PIPETTE CALIBRATION MANAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention is related to a pipette calibration managing system (PCMS), comprising a PCMS managing application to be hosted by the PCMS customer and to be run by a PCMS host server, which is accessible for clients via a data network and is configured for man-aging the access of the clients to PCMS data contained in a PCMS database stored in a PCMS data storage being located on premises of the PCMS customer, a client application to be run by a client computer and configured to communicate with the PCMS managing application via the data network, a calibration ordering software configured for providing the calibration order data to be transferred to a calibration service provider, the PCMS managing application being configured to receive calibration data from the calibration service provider via an external data network, in particular the Internet, and the PCMS data-base being configured to store the calibration data, which thereby form at least a part of the PCMS data. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Claims

1. A pipette calibration managing system (PCMS) for managing the calibration of pipettes belonging to a pipette pool of a PCMS customer, the pipette calibration managing system comprising: a PCMS managing application to be hosted by the PCMS customer and to be run by a PCMS host server, which is accessible for clients via a data network and is configured for managing the access of the clients to PCMS data contained in a PCMS database stored in a PCMS data storage being located on a premises of the PCMS customer, a client application to be run by a client computer and configured to communicate with the PCMS managing application via the data network, a calibration ordering software configured for receiving a pipette ID number identifying a pipette of the pipette pool, generating calibration order data containing a calibration order ID number and said pipette ID number, providing the calibration order data to be transferred to a calibration service provider, the PCMS managing application being configured to receive calibration data from the calibration service provider via an external data network, in particular the Internet, and the PCMS database being configured to store the calibration data, which thereby form at least a part of the PCMS data, the calibration data containing the pipette ID number of said pipette and/or the calibration order ID number, and the calibration data containing calibration reporting data, which contain calibration status data and/or a calibration certificate, the calibration status data containing the information if a calibration of said pipette was successfully performed by the calibration service provider, the calibration certificate containing the information certifying the authenticity of a successful calibration of the pipette, wherein the client application is configured to perform the following steps: communicate with the PCMS managing application, access the PCMS database, receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on the pipette ID number and/or the calibration order ID number.

2. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration ordering software is configured for receiving a user ID number of a user belonging to the PCMS customer, the calibration order data containing also said user ID number, and wherein the client application is configured to perform the following step: receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on a user ID number.

3. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, which comprises: a calibration service managing software to be hosted by a calibration service provider server and configured to receive the calibration order data from the calibration ordering computer via a data network, in particular the Internet, output the calibration order data for initiating the calibration of said pipette to be performed manually or automatically by the calibration service provider, providing the calibration data, transferring the calibration data to the PCMS database.

4. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, which comprises one or more of the following hardware: the PCMS host server and the PCMS data storage, both being located on the premises of the PCMS customer, the client computer, in particular being located on the premises of the customer, and connected to the data network, and the calibration ordering computer, in particular being located on the premises of the customer, for running the calibration ordering software; and optionally: the calibration service provider server being located on a premises of the calibration service provider.

5. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, which comprises one or more of the following hardware: at least one calibration equipment, which is configured to at least contribute in performing the processes required for calibration or is configured to perform the calibration, and/or at least one computer device configured to exchange data with the at least one calibration equipment and/or control the at least one calibration equipment.

6. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one calibration equipment includes a precision balance configured to measure the weight of volumes, which are relevant for the respective pipette to be calibrated, a climate control chamber, which is capable to accommodate the precision weight and/or which is conditioned to standardized climate values, regarding a standardized temperature, and/or a standardized humidity, and/or a standardized gaseous composition of the surrounding air.

7. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one calibration equipment 71), in particular a calibration software (70) running on the calibration equipment, is configured to exchange data, in particular calibration data, with the PCMS, in particular with the PCMS managing application and/or the PCMS database, wherein said data exchange is automatically and substantially immediately initiated after a calibration of a pipette is finished.

8. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, wherein the PCMS, in particular the client computer, the calibration ordering computer, and/or the calibration service provider server, and/or the calibration equipment, contains a reader for reading information from an information carrier, which is in particular attached to a pipette, and to enter data, which are derived from said information as read by the reader, into the PCMS, in particular for being used by a software of the PCMS.

9. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration service managing software and/or the PCMS managing application and/or the client application is/are configured to set, and/or output to the user, a renewal period of a pipette, or generally of all pipettes in the pool, the renewal period being the period between the date of a previously completed calibration and the date of a scheduled future calibration of a pipette.

10. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 9, wherein the calibration service managing software and/or the PCMS managing application and/or the client application may be configured to output in a display, or respectively in an output screen of a GUI, one or more or all of the following informations to the user: an information about the renewal period of a pipette, or generally of all pipettes; the ending date of the renewal period of a pipette, or generally of all pipettes, in particular regarding a specific user ID number the date of the most recent calibration of a pipette, or generally of all pipettes, in particular regarding a specific user ID number, in particular more or all dated of calibration of said pipette.

11. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 9, wherein the PCMS, in particular one of its software components, in particular the calibration service managing software and/or the PCMS managing application and/or the client application may be configured to evaluate and/or output to the user the renewal status of a pipette, which means that it is evaluated, and output, if needed, if a pipette, or respectively each pipette, at the current day of the evaluation: first case (1; normal phase) lies within the renewal period of the respective pipette, and/or second case (2; reminder phase) if the pipette, or respectively each pipette, is currently situated within a reminding period within the renewal period of the pipette, the reminding period ending with the end date of the renewal period. The reminding period may be set by a user, and may be 4 weeks by default, and/or third case (3; overdue phase) is situated after the renewal period of the pipette.

12. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 11, wherein the PCMS, in particular one of its software components, in particular the calibration service managing software and/or the PCMS managing application and/or the client application may be configured to graphically indicate the renewal status of one or more or all pipettes, in particular regarding a specific user ID number, to a user by outputting a graphical representation, in particular next to the pipette ID number of the one or more or all pipettes.

13. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 12, wherein the graphical representation follows a color coding for the renewal status, for example applying the logic of traffic lights, wherein a first color, e.g. green, refers to the normal phase, a second color, e.g. yellow, refers to the reminder phase, and a third color, e.g. red, refers to the overdue phase of the renewal status.

14. The pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1, wherein the client computer is a handheld computer device, in particular a mobile phone or a tablet PC.

15. A pipette calibration managing method (PCMM) for managing the calibration of pipettes belonging to a pipette pool of a PCMS customer, the method using, in particular, the pipette calibration managing system according to claim 1 and comprising the steps: optionally: receiving a user ID number of a user, who belongs to the PCMS customer, using the calibration ordering software, receiving a pipette ID number identifying a pipette of the pipette pool, using the calibration ordering software, generating calibration order data using the calibration ordering software, providing the calibration order data to be transferred to a calibration service provider, in particular via the Internet, receive and store calibration data from the calibration service provider via an external data network, in particular the Internet, in the PCMS database, the calibration data thereby forming at least a part of the PCMS data, let a user, via the client application: access the PCMS database, receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on the pipette ID number and/or the calibration order ID number and/or the user ID number optionally: output the calibration reporting data to the user.

Description

[0141] Further preferred configurations of the system according to the invention and the method according to the invention emerge from the following description of the exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures and the description thereof. If nothing else is described or if nothing else emerges from the context, the same components of the exemplary embodiments are substantially characterized by the same reference signs. In detail:

[0142] FIG. 1 contains a chart showing the measurement of accuracy for a specific pipette, the measurement being repeated over time.

[0143] FIG. 2 shows a pipette calibration managing system according to an example of the invention, and its components.

[0144] FIG. 3 schematically shows a process overview of the calibration process as managed by the pipette calibration managing system shown in FIG. 2.

[0145] FIG. 4 schematically shows the data handling of the pipette calibration managing system shown in FIG. 2.

[0146] FIG. 5 schematically shows the pipette calibration managing method (PCMM) according to the invention, according to a preferred embodiment.

[0147] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a pipette having an information carrier being part of the system of FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0148] FIG. 1 shows a chart showing the measurement of accuracy for a specific pipette, the measurement being repeated over time, the chart illustrating the need for a periodic repetition of pipette calibration, and the usefulness of the tracking of pipette status and renewal of calibration.

[0149] FIG. 2 shows the pipette calibration managing system (PCMS) 100 for managing the calibration of pipettes belonging to a pipette pool of a PCMS customer.

[0150] The PCMS 100 comprises a PCMS managing application 10 to be hosted by the PCMS customer and to be run by a PCMS host server 11, which is accessible for clients via a data network, indicated by a router or hub 5, to which the hardware components of the system as located on premise of the customer are connected, and which is connected to the internet via an internet router 6. The PCMS managing application 10 is configured for managing the access of the clients to PCMS data contained in a PCMS database 12 stored in a PCMS data storage 13 being located on premises of the PCMS customer.

[0151] The PCMS 100 comprises a client application 20 to be run by a client computer 21, in particular a mobile computer, for example a smart phone or a tablet PC, and configured to communicate with the PCMS managing application via the data network 5. The PCMS 100 comprises a further client application 30 to be run by a client computer 31 and configured to communicate with the PCMS managing application via the data network 5. The PCMS 100 comprises a further client application 40 to be run by a client computer 41 and configured to communicate with the PCMS managing application via the data network 5.

[0152] The PCMS 100 comprises a calibration ordering software 50 run by a calibration ordering computer 51, configured for [0153] receiving a pipette ID number identifying a pipette of the pipette pool, [0154] generating calibration order data containing a calibration order ID number and said pipette ID number, [0155] providing the calibration order data to be transferred to a calibration service provider,

[0156] The PCMS managing application 10 is configured to receive calibration data from the calibration service provider via an external data network, in particular the Internet, as indicated by the connection via the internet router 6, and the PCMS database 12 is configured to store the calibration data, which thereby form at least a part of the PCMS data.

[0157] The calibration data contain the pipette ID number of said pipette and the calibration order ID number and the user ID number of the commissioning user. The calibration data contain calibration reporting data, which contain calibration status data and/or a calibration certificate, the calibration status data containing the information if a calibration of said pipette was successfully performed by the calibration service provider, or other status information, the calibration certificate containing the information certifying the authenticity of a successful calibration of the pipette.

