EP0839075A1 - Procede et dispositif de nettoyage de sonde a pipette - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif de nettoyage de sonde a pipette

Info

Publication number
EP0839075A1
EP0839075A1 EP96924473A EP96924473A EP0839075A1 EP 0839075 A1 EP0839075 A1 EP 0839075A1 EP 96924473 A EP96924473 A EP 96924473A EP 96924473 A EP96924473 A EP 96924473A EP 0839075 A1 EP0839075 A1 EP 0839075A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
probe
cup
wash
rate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96924473A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0839075A4 (fr
Inventor
Katherine M. Horsfall
Ross Krogh
Darcy Leonard
Alan Wirbisky
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Beckman Coulter Inc
Original Assignee
Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics SA filed Critical Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics SA
Publication of EP0839075A1 publication Critical patent/EP0839075A1/fr
Publication of EP0839075A4 publication Critical patent/EP0839075A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/032—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing
    • B08B9/0321—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1004—Cleaning sample transfer devices

Definitions

  • the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for cleansing liquid dispensers and has particular utility in cleansing pipetting probes, such as the type of pipettes commonly used in automated analyzers.
  • the function of the pipette washing apparatus is to clean the pipette sufficiently to avoid any deleterious cross-contamination of the fluids being handled. In most cases, this means that the wash station must efficiently and relatively thoroughly wash both the exterior and interior surfaces of the probe to remove any contaminating fluids.
  • One common way to clean probes in automated pipettors is to dispense a wash fluid through the pipette probe from a dedicated wash fluid supply and to spray the outside of the probe with wash fluid supplied through a separate washing element.
  • Contaminated wash fluid will typically be withdrawn from a collecting cup positioned below the probe and transferred to a waste fluid collector.
  • This construction provides an efficient cleansing of the probe.
  • it also requires a relatively large volume of wash fluid and requires separate pumping mechanisms and fluid supply systems for both the pipette probe and the separate external washing hardware, increasing both the cost and complexity of the device and generating more biohazardous waste.
  • the present invention provides a method for cleaning pipette probes and the like and an apparatus for carrying out this method.
  • a pipette probe is positioned in or adjacent to a receiving cup. Initially, fluid is dispensed through the probe and simultaneously drained from the receiving cup at least as fast as it is dispensed into the cup. Once a sufficient volume of fluid has been passed through the probe to remove the majority of the contaminants from the interior of the probe, the flow rate is increased or the rate of evacuation of fluid from the receiving cup is decreased, or both, to build up a level of fluid in the receiving cup.
  • the apparatus of the invention provides a receiving cup having a drain therein.
  • the drain is designed to remove fluid at a relatively constant rate, such as by simply having an open port in the cup through which spent wash fluid is allowed to pass under gravity. Wash fluid is passed through the probe at an initial rate which is slow enough to allow all of the fluid to exit the receiving cup through the drain. After the majority of the contaminant in the probe is dispensed into and drained out of the cup, the flow rate of wash fluid through the probe is increased so that it is greater than the rate at which it will drain from the cup. In this device, it may be desirable to have a larger wash basin around the receiving cup to catch overflow from the receiving cup during the washing of the exterior of the probe.
  • a selectively controllable pump is attached to the drain in the receiving cup. Initially, the pump will aspirate fluid from the receiving cup at least as rapidly as it is dispensed. Once the majority of the contaminating fluid within the probe is washed into the receiving cup and pumped out, the drainage rate of the pump will be slowed to allow fluid to build up in the receiving cup and cover a portion of the exterior of the probe to wash it. The pump is then operated to withdraw fluid from the receiving cup rapidly enough to prevent it from overflowing, but slowly enough to permit the exterior of the pump to be washed. When washing is complete, flow through the probe may be terminated and the remaining fluid in the receiving cup can be withdrawn through the drain. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a washing system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a washing system of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a washing system 10 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system includes a receiving cup 20 positioned within a wash basin 30.
