• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A relative humidity control unit (100) for controlling relative humidity in a headspace, comprising a nebulizer source having an atomized liquid outlet (12), a frame (30), preferably a closed loop frame, having a surrounds an open area and includes an opening assembly (33) to the open area and in flow communication with the outlet, a flow drive assembly (50) that generates a gas flow from the outlet to and out of the opening arrangement. Further within the scope of the invention is a liquid handling robot comprising the apparatus, an operating method of the apparatus, an immunoassay method and methods for controlling the time course of relative humidity in a gaseous space and for producing a predetermined volume of a liquid.
    公开号:CH711362A1
    申请号:CH01102/15
    申请日:2015-07-29
    公开日:2017-01-31
    发明作者:Looser Werner；Becker Erna；Fink Pius；Aschwanden Marcel；Tanner Fredy
    申请人:Sias Ag；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    The invention addressed here concerns a control device for relative humidity. In other aspects, the invention relates to a liquid handling robot comprising a relative humidity control device, a method of operating the device, an immunoassay method, and methods for controlling the timing of relative humidity in a gaseous space and producing a device given volume of a liquid.
    In the fields of drug discovery, combinatorial chemistry, screening and synthesis, processes are being automated to an increasingly higher degree and are being performed with decreasing volumes of sample substance and reagents. It is common practice to combine a plurality of individual sample containers - called wells in this context - into a larger unit called a wellplate or titer plate. The wellplate typically includes wells arranged in matrix form. Larger corrugated sheets are usually produced as plastic parts. Increasing miniaturization is possible, e.g. by using photopatterned glass or silicon microstructures, wherein the wells are formed as recesses or depressions. Titer plates can also have a flat surface, with the wells then separated by coatings that form hydrophobic dams. Well plates volume plates of milliliter to microliter are referred to as microtiter plates, well plates in the nanoliter range are called nanotiter plates.
    Individual process steps in chemical, biochemical, as well as biological processes may involve reactions at elevated temperatures or may take some time. During this time, a solvent, which in many relevant cases is water, can evaporate from the wells. This changes the concentration of the dissolved substances, which can have an unfavorable influence on the course of a reaction or the result of a quantitative analysis.For very small volumes and a large number of wells in a wellplate, pipetting a substance into each well may already take so long that a relevant portion of the volume initially filled into the well has already evaporated when the pipetting of all wells is completed.The evaporation rate depends - among other parameters - on the free surface of the substance in the well. The smaller the volume in the well, the less favorable the ratio between the surface area and the volume of the sample. Therefore, progress in miniaturization of wellplates requires progressively better control of the evaporation of samples.One known method to counteract this evaporation problem is to cover the openings of the wells with a lid or foil during the process steps which take longer periods of time.
    However, lidding and delidding a lid or foil is a delicate process step which, if not properly performed, can result in undesirable transfer of sample substance between different wells (cross-contamination). Further, a lid or foil prevents access to the wells, e.g. through a pipette tip of a liquid handling robot. For each pipetting operation, the lid or foil must be removed and returned to place. In the case of a flat titer plate with one-level drops of sample liquid separated only by hydrophobic coating between the wells, the approach of covering the samples with a lid or foil is largely impractical. Either a lid is dangerously close to the sample or the volume trapped by the lid or foil is too large to effectively prevent evaporation.Another method is known from the publication DE 10 025 809 A1. By the apparatus and method disclosed in this publication, vapor exchange between a sample and the surrounding atmosphere is controlled by determining the dew point in the surrounding atmosphere and adjusting the temperature of the sample to be close to the dew point. When this procedure is used, the opening of the wells is not covered and pipetting is possible at any time. This approach has the disadvantage that the temperature of the samples is not a freely selectable parameter that can be selected according to the process in question, but rather is determined by the vapor pressure of the solvent - in this case water - in the surrounding atmosphere.
    The object of the present invention is to provide a device that reduces unwanted evaporation of samples and still allows free access to the samples and allows a choice of the sample temperature. A particular object of the present invention is to provide such a device for samples contained in titer plates, in particular microtiter plates or nanotiter plates.
    This object is achieved by a control device for relative humidity in a gas space according to claim 1. Such a control device comprisesa nebulizer source that has an atomized liquid outlet,a frame, preferably a closed loop frame, surrounding an open area and including an opening arrangement to the open area and in flow communication with the outlet,a flow drive assembly that generates gas flow from the outlet to and out of the port assembly.
    This device achieves the object of the invention in a simple and effective manner in which a titer plate with liquid samples in the open, surrounded by the frame, area can be placed. When the device is in operation, an atmosphere of controlled relative humidity is produced over the titer plate and evaporation of the samples is reduced. The frame does not block access from the top to the samples, allowing free access to the samples. The sample temperature can be freely selected according to the needs of the process to be performed. The device according to the invention can then be used to adjust the relative humidity around the samples accordingly. An advantage of using a nebuliser lies in the fact that it is largely independent of the temperature.The flow-through connection may be implemented as an air guide connecting the atomized liquid outlet and the frame's opening arrangement.The device according to the invention could be described as an "open humidity chamber".
    In one embodiment of the controller according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the nebuliser source comprises a container and an ultrasonic nebulizer assembly operatively connected to the container.The nebulizer source may comprise a container configured to store a quantity of water and an ultrasonic nebulizer disposed in or attached to the container such that ultrasonic waves are transferred into the water and small droplets over the Form surface of the water.
    In one embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the flow-drive arrangement comprises a pressure source having a pressure gradient from the outlet to the open space via the opening arrangement preferably a blower, preferably with a blower outlet, which is operatively connected to an inlet opening to the container.
    In one embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which can be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the frame comprises at least one groove, preferably a groove along the entire frame, wherein the at least one groove against open at least one part of the opening arrangement is provided in the base of the groove, which faces the open area. A particular advantage of this embodiment is that it results in a uniform distribution of moisture in the space enclosed by the frame. The groove forms a channel for the air, which is open against its underside. The groove guides the flow of air or gas along the circumference of the opening.
    The groove may separate a downwardly facing part of the frame into an outer wall and an inner wall closer to the opening than the outer wall. A lower edge of the inner wall may, at least in a portion of the circumference, be disposed at a higher position than the lower edge of the outer wall such that the groove has a connection to the space enclosed by the frame. An air inlet of the frame can lead into the groove.
    In one embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which can be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not in contradiction, it comprises a second, fluidly connected between the outlet and the opening means container.The presence of the second container results in more stable moisture in the air or gas stream reaching the frame.
    In one embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the frame defines a plane and is preferably substantially circular or substantially rectangular.Given the basic structure of the frame, there is great flexibility in adapting the shape of the frame and the aperture that surrounds it to different applications of the device.
    The circumference of the opening may have the shape of a circle or a rectangle, in particular a rectangle with rounded or bevelled corners. From a fluid dynamics perspective, a rectangular shape with sharp corners may be less advantageous than a rectangle with rounded or beveled corners.
    In an embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the open space is bounded on one side by a wall adjacent to the frame or a wall on the frame, wherein the wall preferably comprises a titer plate with wells exposed to the open space.
    In one embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which can be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, it comprises a holder for a replaceable plate, wherein the plate on the holder, the open space of the Frame is surrounded, one-sided limited.Such a replaceable disc holder is useful in cases where a planar object needs to be precisely positioned with respect to the frame. The holder may include positioning means defining a flat top stop. Spring elements may be provided to press against the positioning means a plate, which may be, for example, a titer plate in the form of a slide or a disc.
    In another embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, it comprises at least one humidity sensor and / or at least one temperature sensor operatively connected to the open space, wherein at least one of the sensors is preferably provided on the frame or adjacent to the frame.A moisture sensor associated with the device allows direct monitoring of relative humidity at a point of interest. The humidity sensor may be located anywhere in the space enclosed by the frame to monitor the humidity controlled atmosphere created there. It can be used to measure the humidity of the air surrounding the device and then to derive the power to be delivered to the ultrasonic nebulizer based on the measured humidity value, or to adjust the flow rate which is determined by the flow rate. Drive arrangement is generated. It can also be used to monitor the moisture in the first container, in an air duct or optionally in the second container. The moisture sensor may be a capacitive polymer moisture sensor. Capacitive polymer moisture sensors are commercially available and cover a wide measuring range for moisture and a large working range in terms of temperature.The humidity sensor may be mounted in the vicinity of the frame in a position facing the opening. In such a position, the humidity values measured by the humidity sensor are directly related to the atmosphere created in the space surrounded by the frame. Positioning close to the frame helps to allow access to most locations in the opening of the frame. The uniform distribution of moisture generated by the device according to the invention makes it possible to select this position for the moisture sensor. The controller may include additional humidity sensors or temperature sensors. The combination of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor at the same position allows for temperature-dependent calibration and increased precision of the measured humidity. Other sensors may be located at positions previously discussed.
