WASTE SEPARATION SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The subject of the invention is a waste separation system for an automatically operating analyzer and lies in the technical field of automatic analysis devices for in-vitro diagnostics.

[0002] Numerous detection and analysis methods for determining physiological parameters in body fluid samples or other biological samples are now carried out automatically in large numbers in automatic analysis devices, also known as in vitro diagnostic systems.

[0003] Today's analytical devices are capable of performing a wide variety of detection reactions and analyses with a single sample. To automate a wide variety of tests, various devices are required for the spatial transfer of measuring cells, reaction vessels, and reagent containers, such as transfer arms with gripping functions, conveyor belts, or rotating transport wheels, as well as devices for transferring liquids, such as pipetting devices. The devices include a control unit that, using appropriate software, is capable of planning and executing the work steps for the desired analyses largely independently.

[0004] Many of the analytical procedures used in such automated analytical devices are based on optical methods. These procedures enable the qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes, i.e., the substances to be detected or determined in samples. The determination of clinically relevant parameters, such as the concentration or activity of an analyte, is often performed by mixing a portion of a sample with one or more test reagents in a reaction vessel, which can also be the measuring cell. This initiates, for example, a biochemical reaction or a specific binding reaction that causes a measurable change in an optical or other physical property of the test mixture.

[0005] It is known that in automated analyzers used to test biological body fluids, the required reagents are filled into a measuring cuvette using, for example, a pipetting device with a pipetting needle. The measuring cuvette can be automatically moved to various positions within the automated analyzer using a cuvette gripper, for example, a robot arm that is part of a robot station. After the measurement, the used measuring cuvette is pumped empty and cleaned for reuse, or for disposal, possibly together with the sample components, into a waste container for disposal.

[0006] Such analyzers typically also generate liquid, often potentially highly infectious, waste containing a wide variety of ingredients. Solids, such as microplastic particles from reagents containing latex particles, may also be present in the waste. Such microplastic particles can be viewed very critically, especially from an environmental perspective, since some microplastic particles cannot be treated in wastewater treatment plants.

[0007] Until now, the entire wastewater from analytical instruments was usually discharged into canisters or directly into a laboratory wastewater system. Liquid waste, for example, from washing stations and cuvettes, is pumped directly into a waste container on the analytical instrument or into the laboratory wastewater system. Alternatively, some cuvettes, including their liquid contents, are disposed of in the solid waste container. Separate treatment of the various contents does not occur.

[0008] JPH08254537 and US2006 / 153736 disclose a waste separation system in which different waste liquids are separated into different waste containers by a valve system.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved processing of waste in automatic analysis devices, which in particular enables a more environmentally friendly disposal of the resulting waste, including waste water.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by the objects and methods described below.

[0011] It has been found that improved processing of waste and in particular waste water in automatic analysis devices can be achieved if the waste is separated into different waste classes by means of a waste separation system according to the invention.

[0012] The invention is based on the idea that waste containing particularly environmentally problematic ingredients, such as microplastic particles from special reagents, should be collected separately in special containers so that the laboratory's wastewater system is not contaminated with such substances. To keep the resulting volume of waste containing particularly problematic ingredients as low as possible, the wastewater contaminated with such substances should flow into the corresponding special containers as little as possible. The wastewater collected in the special containers should then be disposed of separately in an environmentally friendly manner.

[0013] This has the advantage that the environmental impact of wastewater contaminated with, for example, microplastic particles from reagents is minimized and, in particular, the volume of contaminated wastewater can be greatly reduced, since often only a portion of the samples or reagent mixtures contain such contaminating ingredients.

[0014] This also has the advantage that only contaminated wastewater can now be specifically directed to a special, environmentally friendly disposal process. This also results in cost advantages due to the effectively reduced volume of such wastewater and the overall waste generated.

[0015] Another advantage is that, according to the invention, regulatory wastewater requirements, which may exist, for example, as country-specific requirements, can be met more easily.

