Laboratory apparatus, laboratory sample handling system, and use of laboratory apparatus and / or use of laboratory sample handling system

Abstract

To prevent residue of a sample from being scattered when a laboratory cap is removed from a laboratory sample container.SOLUTION: A laboratory apparatus for use in a laboratory sample handling system, where the apparatus comprises: a cap waste disposal catcher (2), where the catcher is designed to catch a laboratory cap (150) removed from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample; and an electric field generator, where the generator is designed to generate an electric field (4) to attract a residue (153) of the sample released by the cap (150) to the catcher (2).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laboratory instrument for use in a laboratory sample handling system, to a laboratory sample handling system comprising such a laboratory instrument, and in particular to the use of such a laboratory instrument in such a laboratory sample handling system and / or the use of such a laboratory sample handling system. Summary of the Invention

[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide a laboratory instrument having improved properties. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laboratory sample handling system comprising such a laboratory instrument, as well as in particular the use of such a laboratory instrument in such a laboratory sample handling system and / or the use of such a laboratory sample handling system.

[0003] This object is solved by a laboratory device and a use as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0004] The present invention relates to a laboratory instrument for use in a laboratory sample handling system. The instrument comprises a cap waste disposal catcher and an electric field generator. The catcher is designed to catch laboratory caps removed from laboratory sample containers containing laboratory samples. The generator is designed to generate an electric field that specifically electrically attracts sample residues released by the caps to the catcher.

[0005] Particularly after the removal or decapping process of the cap from the container, which is particularly automated, the cap may be dropped and / or dropped into the catcher, particularly by gravity. If the container is tilted before the decapping process, the cap, particularly the inner surface of the cap, may be contaminated, soiled, covered or particularly wetted by the sample. During and / or due to the impact of the cap onto the surface of the catcher, which is particularly rigid or solid, the cap may rotate chaotically and uncontrollably. This rotation may thereby lead to the release or detachment of residues of the sample, particularly at least one small, particularly micro, droplet, from the cap.

[0006] This, in particular the generator, can reduce or mitigate or prevent or avoid spilling or splashing of residues, in particular from or out of the catcher, in particular uncontrolled, when the cap is caught. This can reduce or prevent contamination, in particular cross-contamination, of the container and / or sample and / or other laboratory sample containers and / or other laboratory samples. Thus, the properties of the laboratory equipment are improved, which may cause less or no problems in the laboratory environment compared to laboratory equipment without such an electric field generator.

[0007] In particular, the term "pre-analytical" may be used synonymously with the term "handling."

[0008] The term "having" may be used synonymously with the term "comprising."

[0009] The terms "configured to" or "adapted to" may be used synonymously with the term "designed."

[0010] The container may be made of glass, plastic or any other particularly somewhat rigid material. Additionally or alternatively, the container may be designed as a tube. Additionally or alternatively, the container may be provided with an opening, particularly at the top surface or at the top end. In particular, the opening may be defined by an edge and / or an outer periphery of the wall of the container. Additionally or alternatively, the container or the opening of the container may be opened or closed, particularly by a cap.

[0011] The cap may be separate from the container. Additionally or alternatively, the cap may comprise rubber and / or plastic or may consist entirely of rubber and / or plastic. Additionally or alternatively, the cap may comprise a cylindrical shape, in particular with a circular cross section. Additionally or alternatively, the cap may be designed as a lid, in particular a rigid lid, or as a foil, in particular a flexible foil.

[0012] The container and / or cap may / may comprise means for sufficiently fixed attachment to one another, for example screws, locks and / or adhesives may be used.

[0013] The term "cap receiver" may be used synonymously with the term "catcher."

[0014] The generator may be separate from the catcher.

[0015] The terms "produce" or "develop" may be used synonymously with the term "generate."

[0016] The terms "capture," "confine," or "retain" may be used synonymously with the term "attract."

[0017] The term "droplet" may be used synonymously with the term "residue."

