METHOD FOR MIXING FLUIDS

Abstract

A method for mixing fluids includes providing a pipette tip for receiving a fluid, receiving a first fluid into the pipette tip, receiving a second fluid into the pipette tip, and mixing and analyzing the first and the second fluid in the pipette tip. The method enables resource-saving, safer, more accurate and faster mixing of fluids.

Claims

1. A method for mixing fluids, comprising: providing a pipette tip for receiving a fluid, receiving a first fluid into the pipette tip, receiving a second fluid into the pipette tip, and mixing and analyzing the first fluid and the second fluid in the pipette tip.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes analyzing while the first and second fluid are mixed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid in the pipette tip are analyzed by an analysis element.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the analysis element emits radiation and measures absorption of the first fluid or of the second fluid to analyze the first fluid or the second fluid.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the analysis element analyzes the first fluid or the second fluid by photometry.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the analysis element analyzes the first fluid or the second fluid by a camera, in that an optical monitoring takes place.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the analysis element analyzes the first fluid or the second fluid, in that a temperature thereof is measured by a temperature sensor.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid is a reagent, a dye or a marker.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed by moving up and down in a tip.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when receiving the second fluid into the pipette tip, an air cushion is introduced in the pipette tip between the first fluid and the second fluid, so as to prevent an immediate reaction and to define a reaction start point.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid is received from a second container into the pipette tip,, or for mixing the fluids, an entire volume of the pipette tip and of the second container is used as a mixing chamber.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second container is flow-connected to the pipette tip and the first fluid and the second fluid are pipetted up and down during a mixing process such that the entire volume of the pipette tip and of the second container is used as the mixing chamber.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a start time of a mixing process or an end time of a mixing process is determined by analysis of an interior space of the pipette tip or the pipette tip comprises a measuring window to analyze a content of the pipette tip, and the measuring window is attached to the pipette tip such that the mixing process is analyzed through the measuring window by an analysis element.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second container is a cuvette, the cuvette has a measuring window, and the measuring window is attached to the cuvette such that a mixing process is analyzed through the measuring window by an analysis element.

15. A pipetting device for dosing a liquid by a fluid stream in a method according to claim 1, comprising: a device configured to fill the pipette tip attached to the pipetting device with the fluid stream, the pipette tip flow-connected to the device for filling and emptying.

16. An automatic pipetting machine comprising: the pipetting device according to claim 15; and a movement device configured to move the pipetting device.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid is received from a second container into the pipette tip, second container is a cuvette, or for mixing the fluids, an entire volume of the pipette tip and of the second container is used as a mixing chamber.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a resulting fluid of the first fluid and the second fluid in the pipette tip are analyzed by an analysis elementanalyzed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show:

[0057] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pipette tip known from the state of the art;

[0058] FIG. 2 isa schematic representation of a pipette tip for a method according to the disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a pipette tip for a method according to the disclosure with an analysis element;

[0060] FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of a pipette tip for a method according to the disclosure with a high filling level;

[0061] FIG. 4B is schematic representation of a pipette tip for a method according to the disclosure with a high filling level;

[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a pipette tip for a method according to the disclosure with an air cushion;

[0063] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a pipetting device according to the disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a pipetting device according to the disclosure with an analysis unit;

[0065] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an automatic pipetting machine according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] In order to explain a known pipette tip, reference is made in the following to FIG. 1, on the basis of which the state of the art is described in more detail. In order to distinguish the state of the art from the present disclosure, the reference numerals which relate to features of known examples are provided with an inverted comma, while features of exemplary embodiments according to the disclosure are provided with reference numerals which do not bear an inverted comma.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a pipette tip 1 with a connecting region 30, a pipette tip wall 2 and a tip 31. The pipette tip 1 can be attached, preferably flow-connected, to a pipetting device (not shown) by the connecting region 30. As a result, it is possible to receive and/or dispense a fluid into the pipette tip by the pipetting device via the tip 31.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure with a connecting region 30, a pipette tip wall 2, an interior space 5, a first opening 3, a measuring window 4 and a tip 31. The pipette tip 1 can be attached, preferably flow-connected, to a pipetting device (not shown) by the connecting region 30. A first fluid and a second fluid (not shown) can be received into the pipette tip 1 through the first opening 3. The fluids are then mixed in the interior space 5 of the pipette tip 1 and analyzed via the measuring window 4.

