Method for washing laboratory consumables

• US 10,576,175 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grenova, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Grenova, Inc.
• Inventors: Safavi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Markoff, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US16/185,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20190076559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0007 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0015 other treatment phases, e.g. steam or sterilizing phase
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4214 Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4242 by using ultraviolet generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0057 by ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/04 by a combination of operations
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices

Abstract

A method for washing laboratory consumables comprises directing one or more liquid solutions to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a rack, draining the one or more liquid solutions via a waste drain disposed proximate to a washing chamber configured to receive the one or more directed liquid solutions following the contact by the one or more liquid solutions with the plurality of laboratory consumables, and exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to light in an ultraviolet (UV) range. The directing comprises introducing the one or more liquid solutions into a fluid input and out of a plurality of fluid outputs of a manifold dispenser. The number of fluid outputs is equal to the number of laboratory consumables such that each one of the fluid outputs directs the one or more liquid solutions at a corresponding one of the laboratory consumables.

Claims

1. A method for washing laboratory consumables, comprising:

directing one or more liquid solutions to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a rack, the directing comprising introducing the one or more liquid solutions into a fluid input and out of a plurality of fluid outputs of a manifold dispenser, a number of fluid outputs being equal to a number of laboratory consumables such that each one of the fluid outputs directs the one or more liquid solutions at a corresponding one of the laboratory consumables;

draining the one or more liquid solutions via a waste drain disposed proximate to a washing chamber configured to receive the one or more directed liquid solutions following the contact by the one or more liquid solutions with the plurality of laboratory consumables; and

exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to light in an ultraviolet (UV) range, the exposing comprising illuminating a light source to direct the light in the UV range through one or more of a UV transparent floor or one or more walls of the washing chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising substantially submerging the plurality of laboratory consumables in the one or more liquid solutions prior to draining the one or more liquid solutions from the waste drain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing further comprising at least one of washing or rinsing the plurality of laboratory consumables with at least two liquid solutions prior to exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more liquid solutions comprise one or more of deionized water, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, one or more enzyme solutions, ethanol, detergent, purified water, water, ammonia, isopropanol, alcohol, a solution capable of substantially rinsing or decontaminating plastic, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing further comprises exposing at least an interior portion of the each of the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range via a plurality of fiber optic channels extending from the manifold dispenser into the plurality of fluid outputs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the exposing further comprises introducing the light in the UV range into the plurality of fiber optic channels directly from the light source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing comprises exposing both an interior and an exterior portion of each of the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing further comprises directing the one or more liquid solutions to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a plurality of racks.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laboratory consumables comprises a plurality of pipette tips.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to sound in an ultrasonic range, the exposing comprising energizing one or more transducers to direct the sound in the ultrasonic range into the washing chamber.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising agitating the plurality of laboratory consumables.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening a drawer compartment;

loading the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack into the drawer compartment; and

closing the drawing compartment.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

lowering the manifold dispenser vertically relative to the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack; and

raising the manifold dispenser vertically relative to the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack.