing 41 have the same diameter and the same number of teeth and are combined into a single toothing 43. The sixth toothing 42 is arranged at a distance from the fifth toothing 41. It has a smaller diameter and a smaller number of teeth than the fifth toothing 41.

The transmitter shaft 39 is rotatably mounted at the top in a second carrier 44, which is fixed in the upper housing part 4.

A counter 45 in the form of a roller counter is held between the first carrier 24 and the second carrier 44. A counting roller axis 46 of the roller counter is mounted at the bottom in the first carrier 24 and at the top in the second carrier 44. The second carrier 44 is supported at the top on a projection in the housing. A drive gear 47 is rotatable on an axle on the first carrier 24 stored, which includes two spur gears 48, 49 with different diameters that are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The spur gear 48 with the smaller diameter meshes with the first toothing 31 of the driver sleeve 30 and the spur gear 49 with the larger diameter meshes with a drive pinion 50 on a starting roller of the roller counter.

The number rollers 51 of the counter 45 are visible from the outside of the housing 2 through a window 52 in the upper part of the housing 4, which has a transparent cover 53 (cf. Fig. 2 ).

In the upper housing part 4, a cup-shaped holder 54 is arranged below the lifting body 23. The holder 54 has an external thread 55 which is screwed into an internal thread 56 of a third carrier 57 fastened in the housing 2.

The holder 54 contains a cap-shaped lower stop 58, which is held under a downwardly curved upper edge 59 of the holder 54. An overtravel spring 60 in the form of a helical spring, which is supported on the bottom 61 of the holder 54, presses the lower stop 58 against the upper edge 59. The lifting rod 17 is through central passages of the lower stop 58, through the overtravel spring 60 and a central passage in Bottom 61 of the holder 54 passed through.

The adjusting sleeve 32 is a drive shaft, the driver sleeve 30 is an output shaft and the transmitter shaft 39 is a countershaft of a gearbox 63 designed as a spur gear 62. Switching between the different switching stages is achieved by axially moving the adjusting sleeve 32 into one Fig. 3 shown lower switching position (fine adjustment position) and in an in Fig. 4 shown upper switching position (quick adjustment position). In the fine adjustment position of Fig. 3 the adjustment sleeve 32 is at most up to the contact of the lower limit 37 the top of the fifth toothing 41 is shifted downwards and in the quick adjustment position the adjusting sleeve 32 is moved upwards until the upper limit 38 rests on the underside of the sixth toothing 42. The adjusting sleeve 32 is therefore also a switching device 64 of the manual transmission, with the adjusting ring 33 being a switching element 65 of the switching device 64.

When the adjusting sleeve 32 is turned, the driver sleeve 30 is also rotated in accordance with the switching stage set. With the driver sleeve 30, the threaded spindle 20 is screwed into the internal thread 22 fixed to the housing and the upper stop 25 moves up or down depending on the direction of rotation. This adjusts the distance between the upper stop 25 and the lower stop 58, which determines the dosing volume. The dosing volume set in each case can be read on the counter 45, which is driven by the driver sleeve 30 via the drive gear 47.

At the upper edge area of the upper housing part 4, next to the adjusting sleeve 32, there is an ejector button 66 on a ejector rod 67. The ejector rod 67 runs parallel to the lifting rod 17 through the upper housing part 4. Its lower end is connected to a lateral fastening attachment 68 of an ejector sleeve 69, which is displaceably arranged on the attachment 6.

An ejector spring 70 designed as a helical spring is arranged in the upper housing part 4, which is supported on the one hand in the housing 2 and on the other hand engages the ejector rod 67. The ejector spring 70 pushes the ejector rod 67 upwards so that the ejector sleeve 67 rests on the shoulder 6.

The lower housing part 3 and the upper housing part 4 are connected to one another by a snap connection 71.

Before pipetting, the user can set the desired dosing volume. To do this, he turns the setting ring 33 until the desired dosage volume is displayed by the counter 45. To set the fast switching stage, the user pulls the adjusting sleeve 32 on the adjusting ring 33 from the fine adjustment position Fig. 3 a little further out of the housing 2 into the quick adjustment position.

In the quick adjustment position of Figure 4 the first toothing 31 of the driving sleeve 30 meshes with the fourth toothing 40 of the transmitter shaft 39 and the third toothing 35 of the adjusting sleeve 32 meshes with the sixth toothing 42 of the transmitter shaft 39. As a result, the rotational speed of the adjusting sleeve 32 is translated into a higher rotational speed of the driving sleeve 30, so that the user can quickly adjust the dosage volume close to the dosage volume to be set.