  • the receiving cup 20 of Figure 1 has a generally cylindrical side wall 22 and a bottom 24, with a drain 26 positioned adjacent the bottom for draining fluid out of the receiving cup.
  • the drain may take any desired form, in the illustrated embodiment the drain simply comprises a port which extends generally horizontally through the wall 22 of the cup adjacent the lower end of the wall. This permits any fluid within the receiving cup 20 to drain into the wash basin 30 for removal.
  • the wash basin 30 is desirably larger than the receiving cup.
  • the wash basin may have a generally cylindrical wall 32 and a bottom 34, with a drain 36 positioned adjacent the bottom to allow fluid to be drained from the wash basin.
  • the drain 36 of the wash basin is desirably connected, e.g. by flexible tubing, to a waste container (not shown) so that spent wash fluid can be collected to later disposal.
  • the receiving cup can be positioned generally concentrically with respect to the wash basin, but this is not necessary.
  • the wall 32 of the wash basin extend higher than the top of the wall 22 of the receiving cup, as shown.
  • the absolute and relative sizes of the receiving cup 20 and the wash basin 30 can be varied to accommodate the equipment with which it is to be used.
  • the inner diameter of the receiving cup is desirably relatively small. However, care should be taken to ensure that there is enough clearance between the exterior of the probe and the interior of the receiving cup to both allow turbulent flow within the receiving cup and to avoid undue splashing of wash fluid out of the receiving cup.
  • the wash basin is desirably larger than the receiving cup. So long as the wash basin can readily capture and drain away the wash fluid coming out of the receiving cup during the washing operation, though, the relative sizes of these two components is not believed to be critical. For example, if drainage of fluid from the wash basin through the drain 36 were enhanced with a pump, the wash basin would not need to be larger than the wash basin and, as a matter of fact, the wash basin could have a smaller volume than that of the receiving cup.
  • FIG 2 shows an alternative design of a washing system 10' in accordance with the invention.
  • This system 10' has a receiving cup 20 which is directly analogous to the receiving cup of Figure 1.
  • this design eliminates the wash basin and instead employs a pump 40 to control the rate of drainage from the receiving cup during operation.
  • the pump 40 should be selectively controllable to allow an operator or a computer-based automated controller (not shown) to control the pump and the rate at which it removes fluid from the receiving cup.
  • Figure 2 schematically shows a pump to be used for selectively controlling drainage of the receiving cup, it should be understood that other functional equivalents of a pump could instead be employed, such as providing a vacuum line with a valve to control the rate of aspiration of fluid from the receiving cup. The operation of the pump or aspiration line in a washing operation is described below.
  • Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for washing a fluid dispensing tube, such as a manual pipette or an automated pipette probe used in an automated analyzer. Before the probe or other fluid dispensing tube needs to be washed, it will generally be used to transfer a fluid which raises a possible cross-contamination risk, such as a sample of a patient's bodily fluid or a reagent used to carry out a specific chemical reaction.
  • a fluid dispensing tube such as a manual pipette or an automated pipette probe used in an automated analyzer.
  • the tip of the probe When such fluids are transferred or dispensed with a pipette or automated pipette probe, the tip of the probe is usually inserted a relatively short distance into a supply of the fluid to be transferred. Once at least the tip of the pipette is immersed in the fluid, a predetermined quantity of the fluid will be aspirated into the interior of the probe. The fluid will be held in the probe until it is positioned over the vessel into which it is to be dispensed and is then forced out of the interior of the tube. At the end of this transfer process, some fluid will usually cling to or wet both the interior of the tube and the exterior of the tube where it was immersed in the fluid.
  • the tube can be washed in accordance with the present invention, such as with a washing system 10 or 10' described above.
  • the probe or other dispensing tube is positioned adjacent, and desirably within, a receiving cup 20. As discussed above, it may be desirable to position the probe within the receiving cup so that the probe axis is spaced away from the axis of the generally cylindrical receiving cup to increase turbulence in the cup when washing the exterior of the probe.
