FI114288B - Motorized pipetting auxiliary equipment - Google Patents

Description

114288

The present invention relates to a motorized pipetting auxiliary device according to claims 1-10, to which a conventional manually operated electric or mechanical dosing pipette can be attached so that it can perform dispensing or other functions programmed for the pipettor manually on a microplate on a plate with the same exterior dimensions.

The most important tools in laboratories are pipettes for dispensing variable volumes of liquid, usually small quantities, with high accuracy. In smaller and larger medical laboratories, for only a few tests, in many cases, samples are dispensed by single-channel pipettes or dispensers to 96,384 wells or other microplates of the same size for photometric, fluorometric or similar analysis. For analysis, 15 wells of wells are dispensed with various reagents, in addition to samples, by hand-operated, electric or mechanical multi-channel pipettors or, in the case of large volumes, automatic dispensers, to achieve the desired '' reaction '.

When hand-dosed with a multichannel pipette into small wells, especially in the 384 format, hitting requires precision and concentration, which, especially with a large number of disks, causes considerable stress to 20 factors and can lead to inaccurate results. Automatic devices made for large test runs, for example, based on hose pumps, are difficult due to long preparation times and after-cleaning times. In addition, they are expensive and sometimes less accurate than pipettes.

»* ... * 25 The apparatus of the invention can make dispensing of small test sets with a multichannel pipette easy for the technician, reduce physical and mental strain, and improve productivity and quality. It is inexpensive in terms of cost because, compared to an automatic dispenser, it only performs electronically controlled manual movement, pipette transfer, and operation of the pipette actuator 30 using electronic actuators. The actual dosing or other programmed function is performed by a multi-channel pipette required in laboratories. The pipettor is easy to attach and detach: from the apparatus of the invention and thus functions as a manually operated and alternately motorized I: automatic tool. The invention may not necessarily require a laboratory! 'Invest in an expensive automatic dispenser.

V 35 '·' · * There are several pipette manufacturers, each with their own pipette designs, which "... * differ in structure and do not conform to a common standard Λ 2 114288 in appearance or appearance. In contrast, the tips, tip distribution and function are almost identical. As a result, there is a need to build a multi-adjustable pipette holder and trigger or a fully customizable 5-size interchangeable pipette holder and trigger for pipette attachment and actuation, but no further adjustments are needed for this additional use. it is possible to attach a fixed or detachable gripping element, such as a magnet, to the pipette holder for attachment to the pipette holder. instead of using an auxiliary electrical connection, which 10 also does not prevent manual operation. If easy to do and convenient, a pipette charging adapter can be attached to the pipette holder so that the pipette battery is always charged with the pipette in the holder. Except for the convertible or replaceable pipette holder and the trigger, the apparatus of the invention is constant in other electrical and mechanical parts.

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The apparatus of the invention is provided with a control part (D) operable by electro-electronic control. In its memory, slightly different control programs required by each pipette type can be stored and / or subsequently transferred. The programs include microplate movements, pipette vertical movements, and trigger functions, as well as 20 speed controls. The actual dosing and other functions of the pipette are controlled by the electronics built into the pipette, with mechanical pipettes according to the mechanical adjustments.

: 'Specifically, the motorized pipetting auxiliary device of the invention is characterized in what is set forth in claims 1-10.

The apparatus of the invention may be assembled from various components within the scope of the claims. The following describes one solution in more detail

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Referring to the accompanying Principle Drawings Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Figures 4 and 5 show a draft of the apparatus of the invention, as shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, which could be made ready for use. One of the pictures is hardware with a pipette and the other is · · without. Fig. 6 shows an apparatus using the structures of Figs. 2 and 3 • ·! other components, but whose structure is also based on the claims.

It has an adapter fitted to the pipette and a microplate: V: 35 toothed belt holder for transferring the pipette to the holder.

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The main parts of the apparatus of the invention are as shown in Figure 1: Vertical part A, which is vertical or slightly inclined and to which the pipette is fixed by means of a pipette holder. Horizontal part B, includes a microplate holder and transfer devices. The liquid filling part C includes a filling spout 26 and a filling apparatus, the Steering part D, includes electrical and electronic parts and can be mounted 5 on the horizontal part or may be separate.

