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JP-2026514275-A - Pipette assembly

JP2026514275AJP 2026514275 AJP2026514275 AJP 2026514275AJP-2026514275-A

Abstract

[Solution] The present invention provides a pipette unit (2) comprising a pipette housing (3) having a cylinder chamber (4) and a pipette opening (5), and a piston (6) movably mounted within the cylinder chamber (4); a drive motor (8) that acts on the piston (6) to move the piston; an operating element (9) that defines the movement of the piston (6); and a sensor assembly (10) that detects the movement of the operating element (9) and provides a signal corresponding to the movement to the drive motor (8), thereby controlling the drive motor (8) based on the signal (S) and acting on the piston (6) accordingly; and a drive unit (7 The pipette assembly (1) comprises a drive unit (7) further comprising a mode switch (11), the mode switch (11) being shiftable from a manual mode position to a stepped mode position, the operating element (9) being operable in manual operation mode when the mode switch (11) is in the manual mode position so as to be able to dispense a pipetting amount proportional to the movement of the operating element (9), and the operating element (9) being operable in stepped operation mode when the mode switch (11) is in the stepped mode position so as to be able to dispense a predetermined pipetting amount each time the operating element (9) is operated. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • エッガー，ウルス
  • フランク，マレーネ

Assignees

  • インテグラ バイオサイエンシーズ アーゲー

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20231024
Priority Date
20221027

Claims (20)

  1. A pipette unit (2) comprises a pipette housing (3) having a cylinder chamber (4) and a pipette opening (5), and a piston (6) movably mounted within the cylinder chamber (4), A drive unit (7) comprising: a drive motor (8) that acts on the piston (6) to move the piston; an operating element (9) that defines the movement of the piston (6); and a sensor assembly (10) that detects the movement of the operating element (9) and provides a signal corresponding to the movement to the drive motor (8), thereby controlling the drive motor (8) based on the signal (S) and acting on the piston (6) accordingly; Equipped with, The drive unit (7) further includes a mode switch (11), the mode switch (11) is shiftable from a manual mode position to a stepped mode position, When the mode switch (11) is in the manual mode position, the operating element (9) is operable in manual operation mode so as to be able to dispense a pipetting amount proportional to the movement of the operating element (9). When the mode switch (11) is in the stepped mode position, the operating element (9) is operable in a stepped operating mode such that a predetermined pipetting amount is dispensed with each operation of the operating element (9). Pipette assembly (1).
  2. The pipette assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mode switch (11) restricts the movement of the operating element (9) in the stepped mode position.
  3. The operating element (9) is movable from a first starting position to a first ending position in the manual operating mode. The pipette assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating element (9) is movable from a second starting position to a second ending position in the stepwise operating mode.
  4. The first starting position and the second starting position are at the same location, and the first ending position is further from the starting position than the second ending position. Or, The first endpoint position and the second endpoint position are at the same location, and the first starting position is further from the endpoint position than the second starting position. Or, The first starting position and the second starting position are at different positions, and the first ending position and the first starting position are at different positions, and the second starting position and the second ending position are located between the first starting position and the first ending position. The pipette assembly (1) according to claim 3.
  5. The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating stroke of the operating element (9) in the manual operating mode is greater than the movement stroke of the operating element in the stepwise operating mode, and in this case, it is preferable that the movement stroke of the operating element (9) in the stepwise operating mode is greater than 0.5 millimeters.
  6. The operating element (9) is characterized in that it is movable along the respective movement stroke in both the manual operation mode and the stepwise operation mode, The aforementioned movement stroke extends in the same direction in the manual operation mode and the stepped operation mode. and/or, The movement stroke of the operating element (9) is performed along a linearly oriented axis in the manual operation mode and the stepped operation mode. A pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
  7. In the stepwise operating mode, when the movement of the operating element (9) is detected by the sensor assembly (10) during operation, a predetermined control signal is output to the drive motor (8) instead of the aforementioned signal, thereby dispensing a predetermined pipetting amount independent of the operating stroke of the operating element (9), as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.
  8. The mode switch (11) is characterized by having a mode switch side stopper surface (12), and the operating element (9) is characterized by having an operating element side stopper surface (13), When the mode switch (11) is in the stepped mode position, the mode switch side stopper surface (12) is positioned such that the actuation element side stopper surface (13) abuts against the mode switch side stopper surface (11) and stops. When the mode switch (11) is in the manual mode position, the mode switch side stopper surface (12) is positioned such that the actuation element side stopper surface (13) can move freely through the mode switch side stopper surface (12) or move without interacting with the actuation element side stopper surface (13). Or, When the mode switch (11) is in the manual mode position, the mode switch side stopper surface (12) is positioned such that the actuating element side stopper surface (13) contacts the mode switch side stopper surface (12) and stops only at the upper end position of the actuating element (9). A pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
  9. The actuation element (9) has an actuation element side operating surface (27), The mode switch (11) has a mode switch side operating surface (28), The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that when the operating element (9) is in a non-operating state and the mode switch (11) is preferably in the manual mode position, the mode switch side operating surface (28) is located at a maximum distance (Z) of 80 millimeters from the operating element side operating surface (27) when viewed in the direction of movement of the operating element (9).
  10. The pipette assembly (1) is characterized by comprising an additional sensor assembly (29), The additional sensor assembly (29) has a sensor (30), The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sensor (30) is configured and arranged to detect the position of the mode switch (11) and to provide a control signal corresponding to the position to the drive motor (8).
  11. The pipette assembly (1) is further characterized by comprising a printed circuit board (31) positioned adjacent to the side of the drive motor (8), The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sensor assembly (10) for detecting the movement of the operating element (9) comprises an active sensor element (32) and a passive sensor element (33), the active sensor element (32) being arranged on the printed circuit board (31) and the passive sensor element (33) being arranged on the operating element (9).
  12. The pipette assembly according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the sensor (30) of the additional sensor assembly (29) is arranged on the printed circuit board (31).
  13. The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the mode switch (11) is shiftable from the manual mode position to the stepped mode position in a direction substantially parallel or parallel to the operating direction of the operating element (9).
  14. The mode switch side stopper surface (12) is shiftable in the aforementioned direction. The pipette assembly (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the mode switch side stopper surface (12) functions as a stopper for the operating element (9) in both the first starting position in the manual operation mode and the second starting position in the stepwise operation mode.
  15. When the mode switch (11) is activated, the mode switch side stopper surface (12) becomes able to contact the actuation element side stopper surface (13). The pipette assembly (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the contact allows the operating element (9) to move from the starting position in the manual operating mode to the starting position in the stepwise operating mode.
  16. The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the mode switch (11) can be shifted from the manual mode position to the stepped mode position in a direction substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the operating direction of the operating element (9).
  17. The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the mode switch (11) can be shifted from the manual mode position to the stepped mode position in a direction inclined at an angle with respect to the operating direction of the operating element (9).
  18. The mode switch (11) is characterized by being a rotating disk (16) having a first groove (17) and a second groove (18) that extends at an angle to the first groove (17), The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the actuation element (9) has a pin (19) protruding into the grooves (17, 18), and the grooves (17, 18) each have different lengths so as to allow the movement to be restricted.
  19. The mode switch (11) is characterized by having a rigid shaft (20) that engages with a receiving portion (21) provided on the operating element (9), The pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the receiving portion (21) has a region for the manual operation mode and a region for the stepwise operation mode, and the two regions are movable to a position in which they interact with the shaft (20) by rotating the operating element (9) around the operating axis of the operating element (9).
  20. The mode switch (11) is latchable to the drive unit (7) via a latching element in the manual mode position. and/or, The mode switch (11) is latchable to the drive unit (7) and/or the actuation element via a latching element in the stepped mode position. A pipette assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

