DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS FLUID SAMPLING HAVING A VENT

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a continuous fluid sampling device (1), comprising a horizontally arranged fluid sample inlet (2), a vertically arranged longitudinal sampling chamber (5), an air vent (3) and an excess sample outlet (4), all of which are configured relative to each other to allow for the continuous processing, sampling and/or analyzing the fluid sample. The invention also relates to corresponding systems, methods and uses of said device.

Claims

1. A continuous fluid sampling device, comprising: (i) a horizontally arranged sample inlet in flow communication with (ii) a vertically arranged longitudinal sampling chamber with a top opening and air release in flow communication at its bottom end with (iii) an air vent that inclines laterally from the bottom of the sampling chamber to about, above or below the level of the sample inlet, and (iv) an excess sample outlet branching in flow communication from the air vent with the exit of the excess sample outlet positioned at a level above the bottom of the sampling chamber and at or below the level of the sample inlet, wherein: (a) the fluid sample enters the sampling chamber via the sample inlet at a level above the bottom of the sampling chamber, (b) the fluid sample is analyzed or sampled at a level at or below the sample inlet in the sampling chamber, and (c) the fluid sample exits the device via the excess sample outlet.

2. The continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the air vent exits the sampling chamber at about the level of the sample inlet.

3. A continuous fluid processing system comprising: the continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1; and at least one further device selected from the group consisting of a mixing device, an incubation device, and an analytical device.

4. (canceled)

5. The continuous fluid processing system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of: the mixing device comprises a pump, and a mixing chamber; the incubation device is an incubation loop; the analytical device is selected from the group consisting of cell counters, photo spectrometers, microscopes, mass spectrometers, flow cytometry devices, and flow cytometry devices for stained fluid samples; or a combination thereof.

6. (canceled)

7. A method for processing, sampling and/or analyzing fluid samples, the method comprising: (a) providing the continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1, (b) loading a fluid sample via the sample inlet into the sampling chamber of the device, (c) analyzing or sampling the fluid sample at a level at or below the sample inlet in the sampling chamber, and (d) removing excess fluid sample via movement through sample outlet.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid sample of step (b) and a sample processing fluid are both: (aa) retrieved from a respective source, (bb) guided into a mixing chamber, (cc) guided through an incubation loop or a heated incubation loop, and (dd) guided via the sample inlet into the sampling chamber.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid sample is at least one of physically analyzed, chemically analyzed, biologically analyzed, or a combination thereof, in step (c).

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid sample is analyzed in the sampling chamber in step (c).

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sample is removed from the sampling chamber for analysis in step (c).

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the analysis in step (c) is performed with at least one analysis method selected from: photo spectrometry, mass spectrometry, microscopy, cell counting, flow cytometry, flow cytometry for stained fluid samples, or a combination thereof.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid samples are at least one of: continuously processed, continuously sampled, continuously analyzed, or a combination thereof.

14. (canceled)

15. The continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the top opening is configured for sample retrieval.

16. The continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the air vent inclines laterally from the bottom of the sampling chamber to about or below the level of the sample inlet.

17. The continuous fluid sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the device releases excess gas through the top opening, the air vent, or both when the fluid sample is analyzed or samples.

18. The continuous fluid processing system according to claim 5, wherein the pump (10) is a peristaltic pump.

19. The method according to claim 7, wherein step (c) includes releasing gas through the top opening, the air vent, or both.

20. The continuous fluid processing system according to claim 5, wherein the incubation loop is a heated incubation loop.

21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid sample is analyzed in the sampling chamber in step (c) without removal of the sample from the chamber.

22. A method for processing, sampling and/or analyzing fluid samples, the method comprising: (a) providing the continuous fluid processing system according to claim 3, (b) loading a fluid sample via the sample inlet into the sampling chamber of device, (c) analyzing or sampling the fluid sample at a level at or below the inlet in the sampling chamber, and (d) removing excess fluid sample via movement through sample outlet.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein step (c) includes releasing gas through the top opening, the air vent, or both.

24. The method according to claim 10, wherein the fluid sample is analyzed by spectrometric, microscopic analysis, or photo spectrometry.

25. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sample is removed from the sampling chamber for analysis in step (c) via the top opening of the sampling chamber.

26. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sample is removed from the sampling chamber for analysis in step (c) by a needle and suction.