[0018] The terms "transmitted" or "detached" may be used synonymously with the term "released."

[0019] The term "from" may be used synonymously with the term "by."

[0020] The terms "towards" or "into" may be used synonymously with the term "to."

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the laboratory device is for use in a particularly aqueous laboratory liquid sample handling system. The catcher is designed to catch a cap removed from a particularly aqueous laboratory liquid sample container containing a particularly aqueous laboratory liquid sample. The generator is designed to generate a field that attracts the particularly aqueous liquid residues of the sample released by the cap into the catcher. In particular, the sample may be a biological liquid or biological fluid, in particular a blood sample, a urine sample, feces, tissue fluid or lymphatic fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the term "fluid" may be used synonymously with the term "liquid". Additionally or alternatively, the term "hydrous" may be used synonymously with the term "aqueous".

[0022] In particular, the generator may be designed in particular to be electrically driven in order to generate the field.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the generator comprises an electrostatic generator, in particular an electrostatic generator. The generator is designed to generate an electrostatic field that electrostatically attracts the residues, thereby making it possible to particularly electrically polarize and / or particularly attract the residues, which are particularly uncharged or electrically neutral and / or aqueous. In particular, the electrostatic generator may be a friction machine, in particular using triboelectric charging, or an induction machine, in particular using electrostatic induction. Additionally or alternatively, the electrostatic generator may be designed in particular to generate an electric charge, in particular to generate an electrostatic field.

[0024] In particular, the generator may comprise at least one electrode, which may be particularly designed to be electrically charged in order to generate the field.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a part of the generator, in particular at least one electrode of the generator, which is designed in particular to be electrically charged in order to generate a field, is arranged in a particularly inner surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively, the generator is designed in particular to generate an electric charge in particular to generate a field in particular at the inner surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively, the generator is designed to generate a field at least in particular at the inner surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively, the generator is designed to generate a field that attracts residues to the in particular inner surface of the catcher. This can particularly well reduce or prevent spilling of residues from the catcher. In particular, the arrangement may be a spatial arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, the term "inside" or "internal" may be used synonymously with the term "inner". Additionally or alternatively, the surface may be flat. Additionally or alternatively, the catcher may be designed to catch the cap by the in particular inner surface of the catcher.

[0026] In particular, in particular the inner surface of the catcher may consist at least partly or completely of an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, material.

[0027] At least some of the surfaces of the catcher, particularly the interior surfaces, that are designed to be exposed to the residue may be hydrophobic.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the laboratory device is for use in a laboratory liquid sample handling system. The catcher comprises in particular an internal surface. In particular at least a part of the surface is designed to be exposed to at least one impinging droplet of the laboratory liquid sample and is in particular topologically non-uniformly patterned to create a non-uniform flow rate, in particular distribution, in the droplet impinged on the surface, in particular to reduce the rebound energy of the droplet from the surface. This allows the force transmission of the droplet to be controlled or adjusted. This allows in particular well to reduce or prevent spilling of residues from the catcher. In particular the surface may be flat. Additionally or alternatively the phrase "in contact with" may be used synonymously with the phrase "exposed to". Additionally or alternatively the term "impinging" may be used synonymously with the term "impacting". Additionally or alternatively, the term "create" may be used synonymously with the term "originate." Additionally or alternatively, the term "along" may be used synonymously with the term "on." Additionally or alternatively, the catcher may be designed to catch a cap that has been removed from a laboratory liquid sample container that contains a laboratory liquid sample.

[0029] These features may in particular stand alone and in particular be inventive in their own right. 1. A laboratory device for use in a laboratory liquid sample handling system, comprising:

[0023] An internal surface is provided. A laboratory device, the surface of which is specifically designed to be exposed to at least one impinging droplet of a laboratory liquid sample, and which is non-uniformly patterned to create non-uniform flow velocities within the droplets impinging on the surface to reduce the rebound energy of the droplets.

