GB2502584A

GB2502584A - Mixing pump

Info

Publication number: GB2502584A
Application number: GB1209709.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Trump
Original assignee: Stratec Biomedical AG
Current assignee: Stratec Biomedical AG
Priority date: 2012-05-31
Filing date: 2012-05-31
Publication date: 2013-12-04
Also published as: GB201209709D0

Abstract

A mixing pump for providing a mixture of a first liquid 20 and an at least second liquid 30 comprising a first pump 22 pumping the first liquid 20 along a first tube 21 at a first pump rate, a second pump 32 pumping the second liquid 30 along a second tube 31 at a second pump rate, a gear box 40 connected the first pump and the second pump for adjusting a ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate and a mixing tube 51 which the first tube and the second tube join into for mixing of the liquids. The first and second pumps may be peristaltic pumps. Preferably a single drive drives the first pump, second pump and gear box. A method of providing a mixture of a first liquid and an at least second liquid comprises pumping a first liquid along a first tube, pumping a second liquid along a second tube, mixing the two fluids in a mixing tube which is connected to the first and second tube and adjusting the ratio of the flow of the first and second liquids using a gear box.

Description

IIlJci&deviee for mixing liquids

Field of the Invention

[0001] The field of the nwenton relates to a mixing pump for providing a mixture of a first hqu.d ai.id an at least second liquid.

nd of the invention.

[0002] Automated analyser systems for use in clinical diagnostics and iitè sciences are produced by a number of companies. For example, the Stratec Biomedical AG, Birkcnfeld, Germany. produces a number of devices for specimen handling and detection for use in automated analyser systems and other laboratory instrumentation.

[0003] Existing standard laboratory methods applied in the preparation of mixtures, i.e. solutions, dilutions, or etnu sions, include the manual preparation using graduated cylinders or pipettes.

[0004] Another way of producing mixtures is usin.g pumps. For example, when producing a dilution a concentrate is pouted into a container and weighed. An inteifac.e calculates the volume of diluent required to obtain the desired degree of dilution. The pump then pmnps the eakulated amount of diluetit into the container. The operator is required to place the container at the pump outlet and to remove the prepared dilution manually. This way of diluting concentrates only allows for obtaining quantities of dilution limited by the capacity of the storage container, [0005] Other dilution systems known to date consist of several pumps or combinatloits of pumps and valves delivering concentrate and water into a required mixing container where they mix. Following the mixing step, the ready4o..use mixture is supplied to the system from the container. Ibis setup does not aliow the system to be continuously supplied with diluted liquids.

[0006] Automated analyser systems, which may also he used for diagnostic purposes, need to he equipped with a device that allows for automatic and continuous mixing of liquids, e.g. the dilution of concentrates with water, in order to obtain a readv4ouse solution required for further processing within the system.

[0007] fte present disclosure allows for the continuous provision of the mixture of a first liquid and a. second liquid, in amounts as required by the system. As a consequence, the capacity of storage containers can be drastically reduced. Alternatively a storage device may be redundant and the prepared solution is provided as a ready4o-use solution to be taken directly from a mixing tube.

[000$] The present disclosure renders any manual and crrorprone preparation of mixtures entirely redundant. From a logistical point of view the volumes of liquid to be handled are drastically reduced as the laboratory only needs to be supplied with concentrates. The mixing pump with continuous pump rate as described herein is a smart device offering automatic preparation of nuxtures in automated analyser systems.

[0009] The present disclosure relates to a mixing pump that provides a mixture of a first liquid and an at least second liquid. The disclosure further relates to a mixing pump pumping the first liquid at a first pump rate towards a mixing tube and the at Etast second liquid at a.

second pump rate towards the mixing tube. Both the first pam p rate and the second pump rate are adjustable. The first liquid and the second liquid mix before reaching the storage container.

[0010] More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a. mixing pump having a first peristaltie pump pumping the first liquid and a second peristaltic pump pumping the at least second liquid. The first peristalti.c pump pumps the first liquid through a first tubing at the first pump rate towards the mixing tube and the second peristakic pump pumps the at least second liquid at the second pump rate towards the mixing tube.

[0011] lii an aspect. of the disclosure the first peristaltic pump and the second peristaltic pump are driven by a single drive, In this aspect the first peristaltic pump is directly connected to the. drive, and the second peristaitic pump is connected to the drive through a gear box.

With the help of the gear box the ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate is adjustable. With the hdp of the drive the total pump rate, Le, the sum of the first pump rate and the second pump rate, is adjustaNe.

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a method for providing the mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid. The method comprises a step of providing the first liquid and the second liquid, a step of pumping the first liquid along the first tube at the first pump rate towards the mixing tube, a step of pumping the secor..td liquid, along the second tube at the second pump rate towards the mixing tube, a step of mixing the first liquid and the second liquid before reaching the storage container by joining the first tube and the second tube into a mixing tube, In this method both the first pump rate and the second pump rate are adjusuahie. is

flention [00131 The present disclosure provides a mixing pump for providing a mixture of a first liquid and an at least second: liquid. The mixing pump comprises a first pump pumping the first liquid along a first tube at a first pump rate and a second pump pumping the at least second liquid along a second tube at a second pump rate. The mixing pump further comprises a gear box connecting the first pump and the second pump for adjusting a ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate. The mixing pump fUrther coniprises a mixing tube the first tube and the second tube join into for mixing of the first liquid and the at.east second liquid.

