Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/02—Burettes; Pipettes
  • B01L3/021—Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/14—Process control and prevention of errors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
  • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
  • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
  • B01L2400/0487—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure fluid pressure, pneumatics

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for sampling a liquid in a container, for concentrating the drops of liquid present on the inner wall (s) of the container in the lower part of said container.
• the present invention also relates to a method of sampling a liquid present in a container using the above device.
• the present invention finally relates to the use of the above sampling device to control the level of the liquid present in the container.
• this kind of sampling device simply allows, by contact with the liquid to be taken, either the supply of a liquid of interest that it contains or the withdrawal of another liquid of interest present in a container.
• Such devices are generally constituted by pipettes or hollow needles associated with pumps. Some more sophisticated allow the cleaning of the outer walls of said pipettes or needles that have been soaked in the liquid taken or having added an additional liquid. This is the case for example in the patent application WO-A-99/27973 filed under priority of November 27, 1997 by the applicant.
• This relates to a method for decontaminating a hollow metal needle for sampling and / or dispensing a contaminating liquid, the needle cooperating with electrical connection means making it possible to establish an electric current in the needle. to decontaminate and preserve the integrity of said needle for reuse.
• Other feature means avoiding soiling the outer walls of the sampling elements, as is the case of patent application WO-A-99/50674 filed under priority 1 April and 22 June 1998 by the applicant.
• This application relates to a method of sampling a biological sample via a suction-discharge device, such as a pipette, manual or automatic, incorporated or not to an automaton. But it also relates to a method for detecting the free surface of a biological sample, a sample collection apparatus, such as a pipette, and an apparatus for detecting the free surface of a biological sample.
• the present invention proposes to provide a solution to these problems in order to meet the expectations of users.
• the present invention relates to a device for sampling a liquid in a container comprising: - a sampling needle comprising a lower free end and an upper end, suction-discharge means connected to the upper end of the needle, blowing means carried by said needle for concentrating the drops of liquid present on the inner wall (s) of the container in the lower part of said container.
• the sampling needle consists of a tube open at both ends; the container for containing the liquid to be taken up consists of a tube of diameter greater than that of the lower end of the needle, open only at its upper end.
• the blowing means comprise at least one lateral opening to the needle; this / these opening (s) allows (s) sending a flow of air on the inner wall (s) (s) of the container.
• the sampling needle is in a vertical position.
• the air flow leaving the lateral openings is oblique and directed from top to bottom. This air flow has an angle relative to the horizontal which is between 10 ° and 80 °, preferably between 20 and 50 °, preferably between 25 and 40 ° and even more preferably 30 °.
• the blowing means comprise three to twenty, preferably five to twelve and even more preferably eight lateral openings.
• these lateral openings are radially distributed, positioned in the same plane, preferably horizontally.
• the sampling device is characterized in that: the distance separating the lateral openings from the inside wall or walls of the container is between 30 and 70%, preferably between 40 and 60% of the diameter of the container. needle, the diameter of each opening is between 3 and 25%, preferably between 5 and 15%, and even more preferably equal to 10% of the diameter of said needle and / or - the implantation of each opening relative to the needle. the lower free end of the needle is between 50 and 150%, preferably between 80 and 120%, and even more preferably equal to 100% of the inner diameter of said container.
• the sampling device is characterized in that: the distance separating the lateral openings of the inner wall or walls of the container is between 1 and 10 millimeters, preferably between 2.5 and 4 millimeters, and even more preferably between 2.75 and 3, the diameter of each opening is between 0.1 and 1 millimeter, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 millimeter, and still more preferably 0.4 millimeters, and / or the implantation of each opening relative to the lower free end of the needle is between 3 and 25 millimeters, preferably between 6 and 15 millimeters, and even more preferentially 9 millimeters.
• the sampling device is characterized in that the blowing means comprise a closed sleeve comprising at least one pulsed gas inlet, preferably air.
• the device is characterized in that the sleeve is a closed tube which wholly or partially surrounds the sampling needle.
• the present invention also relates to a method of sampling a liquid in a container using a sampling device as previously described and comprising the following steps: introduction of the lower free end of the sampling needle into the container,
• the three steps of introduction, activation of the blowing means (8) and suction are sequential.
• the introduction step and the step of activating the blowing means are performed simultaneously.
• the first introduction step and the second activation step are sequential but with a recovery period, the introduction ending when the activation has already begun.
• sampling device can be used to control the level of the liquid present in a container.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a sampling device according to the invention and a container capable of containing the liquid to be delivered or taken.
• Figure 2 shows a view identical to that of Figure 1, when the sampling device is connected to the means for its proper operation and when it is introduced into the container.
• FIG. 3 represents a partial longitudinal sectional view of the sampling device and its container, according to the invention, along an axis A-A represented in FIG.
• Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a container for containing the liquid to be taken.
• Figure 5 shows a detail B of Figure 3 showing the lower end of the sampling needle according to a first embodiment.
• Figure 6 shows the introduction of the lower free end of the sampling needle into the container and the activation of the blowing means.
• Figure 7 shows a view identical to that of Figure 6, the drops of liquid being moved to the lower part of the container under the action of the blowing means.