[0016] Furthermore, it is also advantageous that, according to the invention, waste or parts of the waste can be more easily subjected to suitable recycling and, for example, reused, which offers particular advantages, especially in the case of metallic microparticles.

[0017] The present invention particularly relates to a waste separation system for separating waste for an automatic analysis device. The waste separation system comprises a first waste container and a second waste container, a waste transfer device for transferring waste into the first or second waste container, and a control device for controlling the waste transfer device. The control device is configured such that the waste transfer device transfers waste of a first waste class to the first waste container and waste of a second waste class to the second waste container.

[0018] The first and second waste containers are therefore two separate waste containers. In particular, the first waste container does not encompass the second waste container. Furthermore, the second waste container does not encompass the first waste container.

[0019] The control device is further configured so that waste of the first waste class does not enter the second waste container (3) and / or waste of the second waste class does not enter the first waste container (2).

[0020] This has the advantage that waste from the first and second waste classes is processed separately in the system, preventing any unfavorable mixing of waste from different waste classes. This particularly prevents subsequent, often very time-consuming, or even difficult or even impossible, waste separation from the outset.

[0021] Preferably, the waste of the first waste class and / or waste of the second waste class comprises liquid waste, e.g. in the form of dispersions, or preferably it is exclusively liquid waste.

[0022] Preferably, waste of the first waste class and / or waste of the second waste class contains non-clarifiable substances.

[0023] Waste in the first waste class preferably contains solid particles such as microplastic particles and / or latex particles, and waste in the second waste class is preferably free of solid particles. It is preferably sufficient if the waste is essentially free of solid particles. Waste is essentially free of solid particles if the waste contains, for example, less than 0.01, preferably less than 0.001, particularly preferably less than 0.0001 percent by weight of solid particles. Waste in the first waste class contains, for example, at least 0.0001, preferably at least 0.001, particularly preferably at least 0.01 percent by weight of solid particles. Percent by weight refers to the percentage by mass. The mass fractions of all components of the waste add up to 100 percent.

[0024] Preferably, the waste disposal device comprises a hose system and / or pipe system.

[0025] Preferably, the waste disposal device comprises at least one valve that can be controlled by means of the control device.

[0026] The waste disposal device comprises an automatically controllable cuvette gripper and / or an automatically controllable pipetting device.

[0027] Waste of the first waste class and / or the second waste class is located at least partially, preferably completely, in a cuvette, a pipette tip and / or another vessel when the waste is placed in the first or second waste container.

[0028] Waste from the first and / or second waste classes is placed in the first or second waste container together with the cuvette, pipette tip, and / or vessel. This has the advantage of eliminating work steps and allowing the waste from the first waste class to be disposed of together with the corresponding containers, rather than having to be removed.

[0029] Preferably, only dispersions and / or liquid waste are placed in the waste containers. This has the advantage that the volume of contaminated waste can be further reduced to a minimum, as cuvettes, pipette tips, and / or other containers containing the waste can be disposed of separately and / or recycled.

[0030] Preferably, the cuvette, pipette tip, and / or vessel are consumables, preferably designed for single use in an automated analyzer. This has the advantage of avoiding time-consuming cleaning of the containers. Furthermore, it reduces safety concerns, for example, regarding carryover between different samples.

[0031] Another object of the invention is an automatic analysis device comprising a waste separation system according to the invention.

[0032] The analysis device further advantageously comprises at least one automatically controllable pipetting device, an automatically controllable cuvette gripper and / or at least one measuring device for the optical and / or electronic quantitative and / or qualitative detection of at least one analyte in a sample.

[0033] Another object of the invention is a method for separating waste in an automatic analyzer according to claim 10.

[0034] Preferably, the control device is further configured such that waste of the first waste class does not enter the second waste container (3) and / or waste of the second waste class does not enter the first waste container (2).

[0035] Preferably, the waste separation system in the method is designed as a waste separation system according to the invention.