    In another embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which can be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, the flow drive arrangement comprises at least one fan, a piston pump or a rotary vane pump.
    In another embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, it comprises a source of dry gas, preferably at least one hygroscopic substance and / or pressurized one Dry gas cylinder, preferably dry air and / or nitrogen, and in controllable, flow-communicating with the open space, controllable by means of an adjustable flow control device.In many relevant cases, the desired relative humidity may be higher than the relative humidity in the air surrounding the device. The embodiment just described also makes it possible to create an atmosphere in the space enclosed by the frame, which has a lower relative humidity than the air surrounding the device. This embodiment can even be used to purposely vaporize liquid sample by keeping the moisture at a very low level.
    In a further embodiment of the control device according to the invention, which can be combined with any of the embodiments to be mentioned, if not inconsistent, it further comprises a control unit, wherein an input to the control unit is operatively connected to at least one humidity sensor and a control output the control unit is operatively connected to a control input of at least one of the nebulizer source, the flow drive assembly or a source of dry gas to the open space.
    The operative connection between the control unit and the nebulizer source can be established by sending control signals to a power supply for an ultrasonic nebulizer. The operative connection between the control unit and the flow drive arrangement can be established by sending control signals to a power supply for a fan. A fully automatic control loop can be implemented with this embodiment. The control unit may e.g. comprise a microprocessor. Such a loop may be adjusted to maintain the relative humidity at a predetermined value. A value slightly below the saturation point, e.g. 95% relative humidity would be a possible choice to reduce the evaporation of sample fluid while preventing condensation of water on slightly cooler objects.
    In the scope of the invention is further a method for operating the control device according to the invention, wherein pulse width modulation is applied to the average time performance, which is at least to the nebulizer source and / or the flow-drive arrangement and discharged to control ,This method of operating the device may e.g. in which a constant power is delivered to the nebulizer source and that the flow drive assembly is periodically turned on and off for on-time and off-time, respectively. The ratio between on-time and off-time may be repeatedly adjusted depending on the difference between a measured relative humidity value and a predetermined relative humidity value. If the measured relative humidity value is less than the predetermined relative humidity value, the on-time is increased, thereby increasing the duty cycle and the averaged power delivered to the flow-drive assembly. In this case, pulse width modulation is applied only to the flow drive arrangement. Other ways of using this method are turning the nebulizer source on and off while the flow drive assembly is being continuously run, or applying pulse width modulation to both.
    The invention is further directed to a liquid handling robot comprising a control device according to the invention for controlling the relative humidity.
    In one embodiment of the liquid handling robot, it comprises at least one pipetting unit, wherein the at least one pipetting unit is operable through the open space.This embodiment of a liquid handling robot allows a titer plate to be stored as part of the controller for controlling the relative humidity over extended periods. The pipetting unit can be automatically positioned. Wells can be individually accessed for pipetting.
    In another embodiment of the liquid handling robot, it comprises at least one wasen unit having a pair of pipette tips designed for simultaneous dispensing into a well and for aspiration from the same well.With this embodiment, wells can be individually accessed for a wash, with only one well involved at a time, while samples in other wells are in a reaction or incubation step.
    The scope of the invention also includes a method of controlling the time course of relative humidity in a gaseous space to which an object is exposed and through which the object is processed, including mechanical manipulation in the gaseous space, preferably a method of Controlling the humidity to an at least substantially constant value over a predetermined period of time, the method comprising the step of placing a frame along the object and in the vicinity of the object or on the object,Supplying atomized water from the frame into the gaseous space surrounded by the frame to which the object is exposed,Controlling the amount of atomized water and / or dry gas supplied per unit time to this gaseous space.
    In other words, the device according to the invention can e.g. used to create a humidity-regulated atmosphere over an object. More generally, than to prevent evaporation, the inventive apparatus can be used to create an atmosphere of controlled humidity.
    In one embodiment of the method of controlling the timing of relative humidity in a gaseous space to which an object is exposed, the control is carried out by a closed loop, wherein the prevailing relative humidity in the gaseous space is monitored as a controlled variable ,In one embodiment of the method of controlling the time course of relative humidity in a gaseous space to which an object is exposed, the object is a titer plate carrying liquid samples, in particular a microtiter plate or a nanotiter plate, wherein preferably the shape and dimension of the frame Shape and dimension of the outer contour of the titer plate correspond.Titer plates exist in standardized shapes and dimensions, e.g. for rectangular titer plates with 24, 96, 384 or 1536 wells, or for discs known as Bio-CD. The dimensions of the opening of the frame of the device according to the invention can be chosen so that they correspond to the standardized shapes.
    In the context of the invention is an immunoassay method, in particular a radioimmunoassay (RIA) method or an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) method, or a magnetic immunoassay (MIA) method, or an enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) method or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, or a genome expression profile analysis method, comprising an incubation step of the method according to the invention of controlling the time course of relative humidity in a gaseous space to which an object is exposed.Incubation steps of samples in the methods listed above may be critical process steps during which a significant amount of liquid may evaporate. These steps can take several minutes to hours and can be performed at elevated temperatures, which increase the rate of evaporation. The inventive method is particularly helpful to counteract the evaporation problem in these processes.
    Further within the scope of the invention is an immunoassay device, in particular a radioimmunoassay (RIA) device or an immunofluorescence (IFA) device, or a magnetic immunoassay (MIA) device, or an enzyme immunoassay device. (EIA) device or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) device, or a genome expression profile analysis device, comprising an incubation unit, which includes the inventive control device.
    Still further within the scope of the invention is a method for producing a predetermined volume of a liquid which comprises at least one liquid component, the method comprising the steps:<tb> I. <SEP> Providing a given volume of the liquid comprising the at least one liquid component and exposed to a surface of a gaseous atmosphere which is at least unsaturated with respect to the one liquid component<tb> II. <SEP> Manipulating the liquid of the volume exposed to the atmosphere for a predetermined manipulation time, and<tb> III. <SEP> constantly maintaining the volume of the liquid during the period by providing a buffering atmosphere between the volume of the liquid and the unsaturated atmosphere, whereby the buffering atmosphere is kept saturated at least with respect to the liquid component by atomizing a liquid equal to the liquid component, and supplying the atomized liquid in a controlled manner to the surface of the volume.
    The method may be directed to the production of a predetermined volume of liquid, which may be produced by a chemical reaction of e.g. contains reaction product produced in water. The volume of the liquid may then be kept constant during the course of the chemical reaction by creating a moisture saturated atmosphere around the volume of the liquid. By keeping the volume of the liquid constant, the time course of the concentration of the reactants and products of the reaction is not subject to variations due to various moisture conditions in the unsaturated atmosphere. Therefore, by using the method, constant quality of the resulting product can be achieved. The method is applicable to various liquid components of the atmosphere, e.g. Water, ethanol or any other solvent.
    The invention will now be further illustrated with the aid of figures. The figures show:<Tb> FIG. 1 <SEP> is a schematic view of the device according to the invention;<Tb> FIG. 2 <SEP> is a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;<Tb> FIG. 3 <SEP> is a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;<Tb> FIG. 4 <SEP> Cross sections through an embodiment of the frame of the device<Tb> FIG. 4a <SEP> is a cross-section along a horizontal plane<Tb> FIG. 4b <SEP> is a cross section perpendicular to the plane in FIG. 4a.<Tb> FIG. 5 <SEP> shows a perspective view of a frame of the device along with a titer plate and a pipette.
    Fig. 1 shows in a partially sectioned, partially perspective view, schematically and simplified, a control device according to the invention for relative humidity. A first container 10 contains water 13. Small water droplets are formed over the water surface when an ultrasonic nebulizer 20 is turned on and transmits ultrasonic waves into the water. The ultrasonic nebulizer is arranged in the first container. A flow drive assembly 50 in the form of a pump is placed in front of an air inlet 11 of the first container 10. Air is drawn from the outside of the container and flows into an air channel 40, carrying with it the small water droplets. These small droplets of water evaporate quickly, increasing the relative humidity of the air. The air, which has increased relative humidity, flows through an air inlet 33 in the frame 30. The air inlet 33 passes through the outer wall 31 of the frame. In the area enclosed by the frame 30, a balance is formed between the humidity of the air flowing through the air inlet of the frame and the humidity of the air surrounding the frame.
