EP4251322A1

EP4251322A1 - Pipette and pipette aid with a two-symbol coding

Info

Publication number: EP4251322A1
Application number: EP21810273.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christoph PHILIPP
Original assignee: Integra Biosciences AG
Current assignee: Integra Biosciences AG
Priority date: 2020-11-24
Filing date: 2021-11-24
Publication date: 2023-10-04
Also published as: CN116583353A; CH718088A1; US20240001357A1; WO2022109756A1; JP2023551419A

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipette with a first opening for receiving and removing a liquid to be dispensed and a second opening which lies opposite the first opening. According to the invention, the pipette comprises a material which causes a wavelength shift between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette and the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the pipette. The invention additionally relates to a pipette aid for receiving a pipette for dispensing a liquid. According to the invention, the pipette aid comprises both a data storage device, in which a database with reference measurement data is stored, as well as two radiation sources and a radiation detector, wherein the two radiation sources emit electromagnetic radiation with different wavelengths, and the radiation detector detects the wavelength of the received electromagnetic radiation.

Description

Pipette and pipette controller with 2-character coding

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pipette according to the preamble of claim 1 and a pipetting aid according to the preamble of claim 10. The invention also relates to a method according to claim 19 and a set according to claim 21.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In daily work in the laboratory, it is common to use a pipette in combination with a pipettor. The task of the pipetting aid is to generate negative or positive pressure, which causes liquid to be taken up into the pipette or liquid to be dispensed from the pipette. Depending on the liquid to be dispensed and the application, pipettes with different dimensions are used. Because the dimension of the pipette influences its dispensing behavior under the same boundary conditions. In this case, the boundary conditions are created by the negative or positive pressure generated in the pipette by the pipetting aid.

The pipetting aid generally has a controller in which, among other things, the pressure or pressure profile to be set in the pipetting aid is stored. A setting device is provided in today's standard pipetting aids for detecting the pressure. The laboratory technician can use this setting device to determine the pressure to be set in the pipetting aid. The size of the pressure depends on the pipette to be used. At the same time, the pressure determines the flow rate of the liquid to be pipetted and thus the duration of the complete pipetting process. The laboratory technician must determine the pressure required in the pipette aid based on a visual assessment of the pipette and communicate this using the input options of the control of the pipette aid. A possible help is the colored marking of the pipettes. The colored marking is usually attached to that end of the pipette by means of which the pipette is arranged on the pipetting aid. The colored marking of the pipettes can provide for a normalization of the pipettes into different pipette types, so that all pipettes of one type have the same colored marking. The laboratory technician can thus know from the color of the pipette which setting is to be made on the pipetting aid. The function of the pipetting aid described above applies to a pipette, which is preferably a serological pipette. In practice, pipettes that have an axially running piston are also used. The pipetting aid of such pipettes does not control the dispensing by a pressure that is created in the pipetting aid. The pipetting aid, on the other hand, has an actuating device which drives the piston located inside the pipette and thus controls the dispensing. It is possible that the piston in the pipette serves to generate a pressure which leads to the dispensing of the liquid. The dimensions of the pipette and the volume to be dispensed must be entered manually using an adjustment device on the pipetting aid. TASK

It is an object of the present invention to propose a pipette which has a marking for automatically determining the type of pipette. Furthermore, a pipetting aid is proposed which is able to automatically recognize the maximum filling volume of a correspondingly designed pipette. The aim is for the pipette aid and pipette to interact with one another and enable reliable and automatic recognition of the pipette by the pipette aid. Another goal is to propose an inexpensive device with which _pipettes with different filling volumes can be reliably recognized by the control of the pipetting aid. A further object of the present invention is to show a simple and reliable method for detecting an object, preferably a laboratory device and/or its accessories. DESCRIPTION

The object is achieved on the one hand with a pipette having the features of patent claim 1 and on the other hand with a pipetting aid having the features of patent claim 10 . The two devices are linked to one another in such a way that the function for solving the above task comes about when the two devices interact with one another. The linking of both devices results from the interaction of the emitted beams of the pipette when it is irradiated and the subsequent detection of these beams by the pipetting aid.

The pipette is preferably a serological pipette for attachment to a pipetting aid with a first opening for receiving and removing a liquid to be dispensed and a second opening opposite the first opening. The pipette has a filling volume between the two openings and a lateral surface surrounds the filling volume.

The pipetting aid for receiving a pipette for dispensing a liquid comprises a receiving device for fixing the pipette to the pipetting aid, an actuating device, the actuation of which leads to the receiving or dispensing of the liquid, a handle for gripping around the pipetting aid, at least one control element arranged on the handle for control the intake and delivery of the liquid, and a controller that is in connection with the operating element and the actuating device.

