Cleaning solution and method of cleaning laboratory consumables

• US 9,579,696 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• 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:
  US14/718,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4242 by using ultraviolet generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/00 Cleaning or rinsing apparatus
• 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 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0804 Cleaning containers having tubular shape, e.g. casks, barrels, drums B08B9/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0817 by agitating or tumbling containers filled with liquid or liquid and abrasive, e.g. chain
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/18 Glass; Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices

Abstract

A cleaning solution for cleaning laboratory consumables comprises sodium percarbonate in a concentration of from 0.9% w/w to 1.6% w/w based on a total weight of the solution and at least one diluent to 100% w/w.

Claims

1. A method for washing laboratory consumables, comprising:

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

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;

wherein at least one of the one or more liquid solutions comprises a mixture of sodium percarbonate in a concentration of from 0.9% w/w to 1.6% w/w based on a total weight of the solution and at least one diluent to 100% w/w.

2. The method of claim 1, where the sodium percarbonate is in a concentration of 1.2% w/w based on the total weight of the solution.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one diluent comprises deionized water.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising substantially submerging the plurality of laboratory consumables in at least one of the one or more liquid solutions prior to draining the one or more liquid solutions from the waste drain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more liquid cleaning solutions further 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.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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.

7. The method of claim 6, 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.

8. The method of claim 6, 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 into the plurality of fluid outputs.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the exposing further comprises introducing the light in the UV range into the plurality of fiber optic channels directly from the light source.

10. The method of claim 6, 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.

11. The method of claim 1, 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.

12. The method of claim 1, 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.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising agitating the plurality of laboratory consumables.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of fluid outputs of the manifold equals a number of the plurality of laboratory consumables such that the one or more liquid solutions directed from each of the plurality of fluid outputs contacts is directed at a separate one of the plurality of laboratory consumables.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

lowering the manifold vertically relative to the plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack; and

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

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laboratory consumables comprises a plurality of pipette tips.