MULTI-CHANNEL PIPETTING SYSTEM OF IMPROVED DESIGN

Abstract

A device for a multi-channel pipetting system, comprising a piston holder, a guide rod of the piston holder, which guide rod is mounted slidably in a guide member, a plurality of pistons having a bottom end housed slidably in a suction chamber, and a piston head mounted on the piston holder by way of a mechanical connection. The mechanical connection comprises two contact points which conjointly define a piston-head rotation axis oriented orthogonally with respect to the transverse direction and to the longitudinal central axis of the pipetting system, and the device additionally comprises, associated with the piston, return spring which force the piston head upward against the piston holder, so as to establish the two contact points.

Claims

1. A device for a multi-channel pipetting system, the device comprising: a piston holder extending in a transverse direction of the pipetting system; a rod for guiding the piston holder, the guide rod extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the pipetting system, and orthogonal to the piston holder; a member for guiding the guide rod, the latter being slidably mounted in the guide member, along the central longitudinal axis; a plurality of pistons distributed along the piston holder, each piston having a lower end slidably housed in a suction chamber as well as a piston head mounted on the piston holder via a mechanical connection for mounting the piston on the piston holder; a row of sampling cone holder tips distributed along the transverse direction of the pipetting system, each tip communicating with one of the suction chambers respectively, characterised in that the mechanical mounting connection, for at least one of the pistons includes two contact points jointly defining an axis of rotation of the piston head oriented orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to the transverse direction and to the central longitudinal axis of the pipetting system, and in that the device further includes, associated with said piston elastic return means forcing the piston head upwards against the piston holder, for the establishment of the two contact points.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic return means are formed by a helical spring of generally conical shape, with a section that tapers from the bottom upwards, or in that the elastic return means are formed by a spring in the form of a deformed wire.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the piston holder has two opposite free transverse ends.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide rod is slidably mounted in the guide member, via two sliding pivot connections spaced from each other along the central longitudinal axis.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each piston carries, at its lower end, a seal bearing against an inner surface of the suction chamber associated with the piston.

6. The device according claim 5, wherein the seal is a lip seal.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the two contact points of each mechanical mounting connection are arranged symmetrically with respect to an associated piston axis.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the two contact points of each mechanical mounting connection are made in any of the following ways: using a toroidal surface provided on the piston, and two flat surfaces inclined relative to each other, and provided on the piston holder; using a spherical surface provided on the piston, and two flat surfaces inclined relative to each other, and provided on the piston holder; using a conical surface provided on the piston, and two spherical surfaces provided on the piston holder; using a flat surface provided on the piston, and two spherical surfaces provided on the piston holder; using a spherical surface provided on the piston, and two spherical surfaces provided on the piston holder; using a spherical surface provided on the piston, and two cylindrical surfaces provided on the piston holder, with secant axes; or using a toroidal surface provided on the piston, and two cylindrical surfaces provided on the piston holder, with secant axes.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suction chambers have parallel chamber axes .

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein all the chamber axes are arranged in the same transverse plane of the pipetting system.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the chamber axes are arranged in a staggered manner in two separate parallel transverse planes of the pipetting system.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the piston heads are also arranged in a staggered manner in the same two transverse planes defined by the chamber axes, so that these chamber axes coincide in pairs with the piston axes.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the piston heads are all aligned along a transverse line arranged parallel to and between the two transverse planes defined by the chamber axes, so that the piston axes are inclined with respect to their corresponding chamber axes.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the piston holder is made in two parts fixed on each other, and between which are arranged the piston heads and the elastic return means, or in that the piston holder is made in one-piece.

15. A multi-channel pipetting system comprising a device according to claim 1, the pipetting system preferably being a manual, motorised or hybrid sampling pipette, or else a cassette forming a lower part intended to be connected to an articulated arm of an automaton.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] This description will be given with regard to the appended drawings, among which;

[0045] [FIG. 1] shows a front view of an air-displacement multi-channel sampling pipette;

[0046] [FIG. 2] shows a view of a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, forming an integral part of the pipette shown in the previous figure;

[0047] [FIG. 2a] shows a partial perspective view of the pipette shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0048] [FIG. 3] shows an axial sectional view of an upper part of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a;

[0049] [FIG. 4] is a perspective view of a lower part of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a;

[0050] [FIG. 5] is a side view of a lower part of the device;

[0051] [FIG. 5a] shows a perspective view of the piston holder implemented in the first preferred embodiment;

[0052] [FIG. 5b] is an enlarged perspective view of part of the piston holder shown in the previous figure;

