A pipetting device

Abstract

The application discloses a pipetting device. The pipetting device comprises a liquid storage tube, a first liquid inlet tube, a first liquid outlet tube, a second liquid outlet tube, a liquid to be pipetted bottle, a sample bottle, a waste liquid bottle, a driving device and a controller. The first end of the liquid storage tube comprises a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet is connected with the first end of the first liquid inlet tube, the liquid outlet is connected with the first end of the first liquid outlet tube and the first end of the second liquid outlet tube, and the second end of the liquid storage tube is connected with the driving device through a piston. The second end of the first liquid inlet tube is immersed in the liquid to be pipetted in the liquid to be pipetted bottle. The second end of the first liquid outlet tube is suspended above the bottle mouth of the sample bottle. The second end of the second liquid outlet tube is placed in the waste liquid bottle. The controller is configured to control the driving device to move the piston in the liquid storage tube to draw or discharge the liquid to be pipetted and draw or discharge air. In the embodiment of the application, a part of the liquid to be pipetted is drawn through the liquid inlet tube, and a part of the air is drawn through the liquid outlet tube, so that the liquid to be pipetted is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automated pipetting technology, and in particular to a pipetting device. Background Technology

[0002] Pipettes are an indispensable key piece of equipment in testing and inspection laboratories. In traditional pipetting methods, volumetric flasks, measuring cups, and graduated cylinders are usually used to measure large volumes of liquid, while single-mark pipettes and graduated pipettes are used to measure small volumes of liquid. With the development of science and technology, pipettes, separators, electronic pipetting devices, and other pipetting tools have emerged. Among them, electronic pipetting devices have the characteristics of high pipetting accuracy, high degree of automation, and high pipetting efficiency. Therefore, they have been widely used in many fields such as clinical diagnosis, biotechnology, medicine, chemical industry, environmental protection, and food testing.

[0003] Electronic pipetting devices generally employ a "drive pump + reservoir + tubing" structure. With this structure, the entire pipetting tubing needs to be cleaned every time the liquid to be transferred is changed, or when the device is turned on and restarted, typically at least three times. However, traditional cleaning methods require a large volume of liquid to be transferred, making them unsuitable for situations with small volumes or very precious liquids, and they cannot automatically handle air bubbles appearing in the pipetting tubing. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a pipetting device suitable for situations where the volume of liquid to be pipetted is small, the liquid to be pipetted is very precious, or air bubbles are present in the pipetting device tubing.

[0005] The embodiments of this application disclose the following technical solutions:

[0006] This application provides a pipetting device, which includes: a storage tube, a first inlet tube, a first outlet tube, a second outlet tube, a bottle for the liquid to be transferred, a sample bottle, a waste bottle, a driving device, and a controller;

[0007] The first end of the storage tube includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the first end of the first inlet tube, and the outlet is connected to the first end of the first outlet tube and the first end of the second outlet tube. The second end of the storage tube is connected to the driving device via a piston.

[0008] The second end of the first inlet tube is immersed in the liquid to be transferred in the bottle containing the liquid to be transferred.

[0009] The second end of the first outlet tube is suspended above the mouth of the sample bottle;

[0010] The second end of the second outlet tube is placed in the waste liquid bottle;

[0011] The controller is configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the reservoir to draw or discharge the liquid to be transferred, or to draw or discharge air.

[0012] In one implementation, the pipetting device further includes: a second inlet tube and a bubble cleaning bottle;

[0013] The first end of the second inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the second inlet pipe is immersed in the bubble cleaning solution in the bubble cleaning solution bottle.

[0014] The controller is also configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the reservoir to draw in or discharge the bubble cleaning fluid.

[0015] In one implementation, the pipetting device further includes: a third inlet tube and a water storage bottle;

[0016] The first end of the third inlet tube is connected to the inlet of the storage tube, and the second end of the third inlet tube is immersed in the purified water in the storage bottle.

[0017] The controller is also configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the reservoir to draw or discharge pure water.

[0018] In one implementation, the pipetting device further includes: a main outlet pipe, an outlet three-way valve, a main inlet pipe, and an inlet four-way valve;

[0019] The first end of the main inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the main inlet pipe is connected to the first end of the four-way inlet valve.