The technical connection is expressed by the following features of both devices:

- The pipette comprises a material which causes a wavelength shift between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed and emitted by the pipette. - The pipetting aid has a data memory in which a database with reference measurement data is stored. Furthermore, the pipetting aid has two radiation sources and a radiation detector, with the two radiation sources emitting electromagnetic radiation with different wavelengths and the radiation detector detecting the wavelength of the received electromagnetic radiation.

Because of the material that encloses the pipette and causes the shift in wavelength between the absorbed and emitted electromagnetic radiation, the pipette can emit radiation with different wavelengths. For this, the pipette has to be irradiated with two types of electromagnetic radiation, which already have different wavelengths from one another. One of these electromagnetic radiations is preferably in the visible range, while the other electromagnetic radiation is preferably not visible to the human eye. The aim is to recognize the pipette based on the radiation it emits and in particular the resulting shift in the wavelength of this radiation.

The material that causes the wavelength shift of the electromagnetic radiation depends on the type of pipette. Pipettes of the same type or the same diameter and the same volume have at least one thing in common that the material causing the wavelength shift is the same among themselves. The material thus varies from pipette type to pipette type, so that when irradiated with the same electromagnetic radiation, the wavelengths are shifted differently and the pipettes emit different electromagnetic radiation as a result, depending on their pipette type. In the literature, the wavelength shift of electromagnetic radiation between its absorbing and its emitting radiation is known as a Stokes shift. A pipette according to the invention can cause a Stokes shift due to the materials it comprises.

The pipetting aid has a receiving device which fixes the pipette in its position in the pipetting aid. The serial, ie successively occurring loading of the pipette by two radiation sources, which the pipette with one Irradiating radiation of different wavelengths makes the pipette emit two radiations of different wavelengths.

The radiation detector of the pipette controller detects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the pipette. Due to the two radiations with different wavelengths, the radiation detector can generate a 2-character code. With the help of this 2-character code, the pipette type, i.e. the pipette volume, among other things, can be determined. The radiation detector stores the 2-character code in a data memory. The data memory has a database in which each 2-character code is assigned a corresponding pipette type in the form of reference measurement data. By comparing the measurement data from the radiation detector with the data in the database, the pipette type of the pipette in the recording device is clearly determined. This means that all pipette types to be recognized must already be assigned a 2-character code, which results from the sequence of two wavelengths. As already mentioned above, the pipette type can include information about the dimensions of a pipette, such as length or filling volume, among other things. In addition to the two radiation sources and the radiation detector of the pipetting aid, the condition for recognizing a pipette type is to include a material on the pipette that causes a wavelength shift between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed and emitted by the pipette. In other words, the pipette must comprise a material that causes a Stokes shift in the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette. The material causing the wavelength shift is located in that area of the pipette which is up to 30 mm from the second opening.

This area can include the neck of the pipette, which is formed by the section of the lateral surface that is up to 30 mm away from the second opening. If the pipette has a plunger, the portion of the plunger which is up to 30 mm from the second opening also falls within this range. The relevant section of the piston must be determined when the piston is not extended or when the piston is in the same position as when the pipette was installed in the pipetting aid. This means that the material causing the shift in wavelength is at a maximum distance of 30 mm from the second opening of the pipette when the movement of the piston is excluded. Since the Radiation sources and the radiation detector of the pipetting aid will be aimed at a limited area of the pipette, it is sufficient to attach the material causing the wavelength shift at this point.

A reliable measurement using the pipetting aid can be carried out if the distance between the sensors of the pipetting aid and the pipette is as small as possible and the effect of external interference can be greatly reduced. This can be made possible by the pipette having the material causing the wavelength shift in that area which is picked up by the pipetting aid. If the pipette aid accommodates the neck of the pipette, the neck of the pipette is that area of the pipette which has the smallest distance to the pipette aid and therefore, if possible, includes the material causing the wavelength shift. At the same time, such a structure practically rules out possible external influences and falsification of the measurement results. In a preferred embodiment, the neck of a pipette held by the pipetting aid is not visible from the outside.

Further developments and/or advantageous embodiment variants of both the pipette and the pipetting aid are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.

The pipette is preferably designed as a serological pipette. A serological pipette has a maximum filling volume of 100 ml.

The difference in wavelength between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette and emitted is preferably at least 20 nm. With such a minimum shift in wavelength, the occurrence of a wavelength shift can be detected more easily.

The electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette preferably has a wavelength of 100 nm to 3000 nm. This wavelength range covers the range from UV light to infrared and includes both visible and invisible light rays.

