Device and method for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume
First Claim
1. A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume, comprising:
- a liquid reservoir comprising an outlet;
a pressure generator which is implemented to provide a compressible gas volume enclosed in the liquid reservoir with a pressure, wherein the compressible gas volume has a constant amount of substance and the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir;
a doser coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and configured to be operated in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet;
a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure existing in the gas volume and for outputting an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume; and
a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the doser and the pressure sensor and which is implemented to;
control the pressure generator in order to change the pressure in the gas volume until the output signal of the pressure sensor indicates a first pressure, while the doser is not operated so that it prevents liquid from passing the outlet,operate the doser depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor in order to dispense or receive liquid through the outlet, andwhile dispensing or receiving liquid through the outlet, monitor the output signal of the pressure sensor and, depending on the monitored output signal of the pressure sensor, at least temporarily terminate the operation of the doser, whereinthe pressure generator includes a syringe pump with a syringe body and a piston, andthe piston is movable by a drive to change the pressure in the gas volume relative to the syringe body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume includes a liquid reservoir having an outlet, a pressure generator which provides a compressible enclosed gas volume of a constant amount of substance with a pressure, wherein the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir, a dosing device coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and operable in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet, a pressure sensor arranged to measure a current pressure in the gas volume and to output an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume and a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the dosing device and the pressure sensor.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume, comprising:
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a liquid reservoir comprising an outlet; a pressure generator which is implemented to provide a compressible gas volume enclosed in the liquid reservoir with a pressure, wherein the compressible gas volume has a constant amount of substance and the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir; a doser coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and configured to be operated in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet; a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure existing in the gas volume and for outputting an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume; and a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the doser and the pressure sensor and which is implemented to; control the pressure generator in order to change the pressure in the gas volume until the output signal of the pressure sensor indicates a first pressure, while the doser is not operated so that it prevents liquid from passing the outlet, operate the doser depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor in order to dispense or receive liquid through the outlet, and while dispensing or receiving liquid through the outlet, monitor the output signal of the pressure sensor and, depending on the monitored output signal of the pressure sensor, at least temporarily terminate the operation of the doser, wherein the pressure generator includes a syringe pump with a syringe body and a piston, and the piston is movable by a drive to change the pressure in the gas volume relative to the syringe body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)
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10. A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume, comprising:
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a liquid reservoir comprising an outlet; a pressure generator which is implemented to provide a compressible gas volume enclosed in the liquid reservoir with a pressure, wherein the compressible as volume has a constant amount of substance and the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir; a doser coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and configured to be operated in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet; a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure existing in the gas volume and for outputting an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume; and a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the doser and the pressure sensor and which is implemented to; control the pressure generator in order to change the pressure in the gas volume until the output signal of the pressure sensor indicates a first pressure, while the doser is not operated so that it prevents liquid from passing the outlet, operate the doser depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor in order to dispense or receive liquid through the outlet, and while dispensing or receiving liquid through the outlet, monitor the output signal of the pressure sensor and, depending on the monitored output signal of the pressure sensor, at least temporarily terminate the operation of the doser, wherein the liquid reservoir is implemented as a member which is detachable from the pressure generator, and the liquid reservoir is implemented as a pipette tip mountable to the pressure generator.
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14. A device for dispensing or receiving a liquid volume, comprising:
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a liquid reservoir comprising an outlet; a pressure generator which is implemented to provide a compressible gas volume enclosed in the liquid reservoir with a pressure, wherein the compressible gas volume has a constant amount of substance and the gas volume is in direct or indirect fluidic contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir; a doser coupled to the outlet of the liquid reservoir and configured to be operated in order to enable the liquid to pass the outlet; a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure existing in the gas volume and for outputting an output signal indicating the current pressure in the gas volume; and a controller coupled to the pressure generator, the doser and the pressure sensor and which is implemented to; control the pressure generator in order to change the pressure in the gas volume until the output signal of the pressure sensor indicates a first pressure, while the doser is not operated so that it prevents liquid from passing the outlet, operate the doser depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor in order to dispense or receive liquid through the outlet, and while dispensing or receiving liquid through the outlet, monitor the output signal of the pressure sensor and, depending on the monitored output signal of the pressure sensor, at least temporarily terminate the operation of the doser, wherein the controller is implemented, after the at least temporary termination of the operation of the doser, to operate the doser at least once again and to terminate this renewed operation depending on the output signal of the pressure sensor so that several partial volumes of the liquid are dispensed or received from the outlet iteratively. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification