Laboratory instrument base plate

Abstract

A laboratory instrument comprising a single base plate is presented. The single base plate comprises at least one embedded consumable compartment, an embedded sample processing compartment, an embedded waste compartment, an embedded activation device compartment, an embedded rack receiving compartment, or a combination thereof. A laboratory system and a method adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory instrument or laboratory system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A laboratory instrument (10), comprising: a single base plate (12), wherein the single base plate comprises at least one embedded compartment (14), wherein the at least one embedded compartment (14) comprises at least two side walls (34), which encompass an inner volume (35), a bottom (36), and an open top (38), wherein the at least two side walls (34) are opposite each other or adjacent each other, wherein at least one of said embedded compartment (14) is selected from a group consisting of: an embedded consumable compartment (16), an embedded sample processing compartment (18), an embedded waste compartment (20), an embedded activation device compartment (22), and an embedded rack receiving compartment (24), or a combination thereof; and at least one electrically conductive element (48), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element is mounted on the single base plate (12), wherein the electrically conductive element comprises at least one reference structure (50), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (48) comprises one or more electrically conductive sheets (49), wherein at least one of the one or more electrically conductive sheets comprises at least one through-hole (52), wherein the at least one through-hole (52) is aligned with the open top (38) of at least one embedded compartment (14), and wherein the at least one through-hole (52) is the at least one reference structure (50).

2. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, wherein the single base plate (12) is made of a thermoplastic or duroplastic polymer.

3. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, wherein the single base plate (12) is an injection molding plate.

4. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, wherein the at least one embedded compartment (14) comprises rounded corners (30) or rounded edges (32), or a combination thereof.

5. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, wherein the single base plate (12) further comprises at least one embedded support element, wherein the at least one of said embedded support element is selected from a group consisting of: a cable channel (40), an air channel (42), a display frame (44), an identification device or sensor holder, an instrument interlock module (46), and a latch-fit or snap-latch, or a combination thereof.

6. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrically conductive sheets (49) are mounted on the single base plate (12) with one or more screws (56).

7. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 6, wherein the one or more screws (56) are shoulder screws, and wherein the one or more electrically conductive sheets (49) are additionally mounted with at least one fixed-point (58) on the single base plate (12).

8. The laboratory instrument (10) of claim 1, further comprising: at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device, wherein the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device comprises at least one reference structure detection device (62); and at least one transfer system (64), wherein the at least one transfer system is connected to the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device, wherein the at least one transfer system is constructed to move the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device in the three-dimensional directions within the laboratory instrument (10).

9. The laboratory instrument of claim 8, further comprising a control device (76) for controlling the movements of the at least one transfer system.

10. A laboratory system comprising the laboratory instrument in any one of claims 1-8; and at least one consumable (66) or at least one sample processing device (68) or at least one rack (70), or a combination thereof.

11. The laboratory system of claim 10, further comprising a control device (76) for controlling the movements of the at least one transfer system.

12. A method for adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory instrument of claim 9, comprising the following steps: (a) enabling the at least one transfer system (64) to move the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device towards the at least one reference structure (50); (b) enabling the at least one reference structure detection device (62) of the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device to detect the at least one reference structure (50), wherein the at least one reference structure detection device (62) generates at least one signal upon detection of the at least one reference structure (50) and sends the at least one signal to the control device (76); (c) enabling the control device (76) to receive the at least one signal from the at least one reference structure detection device (62) and to determine position information of the at least one reference structure (50) based on the received at least one signal; (d) enabling the control device (76) to compare the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) with predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50); (e) enabling the control device (76) to determine and store a deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50); and (f) enabling the control device to adjust the positioning of the at least one pipetting device or handling device of the laboratory instrument according to the determined and stored deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure.

13. A method for adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory system of claim 11, wherein the laboratory system comprises a laboratory instrument of claim 8, and at least one consumable (66) or at least one sample processing device (68) or at least one rack (70), or a combination thereof, comprising the following steps: (a) enabling the at least one transfer system (64) to move the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device towards the at least one reference structure (50); (b) enabling the at least one reference structure detection device (62) of the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device to detect the at least one reference structure (50), wherein the at least one reference structure detection device (62) generates at least one signal upon detection of the at least one reference structure (50) and sends the at least one signal to the control device (76); (c) enabling the control device (76) to receive the at least one signal from the at least one reference structure detection device (62) and to determine position information of the at least one reference structure (50) based on the received at least one signal; (d) enabling the control device (76) to compare the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) with predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50); (e) enabling the control device (76) to determine and store a deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50); and (f) enabling the control device to adjust the positioning of the at least one pipetting device or handling device of the laboratory system according to the determined and stored deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the laboratory instrument as described herein.

