Pipette tip for vented transfer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pipette tip (30) for manually, semi-automatically or automatically operated pipetting, intended to be introduced into a container (20) through a septum (26) to collect and inject a liquid (20), characterized in that said pipette tip (30) has, on the external surface of a plunging section (33), one or more axial fins (37), said section (33) being called the finned section, allowing ventilation of the container (20) during a fluid transfer process such as pipetting.

Description

Object of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing and transferring liquids from a container. More specifically, the invention relates to the improvement of pipetting systems, automated or not, intended for the handling and transfer of precise volumes of liquids. The invention relates to a pipette tip enabling the precise transfer of liquid from or to any container in a closed environment. State of the art

[0002] In the field of pharmaceutical preparations and quality control, ingredients are commonly supplied in containers. A liquid product contained in a container is typically withdrawn using a syringe fitted with a needle or pipette tip, a manual or automatic pipette filler with a pipette tip, or by pressure differential to a third-party device: a preparation device, a chemical synthesis apparatus, etc. Common applications include dosing, mixing, fractionating the product, or taking a sample.

[0003] Products are frequently withdrawn from containers that are either open or sealed with a pierceable septum (flexible stopper, liner, film, etc.). In the case of containers sealed with a septum, access to the product is gained by piercing the septum with a needle, spike, or piercing pipette tip.

[0004] Pipette tips, referred to as "tips" in the text, are commonly made of molded plastic. They are hollow, vary in length, and are generally conical in shape. The upper / proximal end of the tip is sized to allow for a tight seal on the sampling device. The tip is open throughout, allowing liquid to be drawn into the tip and then transferred elsewhere. The lower / distal end of the pipette tip is shaped to pierce the septa of containers and to immerse in the liquid for sampling. The liquid is drawn into the tip and can be extracted by applying pressure upstream via the transfer device, pipette, or other. The tip can usually be ejected from the transfer device using a manual or automatic trigger.

[0005] The US8163256B2 document describes a conventional pipette tip presented at the figure 1 The pipette tip 1 has a tubular configuration with an upper section having an upper wall segment 4 surrounding a locking chamber 5 and a lower wall segment 6 constituting a sealing zone 7. A body section 2 extends downwards from the upper section 3 up to an open end of narrow diameter 8. The lower wall segment 6 is provided inside an entrance section 9 narrowing inwards to a cylindrical section 10. The lower segment of the wall is reinforced by external ribs evenly distributed around the perimeter and 11 which extend from the edge 9 to the body section 2. The lower extremities 12 external vertical ribs 11are located on a plane delimiting the lower part of the crown 3 of the body part 2. The external surface of the body section 2 is continuous and smooth.

[0006] Document US8501118B2 presents another pipette tip, shown at the figure 2 Again, the outer surface of the pipette tip body 13 The flow into the vial is continuous and smooth. It incorporates elements known from the prior art. The tip of the pipette nozzle 13 which plunges into the vial consists of a neck 14 and a body 15 which features a change in taper to ensure sufficient capacity. The lower end of the body 15 features a small opening 17 by which the liquid is drawn into the body 15 and distributed from the body 15 during normal operation of the pipette. Support ribs 18,which are used to hold the tip 13 or a set of tips 13 in a tray or other container for later use, as is known from the state of the art, extending downwards on the outer surface of the pipette tip 13 from the pass 14.

[0007] Documents US8287820B2 and WO2012 / 133605A1 provide further examples of pipette tips well known from the prior art. Again, the outer surface of the pipette body, in the part that dips into the container, is continuous, cylindrically symmetrical, and smooth.

[0008] The use of pipette tips with manual pipettes or automated liquid handling systems is well known. When such pipette tips are used to aspirate or inject liquid into an open container, there is no problem with liquid transfer, as shown by the figure 3 Liquid 21is collected by suction into a conventional pipette tip 19 using a pipette and the space 23 between the pipette tip and the container 20 allows air to pass freely for optimal ventilation and instant pressure equalization: P1 = P2 at all times. On the figure 3 the reference 24 indicates the vertical movement of the pipette to immerse the pipette tip in the container and remove it. 25 shows the direction of suction and drainage of the collected liquid 22 in and out of the conventional pipette tip 19 using a pipette fitted with said pipette tip 19. A pipette tip as known from the prior art 19 It therefore provides a simple means of fluidic transfer of the container's contents when it is opened.