[0036] Preferably, the control device uses information from a database to determine whether waste of the first waste class or waste of the second waste class is present.

[0037] Preferably, the control device receives information that contaminated materials, e.g., reagents, are being processed in the automatic analyzer. This can preferably be done, for example, by automatically reading labels from reagent containers, where the labels contain, for example, information that microplastic particles are contained in the reagent.

[0038] The labels are preferably labels that contain a barcode that can be read visually, for example using a camera and / or a scanner.

[0039] The labels are preferably labels that include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that can be electronically read by a reading device. Preferably, information stored in the RFID chip includes the information that microplastic particles are contained in the reagent.

[0040] Preferably, the information that contaminated materials, e.g., reagents, are being processed in the automatic analyzer is stored in the database, preferably in the control device. Preferably, the information that contaminated materials are being processed in the automatic analyzer includes information about which reagent containers contain contaminated materials.

[0041] Preferably, when liquid is withdrawn from a reagent container containing contaminated materials and transferred to another container, this additional container is marked in the database as a container containing contaminated materials.

[0042] Preferably, the liquid is withdrawn from a reagent container containing contaminated materials and transferred into the further container by means of an automatic pipetting device.

[0043] Preferably, when disposing of liquid from a container marked in the database which contains contaminated materials, this liquid is assigned to waste of the first waste class by means of the control device and is placed in the first waste container during disposal, preferably by means of the waste disposal device.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when suctioning liquid from a container marked in the database that contains contaminated materials, a valve in the suction system is switched by means of the control device in such a way that the system switches from the standard waste container to a special container.

[0045] Preferably, the automatic analysis device records information on environmentally hazardous substances and tracks the movement of these substances using the control device within the analysis device in order to then dispose of these substances, as well as other substances mixed with these substances during the analysis, separately.

[0046] A further object of the invention is a use of a waste separation system according to the invention and / or a method according to the invention in an automatic analysis device.

[0047] The term "solid particle" preferably refers to a particulate solid phase.

[0048] For the purposes of this invention, the term "particulate solid phase" refers to non-cellular particles. These non-cellular particles have, for example, an approximate diameter of at least 1 nm and no more than 5000 µm. The microparticles can be regular or irregular in shape. They can be spheres, spheroids, or spheres with cavities or pores of varying size. Furthermore, microparticles can be fibers with a length and a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 15,000 µm and a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 3. The microparticles can consist of organic or inorganic material, or a mixture or combination of both. They can consist of a porous or non-porous, swellable or non-swellable material.In principle, the microparticles can have any density, but particles with a density close to that of water, such as about 0.7 to about 1.5 g / ml, are preferred. The preferred microparticles are suspendable in aqueous solutions and stable in suspension for as long as possible. They may be transparent, partially transparent, or opaque. The microparticles can consist of multiple layers, such as the so-called "core-and-shell" particles with a core and one or more enveloping layers. The term microparticles includes, for example, dye crystals, metal sols, silica particles, glass particles, and magnetic particles. Preferred microparticles are particles that are suspendable in aqueous solutions and consist of water-insoluble polymer material, in particular of substituted polyethylene. Latex particles are very particularly preferred, e.g.made of polystyrene, acrylic acid polymers, methacrylic acid polymers, acrylonitrile polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyvinyl acetate-acrylate, polyvinylpyridine, vinyl chloride-acrylate. Of particular interest are latex particles with reactive groups on their surface, such as carboxyl, amino, or aldehyde groups, which allow covalent binding of an anti-TNFalpha binding partner to the latex particles. Preferably, the microparticles can also comprise additives or other added substances. Human, animal, plant, or fungal cells or bacteria are explicitly not encompassed by the term "particulate solid phase" within the meaning of this invention.