In a preferred embodiment, the material causing the wavelength shift is integrated into the material of the pipette. So this is distributed Material over the whole pipette. As a result, the Stokes shift effect occurs anywhere in the pipette.

In a further preferred embodiment, the material causing the wavelength shift is applied as a layer on the pipette. Attaching the material to the pipette offers the possibility of applying the material to the pipette in a second process step after the pipette has been manufactured. The production of the pipette as a semi-finished product can be cheaper in one step. The material can also be attached to selected areas of the pipette, which in turn leads to savings in material consumption. Applying a layer also allows correcting an incorrect selection by abrasively removing the incorrect layer and replacing it with the correct layer.

Advantageously, the material causing the wavelength shift is applied around the entire circumference of the pipette. The pipettes have a rotationally symmetrical shape. The rotational symmetry of the pipette is taken into account by attaching the material around the entire circumference of the pipette. Accordingly, the pipette can be rotated as desired after insertion into the pipetting aid without affecting the function of the pipette. Thus, the work of the laboratory is made easier by the pipette being inserted into the pipetting aid with any rotation in the circumferential direction.

In a further preferred embodiment, the pipette has a neck at the second end, the diameter of the neck being smaller than or equal to the diameter of the lateral surface of the filling volume and the second end of the pipette being that end of the pipette at which the second opening is located. The neck of the pipette preferably has a diameter of 4.5 mm to 8.1 mm. The gradation resulting from the narrower neck depends on the diameter of the pipette. If the diameter of the pipette is already in a range between 4.5 mm and 8.1 mm, the pipette normally does not have a gradation towards the neck, since the neck has the same diameter as the rest of the cylindrical surface of the pipette. Even if no step is provided, that area of the pipette which is spaced from the second opening by up to 30 mm forms the neck of the pipette. the pi pette is attached to a pipette aid via its neck, so that the neck of the pipette can be held by the pipette aid, preferably by means of a force fit.

Advantageously, the material causing the wavelength shift is located at the neck of the pipette. The neck of the pipette is surrounded by the receiving device after the introduction into the pipette animal aid. In a further preferred embodiment, the pipette has a fluorescent material which causes the wavelength of the emitted radiation to shift. A fluorescent material is characterized, among other things, by the fact that the energy level of an electromagnetic radiation incident on the material and absorbed by it is higher than that of the emitted electromagnetic radiation. This can result in a fluorescent material becoming visible to the human eye at all or appearing in a different color due to exposure to electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths.

The fluorescent material can be one of many materials that together form the pipette. Thus, the fluorescent material would be evenly distributed over the entire pipette. Alternatively, the fluorescent material can also be applied to the pipette in the form of a layer.

In a preferred embodiment of the pipetting aid, the first radiation source is designed to emit electromagnetic radiation of a specific first wavelength and the second radiation source is designed to emit light of a specific second different wavelength. For example, the first radiation source can emit light in the visible range, ie light with a wavelength of 380 nm to 780 nm, and the second radiation source can emit electromagnetic radiation in the UV range, ie electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 10 nm to 410 nm or in the infrared range. ie transmit 750 nm to 3000 nm. It is important for the invention that the wavelengths of the radiation emitted are different. The short wavelengths from 10 nm to 410 nm form the range of ultraviolet radiation and the long wavelengths from 750 nm to 3000 nm form the infrared range. Both ultraviolet and infrared rays are imperceptible to the human eye. The light with a wavelength of 380 nm to 780 nm forms the range visible to the human eye. Irradiation of a material that produces a wavelength shift between the absorbed and emitted radiation can move radiation imperceptible to the human eye into the range in which the radiation becomes perceptible to the human eye. For this, the wavelength of ultraviolet radiation must be increased and that of infrared radiation reduced. This is done with a suitable selection of the material that the pipette comprises according to the invention. An increase in wavelength is achieved using a fluorescent material and a reduction in wavelength is achieved using a photon high-conversion _generating material.

The two radiation sources and the radiation detector are advantageously directed towards the recording device. The pipette is fixed in the holder of the pipetting aid. Since the two radiation sources and the radiation detector are used to identify and allocate the pipette, they must have free optical access to the pipette. Therefore, they are intended to face the receiving device. All three elements preferably lie in one line in the circumferential direction, with the radiation detector being surrounded by the two radiation sources. The line on which the three elements come to rest is advantageously perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an installed pipette.

In a further preferred embodiment, the radiation detector is a color sensor. The color sensor can detect the electromagnetic rays in the visible range and convert the information into a digital format. The color sensor should be used when the rays emitted by the pipette are in the visible range and can therefore be detected by the color sensor.

