Calibratable sensor unit for reaction vessels

• US 9,046,501 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG (Hamilton Company)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG (Hamilton Company)
• Inventors: Loebbert, Andreas, Schoenfuss, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): BOWERS, NATHAN ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/930,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20130288359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 435/4, 435/287.1, 435/287.2, 435/289.1, 73/10.1, 73/10.2, 73/10.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 invention relates to a reaction vessel with a sensor unit. The reaction vessel comprising a reaction space configured to be connected with the sensor unit that comprises at least one sensor device configured to be calibrated, at least one compartment containing a calibrating agent, and a housing. The sensor unit is arranged to calibrate the at least one sensor device by contact with the calibrating agent before chemical or physical parameters of a measurement substance are measured, wherein the at least one sensor device is further configured such that the relative movement between the at least one sensor device and the at least one compartment is irreversible. The at least one sensor device is movable relative to the at least one compartment from an initial position into a measurement readiness position. The reaction vessel and the sensor unit can be sterilized or are sterilized jointly.

Claims

1. A reaction vessel comprising a reaction space, wherein the reaction vessel is configured to be connected with a sensor unit,

wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one sensor device configured to be calibrated, at least one compartment containing a calibrating agent, and a housing, wherein the at least one sensor device and the at least one compartment are accommodated movably relative to one another in the housing which is configured to be connected to the reaction vessel,

wherein the sensor unit is arranged so as to calibrate the at least one sensor device 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, wherein the at least one sensor device is further configured such that the relative movement between the at least one sensor device and the at least one compartment is irreversible,

wherein the at least one sensor device is movable relative to the at least one compartment from an initial position in which the at least one sensor device does not contact the measurement substance into a measurement readiness position different from the initial position, in which the at least one sensor device is at least partially contactable by the measurement substance, and

wherein the reaction vessel and the sensor unit can be sterilised or are sterilised jointly.

2. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor device, when in the measurement readiness position, is accommodated at least partially, in the reaction space.

3. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction space is separated from the sensor unit by at least one septum associated with the reaction vessel.

4. The reaction vessel according to claim 2, wherein the reaction space is separated from the sensor unit by at least one septum associated with the reaction vessel.

5. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is a fermenter.

6. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is a disposable fermenter.

7. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is connected to the sensor unit by screwing, bonding, or welding the reaction vessel and the sensor unit together.

8. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein a sensitive element of the at least one sensor device is accommodated in the reaction space, when the at least one sensor device is in the measurement readiness position.

9. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction space is separated from the sensor unit by at least one septum associated with a sleeve of the reaction vessel and/or the sensor unit.

10. The reaction vessel according to claim 2, wherein the reaction space is separated from the sensor unit by at least one septum associated with a sleeve of the reaction vessel and/or the sensor unit.