POSITIONING OF DISPENSING MEANS IN FRACTION COLLECTOR

• US 20110036450A1
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Svensson, Johan, Asberg, Bengt, Rosengren, Lars, Carlsson, Johan L., Liljedahl, Pia, Svensson, S.Fredrik, Frojdh, Hakan
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0234 Repeating pipettes, i.e. for dispensing multiple doses from a single charge
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/82 Automatic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method in a fraction collector for accurate positioning of a dispensing device with respect to wells of a micro plate in which prior to the dispensing a sensing device is moved over the micro plate the sensing device being able to detect the number of walls between the wells in the rows and columns of the micro plate.

Claims

1. A method in a fraction collector where fractions of liquid are sequentially dispensed from a dispensing means into a plurality of receptacles by displacing the receptacles relative to said dispensing means, said receptacles being formed by a matrix of wells in a plate for ensuring a correct positioning of the dispensing means vis-à

-vis said wells, characterized in, that prior to said dispensing, at least one of the rows or columns of said matrix is scanned by a sensing device capable of sensing the positions of said wells and generating a signal corresponding to the number of wells in at least one of said rows or columns, said signal being used for controlling said relative movement of said dispensing means.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensing device is integrated in said dispensing means.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one row and one column of said plate are scanned by said sensing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two rows and/or columns are scanned by said sensing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plate is arranged in a cassette provided with a bar code equally readable by said sensing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensing device consists of an IR sender and IR detector.

7. A fraction collector for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising a sensing and dispensing head movable in an x- and a y-direction respectively across cassettes arranged in a cassette tray, said cassettes holding micro plates, said sensing and dispensing head being able to detect the number of wells in the x- and y-directions of said plates.