The pipetting aid preferably has a flow sensor which measures the flow of air into and out of the pipette and forwards this value to the control element. In the case of a pipette arranged in a pipetting aid, only air flows through the second opening of the pipette. In contrast, the pipette takes up liquid through its first opening and releases it again through this. The volume of exchange via the first opening must be the same as that via the second opening, regardless of the aggregate state of the medium. That means to For example, the volume of air flowing out of the second opening is the same as the volume of liquid flowing into the pipette through the first opening. Thus, by measuring the volume flow at the second opening of the pipette, the volume flow at the first opening of the pipette is determined at the same time. This applies in both directions, so that when a liquid flows out of the pipette through one opening, air is also taken in through the other opening of the pipette.

The information about the volume flow at the first opening allows the volume of the liquid in the pipette to be calculated at any time. If the dimensions of the pipette are known, the degree to which the pipette is filled can be determined by relating the volume of the liquid in the pipette to the total filling volume of the pipette. By measuring the air flowing into the pipette, conclusions can be drawn about the flow rate of a liquid from the pipette. The integration of this flow rate over time gives the total volume of liquid that has flowed out. Among other things, this enables a previously determined quantity to be dispensed from the pipette several times.

The hydrostatic pressure in the pipette provides information about the height of the liquid and thus about the fill level in the pipette. It can therefore be sufficient to determine the fill level in the pipette to measure the hydrostatic pressure in the pipette. The pipetting aid advantageously has a pressure sensor for measuring the hydrostatic pressure in the pipette. A limit value can be defined for the hydrostatic pressure; if this is exceeded, a pump of the pipetting aid stops working and the pipette therefore no longer takes up any liquid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the control element comprises a first and a second button, with pressing the first button causing a negative pressure to be generated in the pipetting aid and pressing the second button causing this negative pressure to be released or positive pressure to be generated in the pipetting aid . The creation of a negative pressure or its release and the creation of an overpressure have a direct influence on the aspiration or dispersion of the pipette. Dividing the execution of these two functions onto two keys enables the laboratory technician to operate the pipetting aid easily. The calculation of the hydrostatic pressure in the pipette depends on the angle of inclination of the pipette with respect to the direction of gravity. If the longitudinal axis of the pipette is parallel to the direction of gravity, the hydrostatic pressure calculation does not need a correction factor. However, if the longitudinal axis of the pipette should be inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, a correction factor must be taken into account for the calculation of the hydrostatic pressure. The size of this correction factor is in turn dependent on the angle of inclination of the pipette, which can be determined using an acceleration sensor. Preferably, the pipetting aid has an acceleration sensor for determining the angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of the pipetting aid in relation to the direction of attraction.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for detecting the type-specific properties of an object, in particular a laboratory device and/or its accessories, the method comprising the following steps:

sending a first electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in a first range onto the object,

detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the object using a radiation detector,

Storing the wavelengths detected by the radiation detector in a clipboard,

sending a second electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in a second range onto the object,

detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the object using the radiation detector,

Storing the wavelengths detected by the radiation detector on the clipboard,

comparing the wavelengths of the first and second electromagnetic radiation stored in the clipboard with wavelengths stored in a database, and

Determining the type-specific property of the object based on the comparison of the wavelength combinations. The object is intended to have material which causes a wavelength shift between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed and emitted by the object. The method is characterized in that the wavelengths in the first range are between 380 nm and 780 nm and the wavelengths in the second range are between 10 nm and 410 nm or between 750 nm and 3000 nm.

Laboratory equipment means any object suitable for use in a laboratory.

The type-specific properties include information about the object that allows for subdivision and categorization between the individual objects. The objects can be subdivided among one another on the basis of physical and/or chemical properties as well as on the basis of object-specific properties. Examples of physical properties are geometric dimensions such as the nominal volume or mechanical properties such as the density of the material. Object-specific properties are, for example, the revision number of the object, the date of manufacture or the production site. The above information constitutes a non-exhaustive list of type-specific properties.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the method is intended to identify a specific pipette type of a pipette 11 . In this case, the object is formed by a pipette 11 . The pipette type is determined by comparing the combination of wavelengths placed in the clipboard.

Said optional features can be implemented in any combination, provided they are not mutually exclusive. Particularly where preferred ranges are specified, further preferred ranges result from combinations of the minima and maxima specified in the ranges.

Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to schematic diagrams. It shows in a representation that is not true to scale: FIG. 1: a view of three pipettes according to the invention with different volumes;

FIG. 2: a three-dimensional representation of a pipetting aid according to the invention with a pipette and a partially transparent representation for identifying the radiation sources and the radiation detector;

FIG. 3: a cross section of the pipetting aid with the components used therein;

FIG. 4: a schematic view of the signal processing in the pipetting aid;

FIG. 5: a schematic view of a pipetting aid with a pipette which has a piston for controlling the dispensing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, the same reference numbers stand for the same elements or elements with the same function (in different figures). An additional apostrophe can be used to differentiate between elements of the same type or with the same function or with a similar function in a further embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows three pipettes 11, 11′, 11″ with different volumes. Within the scope of the present invention, such pipettes are also referred to as different pipette types.