[0053] [FIG. 6] shows an enlarged front view of part of the device shown in the preceding figures, showing the mechanical connection for mounting a piston on the piston holder;

[0054] [FIG. 7a] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection shown in the previous figure;

[0055] [FIG. 7b] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to an alternative;

[0056] [FIG. 7c] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to yet another alternative;

[0057] [FIG. 7d] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to yet another alternative;

[0058] [FIG. 7e] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to yet another alternative;

[0059] [FIG. 7f] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to yet another alternative;

[0060] [FIG. 7g] is a partial perspective view of the mechanical mounting connection, according to yet another alternative;

[0061] [FIG. 8] shows a perspective view of the part of the device shown in FIG. 5;

[0062] [FIG. 9] shows a view similar to that of FIG. 6;

[0063] [FIG. 10] shows a view similar to that of FIG. 5, with the device in the form of a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0064] [FIG. 11] shows a perspective view of the piston holder implemented in the second preferred embodiment;

[0065] [FIG. 12] shows a partially exploded perspective view, showing the device according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0066] [FIG. 13] is a sectional view along a plane orthogonal to the piston holder of the previous figure; and

[0067] [FIG. 14] is a sectional view along a plane parallel to the piston holder of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] With reference first to FIGS. 1 to 3, a multi-channel sampling pipette 1 is shown according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to pipettes, but applies to any multi-channel pipetting system, and in particular to automated pipetting systems, called automata.

[0069] In this embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the pipette is preferably intended for sampling high volumes, for example 1200 .Math.l. However, its design is also adapted for sampling smaller volumes, for example 200 or 300 .Math.L.

[0070] The manual, motorised or hybrid air-displacement pipette 1, comprises in the upper part a body forming a handle 2, as well as a lower part 4 integrating at its lower end sampling cone holder tips 6, on which cones or consumables 8 are intended to be press-fitted.

[0071] The sampling cone holder tips 6 are spaced from each other in a transverse direction of the pipetting system, also called the lateral direction of the pipette, and represented by the arrow 10. Each tip 6 has a through orifice 12 communicating at its upper end with a suction chamber 13a, 13b, and at its lower end with a sampling cone 8. The through-orifice 12 is centred or not on its associated tip 6, that is to say whether it is centred or not on a central axis 7 of the tip on which the press-fitted cone is centred.

[0072] The pipette 1 has a central longitudinal axis 14, also corresponding to a central longitudinal axis of the lower part 4, and also to that of a device 32 specific to the invention. This axis 14, parallel to a direction of the height 15 of the pipette, is orthogonal to the transverse direction 10. The central longitudinal axis 14, crossing the handle 2, is usually placed so as to have an identical number of tips 6 disposed on either side of the latter, in the transverse direction 10. Furthermore, generally, the axis 14 is parallel to the axes of the through orifices 12 and to the axes 7 of their associated tips and cones 6, 8, and also parallel to the direction of the height 15, corresponding to a direction of sliding/translation of the movable elements of the pipette, which will be described below.

[0073] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, provision is made of twelve tips 6 aligned in the direction 10, so as to form a single transverse row of tips. Also, the central axis 7 of each tip 6 intercepts the same straight line 9 extending in the direction 10.

[0074] As is known to the person skilled in the art, the lower part 4 is preferably mounted in a screwed manner on the body 2 forming the handle.

[0075] One of the particularities of the invention lies in the design of the device 32, which forms almost all the lower part 4, as well as a small portion of the handle 2. The device 32 is shown in its entirety on FIG. 2, but the description of its first preferred embodiment will be made with regard to all FIGS. 2 to 9.

[0076] In a known manner, the lower part 4 comprises a fixed body 16, as well as an assembly 19 that is movable relative to this fixed body 16, in the direction of sliding 15.

[0077] The fixed body 16 of the lower part of the pipette is made using several elements that are integral with each other, attached or made in one-piece. These are in particular the suction chambers 13a, 13b, and the cone holding tips 6, these elements being completed by a fixed transverse retaining plate 21 traversed by the upper end of the chambers 13a, 13b. As partially shown in FIG. 2a, an outer removable cover 17 is arranged around the fixed body 16, this cover generally covering the lower part of the device 32, so that only a lower part of the tips 6 projects downwards outside this cover 17. The latter has recesses on the inside for housing the edges of the fixed transverse retaining plate 21.