  • a wash fluid is dispensed through the pipette to flush contaminants from the interior of the tube and the contaminated wash fluid is simultaneously drained from the receiving cup. This draining desirably takes place at least as fast as the fluid is dispensed from the probe.
  • wash fluid is dispensed through the probe at a rate faster than it is drained from the receiving cup so that the level of fluid in the cup will rise to cover a portion of the exterior of the probe.
  • the wash fluid in the receiving cup in this stage of washing should be deep enough to cover at least that length of the probe which was immersed in the contaminating fluid. Wash fluid can then be delivered through the probe to carry away, or at least greatly dilute, the contaminants in the cup and this can be continued until the exterior and interior of the probe are as clean as the system's requirements dictate.
  • the first, initial cleansing of the interior of the tube desirably takes place at a relatively slow flow rate, while the second stage of washing where the exterior is also cleaned takes place at a higher flow rate.
  • the flow rate of wash fluid in the first stage of washing can be on the order of 400-450 microliters per second while the second stage of washing employs a significantly faster flow rate, such as on the order of 1700-1800 microliters per second.
  • the exact flow rate employed in any given situation will depend on a number of factors, including the dimensions of the probe, the dimensions of the receiving cup, the viscosity and solubility of the contaminant, and other factors which will be readily recognized by one skilled in the art.
  • the fluid will drain out of the receiving cup through the drain 26 and simply flow into the wash basin 30 for disposal.
  • the fluid level will inherently rise in the receiving cup.
  • the rate at which wash fluid flows through the probe is significantly higher than the rate at which it can exit through the drain, causing the wash fluid to flow over the top of the wall 22 of the receiving cup. If the flow rate and dimensions of the receiving cup are properly chosen, this will also tend to provide good turbulence in the receiving cup to help wash the exterior of the probe.
  • the rate at which the fluid is drained by the pump 40 can remain substantially constant and the wash fluid's flow rate through the probe can be varied in much the same manner as that described above for the system 10 of Figure 1. Care should be taken, however, not to allow any of the contaminated wash fluid to spill out of the washing system 10'.
  • the washing system 10' is operated somewhat differently, with the selectively controllable pump 40 controlling the rate at which waste fluid is drained and the pipette probe delivering a relatively constant flow of wash fluid.
  • the pump is operated so that the wash fluid is drained relatively rapidly, preventing the wash fluid from building up in the receiving cup and contacting the exterior of the probe.
  • the rate at which the pump withdraws fluid can be reduced, or even temporarily terminated, to allow fluid to build up in the receiving cup.
  • the pump can then be operated to withdraw fluid from the receiving cup at the same rate at which it is delivered through the probe to prevent it from overflowing.
  • the present invention provides an effective method and apparatus for washing pipette probes and the like.
  • This method and apparatus are believed to simplify the equipment necessary to cleanse a pipette probe and, at least in some circumstances, provide the possibility of reducing the volume of wash fluid necessary to reach the necessary level of cleaning.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de nettoyage d'une sonde (15) dans une coupelle réceptrice (20). Le procédé consiste à disposer la sonde (15) dans la coupelle réceptrice (20) pourvue d'une évacuation (26). Au début, un liquide introduit par la sonde (15) s'évacue simultanément de la coupelle réceptrice (20) par l'évacuation (26) au moins aussi rapidement qu'il est introduit dans la coupelle (20). Une fois qu'un volume suffisant de fluide a circulé par la sonde (15) pour éliminer de l'intérieur de la sonde (15) la plupart des contaminants, on accroît le débit d'alimentation et/ou on réduit le débit d'évacuation de fluide au départ de la coupelle de réception (20), de façon à laisser le niveau de fluide remonter dans la coupelle de réception (20). On permet au fluide d'entrer en contact avec l'intérieur de la sonde (15) et de nettoyer ce dernier, à la suite de quoi, de préférence, on fait circuler du fluide par la sonde jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit suffisamment nettoyée.
EP96924473A 1995-07-14 1996-07-12 Procede et dispositif de nettoyage de sonde a pipette Withdrawn EP0839075A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US114595P 1995-07-14 1995-07-14
US601145 1995-07-14
PCT/US1996/011644 WO1997003766A1 (fr) 1995-07-14 1996-07-12 Procede et dispositif de nettoyage de sonde a pipette

