Method and device for separating samples from a liquid

• US 20020095240A1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: Ingenhoven, Nikolaus, Knecht, Urs, Romer, Hanspeter, Sickinger, Anselm
• Granted Patent: US 6,926,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/266
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/0092 for metering by volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1006 Rinsing only the inside of the tip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1039 Micropipettes, e.g. microcapillary tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

A computer (4), a computer program product, and a method for synchronizing a system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples that comprises a microejection device (1) and a pump (2) which are connected with one another by tubing (3), wherein the computer (4) is capable of being implemented for loading an activatable computer program product for synchronizing the microejection device (1) and pump (2). In the computer (4), computer program product, and method, the computer (4) is made capable, on the basis of the loaded and activated computer program product, of controlling and synchronizing the following functions of this system:

Active definition of a sample volume and dispensing of this defined sample volume with the microejection device (1), which is filled with sample liquid;

c) Tracking of a part (12, 12′, 12″), which conveys the liquid, of the pump (2) around a value, dependent on this sample volume, which is defined and is actively dispensed only by the microejection device (1), to prevent excessive pressure differences in the microejection device (1), tubing (3), and pump (2).

A corresponding system for performing this method is also described.

Claims

1. A computer for synchronizing a system for aspirating and/or dispensing of liquid samples that comprises a microejection device and a pump, which are connected with one another via tubing, wherein the computer is capable of being loaded with activatable computer program product for synchronizing operation of the microejection device and the pump, wherein the loaded and activated computer program product directs the computer to control and synchronize the system:

a) to actively define a sample volume and dispense the defined sample volume using the microejection device, which is filled with sample liquid; and

b) to track a part of the pump that conveys liquid around a valve, dependent on the sample volume, which is defined and is actively dispensed only by the microejection device, to prevent excessive pressure differences in the microejection device, tubing, and pump.

2. The computer according to claim 1,

wherein it is integrated into the system as an electronic component.

3. The computer according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein it can also be externally operated and a read out can be obtained therefrom.

4. A system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples that comprises a microejection device and a pump that are connected with one another by a tubing, wherein the system also comprises a computer for loading an activatable computer program product that synchronizes the microejection device and pump, wherein said computer is a computer according to claims 1 or 2.

5. A system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples that comprises a microejection device and a pump, that are connected with one another by a tubing, wherein the system also comprises a computer for loading an activatable computer program product that synchronizes the microejection device and pump, wherein said computer is a computer according to claim 3.

6. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the microejection device comprises an endpiece that is a microejection pump.

7. The system according to claim 5,

wherein the microejection device comprises an endpiece that is a microejection pump.

8. The system according to claim 6,

wherein the microejection device is a piezoelectric micropump.

9. The system according to claim 7,

wherein the microejection device is a piezoelectric micropump.

10. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the microejection device further comprises an endpiece that is a disposable pipette tip, a pulse generator, and tubing connecting the endpiece and pulse generator.

11. The system according to claim 5,

wherein the microejection device comprises an endpiece that is a disposable pipette tip, a pulse generator, and tubing connecting the endpiece and pulse generator.

12. The system according to claim 4,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

13. The system according to claim 5,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

14. The system according to claim 6,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

15. The system according to claim 7,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

16. The system according to claim 8,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

17. The system according to claim 9,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

18. The system according to claim 10,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

19. The system according to claim 11,

further comprising a reservoir, a three-way valve, or a reservoir and a three-way valve, with the three-way valve is located between the pump and the reservoir, and the reservoir, the three-way valve and the pump being connected with one another by tubing.

20. The system according to claim 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein the pump is a piston pump comprising a cylinder, a piston, and a drive.

21. A method for synchronizing a system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples that comprises a microejection device and a pump connected with one another by tubing, wherein the system further comprises a computer that is capable of loading an activatable computer program product that synchronizes the microejection device and the pump, wherein the loaded and activated computer program product directs the computer to control and synchronize the system:

a) to actively define a sample volume and dispense the defined sample volume using the microejection device, which is filled with sample liquid; and

b) to track a part of the pump that conveys liquid around a valve, dependent on the sample volume, which is defined and is actively dispensed only by the microejection device, to prevent excessive pressure differences in the microejection device, tubing, and pump.

22. The method according to claim 21,

wherein dispensing of the sample volume occurs in volume-defined partial steps.

23. The method according to claim 21,

wherein tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid occurs continuously or in partial steps.

24. The method according to claim 22,

wherein tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid occurs continuously or in partial steps.

25. The method according to claim 23,

wherein the partial steps for tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid are collected into series of steps, with a series of steps always comprising the same number of partial steps.

26. The method according to claim 24,

wherein the partial steps for tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid are collected into series of steps, with a series of steps always comprising the same number of partial steps.

27. The method according to claim 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26

wherein the beginning or the end of the tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid occurs with a time shift relative to the beginning or the end of dispensing of the sample volume.

28. The method according to claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or 27,

wherein, where a residual volume occurs due to the dispensing of the sample volume and the tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid in partial steps, dispensing and tracking are adjusted to one another so that the residual volume is always borne by the tracking of the part of the pump that conveys the liquid.

29. The method according to claim 28,

wherein the residual volume borne by the tracking generates a drop in pressure in the tubing between the pump and the microejection device and is smaller than 100 nl.

30. The method according to claim 29,

wherein a value corresponding to the residual volume is stored in the computer and is taken into account in dispensing samples following occurrence of the residual volume.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein the number of partial steps is 8 steps.

35. The method of claim 26 wherein the number of partial steps is 8 steps.

31. A computer program product for synchronizing a system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples, wherein the system comprises a microejection device and a pump that are connected with one another by tubing and wherein the system further comprises a computer wherein the computer is capable of being loaded with activatable computer program product for synchronizing operation of the microejection device and the pump, and wherein this computer program product, in its activated state, enables the computer to control and synchronize the system:

a) to actively define a sample volume and dispense the defined sample volume using the microejection device, which is filled with sample liquid; and

b) to track a part of the pump that conveys liquid around a valve, dependent on the sample volume, which is defined and is actively dispensed only by the microejection device, to prevent excessive pressure differences in the microejection device, tubing, and pump.

32. The computer program product according to claim 31,

further comprising commands for controlling a three-way valve connected upstream from the pump.

33. The computer program product according to claim 31 or 32,

further comprising commands for controlling the pump for the aspiration of a liquid.