[0030] In particular, the device may be a cap waste disposal catcher. The catcher may comprise a surface and may be designed to catch a laboratory cap removed from a laboratory liquid sample container containing a laboratory liquid sample by means of the surface of the catcher. In particular, liquid droplets may be released by the cap. Additionally or alternatively, the device may not involve an electric field generator.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the surface comprises a non-uniformly patterned wettability, particularly a chemical wettability, which makes it particularly well suited to creating non-uniform flow rates.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the catcher or device comprises a low-adhesion, particularly hydrophobic, substrate, which comprises at least one highly adhesive, particularly hydrophilic pattern. This allows particularly well for a non-uniform patterned wetting of the surface. In particular, the substrate may at least partially or completely consist of alumina surface-modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTS) and patternwise exposed to UV light. Additionally or alternatively, the hydrophobicity may be superhydrophobic and / or the hydrophilicity may be superhydrophilic. Additionally or alternatively, the hydrophobicity and / or hydrophilicity may be determined by static and / or dynamic, particularly advancing and / or receding, water contact angle measurements. In particular, hydrophobicity may mean that the contact angle is at least 120° (degrees), in particular at least 150°. Additionally or alternatively, hydrophilicity may mean that the contact angle is at most 60°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°.

[0033] In particular, the surface may be chemically and / or physically treated and / or structured so as to be non-uniformly patterned. In particular, the chemically treated surface may be a macroscopically smooth surface. Additionally or alternatively, the physically treated surface may be microstructured, in particular nanostructured.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the surface is non-uniformly patterned to convert the translational movement of the impinging droplet at least partially or completely into a deflection, rolling and / or rotation, in particular a gyration, of the droplet impinged on the surface. This allows a particularly good reduction in the rebound energy of the droplet. Additionally or alternatively, this, in particular the rotational or angular momentum, may be enabled or created by a synergistic effect of asymmetric adhesive or pinning forces created from or induced by the non-uniformity of the surface and the excess surface energy of the expanding droplet after impact, in particular accumulated during the retraction of the droplet or liquid film. In particular, the phrase "translational motion" may be used synonymously with the term "translation". Additionally or alternatively, the phrase "deflected translational motion" may be used synonymously with the term "deflection". Additionally or alternatively, the phrase "gyration motion" may be used synonymously with the term "gyration." Additionally or alternatively, a droplet may swirl clockwise upon impact on a right-handed, highly viscous pattern, or counterclockwise upon impact on a left-handed, highly viscous pattern.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the catcher or device comprises an input end and an opposite end, in particular an output end. The surface is non-uniformly patterned to convert the translational movement at least partially or completely into a deflection in the direction from the input end to the opposite end. This can reduce or prevent the residue from spilling in an undesired direction. In particular, the term "entrance" may be used synonymously with the term "input". Additionally or alternatively, the term "exit" may be used synonymously with the term "output". Additionally or alternatively, the opposite end may be arranged below the input end, in particular in a vertical direction. This may further allow the residue and / or the cap to slide downwards or downwards, in particular from the input end to the opposite end, in particular by gravity. Additionally or alternatively, a cap waste disposal compartment, in particular a bucket, may be arranged at the opposite end.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the non-uniformly patterned surface comprises at least one, in particular several, patterns, each of which has rotational symmetry and no mirror symmetry, and / or mirror symmetry and no rotational symmetry, and / or neither rotational symmetry nor mirror symmetry. Rotational symmetry and no mirror symmetry allows rotational movements. Additionally or alternatively, mirror symmetry and no rotational symmetry allows deflection and rolling. Additionally or alternatively, neither rotational symmetry nor mirror symmetry allows rotational movements, deflection and rolling. In particular, the term "asymmetric" may be used synonymously with the phrase "no rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry". Additionally or alternatively, the rotational symmetry may be about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the surface plane of the surface. Additionally or alternatively, the mirror symmetry may be about a mirror plane perpendicular to the surface plane of the surface.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pattern comprises at least one arc, in particular an open arc, and / or an Archimedean spiral section, in particular forming a spiral. In particular the pattern comprises 2 to 10 arcs, in particular 4 arcs. Additionally or alternatively, the open arc forming a spiral may allow for rotational symmetry and no mirror symmetry. Additionally or alternatively, the term "pinwheel" may be used synonymously with the term "spiral". Additionally or alternatively, at least one arc, in particular a number of arcs, may be open and / or concave with respect to the input end and / or closed and / or convex with respect to the opposite end. This may allow for mirror symmetry and no rotational symmetry. Additionally or alternatively, the open arc may be a semicircle. Additionally or alternatively, the open and Archimedean spiral section may allow for no rotational symmetry and no mirror symmetry. Additionally or alternatively, the arcuate may be in the shape of an arcuate and / or the helical portion may be in the shape of a helical portion. Additionally or alternatively, the term "design" may be used synonymously with the term "shape."