To set the slow switching stage, the user presses the adjusting sleeve 32 deeper into the housing 2 on the adjusting ring 33 up to the fine adjustment position. In this position, the first toothing 31 meshes with the fourth toothing 40 and the second toothing 34 meshes with the fifth toothing 41. This has the consequence that a rotation of the adjusting sleeve 32 at a certain rotational speed results in a rotation of the driver sleeve 30 at a lower speed than in the fast switching stage. In the example, the rotational speed of the adjusting sleeve 32 is equal to the rotational speed of the driver sleeve 30, since the first toothing 31 and the second toothing 34 as well as the fourth toothing 40 and the fifth toothing 41 each have the same number of teeth and diameter.

The user can clamp a pipette tip 8 onto the pipette 1 by pressing the pipette 1 with the seat 7 into the upper opening 72 of the pipette tip 8. To pipet forward, he first presses the control button 18 down so that the stop element 26 is displaced from the upper stop 25 against the lower stop 58. Here, the lifting rod 17 presses the displacement element 12 downwards and the first spring device 15 is prestressed. The user then dips the pipette tip 8 with its lower opening 73 into the sample liquid and relieves the pressure on the control button 18. As a result, the first spring device 15 presses the displacement element 12 and the lifting rod 17 upwards until the stop element 26 rests on the upper stop 25. An amount of liquid corresponding to the set dosing volume is sucked into the pipette tip 8.

To dispense the amount of liquid, the user holds the pipette tip 8 with the lower opening 73 over another vessel and presses the control button 18 down again. After reaching the lower stop 58, he can press the control button 18 even deeper while overcoming the resistance of the overstroke spring 60 in order to eject residual liquid from the pipette tip 8 by an overstroke.

A further amount of liquid can then be pipetted in the same way or the pipette tip 8 can be ejected downwards by pressing the ejector button 66 to change the sample liquid. Here, the ejector sleeve 69 strips the pipette tip 8 from the seat 7. After releasing the ejector button 66, the ejector spring 70 moves the ejector rod 67 back into the starting position shown.

According to Fig. 5 During the previously described forward pipetting for liquid intake, the control button 18 is pressed down so that the Stop element 26 is displaced from the upper stop 25 to the lower stop 58 and air is pressed out of the displacement chamber 9 ( Fig. 5.1 ). The control button 18 is then relieved and slides back until the stop element rests on the upper stop 25 ( Fig. 5.2 ). Here, sample liquid is sucked into a pipette tip 8 clamped onto the seat 7.

The control button 18 is then pressed down again to dispense liquid until the stop element 26 hits the lower stop. With increased force, the control button is pushed further down and the overstroke is carried out ( Fig. 5.3 ). The overtravel is reached when the overtravel spring 60 is compressed to the maximum. Thereafter, there is no longer any sample liquid in the pipette tip 8.

According to Fig. 6 During reverse pipetting, the control button 18 is pressed down to absorb liquid, so that the stop element 26 is displaced from the upper stop 25 to the lower stop 58 and the lower stop 58 carries out the overstroke ( Fig. 6.1 ). Here, air is pressed out of the displacement chamber 9. After the load has been relieved, the control button 18 slides back until the stop element 26 rests on the upper stop 25, whereby liquid is sucked into the pipette tip 8 ( Fig. 6.2 ).

To dispense liquid, the control button 18 is pressed down again so that the stop element 26 is moved from the upper stop 25 to the lower stop 58. The selected dosage volume is dispensed ( Fig. 6.3 ). There is then still remaining liquid in the pipette tip 8. This can be discarded by pressing the control button 18 down with increased force so that the overstroke is carried out.

The pipette from Fig. 1 to 6 can be designed according to the invention in the following manner:
The overstroke system of the pipette formed by the holder 54 with the lower stop 58 and the overstroke spring 60 Fig. 1 to 6 can be designed so that the first overstroke is achieved by maximum compression of the overstroke spring 60. In addition, an adjustable stop can be present, which can be moved via a slide or via a thread in order to limit the downward path of the cap-shaped lower stop 58, so that the stop 58 can only carry out the second overstroke, which is smaller than the first overstroke .

In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 7 the control button 18 has a horizontal guide 74. A rod-shaped slide 75 is inserted into the guide 74 and can be pushed completely into the guide 74 so that it does not protrude beyond the adjusting ring 33 in a release position at the ends of the guide 74. As a result, the control button 18 can be pressed deep into the adjusting ring 33 so that the complete first overstroke (eg 4 mm) is carried out. This is in Fig. 7.1 shown. This setting of the slider 75 is selected when pipetting forward.

The slide 75 can be moved in the guide 74 by pressing against an end face 76 so that in a locked position it partially protrudes laterally beyond the guide 74 to the outside. The laterally protruding part of the slide 75 abuts against the upper edge of the adjusting ring 33 when the control button 18 is pressed down. This limits the downward displacement of the control button 18, so that only a reduced second overstroke (e.g. 1 mm) can be carried out. This is in Fig. 7.2 shown. This setting of the slide 75 is selected for reverse pipetting because this reduces the systematic measurement error.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 differs from the previously described embodiment in that an L-shaped slide 77 with a horizontal leg 78 is inserted into a horizontal guide 74 of the control button 18. A vertical leg 79 of the slider is accessible from above through a vertical channel 80 in the control button 18 in order to displace the slider 77 laterally.

In Fig. 8.1 the slider 77 is shown in a release position in which it does not protrude laterally from the control button 18. As a result, the control button 18 can be pressed completely down during forward pipetting and the first overstroke can be carried out. In Fig. 8.2 the slide 77 is moved to the locking position, in which its horizontal leg 78 partially protrudes laterally from the control button 18, so that the protruding part of the leg 78 hits the adjusting ring 33 when the control button 18 is pressed down, so that only the reduced second one remains during reverse pipetting Overtravel is possible.

The embodiment of Fig. 9 has an aperture-shaped slide 81 behind the ejector button 66, which is guided in a fixed vertical guide 82 in the housing 2. The slide 81 can be moved downwards within the vertical guide 82 for forward pipetting, so that it does not restrict the downward displacement of the control button 18, as in Fig. 9.1 shown. In this release position of the slide 81, the first overstroke can be carried out by pressing the control button 18.

According to Fig. 9.2 For reverse pipetting, the slide 81 in the vertical guide 82 can be moved upwards into a locking position and fixed therein by means of suitable locking means (for example with a toothing). In the locked position of the slide 81, when the control button 18 is pressed down, a circumferential flange 83 hits the upper edge of the slide 81 at its upper edge, whereby a further pressing down of the control button 18 is prevented and only the second overstroke can be carried out.

According to Fig. 10 an L-shaped slide 77 is inserted into a horizontal guide 84 in the adjusting ring 33, the end region of which can be pushed under a shoulder 85 of its horizontal leg 78 of the control button 18. To move the slide 77, it has an operating element in the form of an upwardly projecting vertical leg 79. In the release position, the slide 77 does not reach under the shoulder 85 of the control button 18, so that it can be pressed completely down and the first overstroke can be carried out. In the locking position, the end region of the slide 77 engages under the shoulder 85, so that the control button 18 can only be pressed down to a reduced extent and only the reduced second overstroke can be carried out.

In the exemplary embodiments of Fig. 7 to 10 By moving the slider from the release position to the locking position, the systematic error during reverse pipetting is reduced and the systematic error during forward pipetting is equalized. For forward pipetting, the slide is moved to the release position.

Reference symbol list

1

pipette

2

Housing

3

Lower housing part

4

Upper housing part

5

Basic body

6

Approach

7

Seat

8th

pipette tip

9

displacement chamber

10

connection channel

11

opening

12

Displacement element

13

Sealing system

14

Plate

15

Spring device

16

Cap

17

lifting rod

18

Control button

19

spindle bore

20

threaded spindle

21

External thread

22

inner thread

23

lifting body

24

first carrier

25

top stop

26

stop element

27

taker

28

Ribs

29

grooves

30

Driver sleeve

31

gearing

32

Adjustment sleeve

33

Adjustment ring

34

second gearing

35

third gearing

36

disc

37

lower limit

38

upper limit

39

transmitter shaft

40

fourth gearing

41

fifth gearing

42

sixth gearing

43

gearing

44

second carrier

45

counter

46

Counting roller axis

47

drive gear

48, 49

spur gear

50

drive sprocket

51

Number roll

52

Window

53

cover

54

holder

55

External thread

56

inner thread

57

third carrier

58

bottom stop

59

upper wheel

60

Overtravel spring

61

Floor

62

Spur gear

63

Manual transmission

64

Switching device

65

Switching element

66

Ejector button

67

Ejector rod

68

Fastening approach

69

Ejector sleeve

70

Ejector spring

71

Snap connection

72

top opening

73

lower opening

74

horizontal guidance

75

rod-shaped slider

76

front side

77

L-shaped slider

78

horizontal leg

79

vertical leg

80

channel

81

Aperture-shaped slider

82

fixed vertical guidance

83

flange

84

horizontal guidance

85

Paragraph

Claims (15)