[0020] The second, third and fourth ends of the liquid inlet four-way valve are respectively connected to the first end of the first liquid inlet pipe, the first end of the second liquid inlet pipe and the first end of the third liquid inlet pipe;

[0021] The first end of the main outlet pipe is connected to the outlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the main outlet pipe is connected to the first end of the outlet three-way valve.

[0022] The second and third ends of the liquid outlet three-way valve are respectively connected to the first end of the first liquid outlet pipe and the first end of the second liquid outlet pipe.

[0023] In one implementation, the pipetting device further includes: a bubble detection sensor;

[0024] A bubble detection sensor is configured to detect the state of bubbles in the pipetting device tubing.

[0025] In one implementation, the pipetting device further includes: an image recognition unit;

[0026] The image recognition unit is configured to acquire an image of the pipetting device tubing and, based on the image of the tubing, identify the state of air bubbles in the tubing.

[0027] In one implementation, the controller is configured to clean the tubing in response to selecting any one of the following cleaning modes: a regular cleaning mode, a liquid-saving cleaning mode, a bubble cleaning mode, and a pure water cleaning mode, when the pipette is powered on or restarted, when air bubbles appear in the pipette tubing, or when the liquid to be pipetted is replaced or other tubing needs cleaning; wherein the regular cleaning mode and the liquid-saving cleaning mode are used to rinse the tubing, the bubble cleaning mode is used to remove air bubbles detected in the tubing during pipette operation, and the pure water cleaning mode is used to remove contaminants present in the tubing; wherein, among the above four cleaning modes, the liquid-saving cleaning mode is the default cleaning mode for the pipette.

[0028] To make the cleaning of the pipette suitable for situations where the volume of liquid to be transferred is small, the liquid to be transferred is very precious, or air bubbles are present in the pipette tubing, this application provides a pipette that draws a portion of the liquid to be transferred through the inlet pipe and draws a portion of the air through the outlet pipe, thereby conserving the liquid to be transferred and making it suitable for situations where the volume of liquid to be transferred is small, the liquid to be transferred is very precious, or air bubbles are present in the pipette tubing. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a pipetting device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 1The reference numerals in the attached figures are as follows: 1-Waste liquid bottle; 2-Waste liquid; 3-Image acquisition device mounting bracket at the liquid outlet; 4-Image acquisition device for the liquid outlet group; 5-Liquid outlet tube to be transferred; 6-Horizontal arm of the liquid outlet bracket; 7-Pipette body; 8-LCD display screen; 9-Operation indicator light; 10-Function button; 11-Keyboard; 12-Sample bottle; 13-Liquid to be transferred; 14-Reservoir piston push rod fixing screw; 15-Reservoir piston and push rod; 16-Reservoir tube and the liquid to be transferred stored therein; 17-Reservoir tube three-way valve; 18-Outlet tube bubble detection sensor; 19-Inlet tube bubble detection sensor. Sensor; 20-Main inlet pipe; 21-Inlet four-way valve; 22-Four-way valve mounting bracket; 23-Inlet end bracket cross arm; 24-Inlet bottle group image acquisition device; 25-Inlet end image acquisition device mounting bracket; 26-Bubble cleaning inlet pipe; 27-Bubble cleaning liquid bottle; 28-Bubble cleaning liquid; 29-Pure water (such as distilled water or deionized water); 30-Storage bottle; 31-Pure water inlet pipe; 32-Liquid to be transferred inlet pipe; 33-Liquid to be transferred bottle; 34-Liquid to be transferred; 35-Storage pipe image acquisition device; 36-Main outlet pipe; 37-Outlet three-way valve; 38-Waste liquid outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0033] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order of objects. For example, "first switching device" and "second switching device," etc., are used to distinguish different switching devices, not to describe a specific order of switching devices.