    Fig. 2 shows in a partially sectioned, partially perspective view, schematically and simplified, a relative humidity control device of an embodiment of the invention. A first container 10 contains water 13. Small water droplets are formed over the water surface when an ultrasonic nebulizer 20 is turned on and transmits ultrasonic waves into the water. The ultrasonic nebulizer is arranged in the first container. A flow drive assembly 50 in the form of a pump is placed in front of an air inlet 11 of the first container 10. Air is drawn from the outside of the container and flows into an air channel 40, carrying with it the small water droplets. The air, which has increased relative humidity, flows through an air inlet 33 in frame 30. This air inlet is not directly visible in the present view. Dotted lines in this figure mark the air inlet 33. The air inlet leads into a groove which separates an outer wall 31 and an inner wall 32 of the frame. To facilitate distinguishing the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32, they are marked with oblique respectively vertical hatching. The air inlet 33 lies in this view behind the inner wall. The air flows within the groove along the circumference of the opening surrounded by the frame 30 and enters the opening by flowing below the lower edge of the inner wall. In the area enclosed by the frame 30, a balance is formed between the humidity of the air flowing through the air inlet of the frame and the humidity of the air surrounding the frame.
    Fig. 3 shows in partially sectioned, partially perspective view, schematically and simplified, an embodiment of the inventive control device for relative humidity. In addition to the elements already present in Fig. 2, this embodiment further comprises a second container 14, a humidity sensor 60, a control unit 70, a first power supply 71 and a second power supply 72. In this embodiment, the frame 30 has the shape a ring, so that an opening in the form of a circle results. To facilitate distinguishing the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32, they are marked with oblique respectively vertical hatching. The air inlet 33 lies in this view behind the inner wall and is marked with dashed lines. The moisture-enriched air exiting the first container through the air outlet 12 is guided into the second container 14 by means of a first portion 40 of the air channel. In this second container 14, the remaining water droplets have time to completely evaporate. This second container has no openings other than the air inlet 15 and the air outlet 16, so that the same amount of air entering at the air inlet 15 exits through the air outlet 16 and through the second portion 40 The air duct and through the air inlet 33 of the frame flows. A humidity sensor 60 is disposed on the inner wall 31 of the frame 30. The resulting relative humidity can be monitored by means of this humidity sensor. The control unit 70 is operatively connected to the humidity sensor 60, the first power supply 71, and the second power supply 72. This connection is indicated by dash-dotted lines. The operative connection may be implemented as a wired electrical connection, but it may also be a connection constructed by transmitting optical signals or radio signals. The control unit receives signals from the humidity sensor, which transmits the current humidity at the sensor position. Based on this value, the power supply units can be switched on and off or the power of the ultrasonic nebulizer or the flow rate of the pump can be adjusted. In this way, a control loop is possible. With the aid of such a control loop, the relative humidity within the frame 30 can be kept constant at a predetermined value.
    Fig. 4 shows sectional views through an embodiment of the frame of the device. In this embodiment, the frame encloses an opening of rectangular shape. FIGS. 4a and 4b show cross sections through two mutually perpendicular planes.
    Fig. 4a shows a cross section along a horizontal plane. This horizontal plane overlies the lower edges of the inner wall so that the plane intersects both walls, the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32. The plane also intersects the air inlet 33 of the frame, which enters the groove 34 at that level separating the inner and outer walls. The frame 30 encloses a free opening in the form of a rectangle. The position marked with a dashed line and the reference B is the position of the cross section shown in FIG. 4b
    Fig. 4b shows the arrangement of the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32, which are separated by the groove 34. The possible position of a titer plate 80 carrying liquid samples 81 is shown in dotted lines. In this case, the titer plate is a flat titer plate with a hydrophobic coating which separates the individual wells. The liquid samples are in the form of droplets sitting on the titer plate. The space above the titer plate is supplied with moisture-enriched airflow that enters through the air inlet 33 of the frame and is distributed through the groove 34. A humidity sensor 60 is disposed near the surface of the titer plate and in the vicinity of the air inlet 33. Positioning means close to the lower edge of the outer wall define the position of the titer plate 80. The position indicated by a chain line and the reference A is the position of the cross section shown in Fig. 4a.
    Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a frame 30 of the apparatus together with a titer plate 80 carrying liquid sample droplets 81 and a pipette 82. Fig. 4 illustrates the use of the apparatus according to the invention for preventing the evaporation of samples allows free access by a pipette to the individual sample positions on a titer plate. The pipette visible here can be part of both a pipetting unit of a liquid handling robot and a manually operated pipette. Moisture-regulated air enters through the air inlet 33 and disperses homogeneously in the circular opening of the frame which receives the titer plate 80. In this embodiment, the titer plate 80 is in the form of a disc. A hydrophobic coating (not shown in the figure) separates the individual wells on the disc from one another and prevents the sample droplets from flowing together. A humidity sensor 60 is disposed on the inside of the frame 30 at a position close to the surface of the titer plate 80. With the humidity sensor placed in this position, it is possible to monitor the relative humidity in the atmosphere surrounding the samples.
    Some further technical details, which are not specific to a particular figure, are addressed below. The ultrasonic nebulizer 20 may e.g. be designed as a piezoelectric actuator. A heater and / or a cooler may be included in the apparatus for controlling the temperature of the water in the first container. The flow drive assembly 50 for generating airflow through the air duct may be located in a different position than shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. It may be positioned anywhere along the path of air flow between the air inlet of the first container to the air inlet of the frame to perform its function. The air guide 40 may be a tube made of flexible material. The frame may for example be made of a metallic material and coated to protect it against corrosion. It can be made of stainless steel or a plastic material.
    LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
    [0042]<tb> 10 <SEP> First container<Tb> 11 <September> inlet<tb> 12 <SEP> Diffuser outlet<Tb> 13 <September> Water<tb> 14 <SEP> second container<tb> 15 <SEP> Inlet of the second tank<tb> 16 <SEP> outlet of the second container<tb> 20 <SEP> Ultrasonic Nebulizer Device<Tb> 30 <September> Frames<tb> 31 <SEP> outer wall<tb> 32 <SEP> inner wall<tb> 33 <SEP> Opening device (of the frame)<Tb> 34 <September> Nut<Tb> 40 <September> Air duct<tb> 40 <SEP> first section of the air duct<tb> 40 <SEP> second section of the air duct<Tb> 50 <September> flow drive assembly<Tb> 60 <September> humidity sensor<Tb> 70 <September> control unit<tb> 71 <SEP> first power supply<tb> 72 <SEP> second power supply<Tb> 80 <September> titer plate<tb> 81 <SEP> liquid sample<Tb> 82 <September> pipette<tb> 100 <SEP> Relative humidity control unit
    权利要求:
    Claims (22)
    [1]
    Claims 1. A relative humidity control device (100) for controlling relative humidity in a headspaceA nebulizer source having an atomized liquid outlet (12),A frame (30), preferably a closed-loop frame, surrounding an open area and including an opening arrangement (33) to the open area and in flow-through communication with the outlet,A flow drive assembly (50) that generates a flow of gas from the outlet to the porting assembly and out of the porting assembly.
    [2]
    2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer source comprises a container (10) and an operatively connected to the container ultrasonic nebulizer assembly (20).
    [3]
    3. The control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow drive arrangement (50) comprises a pressure source which generates a pressure gradient from the outlet (12) to the open space via the opening arrangement (33), preferably a fan, preferably with a Blower outlet, which is operatively connected to an inlet opening (11) to the container (10).
    [4]
    4. The control device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame (30) comprises at least one groove (34), preferably a groove all along the frame, wherein the at least one groove is open towards the open area and wherein preferably at least a part of the opening arrangement is provided in the base of the groove, oriented towards the open area.
    [5]
    5. The control device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second, between the outlet (12) and the opening means (33) flow-connected, container (14).
    [6]
    6. The control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame defines a plane and is preferably substantially circular or substantially rectangular.
    [7]
    The controller (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open space is bounded on one side by a wall adjacent to the frame or a wall on the frame, the wall preferably comprising a titer plate having wells exposed to the open space are.
    [8]
    8. The control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims comprising a holder for a replaceable plate, wherein the plate on the holder, the open space, which is surrounded by the frame, bounded on one side.
    [9]
    9. The control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises at least one moisture sensor (60) and / or at least one temperature sensor, which are operatively connected to the open space, wherein at least one of the sensors preferably on the frame or adjacent to Frame is provided.