[0038] In particular the non-uniformly patterned surface may comprise at least one, in particular several, patterns each including an extension or dimension in particular with a diameter of at least 1 mm (millimeter) and / or at most 20 mm, whereby the pattern extension may in particular be comparable, in particular equal to the diameter of the impacted and / or maximally extended droplet.

[0039] The catcher may comprise a cap-catching or cap-entering area or region and is designed to catch the cap in or by the catching area of ​​the catcher. The generator may be designed to generate a field at least in the catching area.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the invention, the catcher comprises a cap waste disposal chute, in particular is a cap waste disposal chute. In particular the chute is designed to guide the caps and / or residues in another direction, in particular to a cap waste disposal compartment, in particular to a bucket. In particular the terms "funnel" or "duct" may be used synonymously with the term "chute". Additionally or alternatively the terms "convey" or "pass" may be used synonymously with the term "guide". Additionally or alternatively the opening of the chute may comprise, in particular be a catching area.

[0041] The invention further relates to a laboratory sample handling system. The system comprises a decapper and a laboratory device according to the invention or as described above. The decapper is designed to remove a laboratory cap from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample. This allows the container or the opening of the container to be opened, which may in particular be required by some type of measurement and / or analysis on the sample. In particular the decapper may be separate from the catcher. Additionally or alternatively the decapper may comprise a cap gripper and a container holder. The gripper may be designed to grip the cap. The holder may be designed to hold the container. The gripper and the holder may be movable, in particular displaceable and / or rotatable, relative to one another, in particular to remove the gripped cap from the held container. In particular the gripper may be arranged in particular vertically above the holder, such that in particular after removal of the cap the opening of the container may in particular be vertically above the platform of the container. This may allow the sample to remain in the container.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the decapper is designed to drop the removed cap into the catcher, in particular the decapper, in particular the gripping part of the decapper, may be arranged in particular vertically above the catcher, in particular such that the cap may fall, in particular by gravity, in particular after ejection of the cap by the decapper.

[0043] The present invention further relates to the use of a laboratory instrument in a laboratory sample handling system according to the present invention or as described above, and / or to the use of a laboratory sample handling system, for generating an electric field that catches a laboratory cap removed from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample and attracts residues of the sample released by the cap to the catcher.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively, the present invention further relates to the use of a laboratory device in a laboratory liquid sample handling system according to the present invention or as described above for exposing particularly at least a portion of a non-uniformly patterned surface to at least one impinging droplet of a laboratory liquid sample to create a non-uniform flow velocity within the droplet impinging on the surface in order to reduce the rebound energy of the droplet.

