FLUID ANALYSIS ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD

Abstract

A fluid analysis arrangement (1) comprises a particle quantifying device (4), a holder (6), a robot (3), a washing station (5) and a control unit (2). The particle quantifying device (4) has a sensor unit (42) with a sensing stick (421) to be arranged in a fluid to sense for particles in the fluid, and an evaluation unit (41). The holder (6) has a plurality of seats each configured to receive a container in which a sample fluid is arranged. The control unit (2) is connected to the particle quantifying device (4) and the robot (3). The sensor unit (42) is mounted to the robot (3). The control unit (2) is configured to control the robot (3) to arrange the sensing stick (421) in one of the sample fluids of each container received in the seats of the holder (6) after another, activate the particle quantifying device to sense for particles in the sample fluids, and control the robot (3) to arrange the sensing stick (421) in the washing station (5) after each sensing for particles in one of the sample fluids and before arranging the sensing stick (421) in a next one of the sample fluids.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A fluid analysis arrangement, comprising: a particle quantifying device having a sensor unit with a sensing stick to be arranged in a fluid to sense for particles in the fluid, and an evaluation unit; a holder having a plurality of seats each configured to receive a container in which a sample fluid is arranged; a robot; a washing station; and a control unit connected to the particle quantifying device and the robot, wherein the sensor unit is mounted to the robot, and the control unit is configured to control the robot to arrange the sensing stick in one of the sample fluids of each container received in the seats of the holder after another, activate the particle quantifying device to sense for particles in the sample fluids, and control the robot to arrange the sensing stick in the washing station after each sensing for particles in one of the sample fluids and before arranging the sensing stick in a next one of the sample fluids.

17. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the washing station comprises a cleaning medium reservoir housing a cleaning medium and a cleaning medium forwarder connected to the cleaning medium reservoir, wherein the control unit is connected to the washing station and configured to activate the cleaning medium forwarder to flush the sensor unit with the cleaning medium after the particle quantifying device sensing for particles in the sample fluid of one of the containers received in the seats of the holder and before the particle quantifying device sensing for particles in the sample fluid of another one of the containers received in the seats of the holder.

18. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 17, wherein the washing station has a washing seat in which the sensing stick is arranged when the sensor unit is flushed with the cleaning medium.

19. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 17, the washing station comprises a cleaning medium cavity arranged to receive the cleaning medium after flushing the sensor unit.

20. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 17, wherein the washing seat and the cleaning medium cavity are in fluid communication such that after flushing the sensor unit the cleaning medium is provided into the washing seat and transferred from the washing seat into the cleaning medium cavity.

21. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 17, wherein the control unit is configured to control the robot to arrange the sensing stick in the cleaning medium cavity to sense for particles in the cleaning medium after flushing the sensor unit.

22. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to control the robot to arrange the sensing stick in the sample fluid of the other one of the containers received in the seats of the holder when the amount of particles sensed in the cleaning medium after flushing the sensor unit is below a predefined threshold, and/or the control unit is configured to re-activate the cleaning medium forwarder to flush the sensor unit with the cleaning medium when the amount of particles sensed in the washing medium after flushing the sensor unit is above the predefined threshold.

23. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the washing station comprises a drying coupler and the control unit is configured to control the robot to arrange the sensing stick in the drying coupler before arranging the sensing stick in the sample fluid of the other one of the containers received in the seats of the holder.

24. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 23, wherein the washing station comprises a vacuum creator connected to the control unit, the control unit being configured to activate the vacuum creator to dry the sensor unit when the sensing stick is arranged in the drying coupler.

25. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, comprising a shaker, wherein the holder is arranged on the shaker to be moved by the shaker, and the control unit is connected to the shaker and configured to activate the shaker when the sensing stick is not arranged in the sample fluid of any container received in the seats of the holder.

26. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, wherein the robot is a linear robot embodied to move the sensor unit along a horizontal x axis and a vertical z-axis.

27. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, comprising a sample loop positioned between the sensor unit of the particle quantifying device and the evaluation unit of the particle quantifying device.

28. The fluid analysis arrangement of claim 16, comprising a sample fluid drawer in fluid connection with the sensing stick of the sensor unit, wherein preferably a fluid connection structure between the sample fluid drawer and the sensing stick of the sensor unit is at least partially filled with a transmission medium.

29. A method of analyzing a fluid, comprising the steps of: i) obtaining a plurality of containers each filled with a sample fluid to be analyzed; ii) a robot automatically arranging a sensing stick of a sensor unit of a particle quantifying device in one of the sample fluids of the plurality of containers; iii) the sensor unit of the particle quantifying device automatically sensing for particles in the one of the sample fluids; iv) the robot automatically arranging the sensing stick of the sensor unit of the particle quantifying device in a washing station; v) cleaning the sensing stick of the sensor unit of the particle quantifying device arranged in the washing station; and vi) repeating steps ii) to v) for each of the other ones of the samples of the plurality of containers one after the other.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein step v) comprises a cleaning medium forwarder flushing the sensor unit with a cleaning medium, and the washing station preferably has a washing seat in which the sensing stick is arranged when the sensor unit is flushed with the cleaning medium.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the cleaning medium is gathered after flushing the sensor unit, and the sensor unit of the particle quantifying device preferably automatically senses for particles in the gathered cleaning medium.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein step vi) is performed when the amount of particles sensed in the gathered cleaning medium is below a predefined threshold.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein step v) is re-performed when the amount of particles sensed in the gathered cleaning medium is above a predefined threshold.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein step v) comprises drying the sensor unit, and drying the sensor unit preferably comprises a vacuum creator of the washing station applying a vacuum to the sensor unit.

35. The method of claim 29, comprising shaking the plurality of containers in step iii), in step iv) and in step v).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The fluid analysis arrangement according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described in more detail herein below by way of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a block scheme of a top view of an embodiment of the fluid analysis arrangement according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a block scheme of a side view of the fluid analysis arrangement of FIG. 1; and

[0051] FIG. 3 shows flow scheme of operating the fluid analysis arrangement of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms “right”, “left”, “up”, “down”, “under” and “above” refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “proximal”, “distal”, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be “above” or “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0053] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fluid analysis arrangement 1 according to the invention. The fluid analysis arrangement 1 comprises a liquid particle counter 4 as particle quantifying device, a linear robot 3, a holder 6, a shaker 7, a washing station 5 and a control unit 2.

[0055] The control unit 2 is a computer running a dedicated software for configuring the computer to perform various tasks for automatically processing analysis of plural sample fluids.

[0056] The liquid particle counter 4 comprises an evaluation station 41 and a sensor unit 42. It is configured to apply light obscuration techniques for identifying particles in fluids. For example, the liquid particle counter can be the analytical device HIAC 9703+ commercialized by Beckman Coulter, Inc.. The evaluation station 41 and the sensor unit 42 are interconnected by a wire such that a sensor signal can be transferred from the sensor unit 42 to the evaluation station 41 where it can be analyzed and further processed. The evaluation station 41 has an interface by which it is connected to the control unit 2 via a data wire. Thereby, the control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to communicate with the evaluation station 41 in accordance with a protocol predefined by the liquid particle counter 4 or its manufacturer.

[0057] The linear robot 3 has an x-arm 31, a y-arm 32 and a z-arm 33. The y-arm 32 is mounted to the x-arm 31 such that it can be linearly displaced back and forth along a horizontal axis x, i.e. left and right in FIG. 1. Further, the z-arm 33 is mounted to the y-arm 32 such that it can be linearly displaced back and forth along a horizontal axis y, i.e. up and down in FIG. 1. Finally, the sensor unit 42 is mounted to the z-arm 33 such that it can be linearly displaced back and forth along a vertical axis z, i.e. out of the plane shown in FIG. 1. The linear robot 3 has an interface to which it is connected to the control unit 2 via a data wire. Thereby, the control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to communicate with the linear robot 3 in accordance with a protocol predefined by the linear robot or a manufacturer thereof. In particular, the control unit 2 is configured to move the sensor unit 42 at any desired position by means of the linear robot 3.