[0009] However, when using pipette tips of the type used in state-of-the-art technology 19are used to draw or eject liquid from or into a container equipped with any type of septum (liner, flexible stopper, film, etc.); a suction effect is observed due to continuous circumferential contact 27 between the septum 26 and the conventional nozzle 19 which ensures a more or less strong seal between the two elements ( figures 4 And 5 The level of sealing will depend on many factors such as dimensions, materials, surface conditions, the fluid in question, etc. This sealing line 27 slows down or blocks gas exchange between the inside and outside of the container, generating a pressure differential 28 positive or negative between the inside and outside of the container depending on the different pipetting phases described previously: P1 > P2 (container pressure) during septum piercing and tip insertion into the container. The positive pressure in the container tends to push liquid into the tip. P1 < P2 (container pressure) during liquid withdrawal and tip removal from the container. The negative pressure in the container tends to extract liquid from the tip.

[0010] These pressure differences generate uncontrollable or difficult-to-control liquid flows between the nozzle 19 and the container 20, making precise liquid dosing complicated or impossible. Conventional pipette tips therefore have the disadvantage of being designed only for accurately transferring liquids into or from otherwise ventilated containers. Objectives of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a pipette tip that does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0012] The device of the invention is designed to allow the withdrawal of a precise quantity of liquid from any container closed by a septum. It also allows the optimal injection of a precise quantity of liquid into any container equipped with a septum. Main characteristic elements of the invention

[0013] The present invention relates to a pipette tip, referred to as the "tip," compatible with any type of pipette actuation, whether manual, semi-automatic, or automatic. The pipette tip is designed to be inserted into any container through a septum for drawing up and injecting a liquid. The container may be of any type, size, or shape, for example, a bottle, a test tube, a PCR plate well, or an optical cuvette. The septum may be of any shape, for example, a stopper (stopper / cap), liner (coating), adhesive film, heat-sealable film, or other, and made of any material, for example, elastic or elastomeric material, natural or synthetic rubber, or plastic.

[0014] The pipette tip of the present invention innovatively features axial fins on the outer surface of its plunging section to ensure ventilation during the transfer of liquid to or from the container as well as during the movement of the tip in and out of the container.

[0015] According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the pipette tip further comprises at least one of the following features or a suitable combination thereof: The finned section is located between a main reservoir of the nozzle and the tip equipped with an orifice; the fins are distributed over said external surface of the plunging section; the nozzle includes a transition zone between the finned section and the tip, said transition zone being conical in shape and having an extension for each of said fins of the plunging section; in the transition zone, the crest height of the fins gradually increases until it joins the fins of the finned section; the invention includes any form of fin design regardless of their number, shape, dimensions and material;The invention, consisting of a nozzle ensuring the intrinsic ventilation of a container, is described herein from the perspective of fins "added" to the surface of the plunging section and also includes any design in the form of hollows formed by "material removal", such as grooves, in the outer surface of the plunging section.

[0016] Beyond these main and secondary features, and similarly to what is described in the prior art, the pipette tip of the present invention advantageously comprises, in its upper / proximal portion, a reservoir surmounted by a slightly enlarged area allowing the pipette tip to be inserted onto the manual, semi-automated, or automated sampling device. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enlarged upper portion of the pipette tip advantageously includes a stop for positioning in storage racks. The interior of this upper section also advantageously includes a stop for reproducible axial positioning on automatic pipettes.

[0017] Finally, it should be noted that the closed system ventilation function attributed to the pipette tips according to the invention does not in any way prevent their use in open systems.

[0018] More formally, a first aspect of the invention relating to a pipette tip is described by the wording of claim 1 and a second aspect of the invention relating to a use of the above pipette tip is described by the wording of claim 8.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the secondary claims. Brief description of the figures

[0020] There figure 1 represents an elevation view and a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a pipette tip according to the prior art.

[0021] There figure 2 represents an elevation view and a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a pipette tip according to the prior art.