(2) FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C show an electrically conductive element, a single base plate, and the electrically conductive element mounted on the single base plate as described herein. FIG. 2A shows an electrically conductive element in isolated view, FIG. 2B shows a single base plate of the laboratory instrument in an isolated view, and FIG. 2C shows that the single base plate of the laboratory instrument on which the electrically conductive element is mounted.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the single base plate and the electrically conductive element as described herein.

(4) FIG. 4 provides a top view of the single base plate and the electrically conductive element as described herein.

(5) FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of the laboratory system as described herein.

(6) FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B depict flowcharts of the method for adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(7) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the laboratory instrument (10) as described herein. As illustrated, the laboratory instrument (10) comprises a single base plate (12). The single base plate (12) comprises embedded compartments (14) which are further specified in FIG. 2. The laboratory instrument (10) has also a housing (26) comprising a frame (28). It is to be noted that the hood of the laboratory instrument (10) is omitted in FIG. 1 in order to improve the visibility of the interior of the laboratory instrument. The single base plate (12) is mounted on the frame (28) within the laboratory instrument (10). As further shown in FIG. 1, the laboratory instrument comprises a pipetting device (60) equipped with one reference structure detection device (62). In the shown embodiment, the reference structure detection device (62) is a conductive pipette tip. The laboratory instrument (10) has also a transfer system (64) which is connected to the pipetting device (60). In the shown embodiment, the laboratory instrument (10) further comprises a control device (76) for controlling the movements of the transfer system (64). As schematically illustrated, the laboratory instrument has a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system comprising a x direction, y direction, and z direction. The transfer system (64) is constructed to move the pipetting device (60) in the three-dimensional directions x, y, and z within the laboratory instrument. In the shown embodiment, the laboratory instrument further comprises an electrically conductive element (48) consisting of two electrically conductive sheets (49) which are mounted on the single base plate (12).

(8) FIG. 2B shows the single base plate (12) of the laboratory instrument in an isolated view, FIG. 2A shows an electrically conductive element (48) in an isolated view, and FIG. 2C shows the single base plate (12) of the laboratory instrument on which the electrically conductive element (48) is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2B the single base plate (12) which consists of a single piece comprises five embedded consumable compartments (16), two embedded sample processing compartments (18), an embedded waste compartment (20), an embedded activation device compartment (22), and one embedded rack receiving compartment (24). The single base plate (12) further comprises integrated support elements such as a cable channel (40), an air channel (42), a display frame (44), and an instrument interlock module (46). FIG. 2A shows an electrically conductive element (48) consisting of two electrically conductive sheets (49) provided with through-holes (52). In the shown embodiment, at least one of the through-holes (52) is a reference structure (50). However, the other through-holes (52) can also be used as additional reference structures if required. As depicted in FIG. 2C the two electrically conductive sheets (49) can be mounted on the single base plate (12), wherein the through-holes (52) of the electrically conductive sheets (49) are aligned with the open tops (38) of the embedded consumable compartments (16), embedded sample processing compartments (18), embedded waste compartment (20), and embedded activation device compartment (22) of the single base plate (12). As further shown, an activation device (47) is accommodated in the embedded activation device compartment (22).

(9) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the single base plate (12), embedded compartment (14) and electrically conductive sheet (49). The shown embedded compartment (14) comprises side walls (34), a closed bottom (36), and an open top (38) which encompass an inner volume (35) of the embedded compartment (14). As further shown the embedded compartment (14) comprises rounded corners (30) and rounded edges (32). The electrically conductive sheet (49) is mounted on the single base plate (12) with screws (56). In the shown embodiment, the screws (56) for mounting the electrically conductive sheet is a shoulder screw for a floating mounting of the electrically conductive sheet (49) on the single base plate (12).

