Apparatus and method for cleaning reagent delivery probes

• US 5,133,373 A
• Filed: 08/22/1991
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V. (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V. (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Julie F., Jones, Lionel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/751,566
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 73/864.22, 141/90, 141/91, 134/61, 134/76, 134/83, 134/88, 134/89, 134/95, 134/169 R, 134/170
• US Class Current: 134/88
• 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: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1083 with one horizontal degree of freedom

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning delivery probes used for dispensing protein-containing reagents. The apparatus includes: a bath of a cleaning solution for a protein-containing reagent; a device for lowering the probe into the cleaning solution for aspirating cleaning solution into the probe and for coating the outside of the probe; a device for raising the probe from the cleaning solution; a device for forcing primer liquid through the probe for expelling aspirated cleaning solution followed by primer liquid from the probe for washing the inside of the probe; and a device for deflecting cleaning solution and primer liquid expelled from the probe onto the outside of the probe for washing the outside of the probe.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for a hollow delivery probe which is repeatedly used in an automatic system for dispensing protein-containing reagents, comprising:

a bath of a cleaning solution for a protein-containing reagent;

means for immersing the probe into said cleaning solution for introducing cleaning solution into the probe and for coating the outside of the probe;

means for withdrawing the probe from said cleaning solution;

means for expelling cleaning solution from the probe; and

means disposed below the probe for deflecting cleaning solution expelled from the probe onto the outside of the probe for washing the outside of the probe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning solution comprises bleach.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning solution comprises about 10% bleach.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for expelling cleaning solution from the probe includes means for introducing into and expelling from the probe a primer liquid.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein about 10 μ

l of primer liquid is introduced into said probe for every 1 μ

l of bleach introduced into said probe.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said primer liquid comprises water.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deflection means comprises a body including a recess therein having walls which surround the probe when the probe is lowered into said recess.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container for enclosing said bath and housing said deflection means, said container including a top located above said cleaning solution, said top defining an opening for allowing the probe to be immersed into said cleaning solution, said container including means defining an inverted frustoconical passage disposed in said cleaning solution and communicating with said opening, wherein said deflection means comprises a ball which floats on said cleaning solution for closing said opening, said ball being constrained by said frustoconical passage means and being downwardly displaceable by the probe when the probe is immersed into said cleaning solution to allow cleaning solution to be introduced into the probe.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes means for expelling excess reagent from the probe prior to immersing the probe into said cleaning solution.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bath of cleaning solution is located at a first position and said deflection means is located at a second position and said apparatus further comprises means for moving the probe between said first and second positions.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for receiving waste cleaning solution deflected by said deflection means and means for draining waste cleaning solution from said receptacle means.