Description

This invention relates to a pipette assembly as described in an independent claim. Prior art has disclosed pipettes for quantitatively dispensing liquids. These pipettes comprise a cylinder and a piston that moves within the cylinder, allowing for quantitative dispensing by aspirating the liquid using the piston. Patent Document 1 discloses a pipette equipped with a mechanical actuation element moved by the user. This movement is detected by a sensor, and based on the detected sensor value, the piston is moved via a piston drive unit. Here, the piston can be operated continuously to dispense liquid in conjunction with the movement of the actuation element, or it can be operated in stages to dispense a predetermined volume with each operation. European Patent No. 0576967 This is a schematic diagram of a pipette assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the components of the drive unit of the pipette assembly shown in Figure 1 in manual operation mode, according to the first embodiment.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 2a.Figures 2a and 2c are schematic diagrams showing the state of the drive unit components in manual operation mode, according to an improved embodiment of the first embodiment.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 2c.Figures 2a to 2d show the state of the locking mechanism for the mode switch used in the manual operation mode.Figures 2a to 2e show the state of the lock mechanism for the mode switch used in the stepped operation mode.This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the components of the drive unit of the pipette assembly shown in Figure 1 in manual operation mode, according to a second embodiment.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 3a.This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the components of the drive unit of the pipette assembly shown in Figure 1 in manual operation mode, according to a third embodiment.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 4a.This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the components of the drive unit of the pipette assembly shown in Figure 1 in manual operation mode, according to the fourth embodiment.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 4a.This figure shows a further modified version of the pipette assembly drive unit shown in Figure 1, in manual operation mode.This figure shows the state in the stepwise operation mode of the embodiment shown in Figure 6a. Figure 1 shows a pipette assembly 1. The pipette assembly 1 comprises a pipette unit 2 and a drive unit 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the pipette unit 2 and the drive unit 7 are separate components and can be connected to each other. In other embodiments, a configuration in which the pipette unit 2 and the drive unit 7 are integrally connected is also conceivable. The pipette unit 2 comprises a pipette housing 3 having a cylinder chamber 4 and a pipette opening 5, and a piston 6 movably mounted within the cylinder chamber 4. The piston 6 is movable by a drive unit 7. When the piston 6 moves away from the pipette opening 5, liquid can be drawn into the cylinder chamber 4. When the piston 6 moves toward the pipette opening 5, liquid can be dispensed from the cylinder chamber 4. The drive unit 7 comprises a drive motor 8, an actuation element 9, and a sensor assembly 10. The drive motor 8 acts on the piston 6, causing the piston 6 to move within the cylinder chamber 4. In this example, the drive motor 8 imparts linear motion to the piston 6. The movement of the piston 6 can be defined by the actuation element 9. The defined movement of the actuation element 9 is detected by the sensor assembly 10. In this example, the sensor assembly 10 provides a signal corresponding to the movement of the actuation element 9. This signal is transmitted to the drive motor 8, which is controlled based on the signal. The drive motor 8 acts on the piston 6 in response to the signal, causing the piston 6 to move according to the defined movement of the actuation element 9. The drive motor 8 is preferably a linear motor. The sensor assembly includes a sensor for detecting the movement of the actuating element 9. The sensor may be, for example, an inductive sensor, an incremental sensor, or an analog sensor. The drive unit preferably further includes a battery that supplies power to the drive motor and sensor assembly 10. The drive motor 8 may further include a position detection system that confirms the position identified by the sensor assembly. The drive unit 7 further includes a mode switch 11. The mode switch 11 can be shifted from a manual mode position to a stepped mode position. When the mode switch 11 is in the manual mode position, the actuarial element 9 ca