[0078] The movable assembly 19 in turn includes a piston holder 34, also called a rake, in the general shape of a bar which extends in the transverse direction 10, inside the cover 17. Pistons 20a, 20b are distributed along the piston holder, being regularly spaced from each other in the transverse direction 10, and each oriented parallel to the axis 14. The piston holder 34 is located globally above the pistons 20a, 20b, so as to be able to house the piston heads. More precisely, these piston heads are blocked in translation by the piston holder 34 in both directions of the sliding direction 15, in order to be able to follow the back-and-forth movement of the piston holder in this same direction.

[0079] Each piston 20a, 20b has a lower end slidably housed in one of the associated suction chambers 13a, 13b, themselves each communicating with one of the tips 6.

[0080] The movable assembly 19 of the lower pipette part 4 is fixedly connected to a guide rod 38 of the piston holder 34. The guide rod 38 extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis 14, for example being centred on the latter, implying that this rod 38 also extends orthogonally to the piston holder 34. It passes through the handle 2, being slidably mounted along the axis 14, in a fixed guide member 40 forming an integral part of the lower part of the pipette 4, while also penetrating into the handle 2.

[0081] More specifically, the guide rod 38 slidably housed in the fixed guide member 40, along the axis 14 is shown with reference to FIG. 3. Provision is made, radially between the two, of a return spring 42 for pipetting operations, and a purge spring 44. These are cylindrical helical compression springs, axially bearing against the guide rod 38. In the upper part of this rod 38, a shoulder 46a cooperates with an inner surface of the hollow guide member 40, so as to form a first sliding pivot connection. In addition, at its lower end, the guide member 40 has a bore 46b through which the rod 38 passes with minimal clearance, so as to form a second sliding pivot connection spaced from the first one in the direction 15. The spacing between the two connections is thus as high as possible, so as to obtain efficient guiding and to best limit the parasitic clearances of the guide rod 38.

[0082] For this first preferred embodiment, FIGS. 3 to 5 show one of the particularities of the pipette concerning the arrangement of the chambers 13a, 13b, and the pistons 20a, 20b. The pistons are disposed in a staggered manner, so as to form two transverse and parallel rows. First pistons 20a form a first row of pistons by fitting in a first transverse plane P1 of the pipette, that is to say that the piston axes 48a of these first pistons 20a are all fitted in the same transverse plane P1, parallel to directions 10 and 15. Similarly, second pistons 20b form a second row of pistons by being inscribed in a second transverse plane P2 of the pipette, parallel to and distinct from the plane P1. The piston axes 48b of these second pistons 20b are thus all inscribed in the same second transverse plane P2, also parallel to the directions 10 and 15. Furthermore, in this first embodiment, the piston axes 48a, 48b are parallel to each other, and the two planes P1, P2 located on either side of the axis 14. This particular arrangement of the pistons also applies to the suction chambers 13a, 13b. Indeed, the chambers are disposed in a staggered manner, so as to form two transverse and parallel rows. First chambers 13a form a first row of chambers by fitting in the first transverse plane P1, that is to say that the chamber axes 50a of these first chambers 13a are all fitted in the same transverse plane P1, being coincident in pairs with the piston axes 48a of the first associated pistons 20a. Similarly, second chambers 13b form a second row of chambers by fitting in the second transverse plane P2, that is to say that the chamber axes 50b of these second chambers 13b are all fitted in the same second transverse plane P2, merging in pairs with the piston axes 48b of the associated second pistons 20b.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 6, to achieve this particular arrangement, the piston holder 34 includes a first series of seats 52a aligned in the transverse plane P1, and a second series of seats 52b aligned in the plane P2. The seats 52a are provided to house the piston heads 56 of the first pistons 20a, while the seats 52b are provided to house the piston heads 56 of the first pistons 20b.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows that the lower end of each piston 20a, 20b is provided with a seal 47, bearing against an inner surface 49 of the associated suction chamber 13a, 13b. The seal 47, for example made of elastomer material, is preferably a lip seal, even if other shapes can be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0085] The manner wherein the piston heads 56 cooperate with the piston holder is specific to the present invention, and it will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In this regard, it is noted that the teachings of this FIG. 6 apply both to the first and second pistons 20a, 20b. In the following, for convenience, reference will only be made to a first piston 20a.

