Calibratable sensor unit for reaction vessels

• US 20110236962A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG (Hamilton Company)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG (Hamilton Company)
• Inventors: SCHOENFUSS, Dirk, LOEBBERT, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,673,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/28 disposable or single use
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/26 of pH
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/32 of substances in solution
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/34 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/36 of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/40 of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/283 Means for supporting or introducing electrochemical probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4165 for pH meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH

Abstract

The present invention relates to a calibratable sensor unit for a reaction vessel, such as for example a fermenter (48), in particular a disposable fermenter, comprising at least one sensor device (14) to be calibrated and at least one compartment (26, 28, 30) containing a calibrating agent, the at least one sensor device and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30) being accommodated movably relative to one another in a housing (12) that is connected to or can be connected to the reaction vessel (48), wherein the calibrating unit (10) is arranged to calibrate the at least one sensor device (14) by contact with the calibrating agent before chemical and/or physical parameters of a measurement substance are measured with the at least one sensor device (14). According to the invention it is proposed that the sensor device (10) is configured in such a way that the relative movement between the at least one sensor device (14) and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30) can be carried out irreversibly, wherein the at least one sensor device (14) is movable relative to the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30) from an initial position in which the sensor device (14) when correctly used cannot be contacted by the measurement substance, under a change of the surroundings of at least part of the sensor device (14), in particular of a sensitive element (46), to a measurement readiness position different from the initial position, in which the sensor device (14) is at least partially contactable, in particular with a sensitive element (46), by the measurement substance. The invention also relates to a reaction vessel with a sensor unit and a calibration method according to the invention.

Claims

1. Calibratable sensor unit for a reaction vessel, such as for example a fermenter (48;

148), in particular a disposable fermenter, comprising at least one sensor device (14;

114) to be calibrated and at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) containing a calibrating agent, the at least one sensor device (14;

114) and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) being accommodated movably relative to one another in a housing (12;

112) that can be connected to or is connected to the reaction vessel (48;

148), wherein the calibrating unit (10;

110) is arranged so as to calibrate the at least one sensor device (14;

114) by contact with the calibrating agent before chemical and/or physical parameters of a measurement substance are measured with the at least one sensor device (14;

114), characterised in that the sensor device (10;

110) is configured in such a way that the relative movement between the at least one sensor device (14;

114) and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) can be carried out irreversibly, wherein the at least one sensor device (14;

114) is movable relative to the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) from an initial position in which the sensor device (14;

114) when correctly used cannot be contacted by the measurement substance, under a change of the surroundings of at least a part of the sensor device (14;

114), in particular of a sensitive element (46;

146), into a measurement readiness position different from the initial position, in which the sensor device (14;

114) is at least partially contactable, in particular with a sensitive element (46;

146), by the measurement substance.

2. Sensor unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one sensor device (14;

114), in particular its sensitive element (46;

146), in the initial position is accommodated with calibrating agent in an associated compartment (26;

126).

3. Sensor unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing surrounds the at least one sensor device (14;

114) in its initial position and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128).

4. Sensor unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one sensor device is automatically held, in particular locked, in the measurement readiness position.

5. Sensor unit according to claim 1 characterised in that the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) is closed by at least one septum (32, 34, 36;

132, 134), in particular is separated from the interior of the calibrating unit (10;

110) enclosed by the housing (12;

112), or from an adjacent compartment (28, 30) or from the fermenter (48;

148).

6. Sensor unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the at least one septum (32, 34, 36;

132, 134) is prepared for an easy penetration by means of the sensor device (14;

114), for example in particular has regions of different material thickness so as to form a predetermined rupture point, and/or is at least partially perforated.

7. Sensor unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the sensor device (14;

114) has a free end (50;

150), which is implemented in such a way that the at least one septum (32, 34, 36;

132, 134) of the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) can be penetrated, preferably in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the septum (32, 34, 36;

132, 134).

8. Sensor unit according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of compartments (26, 28, 30), which are arranged behind one another relative to the penetration direction of the sensor device (14) and are separated from one another by respective septa (32, 34, 36) arranged therebetween.

9. Sensor unit according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of compartments (126, 128), which are arranged next to one another substantially orthogonal to the penetration direction.

10. Sensor unit according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one of the plurality of compartments (28;

128) contains a cleaning agent.

11. Sensor unit according to claim 7, characterised in that a stripping device (38, 40) is associated with the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128), which can be penetrated by the at least one sensor device (14;

114) and which is implemented so that impurities, in particular calibrating agent or possibly cleaning agent adhering to the at least one sensor device (14;

114), are retained preferably in the relevant compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) with calibrating agent or possibly cleaning agent.

12. Sensor unit according to claim 11, characterised in that the stripping device is formed by at least one septum or by at least one additional stripping means (38, 40), in particular a sealing ring, adjacent to the septum in the penetration direction.

13. Sensor unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126,128) is formed as a tube-like sleeve, which has an elastic or rigid circumferential wall and is closed in the axial direction at least on one side by a septum (32, 34, 36;

132, 134).

14. Sensor unit according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises actuating means (16;

116) acting on the at least one sensor device (14;

114), which are implemented in such a way that by means of the actuating means (16;

116) the irreversible relative movement between the at least one sensor device (14;

114) and the at least one compartment (26, 28, 30;

126, 128) can be effected.

15. Sensor unit according to to claim 8, characterised in that the calibrating agent and/or the cleaning agent is/are in the form of a sterilisable viscous medium, preferably as a gel or paste.

16. Sensor unit according to claim 15, characterised in that the at least one calibrating agent contains synthetic polymers, in particular polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyethylcellulose, or natural polymers, in particular polysaccharides, as thickening agents.

17. Reaction vessel, such as for example a fermenter, in particular a disposable fermenter with a reaction space and a sensor unit (10;

110) firmly connected thereto, in particular screwed or bonded or welded, according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel (48;

148) and the calibrating unit (10;

110) can be sterilised or are sterilised jointly.

18. Reaction vessel according to claim 17, characterised in that the sensor device (14;

114) in the measurement readiness position is accommodated at least partially, in particular with its sensitive element (46;

146), in the reaction space.

19. Reaction vessel according to claim 17, characterised in that the reaction space is separated from the sensor unit (14;

114) by at least one septum associated with the reaction vessel, in particular its sleeve and/or the sensor unit (14;

114).

20. Method for calibrating at least one sensor device (14;

114) of a sensor unit (10;

110) connected to a reaction vessel, such as for example a fermenter (48;

148), in particular a disposable fermenter, according to claim 1, comprising the steps;

a) insertion of a sensitive element (46;

146) of the at least one sensor device (10;

110) into a compartment (26;

126) of the sensor unit containing calibrating agent,

b) withdrawal of the sensitive element (46;

146) from the compartment (26;

126);

c) insertion of the sensitive element (46;

146) into the reaction vessel (48;

148) and locking the sensor device (14;

114) in position, the steps a) to c) being carried out irreversibly.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the steps a) and b) are carried out on at least one further compartment (28, 30;

128) containing a further calibrating agent or a cleaning agent, before carrying out the step c).

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein on repeating the steps a) and b) on each further compartment (28, 30;

128) the at least one sensor device (14;

114) is guided, if necessary temporarily stopped, so that the sensitive element (46;

146) no longer comes into contact with a preceding compartment (26;

126).