[0022] There figure 3 represents, according to a cross-sectional view, the aspiration and injection of liquid into an open container using a pipette according to the prior art.

[0023] THE figures 4 And 5 represent, respectively according to a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, the aspiration and injection of liquid into a closed container, namely equipped with a stopper or any septum, using a pipette according to the prior art.

[0024] THE figures 6 And 7 represent, respectively according to an elevation (or front) view and according to a perspective view, an embodiment of a pipette tip according to the present invention.

[0025] There figure 8 represents, according to a perspective view, the aspiration and injection of liquid into a closed container, namely equipped with any stopper or septum, using a pipette according to the present invention.

[0026] THE Figures 9A and 9B represent two non-limiting examples of fin embodiments according to the invention.

[0027] There Figure 10represents, in perspective view, an embodiment of a pipette tip according to the present invention, in which the fins are formed by grooves cut into the surface of the tip.

[0028] There figure 11 (including a detailed view) represents, according to a cross-sectional view, the aspiration and injection of liquid into a closed container, namely equipped with any septum, using a pipette according to the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] The present invention relates to a pipette tip designed to provide ventilation during liquid transfers into and from any container equipped with a septum.

[0030] Any container is a container of any type, size, and shape, such as a flask, test tube, PCR plate well, optical cuvette, etc., equipped with a septum of any shape (stopper, liner, adhesive film, heat-sealable, etc.) and made of any material (elastic or elastomeric, natural or synthetic rubber, plastic, etc.). Flasks closed by septa, or PCR plate wells or similar containers closed by adhesive or heat-sealable films of various materials, are all non-limiting examples of any container equipped with a septum.

[0031] THE figures 6 And 7 schematically present a pipette tip 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The upper part 31 from the pipette tip, located just above the main reservoir 32is slightly enlarged to allow the insertion of the pipette tip onto the manual, semi-automated, or automated fluid handling device, such as a pipette or a pipetting robot. A stop 36 allows for the positioning and securing of pipette tips in packaging racks. The invention maintains the prior art principle by preserving a continuous, conical shape with cylindrical symmetry at the tip end. 35 to allow a leak-proof interface with fluidic connection elements such as, for example, injection ports, and to retain the following well-known beneficial effects of a thin-walled capillary tip: limitation of septal piercing force; reduced drop size; centered drop; laminar flow during nozzle emptying.

[0032] Advantageously, the addition of axial fins 37 on the plunging section 33and the transition zone 34 The pipette tip offers a major innovative benefit: ventilation of containers in a closed system sealed by a septum, regardless of their shape and nature. Indeed, as shown on the figures 8 and 9 the interface 38 between the septum 26 and the winged pipette tip 30 is not airtight because the septum rests on the outside of the fins and does not deform enough to hermetically fill the hollows between the fins, which creates openings between the tip and the septum, ensuring ventilation at any stage of the pipetting process.

[0033] It should be noted that the invention covers all forms of vent design, two typical examples of which are shown in the figure 9 : (A) either a vision in the form of fins "added to the surface": the width of the fins 37 is less than or equal to the distance between two fins37 ; (B) or a vision in the form of grooves "carved into the surface": the width of the fins 37 is greater than the distance between two fins 37.

[0034] The function and effect of the two types of fins is similar: the septum cannot penetrate the hollows, which leaves an opening ensuring good ventilation of the container.

[0035] As indicated in the figure 11 At any given moment, we have the equation 28 (P1 = P2) thanks to ventilation through the gaps between the tip and the septum. This ventilation is beneficial because it reduces, or even eliminates, the pressurization and depressurization effects of the container during liquid withdrawal and injection operations, and during the immersion and removal of the tip in and out of the container, which: limits, or even eliminates, the risk of overflow or leakage of liquid when piercing the septum and plunging the tip into the container; ensures precise volumetric sampling and dosing in the tip, using a manual, semi-automatic or automatic pipette (such as a pipetting robot); limits, or even eliminates, the loss of liquid from the tip when removing the tip from the container, through the septum.

