ELECTRONIC PIPETTE

• US 20130255404A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Von Beichmann, Boris, Lurz, Werner, Mohr, Gnther A.
• Application Number:
  US13/877,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/087 Ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0237 Details of electronic control, e.g. relating to user interface
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0279 co-operating with positive ejection means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0286 Ergonomic aspects, e.g. form or arrangement of controls

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic pipette comprising an electrically driven unit for pipetting and an operating and/or display unit, wherein a device module comprises a unit for pipetting, an operating and/or display module physically separate from the device module completely or partially comprises the operating and/or display unit, and means are provided for wirelessly communicating between the device module and the operating and/or display module.

Claims

1. An electronic pipette comprising:

a. an electrically driven unit for pipetting (2), and

b. an operating and/or display unit (3),

c. wherein a device module (7) comprises the unit for pipetting (2),

d. an operating and/or display module (8) physically separate from the device module (7) completely or partially comprises the operating and/or display unit (3), and

e. means are provided for wireless communication (9) between the device module (7) and the operating and/or display module (8).

2. The pipette device according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) comprises an electronic control unit for detecting operating data and/or controlling the unit for handling liquids.

3. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed such that operating parameters and/or modes of operation from the device module and/or programs can be entered by means of its operating unit to control the device module and/or routines for performing operating procedures of the device module.

4. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed such that it can be used to remotely control device modules (7).

5. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed such that it recognizes the respective device module (7) when communicating with one of a plurality of device modules (7), and automatically sets a device-specific user interface on the operating and/or display unit (8).

6. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed such that it can only be used when a proof of authorization is entered.

7. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed such that certain programs, routines, measuring results and other data can only be processed when proof of authorization is entered.

8. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is designed to have a reservation function by means of which the pipette can be blocked for certain intervals for certain users.

9. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) has switches and/or keys and/or a keyboard and/or a microphone and/or a screen and/or a touch-sensitive screen and/or a loudspeaker and/or an acoustic signal generator.

10. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) is handheld, and/or the operating and/or display module (8) is portable and/or handheld by one person.

11. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is a cell phone and/or a personal digital assistant and/or a smartphone (22).

12. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) comprises a head-up display and/or a transparent screen (31) that can be placed in front of a work area.

13. The pipette according to claim 1, having an electronic data processing system (12) physically separate from the device module and operating and/or display module (8), and means for communicating wirelessly or by wire between the operating and/or display module and the electronic data processing system.

14. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication (9) communicates by means of radio waves and/or optically and/or inductively and/or capacitively.

15. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module (8) is releasably connectable with the device module (7).

16. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) has an electrical charger (18) for charging an electrical energy storage unit (17, 19) of the operating and/or display module (8) or vice versa, and electrical contacts are available for transmitting an electrical charge from the device module (7) to the operating and/or display module (8) or vice versa.

17. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) and the operating and/or display module (8) have contacts that are connectable with each other for communication and/or transmitting an electrical charge between the device module (7) and operating and/or display module (8).

18. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module has at least one operating element (15) for controlling dosing procedures and/or disconnecting a pipette tip (26) or syringe from the device module (7).

19. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) has a manual and/or motor drive for an ejector.

20. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) does not have a display unit.

21. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the device module (7) is rod-shaped as a whole or at the top end.

22. The pipette according to claim 1, wherein the operating and/or display module is arranged on a pipette holder.

23. A laboratory device system having a plurality of device modules according to claim 1, and at least one operating and/or display module, or at least one device module, and a plurality of operating and display modules.

24. The laboratory device system according to claim 23, wherein the at least one operating and/or display unit is designed such that it only communicates with device modules within a specific spatial range.

26. A method for operating an electronic pipette comprising an electromechanically driven, or a manually driven, unit having an electromechanical support for pipetting, and an operating and/or display unit, wherein:

a. A device module comprising the unit for pipetting is operated physically separated from a display module comprising the operating and/or display unit, and

b. Control data and/or data to be displayed are transmitted wirelessly between the device module and the operating and/or displayed module.

25. The laboratory device system according to claim 26, wherein the specified spatial range is limited by a maximum distance, or by one room or a part of a room, or several rooms of a building.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the control data and/or the data to be displayed are transmitted unidirectionally or bidirectionally.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein a plurality of device modules exchange data with at least one operating and/or display module, or wherein at least one device module exchanges data with a plurality of operating and/or display modules.