Holding apparatus for holding a pipetting container at a pipetting device

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding apparatus for holding a pipetting container, in particular a serological pipette, at a pipetting apparatus, comprising a tubular connecting section that is configured to hold a tube-shaped end of a pipetting container in a pipetting position by means of a clamping connection, a clamping connection device that is arranged at the connecting section and that comprises a spring device for the establishment of the clamping connection and an air chamber device for releasing the clamping connection by means of a vacuum. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pipetting apparatus with that holding apparatus.

Claims

1. Holding apparatus (5; 50; 50′; 100) for holding a pipetting container (9; 9′), at a pipetting apparatus (1), comprising a tubular connecting section (51; 51′; 101), that is configured to hold a tubular end (9d) of the pipetting container (9; 9′) in a pipetting position with a clamping connection, the pipetting position allowing pipetting of a liquid into the pipetting container by means of the pipetting apparatus, a clamping connection device (102; 103), which is arranged at the connecting section and which comprises a spring device (102) for the establishment of the clamping connection, and an air chamber device (103) for releasing the clamping connection, wherein the spring device (102) is configured to exert a spring force (F), by way of which the tubular end of the pipetting container is held at the connecting section in the pipetting position, wherein the spring device (102) comprises a spring element, which effectuates said spring force and which is arranged in an air chamber of the air chamber device, and the air chamber device (103) is configured to be deformed in the pipetting position by a partial vacuum applied to the air chamber, thereby the spring device being elastically deformed such that the clamping connection being released.

2. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting section (101) comprises an inner compartment (54; 104) and is configured to accommodate in an acceptance position of the clamping connection device in the inner compartment (54; 104) the tubular end of the pipetting container.

3. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the pipetting container, wherein the tubular connecting section of the holding apparatus is configured to engage the tubular end of the pipetting container in an acceptance position, wherein the tubular connecting section features an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular end of the pipetting container.

4. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air chamber device (103) comprises an elastically deformable membrane element (103c).

5. Holding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the membrane element (103c) is part of the air chamber (103a) of the air chamber device or establishes the air chamber (103a).

6. Holding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the air chamber (103a) is tubular and arranged coaxially with the connecting section (101).

7. Holding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the air chamber device comprises a connection (103b), with which the partial vacuum can be applied in the air chamber device and the clamping connection device is configured such that a deflection (B) of the membrane element, which strains the spring device by its elastic deformation, can be generated by the partial vacuum.

8. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring device comprises a polymeric foam piece, which acts as a spring element.

9. Holding apparatus according to the claim 8, wherein the foam piece is of tubular shape and the air chamber is configured for the acceptance of the foam piece.

10. Holding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the foam piece consists of an open-pore polymer foam.

11. Holding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the open-pore polymer foam is a polyurethane foam.

12. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in an acceptance position, in which the tubular end can be connected with the connecting section, the spring element is under tension and is compressed, wherein the spring element is less compressed in the pipetting position, in which the pipetting container is slipped onto the connecting section, than in the acceptance position.

13. Pipetting apparatus (1) for the pipetting of a fluid sample (9a) by aspiration into a pipetting container (9) by means of air under a pipetting pressure (9b), that comprises a holding apparatus according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Pipetting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein either a) the holding apparatus is a permanent component of the pipetting apparatus, or b) the holding apparatus is a modular component of the pipetting apparatus and that can be removed from it again.

15. Pipetting apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a pumping device (7) for generating the pipetting pressure in a pipetting channel (21), which extends through a case of the pipetting apparatus into the connecting section of the holding apparatus, wherein the air chamber device of the holding apparatus is connected to an aspiration channel (22) in the pipetting apparatus, wherein the partial vacuum, which is effective in the air chamber device, can be applied to the aspiration channel, wherein the pipetting apparatus comprises a valve device (31; 32), with which either a fluidic connection of an aspiration inlet of the pumping device with the pipetting channel (21) or a fluidic connection of the aspiration inlet of the pumping device with the aspiration channel (22) is established.

