Apparatus and method for preparing solutions and/or dilutions in the laboratory

• US 7,651,664 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Klay, Matthias, Appoldt, Yvonne, Burmester, Jorg
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy; Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US10/786,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 422/62, 422/67, 422/99, 422/100, 422/105, 422/116, 436/43, 436/50, 436/54, 436/163, 436/174, 436/179, 700239-241, 700265-267, 702/19, 702/22, 702/23, 702/50
• US Class Current: 422/534
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/04 for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00217 involving measurement of weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A device is disclosed for preparing a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid with another liquid includes a balance with a weighing pan, a display- and operating unit, a processor, a storage memory, and a data interface. The device includes at least one electronic dosage delivery device for liquids, in particular an electronic pipette, with a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a data interface, so that a communication can be established between the respective data interfaces of the balance and the at least one electronic dosage delivery device. An identifier element signals when the electronic dosage delivery device has been selected. A program is configured to perform calculations in the processor of the balance based on instructions given by the attendant, based on substance data stored in the memory of the balance and in certain cases based on weighing results. The program can select a dosage delivery device and set the selected dosage delivery device for the liquid volume that is to be taken in and/or dispensed.

Claims

1. An arrangement for preparing a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid with another liquid, comprising:

a balance comprising a weighing pan, a display- and operating unit, a processor, a storage memory, and a data interface; and

a plurality of electronic pipettes, each pipette being equipped with a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a data interface, wherein a communication can be established between the data interface of the balance and the data interface of the at least one electronic pipette, wherein each electronic pipette has an identifier element that signals when the electronic pipette has been selected, and wherein the storage memory of the balance is encoded with a program executable for preparing a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid in another liquid, said program being configured for performing calculations in the processor of the balance based on instructions input by an attendant, also based on substance data stored in the memory of the balance, said program being further configured for selecting an electronic pipette from the plurality of electronic pipettes and setting the electronic pipette for the liquid volume that is to be taken in and/or dispensed.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a code reader is connected for communication with the balance, said code reader serving at least in part for entering data, and for identifying chemicals to be used.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, comprising:

a recording device configured as an activity log printer and/or a label printer interfaced with the balance.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the storage memory of the balance comprises a database.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the database holds substance data and/or substance parameters and/or work procedures.

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the balance is interfaced for communication with a laboratory information management system.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the balance is interfaced with a data-processing system configured as a personal computer or a palmtop computer.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the balance is interfaced with a computer in a computer network.

9. Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a database resides in the laboratory information management system, and wherein substance data and/or substance parameters and/or work procedures are stored in the database.

23. Arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a database resides in the data processing system, and wherein substance data and/or substance parameters and/or work procedures are stored in the database.

24. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein a database resides in the computer network, and wherein substance data and/or substance parameters and/or work procedures are stored in the database.

25. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the program is configured for performing calculations in the processor based on weighing results.

28. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the electronic pipette is constructed to aspirate the liquid.

30. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic pipettes comprises electronic pipettes with different volume capacities.

33. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the identifier element is constructed to produce at least one of an optical signal and an audible signal when the electronic pipette is selected.

10. Method for preparing a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid with another liquid, wherein the method includes:

connecting a balance comprising a display- and operating unit, a processor, a storage memory, and a data interface with a plurality of electronic the pipettes, each pipette being equipped with a microprocessor, a memory unit, a data interface, and an identifier element, wherein the balance and each electronic pipette can communicate with each other through their respective data interfaces, and wherein the storage memory of the balance is encoded with a program that performs calculations based on instructions given by the attendant, also based on substance data stored in the memory of the balance;

wherein said program selects a pipette from the plurality of electronic pipettes, sets the pipette for the liquid volume that is to be taken in and/or dispensed; and

activates the identifier element of the selected electronic pipette; and

combining the solid and/or liquid substances to form the solution or dilution.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein entry of instructions and confirmations by the attendant are performed using the display- and operating unit of the balance.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein a database is available and wherein the balance which controls the dosage delivery device calls up work instructions, substance data and/or substance parameters from the database.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the balance measures a weight of a completed solution and/or dilution, and wherein a completed process of making a solution and/or dilution is subjected to a plausibility check.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein a temperature of the solution is measured and used as an input parameter in calculations for the plausibility check.