[0049] For the purposes of the invention, a "sample" is understood to mean the material that presumably contains the substance to be detected (the analyte). The term "sample" includes, in particular, biological fluids from humans or animals, such as blood, plasma, serum, sputum, exudate, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lymph fluid, synovial fluid, seminal fluid, vaginal mucus, feces, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, but also tissue or cell culture samples that have been appropriately processed, for example, by homogenization or cell lysis for photometric, preferably nephelometric, determination. Furthermore, plant fluids or tissues, forensic samples, water and wastewater samples, foodstuffs, and pharmaceuticals can also serve as samples, which may require appropriate sample pretreatment prior to determination.

[0050] Quantitative detection involves measuring the amount, concentration, or activity of the analyte in the sample. The term "quantitative detection" also includes semi-quantitative methods that only measure the approximate amount, concentration, or activity of the analyte in the sample or can only be used to provide a relative indication of the amount, concentration, or activity. Qualitative detection is understood to be the detection of the presence of the analyte in the sample at all or the indication that the amount, concentration, or activity of the analyte in the sample is below or above one or more specific threshold values.

[0051] A measuring cuvette is, for example, a cuvette or reaction vessel made of glass, plastic, or metal. The measuring cuvette is preferably made of optically transparent materials, which can be particularly advantageous when using optical analysis methods. The terms "measuring cuvette" and "cuvette" are used synonymously. The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary drawings. In these drawings:

[0052] FIG 1 schematically shows the structure of a waste separation system (1), which does not fall under the claimed invention, for separating waste water comprising a first waste container (2) and a second waste container (3), FIG 2 schematically a flow diagram concerning the processing of waste in a waste separation system (1). Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0053] The waste separation system (1) according to FIG 1, which does not fall under the claimed invention, is embedded in an analytical device (not shown in detail) designed to perform a variety of sample analyses. For this purpose, the automatic analytical device comprises a variety of pipetting devices and transport devices (not shown), as well as a control unit for automated evaluation of the analyses.

[0054] The waste separation system (1) is designed for separating waste for an automatic analysis device. The waste separation system (1) comprises a first waste container (2) and a second waste container (3), a waste transfer device (4) for transferring waste into the first (2) or second waste container (3), and a control device (5) for controlling the waste transfer device (4).

[0055] The waste disposal device (4) comprises a hose system (6) to which washing stations (10) are connected. Instead of the hose system (6), a pipe system (7) can alternatively be used, or a combination of hose and pipe system (not shown). Furthermore, liquid can be drained from cuvettes (11) by means of the hose system (6). The waste disposal device (4) further comprises valves (8) and a pump (12). The valves (8) are arranged in the hose system (6) between washing stations (10) or cuvettes (11) and the pump (12). The pump (12) is designed to pump liquids from washing stations (10) and cuvettes (11) into waste containers. The waste disposal device (4) further comprises a multi-way valve (14) which is arranged in the hose system (6) between the pump (12) and the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3).

[0056] The control device (5) receives information via a data feed (13) when one or more of the washing stations (10) or cuvettes (11) contain particularly contaminated wastewater containing solid particles (9) (not shown).

[0057] The control device (5) is configured such that, depending on the information received, it switches the multi-way valve (14) such that waste of a first waste class, which is particularly contaminated and contains, for example, microplastic particles, is directed into the first waste container (2) and waste of a second waste class, which is not particularly contaminated, is directed into the second waste container (3).

[0058] FIG 2 shows a flow diagram concerning the processing of waste, e.g. in a waste separation system (1) as in FIG 1 shown.

[0059] When waste is to be removed from containers (15) and emptied (16), the control device (5) and the information received via the data feed (13) determine whether the waste from the respective containers is particularly contaminated special waste (19) containing solid particles (9) (not shown) that requires special disposal, or whether it is non-contaminated standard waste (18) that does not require special disposal. The control device (5) individually assigns (17) the waste from each of the individual containers (15).