[0086] First of all, the piston holder 34 is made in two parts 34a, 34b, fixed on each other by being stacked in the direction 15. The main part 34a is located above the other, and it is this main part which has a lower surface structured so as to reveal the seats 52a, 52b open downwards, for the reception of the piston heads 56. The other part 34b forms a simple closing cover, pierced with passage orifices 58 for the pistons 20a, 20b. The passage orifices 58 are thus aligned in pairs with the seats 52a, 52b, in order to form spaces 60 wherein the piston heads 56 are arranged. Alternatively, it remains possible to produce the piston holder 34 in a single part, that is to say made integrally/in one-piece, for example by moulding. This solution of producing the rake 34 in one-piece is moreover preferred, for example, for the pipette lower parts intended for sampling small volumes, such as 200 or 300 .Math.L.

[0087] FIG. 6 shows a mechanical connection 62 for mounting the piston head 56 on the piston holder 34. This connection 62 is preferably that adopted for all the pistons 20a, 20b of the pipette. It includes two contact points 64a, 64b jointly defining an axis of rotation of the piston head 66. This two-point connection 62 is such that the axis of rotation of the piston head 66 is oriented orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to the transverse direction 10, and to the axis 14. In other words, this axis of rotation 66 is oriented orthogonally to the bar-shaped piston holder 34, which allows the piston 20a to pivot around its head relative to the pistons 34, in a transverse plane defined by these same two elements 20a, 34.

[0088] The two contact points 64a, 64b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the piston axis 48a, being moreover diametrically opposite on the seat 52a.

[0089] To maintain the two contact points 64a, 64b, the device 32 also includes a return spring 68 forcing the piston head 56 upwards, against the seat 52a of the piston holder 34. The spring 68 is here a helical spring of generally conical shape, with a section tapering from the bottom upwards, and preferably centred on the piston axis 48a. The shape and orientation of this spring 68 facilitate the pivoting of the piston head 56 around the axis of rotation 66, while ensuring the axial pressing of the piston 20a against the piston holder 34. The spring 68, housed in the space 60 thus has a lower end bearing against the closure cover 34b, and an upper end of smaller diameter, bearing against a shoulder 70 of the piston 20a.

[0090] FIGS. 7a to 7g show several geometric alternatives for obtaining the two contact points 64a, 64b of the mechanical mounting connection 62.

[0091] First of all in FIG. 7a, provision is made on the piston head 56 of a surface 70 centred on the piston axis 48a, this surface 70 here being toroidal. It resides in bi-punctual bearing on two members 72 of the seat 52a, arranged symmetrically with respect to the piston axis 48a. Here, the two members 72 are two flat surfaces inclined with respect to each other and parallel to the transverse direction 10, these surfaces 72 also being visible in FIG. 5b.

[0092] In FIG. 7b, the surface 70 is a spherical surface, and it contacts the two inclined flat surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder.

[0093] In FIG. 7c, the surface 70 is a conical surface, and it contacts two spherical surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder.

[0094] In FIG. 7d, the surface 70 is a flat surface orthogonal to the piston axis 48a, and it contacts two spherical surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder.

[0095] In FIG. 7e, the surface 70 is a spherical surface provided on the piston, and it contacts two spherical surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder.

[0096] In FIG. 7f, the surface 70 is a spherical surface, and it contacts two cylindrical surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder, with intersecting axes at a point of the piston axis 48a. Finally, in FIG. 7g, the surface 70 is a toroidal surface with axis 48a, and it contacts two cylindrical surfaces 72 provided on the piston holder, still with intersecting axes at a point on the piston axis 48a.

[0097] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the various advantages conferred by the invention will be described.

[0098] First of all, thanks to the flexibility introduced into the mechanical mounting connection 62, the piston head 56 of each piston 20a, 20b can indeed pivot around its axis of rotation 66 defined by the two contact points 64a, 64b. This degree of freedom of movement allows to limit the rake effect on the piston holder 34, which advantageously leads to gains in terms of precision/repeatability, and obtaining better gravimetric performance. This degree of freedom of movement also allows to limit friction and the risks of jamming of the elements moving in translation, in particular the piston holder 34 and the pistons 20a, 20b. This advantageously results in a reduction in pipetting and purging forces, thus leading to better ergonomics of use of the pipette.

[0099] Moreover, thanks to the particular positioning of the two contact points 64a, 64b, it is possible to easily take up the parasitic torque resulting from the return and/or purge spring, this torque being exerted along the axis 14 and being referenced schematically by the arrow 74 in FIG. 8. This take-up takes place using the seals 47 equipping the lower end of the pistons 20a, 20b. Indeed, this parasitic torque 74 is directly transmitted to the piston holder 34, then to the pistons 20a, 20b, and finally to the seals 47 which establish radial contact points 76 on the inner surface 49 of their respective chambers 13a, 13b. These radial contacts, one of which is schematically referenced by the arrow 78 in FIG. 8, are maintained without parasitic rotation of the piston in a plane integrating the axis 66 and parallel to the direction 15, in particular thanks to the return force of the spring 68 referenced schematically by the arrow 80 in FIG. 9.