[0158] Each client application 20, 30, 40 is configured to perform the following steps: [0159] communicate with the PCMS managing application 10, [0160] access the PCMS database 12, [0161] receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on the pipette ID number and/or the calibration order ID number and/or a user ID number.

[0162] The calibration ordering software 50 is configured for [0163] receiving a user ID number of a user belonging to the PCMS customer, the calibration order data containing also said user ID number,

[0164] and wherein the client application is configured to perform the following step: [0165] receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on a user ID number.

[0166] The PCMS 100 comprises a calibration service managing software 60 to be hosted by the calibration service provider server 61 and configured to [0167] receive the calibration order data from the calibration ordering computer 51 via a data network, in particular the Internet via router 6, [0168] output the calibration order data for initiating the calibration of said pipette to be performed manually or automatically by the calibration service provider, [0169] providing the calibration data, [0170] transferring the calibration data to the PCMS database 12.

[0171] The PCMS 100 comprises, amongst others, the following hardware components: [0172] the PCMS host server 11 and the PCMS data storage 13, both being located on premises of the PCMS customer, [0173] the client computers 21, 31, 41, in particular being located on premises of the customer, and connected to the data network 5, and [0174] the calibration ordering computer 51, in particular being located on premises of the customer, for running the calibration ordering software 50; [0175] the calibration service provider server 61 being located on premises of the calibration service provider.

[0176] The PCMS 100 also comprises the following hardware component: [0177] a calibration equipment 71, which is configured to perform the calibration. The calibration equipment includes a precision balance suitable, configured to measure the weight of volumes, which are relevant for the respective pipette to be calibrated, and a climate control chamber, which is capable to accommodate the precision weight and which is conditioned to standardized climate values, regarding a standardized temperature, and/or a standardized humidity, and/or a standardized gaseous composition of the surrounding air. The calibration is performed following ISO 8655 and ISO 17025.

[0178] The calibration equipment 71, in particular a calibration software 70 running on the calibration equipment, is configured to exchange data, in particular calibration data, with the PCMS 100, in particular with the PCMS managing application 10 and the PCMS database 12, wherein said data exchange is implemented to, by choice of the provider, be initiated automatically and substantially immediately after a calibration of a pipette is finished.

[0179] The PCMS 100, in particular the calibration ordering computer 51 and the calibration equipment 71, contain a reader 53, 73 for reading information from an information carrier, which is in particular attached to a pipette, and to enter data, which are derived from said information as read by the reader, into the PCMS, in particular for being used by a software of the PCMS.

[0180] The calibration service managing software 60 and the PCMS managing application 10 and the client application 20, 30, 40 are respectively configured to set, and output to the user, a renewal period of a pipette, or generally of all pipettes in the pool, the renewal period being the period between the date of a previously completed calibration and the date of a scheduled future calibration of a pipette.

[0181] The PCMS 100 also contains a reader 55 for reading the user badge of a user, which is in particular an RFID reader 55, which is connected to the calibration ordering computer 51.

[0182] FIG. 5 schematically shows a pipette calibration managing method (PCMM) 300 for managing the calibration of pipettes belonging to a pipette pool of a PCMS customer, the method 300 using, in particular, the pipette calibration managing system of FIG. 2 and comprises the steps: [0183] receiving a user ID number of a user, who belongs to the PCMS customer, using the calibration ordering software, (301) [0184] receiving a pipette ID number identifying a pipette of the pipette pool, using the calibration ordering software, (302) [0185] generating calibration order data using the calibration ordering software, (303) [0186] providing the calibration order data to be transferred to a calibration service provider, in particular via the Internet, (304) [0187] receive and store calibration data from the calibration service provider via an external data network, in particular the Internet, in the PCMS database, the calibration data thereby forming at least a part of the PCMS data, (305) [0188] let a user, via the client application: (306) [0189] access the PCMS database, [0190] receive the calibration reporting data in dependence on the pipette ID number and/or the calibration order ID number and/or the user ID number [0191] output the calibration reporting data to the user.

[0192] FIG. 6 shows a pipette 1, which may be part of the PCMS 100. The pipette 1 is an electronic pipette, having a computing device 7, which is connected with a data storage 4, forming an information carrier 4 for carrying data originating from the calibration, in particular calibration data, which were preferably automatically uploaded to the data storage 4 by the calibration equipment 71, immediately after the calibration of the pipette 1 was finished or within a predetermined time period after the calibration of the pipette 1 was finished. The information carrier may be part of the PCMS 100. A description of the technical function of 5 the information carrier is already contained in some of the previous paragraphs. The pipette 1 may contain a communication adapter, in particular using WLAN, for incorporating the pipette 1 into the data network (5, 6), which connects the hardware components of the PCMS 100. The pipette 1 has a display part 3 including a display 2, and a handling part 8, which contains an electric motor driving a pipetting piston inside the handling part 8 for applying a vacuum to an air cushion inside an air chamber of the pipette 1, thereby aspirating a liquid into the pipette tip 9.