SUCTION DEVICE FOR PIPETTES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suction device (1) to be used together with a pipette, in particular a Pasteur pipette. The suction device comprises a base element (2) with the bore (2a) for the insertion of a pipette (5), and a body connected to the base element, wherein the interior of the body is hollow, wherein at least the body is made of a flexible material, so that the inner volume of the body (3) is variable. Herein, the base element is formed in a polygonal or elliptic shape, so that the shape of the base element is not round and hence prevents a rolling of the suction device over a lab bench or the like.

Claims

1. A Suction device for the use with a pipette, comprising: a base element provided with a bore for the insertion of a pipette, a body connected to the base element, wherein the interior of the body is hollow, wherein the body is made of a flexible material, so that the inner volume of the body is variable, wherein the base element comprises a polygonal or elliptic shape, and wherein the base element and the body are integrally formed and made of the same material.

2. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the base element has a polygonic shape with at least three edges, or a shape of a star, wherein the base is formed in the center of the polygon or star.

3. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material is an elastomer.

4. The Suction device according to claim 3, wherein the flexible material is a silicone suitable for use in medical applications.

5. The Suction device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material is translucent.

6. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the bore in the base element has a tapered edge.

7. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein ribs are integrally formed with the body.

8. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the body has a rough surface.

9. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a lower body portion, a middle body portion and a top body portion, wherein the lower body portion has a quasi-conical shape and cross-section increasing with the distance from the base portion (2), the middle body portion has a substantially constant cross-section, and/or the top body portion has the shape of an ellipsoid segment.

10. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the outer contours of the base element protrude from the outer contours of the portion of the lower body portion which is connected to the base element.

11. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the suction device has no valve.

12. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the base element is formed as a cap, including at least one of a screw cap or a snap fit cap, respectively adapted to be screwed or fitted with a bottle.

13. A Kit, comprising a suction device according to claim 1, and at least one pipette, in particular a Pasteur pipette, wherein a Pasteur pipette is insertable into the bore of the base element of the suction device.

14. A Kit according to claim 13, further comprising a blister package, wherein the suction device and the at least one pipette are sealed in the blister package.

15. A Vial or bottle, provided with a suction device according to claim 1, and a pipette body.

16. The Suction device according to claim 9, wherein the middle body portion has an oval, elliptic or polygonal cross-section, wherein the base element preferably has a thickness of at least 1 mm and/or of at most 8 mm.

17. The Suction device according to claim 9, wherein the base element has a thickness in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm, wherein the base element and the lower body portion together have a height of 18 to 30 mm.

18. The Suction device according to claim 10, wherein the outer contours of the base element protrude from the outer contours of the body at its largest outer contour.

19. The Kit according to claim 13, further comprising a blister package, wherein the suction device and the at least one pipette are sealed in the blister package.

20. The Suction device according to claim 1, wherein the suction device has no outer opening and/or bore except for the bore for inserting the pipette.

Description

[0061] The disclosure of the following preferred, but non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in detail by reference to the enclosed drawings.

[0062] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a suction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a top view of a suction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, and

[0065] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2.

[0066] FIG. 4A corresponds to FIG. 3A, however with a pipette body inserted into the suction device.

[0067] FIG. 4B corresponds to FIG. 3B, however with a pipette body inserted into the suction device.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a suction device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows is a cross-sectional view of the suction device according to FIG. 5 (i.e. being a second embodiment of the present invention).

[0070] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a suction device 1 (according to a first embodiment of the present invention) comprising a base element 2, which has a square base area and a cuboid shape. A bore 2a is provided in the middle of the base area of the base element 2, wherein the bore has a tapered edge for a better insertability of a pipette body. The base element 2 is integrally formed with a body portion 3, wherein the body portion 3 comprises a lower body portion 3a, a middle body portion 3b and a top body portion 3c. The lower body portion 3a has a quasi-conical shape with a cross-section increasing with the distance from the base portion 2, the middle portion 3b has a substantially constant cross-section, and an oval shape, and the top body portion 3c has the shape of an ellipsoid segment. The base element 2 and all parts of the body 3 are integrally formed of the same material. It is further illustrated by FIG. 1 that the outer contours of the base element 2 protrude from the outer contours of the portion of the lower body portion 3a which in connected to the base element 2. Furthermore, ribs 4 are provided on the body portion 3 on all three portions (lower body portion 3a, middle part 3b and top body portion 3c).

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the suction device 1, wherein only the top body portion 3c and the base element 2 can be seen.

[0072] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the suction device in one direction, wherein the shape of the lower body portion 3a, the middle body portion 3b and the top body portion 3c can exactly be seen. Also the tapering of the bore 2a becomes visible from FIG. 3A. In the present embodiment, the bore is not only tapered, but also has rounded edges.

[0073] FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view in the other direction, wherein all details of FIG. 3A can be seen, but additionally also the ribs 4. These ribs are apparently provided on the longer portion of the oval shape of the body, in order to improve the gripping and the haptic feeling.

[0074] FIG. 4A shows the same view of the suction device 1 as FIG. 3A, however with a pipette body 5 inserted into the suction device 1.

[0075] FIG. 4B shows the same view of the suction device 1 as FIG. 3B, however with a pipette body 5 inserted into the suction device 1.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a suction device 1 (according to a second embodiment of the present invention) comprising a base element 2, which has in its outer contour a square base area and a cuboid shape, the base area hence having a polygonal shape, encompassing the above mentioned advantageous effects . The base element 2 in the second embodiment is in this case a screw cap with an internal thread, also formed in a cuboid shape. The body portion 3 is inserted into the screw cap, wherein the body portion 3 comprises a lower body portion 3a, a middle body portion 3b and a top body portion 3c. The lower body portion 3a has a quasi-conical shape with a cross-section increasing with the distance from the base portion 2, the middle portion 3b has a substantially constant cross-section, and an oval shape, and the top body portion 3c has the shape of an ellipsoid segment. Such suction device 1 according to the second embodiment can be used together with a vial or bottle, preferably a glass vial or bottle.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the suction device 1 (according to a second embodiment of the present invention) as depicted in FIG. 5. Herein, it can be seen that the base element 2, which has a square base area and a cuboid outer shape, further has an internal thread 2b in order to be connected to a thread of a bottle or the like. Hence, the base element 2 is provided as a screw cap in this second embodiment. Any type of pipette body can be inserted into the suction device 1 through the bore 2a.

[0078] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0079] For example, the shape of the base element is not limited to a polygonal, elliptic shape or the shape of a square or star—all other shapes are possible, they only must not be round in order to avoid rolling of the suction device on the table. Also composed shapes are possible, for example a combination of a square and a star, or a square or rectangular shape with rounded edges. The effect is to avoid a capability of the suction device itself, and/or or of the combination of a suction device and a pipette body, to roll away because a non-round shape of the base element.

[0080] Furthermore, it is also possible that the body portion 3 comprises more parts, for example two or three middle body portions with a different shape—the middle part can be varied in order to vary the volume of the suction device.

[0081] Also, the top body portion 3c does not necessarily have to be an ellipsoid segment. It can also be a flat plate, a pyramid or a cone. Also, instead of ribs 4, also hemispherical protrusions can be provided over the whole surface of the body portion 3.

[0082] Furthermore, the base element 2 can be any form of cap, which is connected with the body 3.