15. Method according to claim 10, wherein a recording device is available and interfaced to the balance, and wherein said recording device generates an activity log of a completed and/or prematurely terminated preparation of a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid with a further liquid.

16. Method according to claim 10, wherein a code reader is available and interfaced for communication with the balance, and wherein the code reader serves to scan data for use in the program.

17. Method according to claim 10, comprising the following acts performed by the attendant:

selecting and obtaining chemicals for the solution and/or dilution to be prepared;

calling up a work instruction on the display- and operating unit of the balance;

calling up substance parameters on the display- and operating unit of the balance;

entering a targeted concentration of the solution and/or dilution on the display- and operating unit of the balance;

entering a targeted volume of the solution and/or dilution on the display- and operating unit of the balance;

calling up a calculation routine on the display- and operating unit of the balance for a first substance to be weighed in;

weighing a first substance into a container on the weighing pan;

taking up a second substance using a pipette that has been selected and preset by the program and identified through a signal;

delivering a volume that has been set on the pipette into the container that is sitting on the balance pan and contains the first substance; and

entering a command for generating an activity log on the display- and operating unit of the balance.

18. Method according to claim 10, wherein a work procedure is freely configurable.

19. Method according to claim 10, wherein the balance is interfaced with a data-processing system and/or a computer in a computer network and/or a laboratory information management system whose respective memory is accessed by the balance to call up substance data and/or substance parameters for a solution that is currently to be prepared of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution that is currently to be prepared of a liquid with another liquid, and to enter said substance data and/or substance parameters in the storage memory of the balance for use in calculations required under a current work procedure.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the data as well as an activity log of a completed solution- or dilution procedure are stored in a laboratory information management system, from which the data and/or the activity log are available for further use.

26. Method according to claim 10, wherein the program is configured for performing calculations in the processor based on weighing results.

29. Method according to claim 10, further comprising

aspirating liquid into the at least one electronic pipette.

31. Method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of electronic pipettes comprises electronic pipettes with different volume capacities.

34. Method according to claim 10, wherein the identifier element produces at least one of an optical signal and an audible signal when activated.

21. A balance comprising a weighing pan and a memory, the memory encoded with a program, wherein the program is configured to perform a work procedure selected by an attendant for preparing a solution of a solid with a liquid and/or a dilution of a liquid with another liquid, wherein the program is configured to perform calculations based on instructions entered by the attendant, based on substance data stored in the memory of the balance, and wherein the program is configured to select a pipette from a plurality of electronic pipettes, set the pipette for the liquid volume that is to be taken in and/or dispensed, and wherein the program is configured to activate an identifier element of the selected pipette.

22. The balance according to claim 21, wherein the program is configured to perform the following operations:

converting a target concentration for a solution or a dilution from an entered unit of measure to a desired unit of measure compatible with the substance data and substance parameters;

calculating an amount of liquid required for preparing a solution or dilution based on the weight of a first substance that has been measured with a balance;

selecting a suitable electronic pipette and identifying the selected device;

setting the selected electronic pipette for a volume dose to be taken in and/or dispensed;

displaying a total weight and/or additional parameters in the display- and operating unit of the balance;

after a second substance has been added, comparing its mass to the calculated values based on a volume that was set in the pipette and based on the stored density value, wherein the calculation takes temperature into account, for a gravimetric verification check of a completed solution;

providing an indication of plausibility that a desired solution has been produced within a predefined tolerance window relative to a target volume and/or a target concentration; and

generating a log record of the parameter settings and measured data.

27. The balance according to claim 21, wherein the program is configured to perform calculations based on obtained weighing results.

32. The balance according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of electronic pipettes comprises electronic pipettes with different volume capacities.