[0058] The holder 6 has a plurality of seats each configured to receive a vial as container in which a sample fluid is arranged. The plurality of vials arranged in the seats of the holder contain the different fluid samples to be analysed as to the presence of visible and sub-visible in quality control. The holder 6 is placed on the shaker 7 such that the shaker 7 moves the holder 6 when being activated. Thereby, the vials positioned in the holder 6 are moved or shaken as well such that eventual particles inside the sample fluids are kept in suspension or distributed in the sample fluids. Like this, it can be achieved that the particles can reliably be identified by sensor unit 42. For activating the shaker 7, it is connected to the control unit 2 via a wire. The control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to activate and deactivate the shaker 7, when desired.

[0059] The washing station 5 has a pure water reservoir 53 as cleaning medium reservoir filled with ultrapure water, a storage and cleaning solution reservoir 54 and a washing pump 52 as cleaning medium forwarder. The washing pump 52 is in fluid communication with the pure water reservoir 53, the storage and cleaning solution reservoir 54, and the sensor unit 42. It is further connected to the control unit 2 via a wire. The control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to activate and deactivate the washing pump 52 as desired.

[0060] The washing station 5 comprises a washing body 51 and a vacuum pump 55 as vacuum creator. The washing body 51 is equipped with a washing seat 511, a cleaning medium cavity 512 in fluid connection with the washing seat 511 by means of an overflow structure 513, and a drying coupler 514 connected to the vacuum pump 55. The vacuum pump 55 is connected to the control unit 2 via a wire. The control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to activate and deactivate the vacuum pump 55 as desired. The cleaning medium cavity 512 is in fluid connection with a waste container 8 of the fluid analysis arrangement 1.

[0061] In FIG. 2, the fluid analysis arrangement 1 is shown from a side. Thereby, it can be seen that the sensor unit 42 is equipped with an injection needle 421 as sensing stick. The injection needle 421 is stationary in the sensor unit 42 such that when the sensor unit 42 is vertically displaced, i.e. up and down in FIG. 2, by the z-arm 33 of the linear robot 3, and horizontally displaced by the x-arm 31 and by the y-arm 32, the injection needle 421 is conjunctionally moved with the rest of the control unit 42. Like this, the injection needle 421 can be positioned by the control unit 2 to be positioned at any location required for processing the sample fluids in order to be verified for particles.

[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the washing seat 511 and the cleaning medium cavity 512 are dimensioned to conveniently receive the injection needle 421. The overflow structure 513 connects the washing seat 511 to the cleaning medium cavity 512 such that when the washing seat 511 is filled with a fluid to a certain extent the fluid flows over into the cleaning medium cavity 512. The drying coupler 514 is dimensioned to tightly receive the injection needle 421. It further is equipped with a gasket structure to achieve tightness. In particular, the drying coupler 514 is arranged such that when the injection needle 421 is arranged in it and the vacuum pump 55 applies a vacuum, the sensor unit 42 is set at negative pressure via the injection needle 421.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a flow scheme to illustrate the logical inter-relation of the components of the fluid analysis arrangement 1. Thereby, it can be seen that the pure water reservoir 53 and the storage and cleaning solution reservoir 54 are connected to the washing pump 52 via a three-way washing medium valve 56 of the washing station 5. The control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to set the washing medium valve 56 in order to define if the washing pump 52 forwards the ultrapure water of the pure water reservoir 53 or the solution of the storage and cleaning solution reservoir 54, when being activated.

