PIPETTING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF PROCESSING A FLUID SAMPLE

Abstract

A pipetting device for processing a fluid sample includes a receiving element and a pipette tip detachably arranged on the receiving element, a displacement element flow-connected to the pipette tip for generating a flow for receiving or ejecting the fluid sample. The pipetting device includes an optically transparent extension detachably arranged on the pipette tip in such a way that the extension is flow-connected to the displacement element via the pipette tip, so that the fluid sample can be received into the extension or can be ejected from the extension by the flow that can be generated by the displacement element.

Claims

1. A pipetting device for processing a fluid sample comprising: a receiving element; a pipette tip detachably arranged on the receiving element; a displacement element flow-connected to the pipette tip and configured to generate a flow for receiving or ejecting the fluid sample, the pipetting device comprising an optically transparent extension detachably arranged on the pipette tip such that the extension is flow-connected to the displacement element via the pipette tip, so that the fluid sample is capable of being received into the extension or is capable of being ejected from the extension by the flow generated by displacement element.

2. The pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement element is integrated into the receiving element.

3. The pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein the extension comprises an attachment region and is arranged on the pipette tip and comprises a measuring region arranged on the attachment region at which an analysis of the fluid sample is configured to be performed.

4. The pipetting device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment region is arranged at a dispensing region of the pipette tip, at the dispensing region configured to receive the fluid sample into the pipette tip and eject the fluid sample from the pipette tip.

5. The pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein the optically transparent extension comprises a polymer.

6. The pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein the optically transparent extension includes an amorphous polymer.

7. The pipetting device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the optically transparent extension is rectangular.

8. An optically transparent extension for the pipetting device according to claim, comprising: an amorphous polymer.

9. An automated laboratory apparatus for processing a fluid sample, comprising: a treatment chamber configured to receive the fluid sample; the pipetting device according to claim 1, arranged in the treatment chamber and configured to perform a processing step on the fluid sample; a movement device movably arranged in a first spatial direction of the treatment chamber, the movement device connected to the pipetting device such that the pipetting device is capable of being moved through the treatment chamber by the movement device; a detection device arranged in the treatment chamber and configured to analyze the fluid sample; and an electronic controller signal-connected to the pipetting device, the movement device and the detection device.

10. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection device comprises a radiation source configured to irradiate the fluid sample with a primary radiation and a detector configured to receive a secondary radiation originating from the fluid sample.

11. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the detector is a UV-VIS-NIR spectrometer or a diode.

12. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the radiation source is a deuterium lamp, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury vapor lamp, or a LED.

13. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the detection device comprises a plurality of detectors or radiation sources.

14. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a container configured to receive the fluid samples arranged in the treatment chamber.

15. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the container is a microtiter plate.

16. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection device is a photometer.

17. The automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movement device is configured to be moved in a second spatial direction of the treatment chamber, the second spatial direction orthogonal to the first spatial direction, and in a third spatial direction of the treatment chamber, the third spatial direction orthogonal to the first spatial direction and the second spatial direction.

18. A method of processing a fluid sample with an automated laboratory apparatus comprising: providing an automated laboratory apparatus according to claim 9; introducing the fluid sample into the treatment chamber; receiving the fluid sample into the optically transparent extension by the pipetting device; moving the pipetting device by the movement device through the treatment chamber to the detection device; introducing the optically transparent extension with the fluid sample into the detection device; analyzing the fluid sample by the detection device.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising receiving a liquid into the pipette tip and ejecting the liquid from the pipette tip prior to receiving the fluid sample into the optically transparent extension, and subsequently arranging the extension on the pipette tip.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising irradiating the fluid sample with a primary radiation by means a radiation source of the detection device and receiving a secondary radiation originating from the fluid sample by a detector of the detection device.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising determining a concentration of the fluid sample based on the secondary radiation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Embodiments of the invention will be explained on more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an automated laboratory apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention:

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an automated laboratory apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0050] FIG. 3A-F illustrates a schematic representation of the use of the pipetting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an automated laboratory apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0052] The automated laboratory apparatus 10 for processing a fluid sample 71 comprises a treatment chamber 100 for receiving the fluid sample and a pipetting device 1 according to an embodiment of invention, which pipetting device 1 is arranged in the treatment chamber 100 to perform at least one processing step on the fluid sample 71.

[0053] The pipetting device 1 for processing a fluid sample 71 comprises a receiving element 11 and a pipette tip 12 detachably arranged on the receiving element 11 and a displacement element (which is integrated into the receiving element 11) flow-connected to the pipette tip 12 for generating a flow for receiving and/or ejecting the fluid sample 71.

[0054] Furthermore, the pipetting device 1 comprises an optically transparent extension 13, which extension 13 is arranged detachably on the pipette tip 12 in such a way that the extension 13 is flow-connected to the displacement element via the pipette tip 12, so that the fluid sample 71 can be received into the extension 13 and/or can be ejected from the extension 13 by the flow that can be generated by the displacement element.

[0055] In addition, the automated laboratory apparatus 10 comprises a movement device 4 arranged movably in at least one first spatial direction X of the treatment chamber 100. This movement device 4 is connected to the pipetting device 1 in such a way that the pipetting device can be moved through the treatment chamber 100 by the movement device 4. Furthermore, a detection device 5 is arranged in the treatment chamber 100 for analyzing the fluid sample 71, as well as an electronic control device (electronic controller) 3 which is signal-connected to the pipetting device 1, the movement device (mover) 4 and the detection device (detector) or analysis unit (analyzer) 5. In addition, a container 7 with a plurality of wells 70 for receiving the fluid samples 71 is arranged in the treatment chamber 100.