[0045] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 illustrates a decapper of a laboratory sample handling system according to the present invention for removing a laboratory cap from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample, and the use of the system according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the system of FIG. 1 with a laboratory instrument or device according to the present invention that includes or is a cap waste disposal catcher and an electric field generator, or shows a catcher or device with a non-uniformly patterned surface, a decapper that drops removed caps into the catcher, and use. [Diagram 3] 3 shows the catcher of FIG. 2 catching the removed and dropped cap, the electric field generated by the generator of FIG. 2 attracting the remains of the sample released by the cap to the catcher, and the use of the catcher according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 3A-3C show droplets of a sample impacting and impacted on different, unevenly patterned surfaces of the catcher or device of FIG. 2, with arcs forming a spiral with rotational symmetry and no mirror symmetry, and the use of a catcher or device according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing a droplet of a sample impacted on the surface of the catcher or device of Figure 2, which has at least one arcuate shape with mirror symmetry and no rotational symmetry, and the use of a catcher or device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 3A-3C show a droplet of a sample impacted onto different, unevenly patterned surfaces of the catcher or device of FIG. 2, comprising at least one Archimedean spiral section that has neither rotational nor mirror symmetry, and the use of a catcher or device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] 1 and 2 show a liquid, in particular aqueous, laboratory sample handling system 100, 100' and the use of the system 100. The system 100 comprises a decapper 101 and a laboratory instrument 1 or laboratory device 20.

[0048] The decapper 101 is particularly designed to automatically remove, and in particular does remove, laboratory caps 150 from, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous laboratory sample containers 151, 151' which contain, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous laboratory samples 152, 152'.

[0049] A laboratory apparatus 1, particularly for use in a liquid, particularly aqueous, laboratory sample handling system 100, 100', comprises a cap waste disposal catcher 2 and an electric field generator 3 as shown in Figures 3 to 6.

[0050] The decapper 101 is specifically designed to automatically drop the removed cap 150 into the catcher 2 .

[0051] The catcher 2 is designed to catch, in particular catches, a laboratory cap 150 that has been removed from a particularly liquid, in particular aqueous laboratory sample container 151, 151' that contains a particularly liquid, in particular aqueous laboratory sample 152, 152'.

[0052] The generator 3 is designed in particular to automatically generate, in particular to generate and thus attract, an electric field 4 which attracts, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, residues 153, 153' of the sample 152, 152' released by the cap 150 into the catcher 2.

[0053] In particular, the generator 3 comprises an electrostatic generator 3', in particular an electrostatic generator 3', which is designed to generate an electrostatic field 4' which electrostatically attracts the residues 153.

[0054] Furthermore, at least a part 5 of the generator 3, in particular at least one electrode 5' of the generator 3, which is designed to be electrically charged and in particular is electrically charged, is arranged on a surface 2S of the catcher 2, in particular the interior surface 2S.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, the generator 3 is designed to, in particular to, generate an electric charge 6 on a surface 2S of the catcher 2, in particular on the inner surface 2S, in particular automatically.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, the generator 3 is designed to generate a field 4 at least at a surface 2S of the catcher 2, in particular at the inner surface 2S.

[0057] Additionally or alternatively, the generator 3 is designed to generate a field 4 that attracts the residues 153 to a surface 2S of the catcher 2, in particular to the inner surface 2S.

[0058] In the embodiment shown, the charge 6 is a positive charge. In alternative embodiments, the charge may be a negative charge.

[0059] Furthermore, the catcher 2 is designed to catch the cap 150 by a surface 2S of the catcher 2.

[0060] Further, the catcher 2 or device 20 for use in the laboratory liquid sample handling system 100' comprises a surface 2S, in particular an inner surface 2S, designed to be exposed to at least one impinging droplet 153'' of the laboratory liquid sample 152' and non-uniformly patterned to create, in particular to be exposed to, and thus to create and thus to reduce, non-uniform flow velocities within the droplet 153'' impinged on the surface 2S in order to reduce the rebound energy of the droplet 153''.

[0061] In particular, the surface 2S is provided with non-uniformly patterned wettabilities 7a, 7b.