[0060] By means of the waste transfer device (4), standard waste (18) is then transferred into the second waste container and special waste (19) is transferred into the first waste container. List of reference symbols

[0061] 1 Waste separation system 2 First waste container 3 Second waste container 4 Waste transfer device 5 Control device 6 Hose system 7 Pipe system 8 Valve 9 Solid particles 10 Washing station 11 Cuvette 12 Pump 13 Data feed 14 Multi-way valve 15 Container 16 Emptying 17 Allocation 18 Standard waste 19 Special waste

Claims

1. Waste separation system (1) for separating waste for an automatic analyser, the waste separation system (1) comprising a first waste container (2) and a second waste container (3), a waste disposal device (4) for disposing of waste into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3) and a control device (5) for controlling the waste disposal device (4), wherein the control device (5) is configured such that the waste disposal device (4) disposes of waste of a first waste class into the first waste container (2) and waste of a second waste class into the second waste container (3), wherein waste of the first waste class does not get into the second waste container (3) and / or waste of the second waste class does not get into the first waste container (2), characterized in that the waste disposal device (4) comprises an automatically controllable cuvette gripper and / or an automatically controllable pipetting device, wherein, when the waste is disposed of into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3), waste of the first waste class and / or of the second waste class is at least partly, preferably completely, contained in a cuvette, a pipette tip and / or some other vessel, wherein the waste of the first waste class and / or of the second waste class is disposed of into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3) together with the cuvette, the pipette tip and / or the vessel.

2. Waste separation system (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the waste of the first waste class and / or waste of the second waste class comprises liquid waste, for example in the form of dispersions, or is preferably liquid waste.

3. Waste separation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the waste of the first waste class and / or waste of the second waste class includes non-clarifiable substances.

4. Waste separation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein waste of the first waste class contains solid particles (9), such as for example microplastic particles and / or latex particles, and wherein waste of the second waste class is free from solid particles (9).

5. Waste separation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the waste disposal device (4) comprises a hose system (6) and / or tube system (7).

6. Waste separation system (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the waste disposal device (4) comprises at least one valve (8) which is controllable by means of the control device (5).

7. Waste separation system (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein exclusively dispersions and / or forms of liquid waste are disposed of into the waste containers.

8. Waste separation system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cuvette, the pipette tip and / or the vessel are consumables which are preferably designed for one-time use in an automatic analyser.

9. Automatic analyser comprising a waste separation system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the automatic analyser preferably comprises an automatically controllable pipetting device, an automatically controllable cuvette gripper and / or a measuring device for the optical and / or electronic quantitative and / or qualitative detection of at least one analyte in a sample.

10. Method for separating waste in an automatic analyser by means of a waste separation system (1), the waste separation system (1) comprising a first waste container (2) and a second waste container (3), a waste disposal device (4) for disposing of waste into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3) and a control device (5) for controlling the waste disposal device (4), wherein the control device (5) controls the waste disposal device (4) such that waste of a first waste class is disposed of into the first waste container (2) and waste of a second waste class is disposed of into the second waste container (3), wherein waste of the first waste class does not get into the second waste container (3) and / or waste of the second waste class does not get into the first waste container (2), characterized in that the waste disposal device (4) comprises an automatically controllable cuvette gripper and / or an automatically controllable pipetting device, wherein, when the waste is disposed of into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3), waste of the first waste class and / or of the second waste class is at least partly, preferably completely, contained in a cuvette, a pipette tip and / or some other vessel, wherein the waste of the first waste class and / or of the second waste class is disposed of into the first waste container (2) or the second waste container (3) together with the cuvette, the pipette tip and / or the vessel.

11. Method according to Claim 10, wherein the control device (5) determines by means of information from a database whether the waste concerned is waste of the first waste class or waste of the second waste class.

12. Method according to either of Claims 10 and 11, wherein the waste separation system (1) is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 8.

13. Use of a waste separation system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8 and / or of a method according to Claims 10 to 12 in an automatic analyser, preferably in an automatic analyser according to Claim 9.