[0034] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0035] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the pipetting device and the cleaning method of the pipetting device in the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0036] See Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of a pipetting device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the pipetting device includes: 1-waste bottle; 2-waste liquid; 3-image acquisition device mounting bracket at the outlet; 4-image acquisition device for the outlet bottle group; 5-outlet tube for the liquid to be transferred; 6-cross arm of the outlet bracket; 7-pipette body; 8-LCD display screen; 9-operation indicator light; 10-function button; 11-keyboard; 12-sample bottle; 13-liquid to be transferred; 14-piston rod fixing screw for the storage tube; 15-piston and rod for the storage tube; 16-storage tube; 17-three-way valve for the storage tube; 18-outlet tube bubble detection sensor; 19-inlet tube bubble detection sensor; 2 0-Main inlet pipe; 21-Inlet four-way valve; 22-Four-way valve mounting bracket; 23-Inlet end bracket crossarm; 24-Inlet bottle group image acquisition device; 25-Inlet end image acquisition device mounting bracket; 26-Bubble cleaning inlet pipe; 27-Bubble cleaning liquid bottle; 28-Bubble cleaning liquid; 29-Pure water (such as distilled water or deionized water); 30-Storage bottle; 31-Pure water inlet pipe; 32-Liquid to be transferred inlet pipe; 33-Liquid to be transferred bottle; 34-Liquid to be transferred; 35-Storage pipe image acquisition device; 36-Main outlet pipe; 37-Outlet three-way valve; 38-Waste liquid outlet pipe.

[0038] The first end of the 16-storage tube includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the first end of the first inlet tube (32-liquid to be transferred inlet tube), the first end of the second inlet tube (26-bubble cleaning inlet tube), and the first end of the third inlet tube (31-pure water inlet tube) via the 20-main inlet tube and the 21-inlet four-way valve. The outlet is connected to the first end of the first outlet tube (5-liquid to be transferred outlet tube) and the first end of the second outlet tube (38-waste liquid outlet tube) via the 36-main outlet tube and the 37-outlet three-way valve. The second end of the 16-storage tube is connected to a driving device (not shown in the figure) via a piston. The driving device is used to drive the 15-piston to move within the 16-storage tube to extract or discharge the liquid to be transferred, extract or discharge air, extract or discharge bubble cleaning liquid, and extract or discharge pure water. The second end of the first inlet tube (32-Liquid to be transferred inlet tube) is immersed in 34-Liquid to be transferred in 33-Liquid to be transferred bottle; the second end of the second inlet tube (26-Bubble cleaning inlet tube) is immersed in 28-Bubble cleaning solution in 27-Bubble cleaning solution bottle; the second end of the third inlet tube (31-Pure water inlet tube) is immersed in 29-Pure water in 30-Water storage bottle; the second end of the first outlet tube (5-Liquid to be transferred outlet tube) is suspended above the mouth of 12-Sample bottle; the second end of the second outlet tube (38-Waste liquid outlet tube) is placed in 1-Waste liquid bottle.

[0039] The bubble detection sensors (18-outlet pipe bubble detection sensor, 19-inlet pipe bubble detection sensor) and the image recognition units (4-outlet bottle group image acquisition device, 24-inlet bottle group image acquisition device and 35-storage pipe image acquisition device) are respectively installed in the pipeline of the pipetting device to identify the bubble status in the pipeline in real time.

[0040] The controller (not shown in the figure) is configured to control the drive device to perform actions such as powering on or restarting the pipette, the presence of air bubbles in the pipette tubing, or the replacement of the liquid to be pipetted or the need for cleaning of other tubing. In response to these actions, it can select one of the following cleaning modes: regular cleaning mode, liquid-saving cleaning mode, bubble cleaning mode, or pure water cleaning mode. The regular cleaning mode and liquid-saving cleaning mode are used to rinse the tubing; the bubble cleaning mode is used to remove air bubbles detected in the tubing during pipette operation; and the pure water cleaning mode is used to remove contaminants present in the tubing. Of these four cleaning modes, the liquid-saving cleaning mode is the default cleaning mode for the pipette.

[0041] The pipetting apparatus and cleaning method of the present application have the following beneficial effects:

[0042] (1) The cleaning process saves mother liquor. It retains the traditional conventional cleaning and pure water cleaning modes, and adds two new modes: sample-saving cleaning and bubble cleaning. These two new cleaning modes can effectively clean the pipetting device tubing and save the liquid to be transferred to the maximum extent. It is especially suitable for scenarios where the amount of liquid to be transferred is small or the liquid to be transferred is very precious and there are air bubbles in the pipetting device tubing.