[0062] In particular, the catcher 2 or device 20 comprises a low-adhesion, in particular hydrophobic, substrate 8 which comprises at least one high-adhesion, in particular hydrophilic, pattern 9 .

[0063] Furthermore, the surface 2S is non-uniformly patterned to convert, at least in part, the translational movement TM of the impinging droplet 153″ into a deflection DF, a rolling RL, and / or a rotation RO, in particular a rotational movement GY, of the droplet 153″ impinged on the surface 2S.

[0064] In particular, the catcher 2 or device 20 comprises an input end 2IE and an opposite end, in particular an output end 2OE. The surface 2S is non-uniformly patterned to convert, at least in part, a translational movement TM into a deflection DF in a direction DI from the input end 2IE to the opposite end 2OE.

[0065] Furthermore, the non-uniformly patterned surface 2S comprises at least one, in particular several, patterns 10, each of which has rotational symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS, and / or has mirror symmetry MS and no rotational symmetry RS, and / or has neither rotational symmetry RS nor mirror symmetry MS.

[0066] In particular, the pattern 10 comprises at least one arc 11, in particular an open circular arc 11', and / or an Archimedean spiral portion, in particular an open and / or Archimedean spiral portion 11'', forming in particular a spiral 11'''.

[0067] In FIG. 4, on a low-tack substrate 8 with at least one high-tack pattern 9, 10 with open circular arcs 11′ forming a spiral 11′″ with rotational symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS, the translational movement TM of the impinging droplet 153″ is transformed into a rotational movement GY of the impinged droplet 153″. Particularly during the expansion phase, the translational kinetic energy is transformed into the surface energy of the droplet 153″. After reaching a maximum expansion and forming a circular film, the liquid or droplet 153″ retreats faster and more unevenly, especially on the low-tack substrate 8, than on the high-tack pattern 9, 10, and thus rotates, especially undergoes a rotational movement. In other words, the surface energy is transformed into a rotational kinetic energy.

[0068] In FIG. 5 , on a low-adhesion substrate 8 with at least one high-adhesion pattern 9, 10 having mirror symmetry MS and no rotational symmetry RS, and including a circular arc 11′ that is open towards the input end 2IE and / or closed towards the opposite end 2OE, the translational movement TM of an impinging droplet 153″ is transformed into a deflection DF and a rolling movement RL of the impinged droplet 153″.

[0069] In FIG. 6 , on a low-adhesion substrate 8 with at least one high-adhesion pattern 9, 10 including an Archimedean spiral portion 11″ of an aperture without rotational symmetry RS or mirror symmetry MS, the translational movement TM of an impinging droplet 153″ is transformed into a deflection DF, a rolling RL, and / or a rotational movement GY of the impinged droplet 153″.

[0070] Furthermore, the catcher 2 comprises a cap waste disposal chute 2', in particular a cap waste disposal chute 2'. In particular the chute 2' is designed and in particular directs the caps 150 and / or the residues 153 in another direction, in particular to the cap waste disposal compartment 19.

[0071] As the illustrated and above described embodiments make clear, the present invention provides a laboratory instrument having improved properties. Furthermore, the present invention provides a laboratory sample handling system comprising such a laboratory instrument, and in particular the use of such a laboratory instrument in such a laboratory sample handling system and / or the use of such a laboratory sample handling system.

Claims

1. Laboratory equipment (1) for use in a laboratory sample handling system (100), A cap waste disposal catcher (2) is designed to catch laboratory caps (150) removed from laboratory sample containers (151) containing laboratory samples (152), An electric field generator (3) is designed to generate an electric field (4) that attracts the residue (153) of the sample (152) released to the catcher (2) by the cap (150), and Laboratory equipment (1) equipped with the following:

2. Laboratory equipment (1) for use in a laboratory liquid sample handling system (100'), The catcher (2) is designed to catch the cap (150) removed from the laboratory liquid sample container (151') containing the laboratory liquid sample (152'), The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the generator (3) is designed to generate an electric field (4) that attracts the liquid residue (153') of the sample (152') released to the catcher (2) by the cap (150).