(10) FIG. 4 provides a top view of the single base plate (12) and the electrically conductive sheets (49) which are mounted on the single base plate with shoulder screws (56) and fixed points (58). As shown in FIG. 4, the electrically conductive sheets (49) comprise snap-latches (54) located adjacent to the through-holes which are aligned with the open tops of the embedded consumable compartments (16) and embedded waste compartment (20) for clipping the consumables and waste containers. The shown rack receiving compartment (24) has a sliding surface (72) which comprises three rack guiding elements (74). The three guiding elements divide the sliding surface (72) in two lanes so that sample vessel racks as well as reagent container racks can be slidably moved between the front end and a rear end of the rack receiving compartment (24) in order to load/unload sample vessel racks and reagent container racks into the same embedded rack receiving compartment (24).

(11) FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of the laboratory system (65) as described herein. The shown laboratory system (65) comprises a laboratory instrument (10) with a consumable (66) in form of a pipette tip rack. The shown laboratory system (65) further comprises sample processing devices (68) in form of three separation and heating devices and one cooling device. The shown laboratory system (65) further comprises one sample vessel rack (69) and one reagent container rack (70) which are in the embedded rack receiving compartment (24). Furthermore, the shown laboratory system (65) comprises also a waste rack (71) in form of a tip waste rack for disposing used pipette tips. To control the movement of the transfer system, the laboratory system comprises a control device (76).

(12) FIG. 6A shows a flowchart of the method for adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory instrument or laboratory system. Before the method is initiated, the operator has to make sure that no consumables (66), waste racks (71), sample vessel racks (69) or reagent container racks (70) prevent the accessibility to the at least one reference structure (50). In step a) (78) of the method the at least one transfer system (64) moves the pipetting device (60) or handling device towards the at least one reference structure (50). In step b) (80) of the method the at least one reference structure detection device (62) of the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device detects the at least one reference structure (50) and the at least one reference structure detection device (62) generates at least one signal upon detection of the at least one reference structure (50). And the at least one signal is send to the control device (76). In step c) (82) of the method the control device (76) receives the at least one signal from the at least one reference structure detection device (62) and determines position information of the at least one reference structure (50) based on the received at least one signal. Afterwards, the control device (76) compares the determined position information of the at least reference structure (50) with predefined position information of the least one reference structure (50) in step d) (84) of the method. In step e) (86) of the method the control device (76) determines and stores the deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50). According to the determined and stored deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50), the control device adjusts the positioning of the at least one pipetting device (60) or handling device in step f) (88) of the method. As shown in FIG. 6B, one embodiment of the method can comprise two additional steps (90, 92). In the first additional step (90) which is conducted after step e) (86) of the method, the control device (76) determines if the determined deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure (50) is within a predefined deviation range. If the determined deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure is within the predefined deviation range step f) (88) of the method is conducted. And if the determined deviation between the determined position information of the at least one reference structure and the predefined position information of the at least one reference structure is not within the predefined deviation range an alert is triggered in the second additional step (92).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(13) 10 laboratory instrument

(14) 12 single base plate

(15) 14 embedded compartment

(16) 16 embedded consumable compartment

(17) 18 embedded sample processing compartment

(18) 20 embedded waste compartment

(19) 22 embedded activation device compartment

(20) 24 embedded rack receiving compartment

(21) 26 housing

(22) 28 frame

(23) 30 rounded corner

(24) 32 rounded edge

(25) 34 side wall

(26) 35 inner volume

(27) 36 closed bottom

(28) 38 open top

(29) 40 cable channel

(30) 42 air channel

(31) 44 display frame

(32) 46 instrument interlock module

(33) 47 activation device

(34) 48 electrically conductive element

(35) 49 electrically conductive sheet

(36) 50 reference structure

(37) 52 through-hole

(38) 54 snap-latch or latch-fit

(39) 56 screw

(40) 58 fixed-point

(41) 60 pipetting device

(42) 62 reference structure detection device

(43) 64 transfer system

(44) 65 laboratory system

(45) 66 consumable

(46) 68 sample processing device

(47) 69 sample vessel rack

(48) 70 reagent container rack

(49) 71 waste rack

(50) 72 sliding surface

(51) 74 guiding elements

(52) 76 control device

(53) 78 step a of the method

(54) 80 step b of the method

(55) 82 step c of the method

(56) 84 step d of the method

(57) 86 step e of the method

(58) 88 step f of the method

(59) 90 first additional step of the method

(60) 92 second additional step of the method