    [10]
    10. The controller (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow drive assembly (50) comprises at least one of a fan, a piston pump or a rotary vane pump.
    [11]
    11. The control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims comprising a source of a dry gas, preferably at least one of a hygroscopic substance and a pressurized gas container with dry gas, preferably with at least one of dry air and nitrogen, and in controllable, Fluid communication with the open space, controllable by means of an adjustable flow control device.
    [12]
    12. The control device (100) according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a control unit (70), wherein an input to the control unit (70) with at least one moisture sensor (60) is operatively connected and a control output of the control unit with a control input of at least one of the Nebulizer source, the flow drive assembly (50) and a source of dry gas to the open space is operatively connected.
    [13]
    A method of operating the controller (100) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein pulse width modulation is applied to control the average time performance delivered to at least one of the nebulizer source and the flow drive assembly (50) ,
    [14]
    14. A liquid handling robot comprising a controller (100) for the control of relative humidity according to one of claims 1 to 12.
    [15]
    15. A liquid handling robot according to claim 14 comprising- At least one pipetting unit andwherein the at least one pipetting unit is operable through the open space.
    [16]
    A liquid handling robot according to claims 14 or 15, comprising at least one washing unit having a pair of pipette tips adapted for simultaneous dispensing into a well and aspirating from the same well.
    [17]
    A method for controlling the time course of relative humidity in a gaseous space to which an object is exposed and through which the object is treated, comprising mechanical manipulation in the gaseous space, preferably for controlling the humidity to an at least substantially constant value over a predetermined period of time, the method including the stepsPlacing a frame along the object and near the object or on the object,Supplying atomized water from the frame into the gaseous space surrounded by the frame and exposed to the objectControlling the amount of atomized water and / or dry gas supplied per unit time to this gaseous space.
    [18]
    18. The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling is performed by a closed loop, wherein the prevailing relative humidity in the gaseous space is monitored as a controlled variable.
    [19]
    The method of any of claims 18 or 17, wherein the object is a titer plate (80) carrying liquid samples (81), in particular a microtiter plate or a nano-titer plate, wherein preferably the shape and dimension of the frame (30 ) are adapted to the shape and dimension of the outer contour of the titer plate (80).
    [20]
    20. An immunoassay method, in particular a radioimmunoassay (RIA) method or an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) method, or a magnetic immunoassay (MIA) method, or an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method A method or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, or a genome expression profile analysis method, comprising an incubation step comprising the method according to any one of claims 17 to 19.
    [21]
    21. An immunoassay device, in particular a radioimmunoassay (RIA) device or an immunofluorescence (IFA) device, or a magnetic immunoassay (MIA) device, or an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) device or a An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) device, or a genome expression profile analyzer, comprising an incubation unit incorporating the controller of any one of claims 1 to 12.
    [22]
    A method of making a predetermined volume of a liquid comprising at least one liquid component, said method comprising the steps of:<tb> I. <SEP> providing a predetermined volume of the liquid comprising the at least one liquid component and exposed to a surface of a gaseous atmosphere which is at least unsaturated with respect to the one liquid component,<tb> II. <SEP> Manipulating the liquid of the volume exposed to the atmosphere for a predetermined manipulation time, and<tb> III. <SEP> Keeping constant the volume of the liquid during the period by providing a buffering atmosphere between the volume of the liquid and the unsaturated atmosphere, keeping the buffering atmosphere saturated at least with respect to the liquid component by atomizing a liquid equal to the liquid component, and supplying the atomized liquid in a controlled manner to the surface of the volume.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DE102016113150A1|2017-02-02|
    CH711362B1|2019-11-15|
    US20170030937A1|2017-02-02|
    US10082516B2|2018-09-25|
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    法律状态:
    2018-04-30| PUE| Assignment|Owner name: TECAN SCHWEIZ AG, CH Free format text: FORMER OWNER: SIAS AG, CH |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    CH11022015A|CH711362B1|2015-07-29|2015-07-29|Relative humidity control unit.|CH11022015A| CH711362B1|2015-07-29|2015-07-29|Relative humidity control unit.|
    US15/210,543| US10082516B2|2015-07-29|2016-07-14|Relative humidity control apparatus|
    DE102016113150.4A| DE102016113150A1|2015-07-29|2016-07-16|Relative humidity control unit|
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