3. The laboratory apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the laboratory liquid sample (152') is aqueous.

4. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the generator (3) is an electrostatic generator (3'), and the generator (3) is designed to generate an electrostatic field (4') that electrostatically attracts the residue (153).

5. At least a portion (5) of the generator (3) is positioned on the surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The generator (3) is designed to generate an electric charge (6) on the surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The generator (3) is designed to generate the field (4) at least on the surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the generator (3) is designed to generate a field (4) that attracts the residue (153) to the surface (2S) of the catcher (2).

6. At least one electrode (5') of the generator (3) that is designed to be charged is located on the inner surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The generator (3) is designed to generate an electric charge (6) on the inner surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The generator (3) is designed to generate the electric field (4) at least on the inner surface (2S) of the catcher (2), and / or The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the generator (3) is designed to generate a field (4) that attracts the residue (153) to the inner surface (2S) of the catcher (2).

7. Laboratory equipment (1) for use in a laboratory liquid sample handling system (100'), The catcher (2) has an internal surface (2S), Laboratory apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface (2S) is designed to be exposed to at least one impacting droplet (153'') of a laboratory liquid sample (152'), and is non-uniformly patterned to create non-uniform flow velocities within the impacting droplet (153'') on the internal surface (2S) in order to reduce the rebound energy of the droplet (153'').

8. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 7, wherein the internal surface (2S) includes a non-uniformly patterned wettability (7a, 7b).

9. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 8, wherein the catcher (2) comprises a low-tack substrate (8), and the substrate (8) includes at least one high-tack pattern (9).

10. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 8, wherein the catcher (2) comprises a hydrophobic substrate (8), and the substrate (8) includes at least one hydrophilic pattern (9).

11. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 7, wherein the internal surface (2S) is non-uniformly patterned to convert, at least partially, the translational movement (TM) of the colliding droplet (153'') into deflection (DF), rolling (RL), and / or rotation (RO) of the droplet (153'') that has collided with the internal surface (2S).

12. The catcher (2) comprises an input terminal (2IE) and an output terminal (2OE) on the opposite side. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 11, wherein the internal surface (2S) is non-uniformly patterned to convert the translational movement (TM) into deflection (DF) in the direction (DI) from the input end (2IE) to the output end (2OE).

13. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 7, wherein the non-uniformly patterned internal surface (2S) comprises at least one pattern (10) wherein the pattern (10) has rotational symmetry (RS) but no specular symmetry (MS), and / or specular symmetry (MS) but no rotational symmetry (RS), and / or neither rotational symmetry (RS) nor specular symmetry (MS).

14. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 13, wherein the pattern (10) comprises at least one arcuate (11) and / or helical portion (11'').

15. The laboratory instrument (1) according to claim 13, wherein the pattern (10) comprises open and / or Archimedean spiral portions (11'') that form an open arc (11') and / or a spiral (11'''').

16. The laboratory equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the catcher (2) is a cap waste disposal chute (2'), and the chute (2') is designed to guide the caps (150) and / or the residue (153) into a cap waste disposal section (19).

17. A decapper (101) designed to remove a laboratory cap (150) from a laboratory sample container (151) containing a laboratory sample (152), The laboratory equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16 and A laboratory sample handling system (100) equipped with the following.

18. The laboratory sample handling system (1) according to claim 17, wherein the decapper (101) is designed to drop the removed cap (150) into the catcher (2).

19. Use of laboratory equipment (1) and / or use of laboratory sample handling system (100) in a laboratory sample handling system (100) according to claim 17, for catching a laboratory cap (150) removed from a laboratory sample container (151) containing a laboratory sample (152), and for generating an electric field (4) to attract the residue (153) of the sample (152) released by the cap (150) to the catcher (2).

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