The pipettes 11, 11', 11" have a cylindrical lateral surface with a conical shape at their first end, which forms the pipette tip 13. At the end opposite the pipette tip 13 is the neck 15 of the pipette, which, depending on the pipette type as a step-like constriction. Since the pipettes 11, 11', 11'' shown in FIG. The diameter of the neck 15 of the pipettes is against about the same. For this reason, the pipettes shown have a different relationship between the diameter of the base body and that of the neck 15 among one another.

A first opening 19 is arranged at the end of the pipette tip 13 . This opening 19 serves to receive and dispense a liquid to be dispensed. A second opening 21 is provided at the end of the neck 15 Publ. The volume between the first Publ opening 19 and the second opening 21 forms the filling volume of the pipette 11 and defines the maximum volume of a liquid that can be accommodated by the pipette 11 . A fluorescent material 17 is provided on the neck 15 of the pipette, which is represented by a hatched area in the figures.

If the pipette does not have a step-like constriction, the area of the lateral surface of the pipette adjoining the second opening 21 forms the neck 15 of such a pipette. This area covers an area of up to 30 mm from the second opening 21.

FIG. 2 shows a pipetting aid 23 to which a pipette 11 is attached. The pipetting aid 23 includes a receiving device 25 which is used to fix a pipette 11 . Furthermore, the pipetting aid 23 comprises a handle 27 with an operating element 29 and a carrier section 26. The carrier section 26 forms the connection between the handle 27 and the receptacle 25.

The handle 27 is dimensioned such that it can be grasped with one hand and the operating element 29 can be used without the aid of a second hand. The operating element 29 comprises two buttons 31. The control of the pipetting aid 23 can thus be divided between the buttons 31 in such a way that pressing the first button 31' causes the liquid to be aspirated into the pipette (aspiration) and pressing the second button 31 In contrast, the liquid is released from the pipette (dispensation). The pipette aid 23 is U-shaped in the embodiment shown in FIG It is also conceivable that the handle 27 together with the carrier section 26, the receiving device 25 and the pipette 11 are arranged axially on the same axis. The receiving device 25 is attached to the support portion 26 of the pipetting aid 23 preference as detachable. The receiving device 25 can thus be detached from the remaining pipetting aid 23 and sterilized or autoclaved separately.

A sensor element 32 is arranged in the carrier section 26, which comprises two radiation sources 33', 33" and a radiation detector 35. The sensor element 32 is arranged in the carrier section 26 in such a way that the radiation sources 33', 33" and the radiation detector 35 are Interior of the receiving device 25 are directed. A part of the recording device 25 is shown transparent in FIG. 2, so that the sensor element 32 can be seen. The sensor element 32 is arranged in relation to the receiving device 25 in such a way that, when a pipette 11 is installed, it comes to lie at the level of the neck 15 of this pipette. In FIG. 2, the neck 15 of the pipette can be seen through the shaded area. As already mentioned above, the hatched area shows that point of the pipette 11 which includes a fluorescent material.

The two radiation sources 33', 33" and the radiation detector 35 are arranged in a line next to one another in the sensor element 32. The radiation detector 35 is in the middle and is surrounded on the sides by the two radiation sources 33', 33". The direction of the line on which the two radiation sources 33', 33'' and the radiation detector 35 lie is chosen such that the axial direction of an installed pipette 11 is perpendicular to this line.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the pipetting aid 23 shown in FIG. When the pipetting aid 23 is divided into a handle 27 , a receiving device 25 and a carrier section 26 , most of the components of the pipetting aid 23 are contained in the handle 27 . The buttons 31 are each arranged on the handle 27 of the pipetting aid 23 via a compression spring. The keys 31 are thus in their respective rest position when they are at maximum deflection with the respective compression spring. In addition, each button 31 is connected to a needle valve 43 each. The needle valve 43 opens or closes when the corresponding button 31 is pressed. The needle valves 43 are arranged within a valve block 44 and are therefore not visible in this illustration. By pressing a button 31', 31" and the subsequent opening of the corresponding needle valve 43, a signal is generated which is sent to the pump 39 via a control unit 37 of the pipetting aid. The pump 39 uses this signal as a start or stop signal . Depending on which buttons 31', 31" are actuated, the needle valves 43 open to create a hose connection between the pipette 11 and the pump 39.

