TRANSFER TOOL FOR USE IN AUTOMATED ANALYSER SYSTEMS

Abstract

A device for storing and transferring liquids like samples and regents. The present disclosure provides a device for storing and transferring liquids in an automated analyser system, comprising at least one cavity for taking up a liquid and further at least one transfer tool for taking up a liquid, wherein the transfer toll is connected by at least one predetermined breaking member with the device.

Claims

1. A device for storing and transferring liquids in an automated analyser system, comprising: a base; at least one cavity in said base for taking up a liquid; and at least one separate transfer tool, wherein the transfer tool is removably connected to the base by at least one predetermined breaking member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined breaking member is one of a bars, a pin, a spring and a tongue and groove structure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer tool is molded-in into the solid base.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer tool and the at least one cavity for taking up a reaction solution are made of the same material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer tool is molded-in into the solid base using a different material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the solid base and the at least one transfer tool are both made of plastic.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer tool is an insert of any material placed into a predetermined recess within the solid base.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transfer tool can be separated from the solid base by an upward or downward movement.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer tool is a pipette tip, a magnet, a loop or a spoon.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one reservoir for taking up or prefilled with a buffer or reagent necessary for performing a reaction.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one cavity for taking up a sample.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one compartment for disposal of buffer, reagents, samples or reaction solutions or the used at least one transfer tool.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity for taking up a sample or reagent is one of a vessel, well, a multi-well plate, a bottle and a test tube.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity for taking up a reaction solution is disposable.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a used at least one transfer tool can be substituted with at least one unused transfer tool.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the volume of the at least one transfer tool corresponds to the volume of the at least one cavity for taking up a reaction solution.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein a liquid comprises a sample, buffer, reagent, reaction solution, a powder, beads and a mixture of liquid and solids.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device with two transfer tools and six cavities for taking up a liquid.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a magnification of the connection between transfer tool and device.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of first embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a device with eight transfer tools and 64 cavities for taking up a liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The present disclosure provides a device 1 comprising a solid base or housing 2, cavity or multiple linked cavities 5 in the base or housing 2 capable to take up buffers or reagents (fluidic, powder or lyophilized), beads and/or patient samples and further a molded-in transfer tool 10, connected by at least one predetermined breaking member or breaking point 11 with the base 2. The device, like a disposable cartridge, can be made of plastics, e.g. polypropylene.

[0036] Handling a liquid within the meaning of the instant invention refers to moving a liquid from one place to another. Liquids may be moved from a place for storage or a reaction vessel to another place for further processing or disposal. A cavity within the meaning of the present invention designates a hollow space like a hole or a recess.

[0037] A reagent within the meaning of the instant invention comprises a buffer, solution or any liquid that may be necessary for performing a reaction. A reagent may comprise compounds for staining, binding or antibodies.

[0038] A sample refers to a probe that shall be further processed in reaction or that shall be analysed.

[0039] The Disposable Transfer Tool can be made of the same plastics as the base or housing and can be molded in one step together with the base or housing having at least one cavity, made of any plastic material molded in parallel (2-component-molding), or can be an insert of any material of the mold for the Disposable Cartridge (injection-molding around insert).

[0040] Molding all parts of the device in one step has advantages in handling the device as well as regards easy manufacture and packing. The device is a tool used to transfer material, typically out of or into its cavities, e.g. pipetting tip/pin for liquid transfer, sheath for bead transfer or loop/spoon for e.g. feces.

[0041] During uptake of the molded-in transfer tool, preferably by an automated device (e.g pipettor), the transfer tool will break out of the device by applying a downward vertical force to the transfer tool. Afterwards the transfer tool moves out of the device and can be used for transfer tasks within and outside of the device.

[0042] The device may be held in place by mechanical means, because by retracting the transfer tool out of the device upward forces might occur, thereby relocating the device. Optionally, after usage of the transfer tool it can be deposited in the device.

[0043] The device including molded-in transfer tools can be used for various applications in the field of diagnostics, life sciences and biotechnology, particularly for POCT (point of care testing). In POCT the user will load a small number of Disposable Cartridges, preferably one, to an automated device.

[0044] Furthermore, transfer tools can be molded-in into simple holders to ease supply of many Transfer Tools, e.g. complex handling of loose disposable tips in so called tip racks.

[0045] A major advantage of the present invention is to provide in one device transfer tools as well as cavities for providing liquids and/or performing reactions of chemical or physical nature like diagnostic assays including binding reactions. The transfer tool and cavity are separate parts of a device of the present invention. Further advantages of the invention can be summarized for manufacturing, for automation and for the end user as follows: [0046] Only one mold and molding process is necessary for the manufacture of the device with at least one transfer tool; [0047] no additional interface between device and a separate transfer tool is necessary; [0048] No extra effort (manual or automated) is needed in manufacturing or for the end user to place transfer a tool into the device; [0049] No measures are necessary to ensure that a Transfer Tool cannot be removed from or fall out of the device; [0050] No measures necessary to guarantee exact positioning of the Transfer Tool within the device for automated access; [0051] No measures are necessary to make sure that at least one transfer tool is available in the device; [0052] No separate supply of transfer tools in automated devices is necessary with additional measures, e.g. storage, sensors, to ensure sure that at least one transfer tools is available and measure for monitoring to ensure that enough transfer tools are available; [0053] No handling of loose transfer tools by end users which is prone to error, e.g. when removing foils on top of a transfer tool which is applied for safety reasons during transportation; [0054] No measures necessary, e.g. sensors, to ensure that the right transfer tool, e.g. size, coating or material of pipetting tips, is used or available; [0055] A used transfer tools cannot be reinserted again; [0056] No difficult manual and automated handling of loose transfer tools hanging in racks, e.g. 96 disposable tip racks, 384 disposable tip racks or sheaths racks;

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the present invention having eight cavities 5 and two transfer tools 10. The shape of the device can vary according to the needed shape of a device holder of an automated analyser system.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the connection of transfer tool 10 with device 1, which is in the embodiment of FIG. 2 a disposable tip for a pipette. Neighbouring cavities 5 are also depicted. The transfer tool is connected to the device 1 by predetermined breaking members 11, which are formed as bars.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 of device 1. The transfer tool 10, arranged next to cavities 5 on both sides of device 1, which have to be shorter than the height of device 1.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of device 1 with 64 cavities 5 and eight transfer tools 10. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the transfer tools 10 are longer than the device 1 and have thus a larger volume than the cavities 5.

[0061] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0062] 1 device [0063] 2 base or housing [0064] 5 cavity [0065] 10 transfer tool [0066] 11 breaking points or members