16. Pipetting apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an electronic control device (8), at least one operating element (11; 12) for activating and/or deactivating the pipetting of the fluid sample by aspiration into the pipetting container and at least one operating part (15) for releasing the clamping connection of the pipetting container with the holding apparatus, wherein the control device is configured for the control of the pumping device (7) and of the valve device (31; 32).

17. Pipetting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control device (8) is configured such that the fluidic connection between the pumping device (7) and the pipetting channel (21) is closed, if the fluidic connection between the pumping device (7) and the aspiration channel (22) is open and the pumping device is activated, and such that the fluidic connection between the pumping device (7) and the aspiration channel (22) is closed if the fluidic connection between the pumping device (7) and the pipetting channel (21) is open and the pumping device is activated.

18. Holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pipetting container is a serological pipette.

Description

(1) Further preferred embodiments and features of the holding apparatus and/or pipetting apparatus according to the present invention ensue from the following description of the embodiment examples in connection with the figures and their description. Equal components of the embodiment examples are essentially labeled with the same labels, if it is not described differently or can be inferred differently from the context. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 displays a schematic lateral view of a first embodiment example of the pipetting apparatus according to the present invention that comprises an exemplary holding apparatus according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2a displays in a schematic lateral cross section an embodiment example of the holding apparatus according to the present invention, in an acceptance position of the clamping connection device.

(4) FIG. 2b displays in a schematic lateral cross section the holding apparatus of FIG. 2a, in a pipetting position of the clamping connection device.

(5) FIG. 3a displays in a schematic lateral view a holding apparatus according to the present invention according to a first embodiment example that in principle corresponds to the embodiment example of FIG. 2a, 2b.

(6) FIG. 3b displays in a schematic lateral view a holding apparatus according to the present invention according to a second preferred embodiment example.

(7) FIG. 4 displays a circuit diagram of the fluid-technical circuit in which the clamping connection device of the holding apparatus from FIG. 3a, the valve device of the pipetting apparatus from FIG. 1 and two 3/2 directional control valve are connected to a pumping device of the pipetting apparatus.

(8) FIG. 5 displays a schematic lateral view of the holding apparatus according to the present invention according to an embodiment example.

(9) FIG. 6 displays a schematic lateral view of a pipetting apparatus that comprises the holding apparatus from FIG. 5.

(10) FIG. 1 displays a schematic lateral view of a first embodiment example of the pipetting apparatus 1 that is equipped with a holding apparatus 5 according to the present invention. The pipetting apparatus is a single-handedly manually operable device that is employed in particular in chemical, biological and/or medical laboratories. It comprises a case 2 with a handle section 3 and a support section 4, at the end of which pointing downwards the holding apparatus 5 is located. The pipetting apparatus comprises a battery 6 and, powered by this, a diaphragm pump 7. The diaphragm pump 7 generates on the one hand the partial vacuum/pressure for pipetting the fluid sample 9a, on the other hand a partial vacuum/pressure for operating the air chamber device of the clamping connection device of the holding apparatus 5, as will be explained in the following.

(11) The pipetting container 9 is a serological pipette. Its tubular end 9d is connected to the connecting section of the holding apparatus 5 by means of the clamping connection device of the holding apparatus 5.

(12) Here, the holding apparatus 5 is configured as an integral part of a pipetting apparatus. It can also be configured simply as a modular component that can be connected optionally—in particular by a user—with the pipetting apparatus and be released again from it. In the case of a modular construction the pipetting channel of a pipetting apparatus and the pipetting channel of a holding apparatus can be connected divisibly, and also the aspiration channel of the pipetting apparatus can be connected divisibly with a corresponding aspiration channel.

(13) FIG. 2a displays in a schematic lateral cross section a holding apparatus 100, in an acceptance position of the clamping connection device, in which a tubular end of a pipetting container 9, in particular of a serological pipette, can be accepted by the holding apparatus by placing the tubular end in the acceptance compartment 104 of the connecting section 101 and subsequently actuating the clamping connection device 102, 103 in order to establish the pipetting position. The holding apparatus can be implemented as the holding apparatus 5 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2b displays a holding apparatus 100 in the pipetting position of the clamping connection device, in which the tubular end of the pipetting container 9, in particular a serological pipette, is held in a power-matched manner by the holding apparatus.

(14) The holding apparatus 100 for holding a pipetting container, in particular a serological pipette, comprises: a tubular connecting section 101 that is configured to hold the straight tubular end of a pipetting container in a pipetting position by means of a clamping connection on the pipetting apparatus, a clamping connection device 102, 103 that is arranged on the connecting section 101 and that comprises a spring device 102 for establishing the clamping connection and an air chamber device for releasing the clamping connection, in which the spring device 102 is configured to exert force effective radially inward and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A, by which the tubular end of the pipetting container is held in a force-matched manner at the connecting section in the pipetting position. The air chamber 103a of the air chamber device 103 is configured to be deformed in the pipetting position by partial vacuum applied to the air chamber 103a via the inlet 103b, by which the spring device 102 is deformed elastically so that the clamping connection is released.

(15) The connecting section 101 is configured to accept in the pipetting position the tubular end of the pipetting container in its inner compartment. The connecting section can be a tubular polymer part that can be connected to the pipetting apparatus 1 or that can be part of a pipetting apparatus. In the embodiment example of FIG. 2a, b the connecting section 101 comprises a cylindrical acceptance compartment 104, in which essentially the clamping connection device 102, 103 is arranged.

(16) The air chamber device 103 comprises an elastically deformable membrane element 103c. This is essentially a cylindrical molded elastomer part that is arranged coaxially to the axis A with the holding section 101. The upper end 103c.1 of the membrane element 103c is connected with the upper end 101.1 of the holding section 101, in particular the acceptance compartment 104, and the lower end 103c.2 of the membrane element 103c is connected with the lower end 101.2 of the holding section 101, in particular the acceptance compartment 104. As the membrane 103c is connected with the holding section 101, an air tight air chamber 103a is formed between the membrane 103c and the holding section 101, that can be pressurized with a partial vacuum via the closable inlet 103b, that can be generated by a pumping device (not shown) of the holding apparatus that is connected to the inlet 103b. The membrane can be connected to the holding section 101, by reverting the cylindrical end 103c.1, 103c.2 each over the end 101.1 and 101.2 and can be held in this position by an elastic tension. The membrane can also be connected in a material-matched manner with the holding apparatus 101, in particular by a glued and/or welded connection. The membrane element 103c constitutes together with the holding section the air chamber 103a.

(17) The air chamber device 103 comprises an inlet 103b, with which the partial vacuum can be applied to the air chamber device. In this, the clamping connection device is configured so that a radially inward pointing deflection movement B of the membrane element can be effectuated by the partial vacuum, which strains the spring device 102 by its elastic deformation.

(18) By venting the air chamber 103a the spring device relaxes partially from its elastically compressed state and generates the force F if the membrane of the membrane element 103c is pushed radially inwards and meets the tubular end of the pipetting container. In this state (pipetting position) the spring element is still partially elastically compressed. The membrane acts as a fixation element for fixing the pipetting container at the holding apparatus. The force F results in an effective axial frictional force that holds the pipetting container against a displacement along the axis A at the holding apparatus.

(19) The spring device 102 comprises a spring element that effectuates the spring force F and that is arranged in the air chamber 103a of the air chamber device 103. Here, the spring element is essentially a tube-shaped foam part of open-pore polyurethane foam. This part is arranged between the membrane and the inside of the holding section 101.