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0839075A1 true EP0839075A1 (fr) 1998-05-06
EP0839075A4 EP0839075A4 (fr) 1999-09-22

Family

ID=21694610

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96924473A Withdrawn EP0839075A4 (fr) 1995-07-14 1996-07-12 Procede et dispositif de nettoyage de sonde a pipette

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0839075A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001504749A (fr)
CA (1) CA2239974A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997003766A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110465524A (zh) * 2019-09-11 2019-11-19 苏州长光华医生物医学工程有限公司 清洗站

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19617206B4 (de) * 1996-04-30 2005-09-22 Dade Behring Marburg Gmbh Strömungsdämpfer für Spülstation
US7621282B2 (en) * 2004-06-17 2009-11-24 Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Probe washing cups and methods
WO2007117321A2 (fr) * 2005-12-08 2007-10-18 Parker-Hannifin Corporation station de lavage de seringue pour applications analytiques
DK2205365T3 (en) * 2007-10-17 2017-03-20 Aushon Biosystems PINK WASHERS WITH CONTINUOUS FLOW
DE102008058064A1 (de) * 2008-11-18 2010-05-20 Diasys Diagnostic Systems Gmbh Automatisierte Analysevorrichtung mit einer automatischen Pipettiervorrichtung und mit einer Pipettiernadelspülstation
US9103782B2 (en) 2008-12-02 2015-08-11 Malvern Instruments Incorporated Automatic isothermal titration microcalorimeter apparatus and method of use
WO2011053756A1 (fr) * 2009-10-30 2011-05-05 Douglas Machine Inc. Appareil et méthodes de nettoyage d'embouts de distribution de réactif d'une unité d'analyse
JP2013134142A (ja) * 2011-12-26 2013-07-08 Hitachi High-Technologies Corp 自動分析装置
EP2991767B1 (fr) 2013-05-01 2018-12-12 Douglas Scientific, LLC Lavage de pipettes
JP6310767B2 (ja) * 2014-05-13 2018-04-11 日本電子株式会社 自動分析装置及びノズル洗浄方法
EP3088904A1 (fr) * 2015-04-27 2016-11-02 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH Procédé de vérification de la capacité de fonctionnement d'une station de lavage pour des aiguilles de prélèvement
EP3133401A1 (fr) 2015-08-18 2017-02-22 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH Procede de nettoyage d'une aiguille de prelevement dans un appareil d'analyse automatique
CN106040650A (zh) * 2016-07-13 2016-10-26 江苏天瑞仪器股份有限公司 一种用于原子吸收自动进样系统的清洗部件
WO2018017752A1 (fr) * 2016-07-21 2018-01-25 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. Bac et solution d'air à grande vitesse
CN109201653B (zh) * 2018-09-26 2023-12-26 苏州长光华医生物医学工程有限公司 一种加样针清洗装置

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US3912456A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-10-14 Anatronics Corp Apparatus and method for automatic chemical analysis
JPS58129366A (ja) * 1982-01-29 1983-08-02 Olympus Optical Co Ltd 分配分注方法
US4730631A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-03-15 Sequoia-Turner Corporation Probe wash station
US4948563A (en) * 1987-05-08 1990-08-14 Abbott Laboratories Waste container insert for washing automated immunoassay apparatus probe
US4989623A (en) * 1989-12-01 1991-02-05 Akzo N.V. Apparatus and method for cleaning reagent delivery probes
JPH04105066A (ja) * 1990-08-24 1992-04-07 Olympus Optical Co Ltd プローブ洗浄容器
ES2219643T3 (es) * 1993-09-17 2004-12-01 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Aparato analitico con un dispositivo para la suspension de particulas y procedimiento para llevar a cabo la suspension.

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110465524A (zh) * 2019-09-11 2019-11-19 苏州长光华医生物医学工程有限公司 清洗站

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2001504749A (ja) 2001-04-10
WO1997003766A1 (fr) 1997-02-06
EP0839075A4 (fr) 1999-09-22
CA2239974A1 (fr) 1997-02-06

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