[0036] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transition zone 34 between the finned section 33 and the end cone 35 is conical in shape in order to limit the force when passing through the section 35 to the section 33 during penetration through the septum. The limitation of the length of the transition zone 34 between the finned section 33 and the end cone 35and the progressive reduction in the height of the fins ensures ventilation of the container for as long as possible during the removal of the nozzle from the container, through the septum. Furthermore, a difference in diameter / width between the finned section 33 and the tip of the nozzle 35 This ensures that the wide cross-section deforms the septum and creates a sufficiently large hole in the septum so that the seal between the septum and the tip of the end cone is imperfect, thus allowing slight ventilation even at the end of the tip's withdrawal from the container, through the septum. Ventilation is therefore effective throughout the fluid transfer process. after piercing, as soon as the fins come into contact with the septum; throughout the process of dipping the tip into the container, through the septum; during the sequence of dispensing the liquid solution; throughout the process of removing the tip from the container, through the septum at least until the fins are completely out of the septum. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1 Conventional pipette tip 2 Body section 3 Upper section / crown 4 Upper wall segment 5 Locking chamber 6 Lower wall segment 7 Sealing chamber 8 Open end 9 Inlet section 10 Cylindrical section 11 Circumferential external ribs 12 Lower rib end 13 Pipette tip 14 Neck 15 Pipette tip body 16 Peripheral plate 17 Pipette opening 18 Support ribs 19 Conventional pipette tip 20 Container 21 Liquid 22 Aspirated liquid 23 Pipette tip / container space 24 Vertical pipette movement 25 Direction of aspiration and dispensing of aspirated liquid 26 Septum 27 Continuous circumferential contact 28 Pressure differential 30 Pipette tip according to an embodiment of the present invention 31 Upper part of pipette tip 32 Main reservoir 33 plunging section 34 transition zone 35 tip / tip end 36 stop 37 axial fin 38 interface between the septum and the tippipette

Claims

1. A pipette tip (30) for a manually, semi-automatically or automatically operated pipette, intended to be introduced into a container (20) through a septum (26) to withdraw and / or inject a liquid (21), characterized in that said pipette tip (30) has, on an external surface of a plunging section (33), one or more axial fins (37), said plunging section (33) being called finned section, allowing ventilation of the container (20) during a fluid transfer / pipetting process.

2. The pipette tip (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that the finned section (33) is located between a main reservoir (32) of the nozzle (30) and a nozzle / tip end (35) of conical shape and provided with an orifice.

3. The pipette tip (30) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fins (37) are distributed over said external surface of the plunging section (33).

4. The pipette tip (30) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that It includes a transition zone (34) between the finned section (33) and the nozzle end (35), said transition zone (34) being conical in shape and having an extension for each of said fins (37) of the plunging section (33) ensuring ventilation including on this section.

5. The pipette tip (30) according to claim 4, characterized in that , in the transition zone (34), the crest height of the fins (37) gradually increases from 0 until it reaches, at the same height as these, the fins (37) of the finned section (33).

6. The pipette tip (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to ensure the aforementioned ventilation, either fins (37) are added to the surface of the nozzle (33), in which case the width of the fins (37) is less than or equal to the distance between two fins (37), or grooves are cut into the surface of the nozzle (33), in which case the width of the fins formed (37) is greater than the distance between two fins (37), or a combination of fins and grooves is provided, regardless of their number, shape, dimensions and arrangement.

7. The pipette tip (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It is configured for single, multiple or durable / reusable use.

8. Use of a pipette tip (30), according to any one of the preceding claims, on any fluid transfer device, such as syringe, pipette, etc., manually, semi-automatically or automatically operated, to transfer a liquid into and from any container equipped with a septum or closed container (20), ventilation of the closed container (20) being ensured at all times during the fluid transfer / pipetting process.

9. Use according to claim 8, characterized in that the container (20) is of any type, size or shape.

10. Use according to claim 9, characterized in that the container (20) is a vial, a test tube, a PCR plate cuvette or an optical cuvette.

11. Use according to claim 8, characterized in thatthe septum (26) is of any shape, such as stopper, liner, adhesive film, heat sealable, etc. and of any material such as plastic, elastic or elastomeric material, natural or synthetic rubber, etc.

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