Calibratable sensor unit for reaction vessels

• US 9,034,572 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• 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:
  US13/930,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 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: 435/4
• 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 present invention relates to a calibration method of a sensor unit connected to a reaction vessel, 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. The method comprising inserting a sensitive element of the at least one sensor device into a compartment of the sensor unit containing a calibrating agent, withdrawing the sensitive element from the compartment; inserting the sensitive element into the reaction vessel and locking the sensor device in position, wherein the steps of the method are irreversible.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating at least one sensor device of a sensor unit connected to a reaction vessel, 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, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

inserting a sensitive element of the at least one sensor device into a compartment of the sensor unit containing a calibrating agent,

withdrawing the sensitive element from the compartment;

inserting the sensitive element into the reaction vessel and locking the sensor device in position, wherein the steps of the method are irreversible.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inserting the sensitive element of the at least one sensor device into at least one further compartment of the sensor unit containing a second calibrating agent or a cleaning agent, and

withdrawing the sensitive element from the at least one further compartment;

wherein the steps of inserting the sensitive element of the at least one sensor device into at least one further compartment and withdrawing the sensitive element from the at least one further compartment are performed before inserting the sensitive element into the reaction vessel.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor device is guided such that the sensitive element does not come into contact with a preceding compartment.

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

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

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor device is temporary stopped so that the sensitive element does not come into contact with a preceding compartment.