(20) The spring element 102 in the acceptance position in FIG. 2a is strained resp. compressed. In the pipetting position, in which the pipetting container is slipped onto the connecting section, the spring element is partially strained, resp. less compressed than in the acceptance position.

(21) FIG. 3a displays in a schematic lateral view the holding apparatus 50 according to on first preferred embodiment example. The connecting section 51 of the holding apparatus 50 is configured to accept in the pipetting position the tubular end of the pipetting container, here a pipette tip 9′, in its inner compartment, by having the tubular end engage the acceptance compartment 54 of the connecting section 51. The clamping connection device 52 that is arranged in the acceptance compartment is “deactivated” by applying the vacuum via the aspiration channel 22, resp. “activated” by venting via the aspiration channel 22, as it has been explained in the example of the FIGS. 2a, 2c. Pipetting is carried out via the pipetting channel 21.

(22) FIG. 3b displays in a schematic lateral view a holding apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment example. The connecting section 51′ of the holding apparatus 50′ is configured to reach in the pipetting position into the tubular end of the pipetting container, here a pipette tip 9′. The clamping connection device arranged externally at the lower end of the connecting section is “deactivated” by applying the vacuum via the aspiration channel 22, resp. “activated” by venting via the aspiration channel 22. The deactivation generates, by means of the pumping power, a vacuum in the air chamber device that compresses the spring device. By this the air chamber device is deformed, in particular a membrane is pulled radially inwards, so that the connecting section can accept the tubular open end of the pipetting container, by the connecting section being able to engage the open tubular end (acceptance position). The “activation” of the clamping connection device 52′ occurs by venting the air chamber device, by enabling the spring device to partially decompress in order to expand radially outwards and to press the membrane against the inner wall of the tubular end of the pipetting container. Pipetting is carried out via the pipetting channel 21.

(23) The pipetting apparatus displayed in FIG. 1 serves for the pipetting of a fluid sample (9a) by aspiration into a pipetting container (9) by means of air under a pipetting pressure (9b), that comprises in particular a holding apparatus 100.

(24) The pipetting apparatus comprises a pumping device for generating the pipetting pressure in a pipetting channel that extends through the pipetting apparatus into the connecting section 101 of the holding apparatus, in which the air chamber device of the holding apparatus is connected with an aspiration channel in the pipetting apparatus, in which the partial vacuum that is effective in the air chamber device can be applied, in which the pipetting apparatus comprises a valve device, by the means of which either a fluidic connection of the aspiration inlet of the pumping device with the pipetting channel or a fluidic connection of the aspiration inlet of the pumping device with the aspiration channel can be established.

(25) The pipetting apparatus comprises an electronic control device 8, two operating elements 11, 12 for activating and/or deactivating the pipetting of the fluid sample by aspiration (11) into the pipetting container or for the release (12) of the fluid sample from the pipetting container by generating an overpressure. The pipetting apparatus comprises an operating element 15 for establishing the acceptance position resp. for releasing the clamping connection of the pipetting container with the holding apparatus, in which the control device is configured to address the pump device 7 and the valve device 10.

(26) FIG. 4 displays a circuit diagram of the fluid-technical circuit in which the clamping connection device of the holding apparatus 50, the valve device 10 and the valves 31, 32 are connected with the diaphragm pump 7. Here, the valves 31, 32 are each 3/2 directional control valves.

(27) The control device 8 is configured such that the fluidic connection between the pumping device and the pipetting channel 21 is closes if the fluidic connection between the pumping device and the aspiration channel 22 is open and the pumping device 7 is activated, and that the fluidic connection between the pumping device 7 and the aspiration channel 22 is closed if the fluidic connection between the pumping device 7 and the pipetting channel 21 is open and the pumping device 7 is activated.