The handle 27 includes a battery 41 at its upper end. The battery 41 provides the energy required for all components in the pipetting aid 23 . For this reason, the battery 41 is connected to the control unit 37, the pump 39 and the sensor element 32, among other things, via a respective line (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the hose connections 47, 49, 51 and lines between the individual components of the pipetting aid 23. The pipette 11 is connected to the needle valves 43 via a first hose connection 47 . A second hose connection 49 to the pump 39 is also provided from the needle valves 43 . Depending on the position of the needle valve 43, the pump 39 conveys air to the pipette 11 or out of the pipette 11. The position of the needle valve 43 and the function of the pump 39 lead to the intake or delivery of a liquid into or out of the pipette 11. The position of the needle valve 43 is in turn dependent on the actuation of the buttons 31 in the operating element 29, as already mentioned above.

A third hose connection 51 between the pump 39 and the pipette 11 serves to bypass the needle valves 43 (bypass). A control valve 45 is attached to this hose connection 51 . The control valve 45 is in the closed state when one of the needle valves 43 is opened. The opening of the control valve 45 triggers a task from the liquid from the pipette 11 from. The control valve 45 receives the command to open or close from the control unit 37. Pressing a button 31 in the operating element 29 generates the signal for this command. This button 31 can be one of the two buttons 31', 31" driving the needle valves, or an additional third button 31'". The signal, which is sent from the control unit 37 to the control valve 45, ensures that the control valve 45 remains open for a limited period of time, even if the respective button remains actuated for a longer period of time. The sequential application of the timed opening of the control valve 45 allows a repetitive dispensing of a constant amount. A flow sensor 53 is arranged on the first hose connection 47 . The flow sensor 53 includes a differential pressure sensor for measuring the flow in the hose connection 47 using the pressure difference across the sensor. At the same time, a pressure sensor 55 is arranged on the first hose connection 47, which measures the hydrostatic pressure in the pipette 11. A humidity sensor 54 measures the amount of liquid in the air flowing through the hose connection 47 . All three sensors are each connected to the control unit 37 via a line, via which they transmit the information from their measurement to the control unit 37 . The control unit 37 has a data memory 38 . All of the information supplied by the sensors is stored there. An acceleration sensor 57 is provided in the pipetting aid 23 and is used to determine the angle of inclination of the pipette 11 .

FIG. 5 shows another type of pipetting aid 23 with a pipette 11 which has an axially displaceable piston 59 . The piston 59 in the pipette 11 serves to generate a negative or positive pressure in the pipette 11, as a result of which a liquid is taken up into the pipette 11 or dispensed from the pipette 11. The pipette 11 has a cover 61 at its second opening 21 . The cover 61 is slipped over the edge of the second opening 21 . In its center the cover has a hole through which the piston rod 63 is passed. The pipette 11 shown in FIG.

The pipetting aid 23 in FIG. 5 has an actuating device 39 which causes the piston 59 of the pipette 11 to move. For this purpose, with an installed pipette 11 in the pipetting aid 23, the piston rod 63 must be connected at its free end to the actuation device 39 of the pipetting aid 23. Since both the recording and the dispensing of a liquid in the pipette 11 are made by the Kol ben 59, the pipetting aid 23 does not need to have a pump in order to generate negative or positive pressure. For the pipetting aid 23 for a pipette 11 shown in FIG. 5, there is no need for a hose connection and needle valves attached thereto. The operating element 29 is connected to the control unit 37 which, when the operating element is actuated, receives a signal and forwards a corresponding signal to the actuating device 39 . For the pipette 11 shown in FIG. 5, both the cover 61 and the piston 59 form a further area of the pipette which can comprise a material which causes a shift in the wavelengths between the absorbed and emitted electromagnetic radiation. In contrast to the pipette 11 from FIG. 1 with a pneumatic control of the dispensing, the pipette 11 from FIG. 5 has a mechanical control of the dispensing due to an integrated piston.

Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and/or application examples of the invention.

FURTHER EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The figures show an exemplary embodiment of a pipette according to the invention and a _pipetting aid according to the invention, which interact with one another and achieve an advantageous technical effect. The same advantageous effect can also be achieved if, instead of a fluorescent material, the pipette comprises a material which triggers photon upconversion. The pipette can thus emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible range when it is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range. Instead of a positive Stokes shift as in the case of fluorescence, use is made in such an application of a negative Stokes shift, in that the wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the pipette are shorter than the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by it.