[0056] It is substantial that the extension 13 is optically transparent, because this is the only way to perform an analysis of the fluid sample 71 in the detection device 5.

[0057] The steps for processing/analyzing (method) of the fluid sample 71 are controlled by the electronic control device 3, which is signal-connected to the pipetting device 1, the movement device 4 and the detection device 5. Thus, it is predetermined by the electronic control device 3 that the fluid sample 71 is received into the extension 13 by actuating the displacement mechanism and is introduced with the extension 13 into the detection device 5 for analysis, so that the fluid sample 71 can be analyzed in the extension 13.

[0058] In the operating state, the control device 3 the control device 3 can thus send control signals to the pipetting device 1, the movement device 4, and the detection device 5 for performing various processing steps. Of course, the control device 3 can also receive signals from the pipetting device 1, the movement device 4 and the detection device 5. The signal connection is indicated by the dashed lines.

[0059] The detection device 5 is controlled by the control device 3 in such a way, that the analysis of the fluid sample 71 is performed after introduction of the extension 13. After analyzing the fluid samples 71, the measured data is transmitted from the detection device 5 to the control device 3 for evaluation.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an automated laboratory apparatus 10 according to the invention with a structure equivalent to the automated laboratory apparatus 10 according to FIG. 1.

[0061] However, the movement device 4 can additionally be moved in a second spatial direction Y of the treatment chamber, which is orthogonal to the first spatial direction X, and in a third spatial direction Z of the treatment chamber, which is orthogonal to the first spatial direction X and the second spatial direction Y, so that the detection device 5 can be flexibly moved to the various wells 70 of the container 7, which is designed as a microtiter plate, as well as to the detection device 5.

[0062] In the operating state, the pipetting device 1 can thus be moved by the movement device 4 in all spatial directions X, Y, Z through the treatment chamber 100. In this way, in particular, an application of the pipette tips 12 to the receiving element 11 and an application of the extensions 13 to the pipette tips 12 (and a respective ejection of the pipette tips 12/extensions 13) can also be performed.

[0063] FIG. 3A-F show a schematic representation of the use of the pipetting device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0064] The pipetting device 1 according to FIG. 3A-F comprises the receiving element 11 and a pipette tip 12 detachably arranged on the receiving element 11. The displacement element 14 for generating the flow for receiving and/or ejecting the fluid sample 71 is integrated into the receiving element 11 and thus flow-connected to the pipette tip 12. The displacement element 14 is designed as a displaceable piston, which generates the flow in the form of an air cushion displacement by moving along a dispensing axis A.

[0065] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the extension 13 is applied to the pipette tip 12. For this purpose, the extension 13 comprises an attachment region 131 into which the pipette tip is inserted, whereby the extension 13 is received by the pipetting device 1 from the storage 6.

[0066] In addition, the extension 13 comprises a measuring region 130 arranged on the attachment region 131 at which measuring region 130 the analysis of the fluid sample 71 is performed later.

[0067] For a better analysis, the optically transparent extension 13 consists of an amorphous plastic such as cycloolefin copolymer and a cross-sectional profile of the measuring region 130 perpendicular to the dispensing axis A is rectangular.

[0068] Subsequently, the pipetting device 1 in FIG. 3C is moved to the container 7 with the fluid sample 71 and receives the fluid sample 71 by moving the displacement mechanism 14 into the extension 13.

[0069] In FIG. 3D, the extension 13 with the fluid sample 71 is moved to the detection device 5, and in FIG. 3E, it is introduced into the detection device 5.

[0070] The detection device 5 comprises a radiation source 52 for irradiating the fluid sample 71 with a primary radiation 81 and a detector 51 for receiving a secondary radiation 82 originating from the fluid sample 71.

[0071] Thus, the fluid sample 71 is irradiated by the radiation source 52 with the primary radiation 81 and the detector receives the secondary radiation 82 originating from the fluid sample 71.

[0072] The radiation source 52 preferably generates the primary radiation 81 as an electromagnetic radiation in the UV/Vis range, in particular in the wavelength range of 190-1000 nm, especially of 365-720 nm. The secondary radiation 82 is in particular an electromagnetic secondary radiation 82 originating from the fluid sample, which secondary radiation 82 is induced by an interaction of the primary radiation 81 with the fluid sample. An absorption measurement is used as the measurement principle, wherein the light beam 82 (secondary radiation) attenuated by passing through the sample 71 and the extension 71 is captured by the detector 51.

[0073] In addition, a liquid can be received into the pipette tip 12 and can be ejected from the pipette tip 12 prior to receiving the fluid sample 71 into the optically transparent extension 13, and only then the extension 13 can be arranged on the pipette tip 12. Thus, this liquid can be moved by the pipetting device 1 in the treatment chamber 100, in particular being transferred between different containers/wells. Subsequently, in the method according to an embodiment of the invention, the extension 13 can then be arranged on the pipette tip 12 to receive the fluid sample 71 into the extension for analysis. This has the advantage that the fluid sample 71 can be analyzed without changing the pipette tip 12 (after using the pipette tip 12) simply by applying the extension 13. Without changing the pipette tip 12, both contamination is avoided, and an analysis of the fluid sample is enabled.