[0064] The liquid particle counter 4 is equipped with a sensor pump 43 as sample fluid drawer, which is connected to the sensor unit 42 via a three-way sensor valve 92 and a sample loop 91 of the fluid analysis arrangement 1. The sample loop 91 is embodied by windings of a tube, which connects the sensing stick 421 to the sensor valve 92. The control unit 2 is configured by the dedicated software to set the sensor valve 92 in order to define if the sensor unit 42 is connected to the sensor pump 43 for withdrawing via the injection needle 421 a sample fluid or used ultrapure water to be measured by the sensor unit 42, or to the washing pump 52 for providing ultrapure water or solution through the sample loop 91 and sensor unit 42.

[0065] The sensor pump 43 is further connected to the waste container 8 such that any fluid forwarded by the sensor pump 43 can be gathered in the waste container 8. As can further be seen in FIG. 3, the overflow structure 513 of the washing body 51 has an inclined surface such that it can be assured that fluids may only flow form the washing seat 511 to the cleaning medium cavity 512, but not the other way around.

[0066] The fluid analysis arrangement 1 is operated in a method of analysing a fluid according to the invention as follows:

[0067] The holder 6 is provided with a plurality of vials each filled with a sample fluid to be analysed. The control unit 2 controls the linear robot 3 to automatically arrange the injection needle 421 in one of the sample fluids of the plurality of vials. The control unit 2 sets the sensor valve 92 to open the sensor pump 43 towards the sensor unit 42. The control unit 2 activates the sensor pump 43 such that the sample fluid is withdrawn through the injection needle 421 into the sensor unit 42 which automatically senses for particles in the sample fluid. A sensor signal is transferred from the senor unit 42 to the evaluation station 41 where it is evaluated. The control unit 2 then deactivates the sensor pump 43 and controls the linear robot 3 to automatically arrange the injection needle 421 into the washing seat 511 of the washing station 5.

[0068] The control unit 2 sets the sensor valve 92 to open the washing pump 52 towards the sensor unit 42. It further sets the washing medium valve 56 to open the washing pump 52 towards the pure water reservoir 53. The control unit 2 activates the washing pump 52 such that the sample loop 91 and the sensor unit 42 are flushed with ultrapure water which is forwarded into the washing seat 511. Once the washing seat 511 is filled up to the overflow structure 513 the ultrapure water flows into the cleaning medium cavity 512.

[0069] After finishing flushing the sensor unit 42, the control unit 2 controls the linear robot 3 to arrange the injection needle 421 inside the cleaning medium cavity 512. Then the control unit 2 sets the sensor valve 92 appropriately and operates the sensor pump 43 such that the injection needle 421 withdraws ultrapure water from the cleaning medium cavity 512. The withdrawn ultrapure water is now analyzed for the presence of particles by the liquid particle counter 4 in the same way as the sample fluid.

[0070] In case that the amount of particles or concentration of particles identified by liquid particle counter 4 is above a predefined threshold, the flushing of the sensor unit 42 as described above is repeated. Once the amount of particles or concentration of particles identified by liquid particle counter 4 is below the predefined threshold, the control unit 2 controls the linear robot to displace the injection needle 421 into the drying coupler 514. Then the control unit 2 activates the vacuum pump 55 which creates a negative pressure in the sensor unit 42 and the sample loop 91. Like this, residual ultrapure water is removed or withdrawn. Now, the control unit 2 controls the linear robot to arrange the injection needle 421 in the sample fluid of a next one of the plurality of vials.

[0071] The complete cycle of analysing the sample fluid and cleaning the system is repeated by the control unit 2 until the sample fluids of all vials are analysed. Thereby, the control unit 2 activates the shaker 7 whenever the injection needle 421 is not positioned in any of the vials. After the sample fluids of all vials being analyzed the control unit controls the system to be finally cleaned with the solution contained in the storage and cleaning solution reservoir 54.

[0072] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting-the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0073] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0074] Furthermore, in the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms “essentially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term “about” in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.