In the context of the present invention, a “material that causes a wavelength shift between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed and emitted by the pipette” is understood to mean organic or inorganic molecules or elements that have the corresponding property. Organic molecules that can cause photon upconversion are typically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Inorganic materials that can cause photon upconversion are mainly ions those elements which are in the block structure of the periodic table of the elements in the d or f block. For a non-exhaustive list of such ions, Ln3+, Ti2+, Ni2+, Mo3+, Re4+ and Os4+ are mentioned here as examples. These molecules can be integrated into the pipette material. This is achieved if the molecules or elements are mixed with the plastic material, for example in the extruder, during pipette manufacture. Alternatively, the molecules can be added to a matrix and applied as a paint, respectively. Coating applied.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE

The advantage of recognizing the pipette by the pipetting aid is shown, for example, in the fact that the filling volume of the pipette is directly determined by the pipetting aid.

Among other things, this advantage enables the following three functions of the pipetting aid to be used:

Overfill protection function

The pipetting aid has a flow sensor which measures the volumetric flow of the fluid in the hose connection. Since the fluid in the hose connection does not experience any major compression or change in its density, the volumetric flow of the fluid in the hose connection can be set approximately equal to the volumetric flow of the liquid in the pipette. This means that the volume of the fluid that is conveyed by the pump in the hose connection is approximately the same as the volume of the liquid that is taken up in the pipette. For any corrections

To carry out the volume flow of the fuft, additional sensors for moisture measurement, for determining the angle of inclination, measurement of the hydrostatic pressure, etc. can be present in the pipetting aid. By integrating the measured volume flow, the total amount of liquid delivered can be deduced. This amount must not exceed a predetermined filling amount of the pipette.

The filling quantity of the pipette depends on its volume. When the pipette is recognized by the pipette controller, the pipette controller receives information about the filling volume of the pipette. Because of this, the pipette controller cannot aspirate a liquid stop the liquid entering the pipette when the filling volume is reached. This makes it impossible to overfill the pipette and the laboratory technician can fill up the pipette without having to constantly monitor it.

Pressure adjustment in the pipette controller

Another advantage of the pipette being recognized by the pipette controller is the adjustment of the pressure in the pipette controller. The pressure in the pipette controller influences the pipetting speed. The higher the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure in the pipetting sleeve, the greater the pipetting speed. Since the dimensions of the pipettes differ greatly, a high pipetting speed with a small pipette can lead to inaccurate operation. Because in such a situation, the laboratory technician must be able to react to the rapid change in the small pipette in good time, which is difficult with a high pipette speed. For this reason, the pipetting aid can adjust the pressure in the pipetting aid on the pipette so that the pipetting speed is within a range that is comfortable for the laboratory technician.

Repeating output:

The pipette is used to take up and dispense a liquid. The even dispensing of the liquid in small quantities is often desired. For this purpose, the pipetting aid can have a function that allows a predetermined amount to be dispensed. For repeated dispensing of the same quantity, this function can be triggered several times in a row. The amount of liquid must or can be adjusted by the user. A hose connection is provided in the pipetting device for use with repeated delivery, which bridges the needle valves. A control valve is attached to this hose connection. The opening of the control valve causes a reduction in the vacuum in the tubing connection, which in turn, together with the operation of the pump, results in the delivery of the liquid in the pipette. The amount of liquid released by the pipette corresponds to the amount of air that flows into the pipette through the hose connection. This air flow is determined simultaneously using the flow sensor. The integration of the flow rate yields as already above mentioned the total amount funded. When the amount to be dispensed has been reached, the control valve is automatically closed by the pipetting aid and the dispensing of the liquid in the pipette is stopped. The control valve can then be opened again for the next dispensing and closed again after the quantity to be dispensed has been dispensed. The user decides when to open the control valve. For this, another button can be provided in the operating element, which opens the control valve when it is pressed. It is also conceivable that one of the two buttons in the operating element, which control the needle valves, can be modified during operation in such a way that pressing a modified button causes the control valve to open. The key can be modified, for example, by rotating it around its cylinder axis.

While specific embodiments have been described above, it is obvious that different combinations of the possible embodiments shown can be used, insofar as the possible embodiments are not mutually exclusive.

REFERENCE LIST:

11 dropper

13 Pipette tip (conical narrowing)

15 Sudden constriction

17 Fluorescent material

19 First opening of the pipette

21 Second opening of the pipette

23 pipette controller

25 recording device

26 Beam Section 27 Handle 29 Control

31 button

32 sensor element

33 radiation source 35 radiation detector

37 control unit

38 data storage

39 control device / pump 41 battery

43 needle valve

44 valve block

45 Control valve 47 First hose connection 49 Second hose connection Third hose connection

flow sensor

humidity sensor

pressure sensor

accelerometer

Pistons

lid

piston rod

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Pipette (11), preferably for use with a pipetting aid (23), with a first opening (19) for receiving and removing a liquid to be dispensed and a second opening (21) opposite the first opening, the pipette (11 ) between the two openings (19,21) has a filling volume and a lateral surface surrounds the filling volume, characterized in that the pipette (11) comprises a material (17) which absorbs a wavelength shift between that of the pipette (11). and emitted electromagnetic radiation, and that the material (17) causing the wavelength shift is arranged in that area of the pipette which is up to 30 mm away from the second opening.