(28) The pipetting apparatus 1 comprises a first operating element 11, with which the user controls the pipetting power of the aspiration of the fluid sample and thus the velocity of the sample intake. The pipetting apparatus comprises a second operating element 12 with which the user controls the pipetting power of the release of the fluid sample and thus the velocity of the sample release. The control device 8 is configured such and a first 3/2 directional control 31 acts together with the pressure adjustment device 7, the pipetting channel 21, the aspiration channel 22 and a venting channel 33 that is open to the surrounding in such a way that, upon the actuation of the first operating element 31, the aspiration channel 22 is closed and the pipetting channel 21 is connected with the pressure adjustment device—e.g. pumping device 7—, in particular the inlet of the pumping device 7, that a partial vacuum is generated in the pipetting channel 21, with which the fluid sample can be aspirated into the pipetting container 9. Furthermore, the control device 8 is configured such and a second 3/2 directional control valve acts together with the pressure adjustment device 7, the pipetting channel 21, and the aspiration channel 22 in such a way that, upon actuation of the operating element 12, the aspiration channel 22 is closed and connected with the pressure adjustment device—e.g. the pumping device 7—, in particular the outlet of the pumping device, that atmospheric pressure or overpressure is applied in the pipetting channel 21, with which the fluid sample can be release from the pipetting container 9.

(29) The pipetting apparatus comprises a control device, with which the user can control the clamping connection device 52, (102, 103) of the holding apparatus 50, 100. For the control device, in particular in addition to the first 11 and second operating element 12, an operating element 15 (switch, push button, etc.) is employed that switches in particular the valves 31, 32 and that in particular activates the pressure adjustment device 7, in particular the pumping device. The operating element 15 is a three-position-button, with which in particular the three states of the aspiration channel 22 “vacuum”, “off”, “pressure” can be selected. Via the operating element 15, a vacuum can be built up upon the first actuation—in particular time-controlled. Upon the second actuation of the operating element 15, preferably the reduction of the vacuum is effectuated and thereby by means of the spring element 102 the pipetting position is established.

(30) In FIG. 5 an example of the holding apparatus 200 according to the present invention is displayed, which is a modular component. The modular holding apparatus can be operated independently of a pipetting apparatus. For the intended use it is connected with an appropriate pipetting apparatus, as will be explained below in relation to FIG. 6. The essential components of the holding apparatus from FIG. 2a are integrated into the holding apparatus in FIG. 5, that have already been expounded in relation to FIG. 2a—the pipetting position that is not shown in FIG. 5 would thus correspond to the FIG. 2b. A repetition is therefore avoided. The labels in FIG. 5 are named in analogy to the FIGS. 2a/2b, in which each first cipher “1” of the labels in FIG. 2a was replaced by a first cipher “2” of the labels in FIG. 5. As an example, the connecting section 201 corresponds to the connecting section 101 etc.

(31) The modular component 200 can be connected by the user to the pipetting apparatus—and be released from it again—, by connecting it via an attachment connector 220, that comprises for example a thread or a lock device, with a matching complimentary attachment connector of a pipetting apparatus. The holding apparatus comprises an individual case 210 that serves as base part, in which all further constituents of the holding apparatus are arranged resp. fixed. The pipetting channel of the pipetting apparatus can, in this embodiment, be connected fluidicly with the pipetting channel 230 of the holding apparatus, resp. the acceptance compartment 204 of the holding apparatus. The fluidic connection of the two pipetting channel is realized in a fluidic tight way by means of a seal device, so that no leak exists between the pipetting channels, which would alter the pressure applied by the pipetting apparatus in the pipetting channel 230. In FIG. 5 a hollow body 216 of an elastomeric material is provided as seal device, e.g. silicone, through which the pipetting channel extends such that it merges with the acceptance compartment 204 of the holding apparatus at the one (lower) end and that it is open at the other end, in order to be connected to the pipetting channel of the pipetting apparatus. Here, the hollow body is a part of the shape of a hollow cylinder, the lower end of which is connected, in particular glued, in a fluid-tight way with the upper end 203c.1 of the membrane element 203cc and/or the upper end of the connecting section 201. The upper end of the silicon hollow body 216 extends over the edge of the thread 220, in order to be compressed in axial direction when the pipetting apparatus and the holding apparatus are connected and to so serve as a sealing element.

(32) The modular component comprises preferably a filter element 218 that is arranged between the pipetting channel 230 and the pipetting channel of the pipetting apparatus, when the modular component 200 is connected with the pipetting apparatus. The filter element is permeable to air and impermeable to liquids. This allows for the pipetting (aspiration, extrusion, resp. pressure equalization) between the mentioned pipetting channels during pipetting and prevents that a liquid is aspirated into the pipetting apparatus or flows into it in case the user accidentally aspirates a too big volume or rotates the pipetting apparatus with a filled pipette accidentally further than the horizontal orientation. Here, the filter element 218 is a porous, cylindrical part that is inserted into the pipetting channel, resp. into a channel formed by the seal device 216 in such a way that a liquid that has reached in a case of error the acceptance compartment 204 resp. the section of the pipette that is mounted there cannot bypass between the filter element and the inner wall of the seal device 216. As soon as the filter element is impregnated with a liquid, the filter element becomes impermeable to air and a further pipetting of air resp. the liquid is impeded, the pipetting channel is locked and the filter element thus protects the valve device and the pump of the pipetting apparatus. The continued use of the pipetting system is possibly only after the exchange of the filter element 218. The filter element is a disposable item. It consists preferably of a hydrophobic filter material, in particular of hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or comprises such material. Steam or moisture do not wet such material.

(33) In a modular embodiment, the operating element 213 for operating the clamping connection device is part of the modular component, in particular—operable by the user—integrated into the case 210 of the holding apparatus. The holding apparatus 200 comprises an electronic control device that is configured to control the pump 214, in particular in function of control parameters that are affected by the control device, by the means of which the user activates the pump in order to open the clamping connection (acceptance position, corresponding to FIG. 2a, 5) and by the means of which the user activates the clamping connection by the deactivation of the pump (pipetting position, corresponding to FIG. 2b). The electronic control device comprises at least one switch for closing resp. opening an electric contact, but it can also comprise an electronic circuit. In particular the electronic control device can comprise a battery management system, by which the charging of a, in this case, rechargeable battery 215 is controlled.

(34) The holding apparatus comprises an individual pumping device 214 for the generation of the pipetting pressure in the aspiration channel 203 of the holding apparatus that is connected fluidicly with the air chamber 203a of the holding apparatus and by which the partial vacuum that is effective in the air chamber device can be applied. The pumping device is powered by a battery 215, that is also part of the holding apparatus 200. In this way, the clamping connection device, resp. the holding apparatus 200 is a self-contained operable device, that is a device that can operate without the support of a pipetting apparatus or another device.

(35) In the case of the modular implementation of the holding apparatus 200, the invention relates in particular to the system 400 displayed in FIG. 6, that a) comprises a pipetting apparatus 300 for pipetting a liquid sample (9a) by aspiration into a pipetting container (9) by means of air under the pipetting pressure and b) a holding apparatus that can be optionally connected to the pipetting apparatus and be released again; c) optionally: and adapter for connecting the holding apparatus with the pipetting apparatus.

(36) The pipetting apparatus comprises a connecting section 320 that is complementary to the connecting section 220 of the holding apparatus 200, that is thus configured to be connected with the latter, so that the holding apparatus 200 is firmly connected with the pipetting apparatus and the pipetting channel of the pipetting apparatus is connected in a fluid-tight way with the pipetting channel 230 of the holding apparatus. In the case that the pipetting apparatus 300 does not comprise a complementary connecting section: The connecting section 320 can also be part of a specific adapter for the pipetting apparatus 300, which can be connected with a specific connecting section of the pipetting apparatus 300, in order to facilitate the attachment of the holding apparatus 200 via the connecting sections 220, 320.