Air cushion pipette comprising • at least one seat (7) for releasably holding a pipette tip (8), • a displacement device comprising a displacement chamber (9) with a displacement element (12) which can be moved therein and which limits a displacement volume within the displacement chamber, • a connecting channel (10) connecting the displacement volume with an opening (11) in the seat (7), • a drive device coupled to the displacement element (12) for displacing the displacement element (12) in the displacement chamber (9), • an upper stop (25), a lower stop (58) and a stop element (26) connected to the drive device for limiting the displacement of the displacement element (12) in the displacement chamber (9), • an overstroke device having the lower stop (58), which is designed and set up so that the stop element (26) displaces the lower stop (58) downwards when the stop element presses against the lower stop with a certain minimum force, the displacement of the lower stop is limited to a first overstroke, • a movable overstroke limiter (75, 77), which in a release position allows the lower stop (58) to be displaced downwards by the first overstroke and in a blocking position limits it to a second overstroke that is shorter than the first overstroke, and • a switching device (76, 79) connected to the overstroke limiter (75, 77) in order to either move the overstroke limiter to the release position for forward pipetting or to the blocked position for reverse pipetting. Air cushion pipette according to claim 1, in which the drive device has an operating button (18) for actuating the drive device. Air cushion pipette according to claim 1 or 2, in which the drive device has a lifting rod (17) which is coupled at the lower end to the displacement element (12), can be moved in the longitudinal direction and has the stop element (26) on the outer circumference, and one which is connected to the upper end of the lifting rod (17 ) connected control button (18) for displacing the displacement element (12) in the displacement chamber (9). Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 3, which has a return spring (15) which loads the drive device in the direction of the stop element (26) resting on the upper stop (25). Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the lifting rod (17) is passed through a central spindle bore (19) of a threaded spindle (20), which is screwably held in a spindle nut and on the lower end face the upper stop (25) for the stop element (26). Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the stop element (26) is at least one projection on the circumference of the lifting rod (17). Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 2 to 6, in which the displaceable overstroke limiter is a slide (75, 77) which is guided in a guide (74) in the control button (18) and in the guide (74) from a release position in which it does not protrude outwards from the control button (18), can be moved into a blocking position that partially protrudes outwards from the control button (18) above a fixed rim of the control button (18) in the axial direction. Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 2 to 6, in which the displaceable overstroke limiter is a slide (77, 81) which is guided in a fixed guide (82, 84) and in the guide from a release position in which it does not extend outwards protrudes from the guide, can be moved into a blocking position that partially protrudes outwards from the guide in the displacement path of the control button (18), the lifting rod (17) or the over-lifting device. Air cushion pipette according to claim 7 or 8, in which the switching device is a control element (76, 79) or tool grip formed on the slide. Air cushion pipette comprising • at least one seat for detachably holding a pipette tip, • a displacement device comprising a displacement chamber with a displacement element that can be moved therein and which limits a displacement volume within the displacement chamber, • a connecting channel connecting the displacement volume with an opening in the seat, • a drive device coupled to the displacement element for displacing the displacement element in the displacement chamber, • wherein the drive device comprises an electric motor and a gearbox coupling the electric motor to the displacement element, • an electronic control device is connected to the electric motor, which controls the electric motor so that in an operating mode for forward pipetting, the displacement element moves from an upper end position to a lower end position, from the lower end position to the upper end position and from the upper end position to a a first overstroke position arranged lower than the lower end position and, in an operating mode for reverse pipetting, the displacement element is moved from the upper end position into a second overstroke position arranged deeper than the lower end position by a second overstroke, which is smaller than the first overstroke , is shifted from the second overstroke position to the upper end position and from the upper end position to the lower end position, and • a switching device connected to the electronic control device in order to selectively set the operating mode for forward pipetting or the operating mode for reverse pipetting. Air cushion pipette according to claim 10, in which the switching device has an electrical switch, button or other input device for setting the operating mode. Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 11, which comprises a housing, a frame, a chassis or another support structure. Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 12, which is a hand pipette, an automatic pipetting device or a pipetting device integrated into a laboratory automatic device. Air cushion pipette according to claim 13, which is a mechanically driven hand pipette, an electrically driven hand pipette or a combined mechanically and electrically driven hand pipette. Air cushion pipette according to one of claims 1 to 14, which is a single-channel pipette or a multi-channel pipette.

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