2. Pipette (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that the difference in wavelength between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette (11) and emitted is at least 20 nm.

3. Pipette (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the pipette (11) has a wavelength of 100 nm to 3000 nm.

4. Pipette (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material (17) causing the shift in wavelength is integrated into the material of the pipette (11).

5. Pipette (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material (17) causing the wavelength shift is applied as a layer on the pipette (11).

6. Pipette (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the material (17) causing the wavelength shift is applied around the entire circumference of the pipette.

7. Pipette (11) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pipette (11) has a neck (15) at that end at which the second opening (21) is located, the diameter of the Neck is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the lateral surface of the filling volume.

8. Pipette (11) according to claim 7, characterized in that the material (17) causing the wavelength shift is arranged on the neck (15) of the pipette (11).

9. Pipette (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pipette (11) comprises a fluorescent material (17) which causes the shift in wavelength of the emitted radiation.

10. Pipetting aid (23) for receiving a pipette (11) for dispensing a liquid comprising;

- A receiving device (25) for fixing the pipette (11) to the pipetting aid (23),

- an actuating device (39), the actuation of which leads to the aspiration or dispensing of the liquid,

- a handle (27) for grasping the pipetting aid (23),

- at least one operating element (29) arranged on the handle (27) for controlling the intake and dispensing of the liquid,

- a control unit (37) which is connected to the operating element (29) and the actuating device (39), characterized in that

- that the pipetting aid (23) comprises a data memory (38) in which a database with reference measurement data is stored and

- The pipetting aid (23) has two radiation sources (33) and a radiation detector (35), the two radiation sources (33) being electromagnetic radiation Emit treatment with different wavelengths and the radiation detector (35) detects the wavelength of the received electromagnetic radiation.

11. Pipetting aid (23) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first radiation source is designed to emit electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 380 nm to 780 nm and the second radiation source is designed to emit electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 10 nm to 410 nm or 750 nm to 3000 nm.

12. Pipetting aid (23) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the two radiation sources (33) and the radiation detector (35) in the pipetting aid (23) are directed towards the receiving device (25).

13. pipetting aid (23) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the radiation detector (35) is a color sensor.

14. Pipetting aid (23) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the actuating device (39) comprises a pump and this serves to generate a pressure in the pipetting aid (23) for receiving and dispensing the liquid.

15. Pipetting aid (23) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the pipetting aid (23) has a flow sensor (53) which measures the flow of air into and out of the pipette (11) and forwards this value to the control unit (37).

16. Pipetting aid (23) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the pipetting aid (23) has a pressure sensor (55) for measuring the hydrostatic pressure in the pipette (11).

17. pipetting aid (23) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the operating element (29) comprises a first and a second button (31 ', 31 "), wherein pressing the first button (3G) the generation of a Negative pressure in the pipetting aid (23) causes and pressing the second button (31 "). Resolution of this negative pressure or the generation of an overpressure in the pipette tool (23) causes.

18. Pipetting aid (23) according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the pipetting aid (23) has an acceleration sensor (57) for determining the angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of the pipetting aid (23) in relation to the direction of the attraction force.

19. Method for identifying a type-specific property of an object, in particular a laboratory device and/or its accessories, using the following steps:

- sending a first electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in a first range onto the object,

- detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the object using a radiation detector (35),

- Storing the wavelengths detected by the radiation detector (35) in a clipboard,

- sending a second electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in a second range onto the object,

- detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the object using the radiation detector (35),

- Storing the wavelengths detected by the radiation detector (35) in the clipboard,

- comparing the wavelengths of the first and second electromagnetic radiation stored in the clipboard with wavelengths stored in a database (38),

- Determining the type-specific property of the object based on the comparison of the wavelength combinations, characterized in that the object comprises a material (17) which causes a shift in the wavelengths between the electromagnetic radiation absorbed and emitted by the object, and that the wavelengths in the first range are between 380 nm and 780 nm and the wavelengths in the second range are between 10 nm and 410 nm or between 750 nm and 3000 nm.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the object is a pipette (11) and the method is intended to identify a specific type of pipette.

21. Set with a pipette according to one of claims 1 to 9 and a pipetting aid according to one of claims 10 to 18.