[0100] This way of taking up the parasitic torque along the axis 14, via the piston seals 47, greatly limits the rake effect while reducing the friction of the moving elements of the pipette. The gravimetric performance is increased, and pipetting and purging forces are reduced. Furthermore, the use of the piston seals 47 to take up this parasitic torque along the axis 14 allows to simplify the design of the pipette, and to reduce its weight. Indeed, the opposite transverse ends of the piston holder 34 no longer need to be individually guided by fixed parts of the pipette, and they are moreover preferentially free in the interior space defined by the cover 17 of the lower part, as seen in FIG. 2a. “Free” ends, mean ends having no direct mechanical connection with the other parts of the pipette, in particular with the fixed parts.

[0101] Finally, the proposed solution also allows the piston seals 47 to withstand a high number of autoclave cycles, while providing the required seal at their associated chambers 13a, 13b. In this respect, it is noted that in a known and widely used manner in the field of pipetting systems, the autoclave consists of an operation allowing to sterilise parts in the presence of saturated steam, under certain temperature and pressure conditions. The combined action of temperature, pressure and water vapour can modify the dimensions of parts and in particular joints. Nevertheless, thanks to the degree of freedom of rotation given to each piston, the invention allows the seal to continue to ensure good sealing in its chamber, even with limited contact, because its position always remains optimal due to its ability to be repositioned in the chamber. FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the piston heads 56 are all aligned along a transverse line 84 arranged parallel to the transverse planes P1 and P2 defined by the axes 50a, 50b of the chambers 13a, 13b, remaining arranged in a staggered manner. The transverse line 84 is also located between the two planes P1 and P2. Consequently, the piston axes 48a, 48b are all inclined with respect to their corresponding chamber axes 50a, 50b, in a given direction for the first pistons 20a, and in the opposite direction for the second pistons 20b. The inclination of the piston axes 48a, 48b evolves during translation, but within a fairly small range of angles, ranging for example from 5 to 10°. The evolution of this inclination, during pipetting, is allowed by the elastic deformation of the springs 68 within the mechanical connections 62.

[0102] In this second embodiment, the seats 52a, 52b for receiving the piston heads 56 can also be all aligned on the piston holder 34, along the transverse line 84. This advantageously limits any secondary rake effect, likely to result from the offset between the two transverse rows of seats 52a, 52b, for example visible in FIGS. 5a, and 5b.

[0103] Of course, various modifications can be made by the person skilled in the art to the invention which has just been described, only by way of non-limiting examples, and the scope of which is limited by the appended claims. For example, the invention could also apply to cases where the axes of all the chambers and the axes of all the pistons are located in the same plane, as shown in the third embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14, for example intended for lower volume samplings.

[0104] In this third embodiment, the features of which can be combined and/or interchangeable with those of the embodiments described above, each tip 6 is made in one-piece with its associated suction chamber 13a, 13b.

[0105] In these FIGS. 12 to 14, only the upper part of the head of each piston 20a, 20b has been shown. The lower part, not shown, is intended to be coupled with this upper part. According to a first possibility, for example considered for the sampling of volumes of the 200 and 300 .Math.L type, the lower part of the piston is provided to receive the tip 100 of the upper part by fitting. According to a second possibility, for example considered for the sampling of smaller volumes of the 10 or 20 .Math.L type, it is the lower part of the piston which is provided for coupling by press-fitting into the bore 102 of the upper part incorporating the piston head 56.

[0106] In this third embodiment, another particularity lies in the elastic return means for holding the piston head 56 against the rake 34. These means here take the form of a clip 104 made in a wired manner, in particular comprising two end branches 106 each substantially orthogonal to the directions 10 and 15, and axially bearing against two piston heads 56, respectively. The clip adopts a general C shape, with the lower part of the C formed by the two substantially parallel end branches 106, with the upper part 108 of the C axially bearing against an upper surface of the rake 34, and with a central part 110 of the C bypassing the rake 34 in the direction orthogonal to the direction 10.

[0107] Consequently, each clip 104 is produced by a deformed wire which, thanks to its general C shape and its two end branches 106, allows to apply the return force to two adjacent piston heads 56. Alternatively, each wire-made clip could maintain a general U-shape, but apply a return force to only one piston head 56.