[0014] The first pump may be a peristaltic pump, and the second. pump may be a peristattic pump.

[0015] The mixing pump may comprise containers for the first and the at least second liquid.

connected to the first tube and a second tube, respectively, for providing the first liquid and the at east second. liquid, and a storage container connected to the mixing tube for accommodating the mixthre, [0016] AL least one of the liquids may he a concentrate.

[0017] The first pump, the second pump, tud the gear box may be driven by a single drive.

[0018] A method for providing the mixture of the first liquid and the at least a second liquid is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of pumping the first liquid along the first tube and the at least second liquid ifiong the second tube. The method thither comprises adjusting the ratio of the first pump rate along the first tube and the second pum.p rate along the second tube with the gear box, The method further eamprises mixing the first liquid and the at least O second liquid in the mixing tube by joining the first tube and second tube into the mixing tube.

[0019] In the method the pumping of the first liquid nay be provided by a first peristaitic pump, and the pumping of the at least second liquid may be provided by a. second peristaltic pump.

[0020] The method may further comprise providing the first liquid in a first container and the at east second liqui.d in a second container.

[0021] The method may further comprise accommodating the mixture in the storage container, [0022] A use of the mixing pump for providing the mixture of the first liquid and the at least second liquid is disclosed, Fiure5 [0123] Fig,. I shows a scheme of producing a mjx.turc according to the disclosure.

10024] Fig. 2 shows an exterior view of an aspect of the disclosure.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows an interior view into the gear box.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows a method for providing the mixture of a first liquid and an. at least second.

Euvetion [0027] The invention will now be described on the basis of the drawings. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention, o [0028] Fig. I shows a scheme of producing a mixture 50 according to the disclosure, .A first liquid 20 is pumped by a first pump 22-along a first tube 21 at a first pump rate towards the mixing tube si. An at least second liquid 30 is pumped by a second pump 32 along a second tube 31 at a second pump rate towards the mixing tube 51.

[0029] The first tE.tbe 21 arid the second tube 31 join into a mixing tube si at a connector 55.

The first liquid 2-0 and the at.east second liquid 30 share the mixing tube 51 being pumped towards the mixing tube 5 1 and. thereby mix firming the mixture 50 ready for use. The mixture 50 is pumped i.n the mixing tube 51 at a pump rate substantially equal to the sum of the first pump rate and the second pump rate.

[0030] in one aspect of the disclosure the mixing tube Slis connected to a storage container 52 accommodates the mixture 50. The mixture 50 in the storage container 52 is ready fbr use in the laboratory.

[0031] The first pump 22 and the second pump 32 are connected through a gear box 40. The gear box 40 is suitable for adjusting a ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate, Adjusting the ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate determines relative amounts of the first liquid 20 and the at least second liquid 30 in the composition of the mixture 50.

[0032] A single drive 44 (see Fig. 2) drives the first pump 22 and the second pump 32.

100331 In one aspect of the disclosure the first pump 22 is a first peristaltie-pump 22 and. the second pump 32 is a second peristaltic pump 32. The first peristaltic pump 22 comprises a first rotor for moving the first liquid 20 along the first tube 2!. The first rotor rotates and thereby squashes the first tube. 21 resulting in a pressure pumping the first liquid 20 towards the mixing tube 51. The faster the first rotor otates the higher the pressure pumping the first liquid 20. The second peristal.tic pump 32 comprises a second rotor for moving the first liquid 20 along the first tube 21. The second rotor squashes the second tube 31 itsulting in a pressure pumping the second iquid 30 towards the mixing tube 51, The fhster the second rotor rotates the higher the pressure pumping the second liquid 30.

[0034] The single drive 44 is connected to the first rotor through a first part of a drive shaft (not shown ui Fig. 1) such that the first peristaltic pump 22 pumps when the single drive 44 drives the first rotor through the first part of the drive shaft. A second part of the drive shaft connects the first rotor and the gear box 40 such that gears 41 (see Fig. 3) of the gear box 40 are driven when the first rotor is driven. A third part of the drive shaft connects the gear box and the second rotor such that the second pump 32 pumps when the gears 41. of gear box 40 are driven.

[00351 The single drive 44 is suitable for adjusting the first pump rate. Adjusting the ratio of the first pump rate and the second pump rate through the gear box'-l0 sets the tohd pump rate, i.e. the sum of the flrs pump rate and the second pump rate, if the first pump rate is set by the single drive 44. likewise, adjusting the first pump rate sets the tota pump rate if the ratio of the first pump rate and the second rate is set by the gear box 40.