• Figure 8 shows the suction step by the liquid picking needle present in the container.
• Figure 9 shows a sectional view identical to Figure 8, when all the liquid has been removed.
• Figure 10 shows a detail C of Figure 9.
• FIG. 11 represents the lower end of the sampling needle according to a second embodiment.
• the present invention relates to a device for sampling a liquid in a container shown in all of FIGS. 1 to 6.
• FIGs 1 to 3 show the sampling device 1 in the absence of any liquid to be taken.
• This sampling device 1 is well shown in Figures 1 and 2 and consists essentially of a sampling needle 4 having a lower free end 5 and an upper end 6, said needle 4 being in a vertical position.
• FIG. 1 is also shown separately from the sampling device 1 a container 3, itself consisting of a tube of diameter greater than that of the lower end 5 of the needle 4, and open at its end. upper 11 and closed at its lower end 17, this tube being capable of containing a liquid to be taken.
• FIG. 2 shows a sampling device 1 after its introduction along a vertical axis in the container 3, said container 3 of conventional shape having an inner wall 10 and an outer wall, not referenced.
• the upper end 6 of the sampling needle 4 is connected to suction-discharge means 7 via a hose 13.
• These means 7, known to those skilled in the art, will not be exposed more before. They may just be constituted by a peristaltic pump, or any other equivalent means, such as time-pressure-depression systems, which are based on the principle of a main pressure tank (or depression depending on the need of the application ) whose outlet has a hose provided with a solenoid valve controlled by an electronic device using a time base to perform its open - close switching.
• the sampling device 1 operates according to a suction-discharge mode, as indicated by fLux Fl (suction) and F2 (discharge) in FIG. 3. It also comprises blowing means 8 located in lateral position
• the blowing means 8 consist of a sleeve 15, the needle 4 being in a coaxial and concentric position with respect to the sleeve 15. Said sleeve 15 is, in turn, closed and does not have than :
• An upper opening / inlet 16 which is connected, via a hose 14, to the blowing means 8, in which a pulsed gas flow is projected according to F3 and
• the initial gas flow, according to F3, therefore comes from the blowing means by the inlet 16, said inlet 16 being connected to the blowing means 8 by a hose 14.
• the flow of gas from the inlet 16 to the lateral openings 12 is therefore through the closed sleeve 15.
• the lateral openings 12 are radially implanted on said sleeve 15, in order to improve the efficiency of the device.
• the assembly of the blowing means therefore consists of the blowing means 8 themselves, the hose 14, the lateral openings 12 and the sleeve 15.
• Each opening 12 implanted on the sleeve 15 is shown in detail C of FIG. 10.
• the diameter 19 of the opening 12 is between 0.1 and 1 millimeter, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 millimeter, and more preferably 0.4 millimeters.
• the flow of pulsed gas, according to F4 coming from the openings 12 is in an oblique position with respect to the horizontal, and is directed from top to bottom, which makes it possible to concentrate the drops 9 present on the inner and lateral wall 10 (see 4), the drops 9 being in a position remote from the lower end 17 of the container 3, and the air flow along F4 directing them towards this lower end 17 of said container 3 as represented in FIGS. 7 to 9.
• the angle between the horizontal 20 and the gas flow (F4) from the openings 12 is therefore between 10 ° and 80 °, preferably between 20 ° and 50 °, preferably between 25 and 40 °, and even more preferably between 30 ° and 80 °. °.
• the sampling device 1 can thus be used to take a liquid 2 contained in a closed container at its upper end, for example by an external aluminum film.
• it is necessary to perforate the outer film so that the lower end 5 of the sampling needle 4 can access the liquid to be withdrawn 2.
• the lower free end 5 of the sampling needle 4 has a rounded shape 18 on the outside of the needle 4 so that when the outer film is perforated during the descent of the needle to the container, according to F5, the perforation is clear; this avoids any tearing or punching effect of the outer film.
• the lower free end 5 of the sampling needle 4 comprises a series of slots 18 arranged radially or radially, the number of which can vary from 4 at 12 without affecting the levy. In the embodiment this number is 6.
• the perforation is even sharper; this avoids any tearing or punching effect of the outer film.
• the sampling with this embodiment is even more effective, because its shape allows the sampling even in tubes, specimen style, the space at the bottom is difficult to access.
• its outer radius of curvature is adapted to the inner radius of curvature of the bottom of the container.
• the external radius of curvature of the sampling needle 4 matches the internal radius of curvature of the bottom of the container, that is to say is of slightly smaller radius to allow complete support between the two inner surfaces and external .
• the diameter of said needle 4 is in the presented embodiment of 3.5 millimeters.
• Said container 3 can also be directed towards the needle 4 in the direction F6 shown in FIG. 6.
• the activation of the blowing means 8 causes the creation of a gas flow along F3 which enters through the inlet 16. This flow of gas circulates in the sleeve 15 and leaves the latter along F4 through the lateral openings 12.
• the projection of the gas towards the inner wall 10 of the container 3 makes it possible to unhook and thus move, according to F7, and to concentrate towards the lower part 17 of the container 3, the drops of liquid 9 present on said wall 10.
• the present invention also relates to a sampling method shown in all of FIGS. 7 to 10.
• the step of introducing the needle 4 and the step of activating the blowing means 8 are simultaneous, the descent along F5 of the needle 4 into the container 3 at the same time as the gas inlet, according to F3, in the sleeve 15.
• the blowing means 8 is always activated.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=37086105

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (26)

• 2006
  • 2006-03-13 FR FR0602161A patent/FR2898285B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-03-12 EP EP07731725A patent/EP1993733B1/de active Active
  • 2007-03-12 WO PCT/FR2007/050909 patent/WO2007104886A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2007-03-12 US US12/087,654 patent/US7987736B2/en active Active
  • 2007-03-12 JP JP2008558862A patent/JP4896162B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-03-12 ES ES07731725T patent/ES2369050T3/es active Active
  • 2007-03-12 AT AT07731725T patent/ATE514486T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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