Pipette tip washing device

• US 9,421,289 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grenova, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Grenova, LLC
• Inventors: Safavi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhry, Saeed T
• Application Number:
  US14/266,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 134/1, 134/42, 134/115.R, 422/510, 422/521, 422/525, 738/633.2, 738/640.1, 738/641.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0007 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0015 other treatment phases, e.g. steam or sterilizing phase
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4214 Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4242 by using ultraviolet generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0057 by ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/04 by a combination of operations
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices

Abstract

A washing device includes a top compartment capable of receiving a manifold dispenser. The manifold dispenser is coupled to a rack and comprises at least one liquid input and a plurality of liquid outputs that operably direct fluid to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack. A middle compartment is attached to the top compartment and comprises a washing chamber capable of receiving fluid output by the plurality of liquid outputs of the manifold dispenser. The washing chamber has a floor comprising a material transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light. A bottom compartment is attached to the washing chamber. The cottom compartment includes a light source mounted thereto. The light source is capable of outputting UV light in the direction of the washing chamber and through the floor of the washing chamber. A method of washing laboratory consumables is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A washing device comprising:

a top compartment comprising a manifold dispenser, wherein the manifold dispenser comprises at least one liquid input and a plurality of liquid outputs that operably direct fluid to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a rack;

a middle compartment positioned below the top compartment and comprising a washing chamber capable of receiving fluid output by the plurality of liquid outputs of the manifold dispenser, the washing chamber having a floor comprising a material transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light; and

a bottom compartment positioned below the washing chamber, the bottom compartment having a light source mounted thereto, wherein the light source is capable of outputting UV light in the direction of the washing chamber and through the floor of the washing chamber;

wherein the manifold dispenser is capable of being raised and lowered vertically relative to the middle compartment.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a tip rack and the plurality of laboratory consumables comprise a plurality of pipette tips.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the tip rack is configured to hold 24, 48, 96, 384, or 1536 pipette tips.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the washing chamber is capable of retaining liquid output by the plurality of liquid outputs such that the liquid cannot enter the bottom compartment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the washing chamber further comprises a waste drain operable to dispense retained liquid from the wash chamber.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the top compartment is further capable of receiving a plurality of manifold dispensers.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the material transparent to UV light comprises quartz glass.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fiber optic channels extending through the manifold dispenser at each of the plurality of liquid outputs.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the light source is further coupled to the plurality of fiber optic channels.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the plurality of liquid outputs each comprise a nozzle having an opening into which one of the plurality of fiber optic channels extends.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the wash compartment is further configured to removably receive a wash sleeve, the wash sleeve comprising a material capable of reflecting at least a portion of the UV light output by the light source.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the washing chamber has a plurality of walls and one or more of the plurality of walls comprise a material transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the middle compartment includes one or more additional light sources mounted thereto and proximate to one or more of the plurality of walls of the washing chamber, wherein the one or more additional light sources are capable of outputting UV light in the direction of the washing chamber and through one or more of the plurality of walls of the washing chamber.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more transducers capable of outputting sound in an ultrasonic range into the washing chamber.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more mechanical cylinders that operably agitate the rack.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of liquid outputs of the manifold dispenser is equal to a number of laboratory consumables held by the rack such that each one of the fluid outputs operably directs fluid at a corresponding one of the laboratory consumables.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the middle compartment comprises a drawer capable of opening and closing.

18. A method for washing laboratory consumables, comprising:

lowering a manifold dispenser vertically relative to a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a rack;

directing one or more liquid solutions to contact the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack, the directing comprising introducing the one or more liquid solutions into a fluid input and out of a plurality of fluid outputs of the manifold dispenser;

draining the one or more liquid solutions via a waste drain disposed proximate to a washing chamber configured to receive the one or more directed liquid solutions following the contact by the one or more liquid solutions with the plurality of laboratory consumables;

substantially drying the plurality of laboratory consumables;

exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to light in an ultraviolet (UV) range, the exposing comprising illuminating a light source to direct the light in the UV range through one or more of a UV transparent floor or one or more walls of the washing chamber; and

raising the manifold dispenser vertically relative to the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising substantially submerging the plurality of laboratory consumables in the one or more liquid solutions prior to draining the one or more liquid solutions from the waste drain.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the directing further comprising at least one of washing or rinsing the plurality of laboratory consumables with at least two liquid solutions prior to exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more liquid solutions comprise one or more of deionized water, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, one or more enzyme solutions, ethanol, detergent, purified water, water, ammonia, isopropanol, alcohol, a solution capable of substantially rinsing or decontaminating plastic, or combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the exposing further comprises exposing at least an interior portion of the each of the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range via a plurality of fiber optic channels extending from the manifold dispenser into the plurality of fluid outputs.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the exposing further comprises introducing the light in the UV range into the plurality of fiber optic channels directly from the light source.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the exposing comprises exposing both an interior and an exterior portion of each of the plurality of laboratory consumables to the light in the UV range.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the directing further comprises directing the one or more liquid solutions to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by a plurality of racks and wherein the plurality of laboratory consumables comprise pipette tips.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to sound in an ultrasonic range, the exposing comprising energizing one or more transducers to direct the sound in the ultrasonic range into the washing chamber.

27. The method of claim 18 further comprising agitating the plurality of laboratory consumables.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein a number of liquid outputs of the manifold dispenser is equal to a number of laboratory consumables held by the rack such that each one of the fluid outputs operably directs fluid at a corresponding one of the laboratory consumables.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

opening a drawer compartment;

loading the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack into the drawer compartment; and

closing the drawing compartment.