Description

REFERENCE SIGNS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0062]

TABLE-US-00001 (1) Continuous fluid sampling device (2) Sample inlet (3) Air vent (4) Excess sample outlet (5) Sampling chamber (6) Sampling chamber top opening (7) Analytical or processing device (8) Mixing chamber (9) Incubation device/loop (10)  Pump (11)  Waste container (12)  Sample source (13)  Processing fluid source

[0063] FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a continuous fluid sampling device (1) of the present invention. The fluid sampling device (1) comprises a horizontally arranged sample inlet (2) that is in flow communication with a vertically arranged longitudinal sampling chamber (5). The dashed lines represent the cavities within the continuous fluid sampling device (1) and the dash-dotted line represents the vertical axis of fluid sampling device (1) along which, e.g. a suction needle of an analytical device can be inserted into sampling chamber (5). Top opening (6) is configured for optional sample retrieval, e.g. by a suction needle of a flow cytometer, and air release. Top opening (6) is in flow communication at its bottom end with air vent (3) that inclines laterally from the bottom of sampling chamber (5) to about or less than the level of sample inlet (2). The level of the sample fluid is determined by the relative spatial orientation of the sample inlet (2) and the air vent (3). Excess sample outlet (4) branches in flow communication from air vent (3) with the exit of excess sample outlet (4) positioned at a level above the bottom of sampling chamber (1) and below the level of sample inlet (2). The sample outlet (4) may also be configured as a lid or valve to stop a fluid flow, e.g. when interrupting fluid flow. In this preferred embodiment, the fluid sample enters sampling chamber (5) via inlet (2) at a level above the bottom of sampling chamber (1). Subsequently the fluid sample can be analyzed or sampled at a level at or below sample inlet (2) in sampling chamber (5) and, optionally, excess gas can be released through top opening (6) and/or air vent (3). Also or alternatively, if the flow of a fluid sample through sample inlet (2) equals the flow of the fluid sample though sample outlet (4), an additional transfer of sample fluid out of the sampling device (1) through, e.g. open top (6) creates a loss in volume inside the sampling chamber (5) which loss can be compensated by the inflow of air, gas or a fluid through air vent (3). Finally, the fluid sample exits the device via excess sample outlet (4).

[0064] FIG. 2 depicts a preferred embodiment of a continuous fluid processing system of the present invention. A fluid sample can be retrieved from source (12), e.g. a container, and be pumped by a pump (10), preferably a peristaltic pump, together with a sample processing fluid, e.g. a dye, from source (13) into mixing chamber (8). After mixing of the fluids, the pre-processed fluid samples are transferred through incubation loop (9), which can be heated, into sampling chamber (5). Either in sampling chamber (5) or after removing the sample from the chamber, e.g. by a suction needle, analysis or processing device (7) analyzes or further processes the sample. Finally the fluids exit the system into waste container (11).

EXAMPLE 1

[0065] In the following, an exemplary method for continuously processed fluid samples in an exemplary, non-limiting and preferred system according to the present invention is provided for illustrating purposes only. A complete setup for a fully automated, continuous online (i.e. in-situ) flow cytometry experiment included (i) a flow cytometer (7) (Accuri C6, BD, USA; CytoFLEX, Beckman-Coulter, USA; NovoCyte, ACEA Biosciences, USA) including respective software, (ii) an automated sampling, mixing, and temperature controlled incubation unit (8, 9) connected (a) both physically to the sample acquisition needle and via software to the flow cytometer (7), (b) to the sample to be measured (12), and (c) to the relevant substances/chemicals (13) used for sample treatment, and (iii) an optional software suite for batch and/or real-time data analysis. The automation unit comprised (i) a peristaltic pump (10) that operated 3 lines in parallel, (ii) a temperature controlled incubation chamber (9), (iii) a continuous mixing chamber (8), (iv) a thin tube incubation loop, and (v) a fluid sampling device (1) of the present invention into which the flow cytometer needle reached. The peristaltic pump (10) was connected via thin tubes to (a) the sample to be measured, (b) one or multiple containers (13) containing relevant substances/chemicals, e.g. dyes, used for sample treatment/processing, (c) the mixing chamber (8) followed by the incubation loop (9) and the sampling chamber (5), wherein the flow cytometer needle was introduced, and (d) a waste container (11).

[0066] The operating sequence consisted of the following steps: (i) the sample, e.g. drinking water, was continuously retrieved through a respective thin tube via the peristaltic pump (10) from container (12) and directed towards the mixing chamber (8) at about 20 μl min.sup.−1. (ii) Staining solution (preferably SYBR Green, Life Technologies, USA) was continuously drawn from the respective container (13) through the respective thin tube via the peristaltic pump (10) and directed towards the mixing chamber (8) at about 20 μl min.sup.−1. (iii) The two liquids were continuously mixed through stirring and directed into the incubation loop (9) through which the mixture flowed and was thus incubated at the appropriate temperature of about 37° C. for about 10 min. (iv) The mixture then moved through a thin tube (2) into the fluid sampling device (1) of the present invention, where the flow cytometer needle was inserted and where the specific arrangement of drillings ensured that (a) air bubbles can escape, (b) the flow cytometer needle was always submerged, and (c) excess volumes of the mixture were continuously removed by the peristaltic pump (10) and deposited into the waste container (11). (v) The flow cytometer (7) was set to continuous measurement at about 15 μl min.sup.−1.