In the drawings 2 and 3, the pipette is shown with no. 1, the pipette tips with no. 2 and the pipette drive switch (triggered) no. 3. The vertical portion A consists of a stand 12 and 13 on which the other parts rest. A pipette is attached to the pipette holder 4 for dispensing. Connecting to pipette holder 4 is a fixed or detachable trigger part 5 for operating the operating switch 3 for manual operation of the pipette. The pipette holder 4 is attached to a carriage 6 of a vertical guide rail 8 with which the pipette moves vertically. The guide rail and its trolley are provided with guide rails 10 and 11. They have sensors connected to the control center by electrically and easily movable sensor mounts. By moving them, the vertical movements of the pipette can be adjusted to suit each pipette type, microplate type, and tip size. The trolley carriage 6 is moved by an electric motor 9 by means of a threaded rod, a toothed belt 7 or the like. If the apparatus of the invention is used to control the operation of mechanical pipettes, a pneumatic cylinder or spindle motor must be added to the wash section for the filling function to perform the movements of the pipette plunger.

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The lid 19 of the housing portion 18 of the horizontal portion B has a plate holder 15 on which to place the microplate to be dispensed. The plate holder is in turn secured to the carriage 16, which in turn is secured to the carriage 20 of the guide rail 22 under the cover 19. The plate holder 15 and; the auxiliary carriage 16 is interconnected such that the plate holder 15 can be displaced with respect to the carriage 16: *, 25 on both sides of the longitudinal path of the plate holder. With this arrangement, microplates of different well spacing can be processed. Example 384 well plate: '·': Can be filled with an eight-channel pipette as the longitudinal path is moved. · · *. 2.25 mm left and right alternately. Alternatively, these displacements may be replaced by equal transverse displacements of the pipette holder in vertical section A. Plate holder,; The transverse displacement 30 is carried out by machine or by hand 7. The longitudinal movement of the carriage 22 "··, of the guide rail 22 is accomplished by the electric motor 21 via a suitable movement member 23" '. Underneath the lid 19 of the housing 18 is placed a replaceable or refillable sump 26 and. control and operating system electrical components.

: 'Adjustable lugs 33 are attached to the end of the housing cover 19 to:': 35 remove the microplate from the plate holder 15 if it is not desired to return to the unloading station P1.

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One 96-well microplate can be dispensed by manually filling the pipette and placing it in the upright pipette holder. In the case of filling multiple plates, a liquid filling part C is used to regulate the liquid level in the filling vessel 26, from which the liquid is drawn between the plates change to the tips of the pipette without removing the pipette 5 from its holder. An additional filling tank can also be performed, if desired, e.g. with a high volume single-channel pipette, dispenser, etc. The filler surface sensor 27 tracks the height of the liquid surface. If the level of the surface drops below the setpoint, the control relay 28 connected to the surface sensor 27 instructs the miniature hose valve 29 to open. The valve hose 30 may be disposable or multiple. Liquid flows through hose 30 from reservoir 32 to refill basin 26. Once the liquid level has reached the setting level, control relay 28 instructs valve 29 to close. - If the pipette is used for emptying, i.e., sucking the bumpy liquid and draining the suctioned liquid into the tank 26, the hose from the filling tank is led down to the waste vessel.

15 The control panel D has controls and controls for the controls, as well as indicator lights for the main functions. Electronics and electrical components are located inside the case.

The mode of operation of the apparatus of the invention is described herein only for dispensing 96-well microplates. The starting point and the unloading points of the microdisks are referred to in Figure 2 as the output L1 and the unloading positions P1 and P2. The microplate, dosed or blank, is placed in the horizontal plate holder 15 at the starting position L1. The following parameters are selected from the control section: a) number of wells of the microplate used: 96 in this case, b): number of disks to be dispensed: in this case continuous dispensing, c) unloading of finished discs: in this case disassembly station P2 volume of fluid and piston stroke velocity (viscosity), e): "'; the type of pipette used (if different from the previous application).

: v. made and, in the case of continuous dosing, also take the filler 26 and the filler part C

. · ·. and fill them with dosing liquid. If necessary, rinse the new tips of the • · * 8 - channel pipette as needed, followed by:. The 30 pipette is adjusted to dispense the desired number of doses, in this case 12 times the desired dose, and the pipette is placed in the vertical pipette holder 4.

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The hardware will boot. The vertical movement of the pipette holder moves the pipette tip to the fill depth 26 ... at the set depth. At the same time, the control unit commands the trigger 5 ... to press the pipette function switch 3 to squeeze the pipette into the set amount.

