Fluid transfer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579645-B2
Application number	US-201214356843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2012
Priority date	Nov 7, 2011
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid transfer apparatus, in particular pipetting apparatus, for transferring at least one fluid laboratory sample, in particular a biochemical or medical laboratory sample, comprising a base body, which has a connecting section serving for connecting a container to the base body for the intake of the at least one fluid sample into the container, a movement device, which can bring about the intake and/or delivery of at least one fluid laboratory sample into the container, an electrical control device, which controls at least one function of the fluid transfer apparatus, a sensor device, which comprises at least one acceleration sensor which is signal-connected to the control device and by means of which at least one acceleration value can be measured during the movement of the fluid transfer apparatus, wherein the control device is designed such that it uses the at least one acceleration value during the control of the at least one function. The invention furthermore relates to a method for using at least one acceleration value in a fluid transfer apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid transfer apparatus ( 1 ), in particular a pipetting apparatus, for transferring at least one fluid laboratory sample, in particular a biochemical or medical laboratory sample, comprising:
a handheld base body ( 2 ), which has a connecting section ( 10 ) serving for connecting a container ( 7 ) to the base body for the intake of the at least one fluid sample into the container,
a movement device, which can bring about the intake and/or delivery of at least one fluid laboratory sample into the container,
an electrical control device ( 5 ), which controls at least one function of the fluid transfer apparatus,
a sensor device, which has at least one acceleration sensor ( 6 ), which is signal-connected to the control device and by means of which at least one acceleration value can be measured during the movement of the fluid transfer apparatus,
wherein the control device is designed such that it uses the at least one acceleration value during the control of the at least one function,
the fluid transfer apparatus comprising an evaluation device, which is designed for comparing the at least one measured acceleration value with at least one predetermined reference value, and wherein the fluid transfer apparatus is configured for implementing said function by means of electrical circuits and/or a program code, wherein said function is a test function programmed to use the at least one measured acceleration value, wherein the test function is programmed to provide for the fluid transfer apparatus to be put into a second operating state from a first operating state depending on the result of a comparison of the at least one measured acceleration value with the at least one reference value and wherein the first operating state is a standby state, during which at least one electrically operated function of the fluid transfer apparatus is deactivated, and the second operating state is a useful state in which said electrically operated function is activated, or
wherein the fluid transfer apparatus has a reference value data memory, the at least one reference value being stored in the reference value data memory, the at least one reference value characterizing a free fall of the fluid transfer apparatus and/or a shock when the fluid transfer apparatus hits the ground after a free fall, and the test function being adapted for detecting a fall of the fluid transfer apparatus by way of comparing the at least one measured acceleration value with at least one reference value of an acceleration, and saving the result data of this comparison in an acceleration value memory of the fluid transfer apparatus.

2. The fluid transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluation device comprises a signal processing device.

3. The fluid transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer apparatus has an output device for outputting an indication signal to the user, and wherein the test function furthermore provides for an indication signal to be output if the at least one acceleration value lies outside a range characterized by a predetermined reference value.

Assignees

• Eppendorf Ag

Inventors

• Reichmuth Burkhardt
• Belgardt Herbert
• Hofmann Stefen
• Queck Mike

Classifications

• Y10T436/2575

  Volumetric liquid transfer · CPC title

• G01N1/14

  Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices · CPC title

• B01L3/021

  Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids · CPC title

• G01N35/10

  Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B01L3/0275

  Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips · CPC title