[0036] The mixing pump 10 thither comprises a pump rate controller (not shown in Fig. 1) for controlling an output power of the single drive 44 such that the storage container 52 does not overflow. The pump rate controller sends a first signal to the single drive 44 setting the output power of the single drive 44, [0037] it is conceivable that the pump rate controller also controls a gear ratio of the gear box 40 such that the composition of the mixture 50 is as desired. The pump ra:te controller woud send a second signal to the gear box 40 setting a gear ratio of the gear box 40.

[0038] The mixing pump 10 further comprises a volume sensor (not shoi in Fig. 1) for measuring the volume of the mixture 50 accommodated in the storage container 52. The volume sensor transmits volume data to the pump rate controller, The pump rate controller processes the volume data and transmits the first signal to the indicating whether a reduction in the output power of the single drive 44 is necessary, or whether the output power of the single drive 44 may remain unchanged or be increased.

[0039] An. exterior view of an aspect of the disclosure is shown in Fig. 2. The mixing pump comprises a motor chamber housing the motor 44, a lifting panel 60 for fixing the pump to a rack, a first pump chamber housing the first peristaltic pump 22, the gear box 40. and a second pump chamber housing the second peristaicic pump 32.

a [0040]. A method for providing the mixture 50 of the first liquid 20 and the at least second liquid 30 is shown in Fig. 3.

[0041] A step 300 comprises providing the first liquid 20 in a first container 24 (see Fig. 1) and the second liquid 30 in a second container 34 (see Fig. 1).

[0042] A step 310 comprises pumping the first liquid 20 along the first tube 21 at the first pump rate towards the mixing tube 51. The first pump 22 pumps the first liquid 20. it is conceivable that the first pump 22 is the first peristaitic pump 22.

[0043] A step 320 comprises pumping the second liquid 30 along the second mhe 31 at the second pinup rate towards the mixing tube 51. The second pump 32 pumps the second liquid 30. It is conceivable that the second pump 32 is the second peristaitic pump 32.

[0044] A stepS 330 comprises adjusting both the first pump rate and the second pump rate.

I'he pump rate controller controls the output power of the drive 44 setting the first pump rate such that the storage container 52 does not overflow, it is conceivable that the pump rate controfler controls the gear ratio of the gear box 40 such that the mixture 50 has a desired composition.

[0045] A step 340 comprises mixing the first liquid 20 and the at least second liquid 30 by joining the first tube 21 and the second tube 21. at the connector 55 into the mixing tube 51.

The fir at liquid 20 and the second liquid 30 share the third tube 52 and mix thercin.

[0046] A step 350 comprises providing the mixture 50 in the storage container 52.

[0047] Whi k various ernhodimems of the present invention have been described above, it should he understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, [0048] ihe various embodiments and aspects of the present invendon are used, for example, in analyser systems and other 1aboraory instruments in the fields of clinical diagnostics.

forensic science and life sciences. H)

List of reference numben Mixing pump First liquid 21 First tube 22 First pump 24 First container Second liquid 3 1 Second tube 32 Second pump 34 Second container Gearbox 4! Gear 44 Drive SO Mixture 1 Mixing tube 52 Storage container Connector Fitting panel 300 Providing the first liquid and the at least second liquid 310 Pumping the first liquid 2 Pumping the at least second liquid 330 Adju sting the first pump rate and the second pump rate 340 Mixing the first liquid and the at least second liquid 350 Providing the mixture çass

Claims

1, A mixing pump.thr providing a mixture of a first liquid and an at least second liquid, comprising a first pump pumping the firsi liquid along a first tube at a first pump rate, a second ptunp pumping the at least second liquid along a second tube at a second pump rate, a gear box connecting the first pump and the second pump for adjusting a ratio of the first pump rate and. the second pump rate, and a mixing tube the first tube and the second tube join into for mixing of the first iquid and the at least second liquid.

2. The mixing pump according to claim 1, wherein the first pump is a peristaltic pump and the second pump is a peristaltic pump.

3. The mixing pump according to claim I or 2, further comurising containers fir the first and the at least second liquid connected to the firsi tube and a second tube, respectively, for providing the first liquid and the at least second. 1iquid anda storage container connected to the mixing tube *for accommodating the mixture.

4. The mixing pump according to claim 1, wherein at least one liquid is a concenLrate,

5. The mixing pump according to any one of the above claims, wherein the first pump.the second pump. and the gear box are driven, by a single drive.

6. A method for providing the mixture of the first liquid and. the at least a second liquid, comprising the steps oIjumpng the first liquid along the first tube and the at least second liqui.d along the second tube. adjusting the ratio of the first pump rate along the first tube and the second pump rate along the second tube with the gear box, mixing the first liquid and the at least second liquid in the mixing tube by joining the first tube and second tube into th.c mixing tube.

7. I'he method according to claim 6, wherein the pumping of the first liquid is provided by a first peristaltic pump, and the pumping of the at least second liquid is provided by a second peristaltic pump.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7. further comprising providing the first liquid in a first container and the at least second liquid in a. second container.

9. The method according to any one of the claims 6 to, further comprising accommodating the mixture in the storage container.

10. Use of the mixing pump according to any of claims I to 5 for providing the mixture of the first liquid and the at least second liquid.