[0043] (2) It can detect, identify and process air bubbles in the pipetting device tubing in real time during the pipetting process. The pipetting device uses a pipe bubble detection sensor and / or a pipe image acquisition device to detect and identify the air bubble status in each inlet pipe, each outlet pipe, each valve body and the storage pipe in real time. Once an air bubble is detected in the tubing, the pipetting device controller will automatically execute the air bubble cleaning mode to clean the entire pipetting device tubing to remove the air bubbles in the pipetting device tubing.

[0044] (3) Simple to use. When using it, you only need to install and place the pipetting device and the required components, and the pipetting device can automatically complete the cleaning of the tubing, pipetting, fault self-checking and handling. Therefore, the cleaning device and method of this application can be used in a wide range of volumetric and pipetting devices, and has significant social benefits.

[0045] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the cleaning methods of the pipetting device described in this application under various cleaning modes.

Claims

1. A pipetting device, characterized in that, The pipetting device includes: a storage tube, a first inlet tube, a first outlet tube, a second outlet tube, a bottle of liquid to be transferred, a sample bottle, a waste bottle, a drive device, and a controller; The first end of the liquid storage tube includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the first end of the first inlet tube, and the outlet is connected to the first end of the first outlet tube and the first end of the second outlet tube. The second end of the liquid storage tube is connected to the driving device via a piston. The second end of the first inlet tube is immersed in the liquid to be transferred in the liquid bottle to be transferred. The second end of the first outlet tube is suspended above the mouth of the sample bottle; The second end of the second outlet tube is placed in the waste liquid bottle; The controller is configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the liquid storage tube to extract or discharge the liquid to be transferred, or to extract or discharge air.

2. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipetting device further includes: a second inlet tube and a bubble cleaning bottle; The first end of the second inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the second inlet pipe is immersed in the bubble cleaning liquid in the bubble cleaning bottle; The controller is also configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the reservoir tube to extract or discharge the bubble cleaning fluid.

3. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pipetting device further includes: a third inlet tube and a water storage bottle; The first end of the third inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the third inlet pipe is immersed in the purified water in the storage bottle; The controller is also configured to control the drive device to move the piston within the liquid storage tube to draw or discharge the purified water.

4. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pipetting device further includes: a main outlet pipe, a three-way outlet valve, a main inlet pipe, and a four-way inlet valve; The first end of the main inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the main inlet pipe is connected to the first end of the four-way inlet valve. The second, third and fourth ends of the liquid inlet four-way valve are respectively connected to the first end of the first liquid inlet pipe, the first end of the second liquid inlet pipe and the first end of the third liquid inlet pipe; The first end of the main outlet pipe is connected to the outlet of the storage pipe, and the second end of the main outlet pipe is connected to the first end of the outlet three-way valve. The second and third ends of the liquid outlet three-way valve are respectively connected to the first end of the first liquid outlet pipe and the first end of the second liquid outlet pipe.

5. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pipetting device further includes: a bubble detection sensor; The bubble detection sensor is configured to detect the state of bubbles in the tubing of the pipetting device.

6. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pipetting device further includes: an image recognition unit; The image recognition unit is configured to acquire an image of the tubing of the pipetting device and, based on the image of the tubing, identify the state of air bubbles in the tubing.

7. The pipetting apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller is configured to clean the tubing in response to selecting any one of the following cleaning modes: a regular cleaning mode, a liquid-saving cleaning mode, a bubble cleaning mode, and a pure water cleaning mode, when the pipetting device is powered on or restarted, when air bubbles appear in the tubing of the pipetting device, or when the liquid to be pipetted is replaced and other tubing needs cleaning; wherein the regular cleaning mode and the liquid-saving cleaning mode are used to rinse the tubing, the bubble cleaning mode is used to remove air bubbles detected in the tubing during the operation of the pipetting device, and the pure water cleaning mode is used to remove contaminants present in the tubing; wherein, among the above four cleaning modes, the liquid-saving cleaning mode is the default cleaning mode of the pipetting device.

Images