[0069] The analysis can also take place during the mixing process.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure with an analysis element 6, which can analyze the content of the pipette tip 1, in particular the fluid resulting from the mixture (not shown).

[0071] The analysis of the first, of the second and/or of the resulting fluid can take place, in particular, in that the analysis element 6 emits radiation and measures the absorption of the first fluid, of the second fluid and/or of the resulting fluid, and/or by photometry, and/or by a camera, in that it carries out an optical monitoring, and/or in that the temperature of the fluids is monitored by a temperature sensor.

[0072] The pipette tip 1 shown in FIG. 3 can likewise be used in a method according to the disclosure, in which the second fluid is a reagent, a dye or a marker.

[0073] FIGS. 4A and 4B show schematic representations of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure with different filling levels 7. The different filling levels 7 arise due to the fact that the first and the second fluid are mixed by moving up and down in the pipette tip.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure with an air cushion 10 between the first fluid 8 and the second fluid 9.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure, wherein a second container 11 is arranged at the pipette tip, preferably arranged flow-connected, so that, for mixing the first and the second fluid (not shown), the entire volume of the pipette tip and of the second container 11 can be used. The second container 11 is in this case particularly preferably a cuvette.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure, wherein the start time of the mixing process and/or the end time of the mixing process is determined by the analysis of the interior space 5 of the pipette tip 1 and/or the pipette tip 1 comprises a measuring window 4 for analyzing the content of the pipette tip 1, and the measuring window 4 is attached to the pipette tip 1 in such a way that the mixing process is analyzed through the measuring window 4 by the analysis element 6.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a pipette tip 1 for a method according to the disclosure, wherein the second container 11 is a cuvette, wherein the cuvette has a cuvette measuring window 12, and the cuvette measuring window 12 is attached to the cuvette 11 in such a way that the mixing process is analyzed through the cuvette measuring window 12 by the analysis element 6.

[0078] FIGS. 9A and 9B show a schematic representation of a pipetting device 100 according to the disclosure for dosing a fluid by a fluid stream in a method according to the disclosure, wherein the pipetting device comprises a means 20 for filling the pipette tip 1 attached to the pipetting device 100 with the fluid stream, wherein the pipette tip 1 is flow-connected to the means 20 for filling and emptying, as well as the schematic arrangement of a second container 11 on the pipette tip 1. FIG. 9B additionally shows the schematic arrangement of an analysis unit 6 on the pipetting device 100.

[0079] FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of an automatic pipetting machine 110 for use in a method according to the disclosure, comprising a pipetting device 100 according to the disclosure and a movement device for moving the pipetting device.

[0080] The automatic pipetting machine 110 comprises a treatment space 1100 for receiving the first fluid 8 and the second fluid 9 and a pipetting device 100 according to the disclosure which is arranged in the treatment space 1100 for carrying out at least one processing step on the first fluid 8 and/or on the second fluid 9. In addition, the automatic pipetting machine comprises a fluid module 72 in which fluid containers 73 are arranged.

[0081] The automatic pipetting machine 110 in this case comprises a pipetting device 100, and a movement device 21 for moving the pipetting device 100. The movement device 21 allows the movement of the pipetting device 100 in all directions in space.

[0082] The automatic pipetting machine 110 in this case can have a plurality of pipetting devices 100.

[0083] The automatic pipetting machine 110 in this case has a control module 22 for controlling the movement device 21.

[0084] It is possible in this case for the automatic pipetting machine 110 and/or the pipetting device 100 to have a sensor module 23 which provides the control module 22 with information for automated control of the movement device 21.

[0085] The automatic pipetting machine 110 in this case has storage containers 24 for pipette tips 1 and storage containers 240 for second containers 11.