: Y: 35 At the same time, due to the decreasing liquid level, the filler surface sensor 27 opens the valve 29 and »· replaces the discharged liquid into the filling basin. As the suction occurs, the vertical movement lifts the pipette tips slightly above the liquid surface and removes the tips from the tips

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114288 into the basin with a small amount of liquid (priming) The pipette then moves to the dosing height above the microplate. The plate holder 15 now moves from the starting position L1 towards the pipette and stops when the first row of wells is under the pipette tips. If necessary, the vertical movement moves the pipette tip down by a set amount of 5 (0 - about 10mm) and stops. The control unit now instructs the trigger 5 to depress the operating switch on the pipette. Pipette plungers plunge down and fluid doses hate the wells.

When dispensing is complete, the vertical movement raises the tips. At the same time, the microplate moves forward and stops at the next row of mines. The dosing is done as in the first line. Movements and dispensing are performed 12 times for a 96-well plate in the same formula. After the last row of wells 12 had been filled, if the control program had been selected as the discharge location P1 (origin), the microdisk would return to the origin, but since P2 was selected, the microplate is held in place by the lugs 33 15 until removed by hand or machine. At the end of the cycle, the pipette settles on the surface of the filling vessel and any liquid remaining at the tips is blown into the filling vessel. The pipette rises to the starting height and the equipment is ready to perform a new dosing cycle. Insert a new microplate in the blank plate holder and restart the hardware. The above cycle will be repeated as long as there are enough disks to fill. -If the dispensing capacity of the 20 pipettes is insufficient to deliver 12 doses of the selected dose, adjust the dose to half the dose and dispense twice or programmatically direct the pipette to dispense the full dose 6 times, sometimes to fill the tips and dispense: the remaining 6 wells.

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Claims (10)

1. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting to control electrically driven or mechanical, traditionally manually used metering pipettes, characterized in that the equipment consists of the vertical part (A), which attaches the pipette and controls its functions, the horizontal part (B), which advanced the pre-existing microplate. to the pipette, the filling section (C), which comprises a filling pool (26) with a control and filling equipment, and the control section (D), which comprises the electronic control and the feeding automatic. A motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical part (A) of the equipment comprises a substantially vertical position (12,13) and is transported thereto with a movable carriage (6) for arranging either a all pipette types suitable in common or separately for each pipette type, replaceable interchangeable pipette holders (4), in particular for the coupling of a traditional electric-powered or mechanical multi-channel pipette, which is normally intended for manual use and for dosing or controlling the pipette's other functions in relation to the microplate , * which in turn is transported on the case (18) of the horizontal portion 20 (B) of the horizontal part, substantially longitudinally of the movable plate holder (15) of the case. 3. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-2, characterized in that the pipette holder (4) is made to fit different pipette types and / or that the pipette can be attached to the pipette holder with a special fixed or interchangeable :: 25, which does not prevent manual use of the pipette. »· •» I 4. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the vertical part (A) comprises a fixed or interchangeable trigger (5), which are:: most preferably intended for use with the manual use of the pipette. the operating coupling (3) or alternatively with the electrical connection on •; · The pipette is equipped with such an electrical connection, with which the functions of the pipette: '': can be controlled but which does not prevent manual use of the pipette. «« · ';;; 5. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-4, characterized in that it can be integrated into the pipette an adapter for the pipette's electric battery charger. • »* 9 114288 6. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the path of movement between the pipette tips and the microplate can be controlled in addition to the longitudinal direction also further transverse either manually or mechanically, so that it is possible to treat also plates. whose well pattern 5 (wells) deviates from each other. 7. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-6, characterized in that under the deck (19) of the horizontal part (B) is in the same position with the pipette a filling basin (26), from which the filling or emptying of the tips takes place automatically and the correct amount of liquid in the filling pool is maintained by means of a valve (29) which is controlled by a surface sensor. Alternatively, filling can be done with a suitable manual dosing equipment. 8. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-7, characterized in that the startup and operation of the equipment and control components of the equipment are controlled electronically by means of the control part (D). 9. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-8, characterized in that, by means of the control part (D) of the equipment, plates of different height can also be metered and emptied with the aid of programs and sensors. 10. Motorized auxiliary equipment for pipetting according to claims 1-8, characterized in that the equipment can be used to perform outside dosing as well as further: other suitable functions, which are programmed in the pipette memory circuit .. 25 t <* »I *»> »* I · ·» · t · 1 t I · ♦