DE20219127U1 - Cover device for microtiter plates - Google Patents

Abstract

Micro-titration plate, with a number of sample reaction wells (13) in rows and columns, has a cover assembly (1) with at least one cover (10) as strips (11) with movement in a frame (2). The position of the cover assembly is set by positioning pins in relation to the micro-titration plate, under the cover. Micro-titration plate, with a number of sample reaction wells (13) in rows and columns, has a cover assembly (1) with at least one cover (10) as strips (11) with movement in a frame (2). The position of the cover assembly is set by positioning pins in relation to the micro-titration plate, under the cover. The cover(s) is structured so that, as far as a row of sample reaction wells, all the other wells are covered.

Description

Rein hardt Söllner Gan ahl

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt Söllner Ganahl I P.O. Box 12 26 ■ D-85542 Kirchheim b. Munich

09/12/2002 German utility model
MWG-BIOTECH AG
DE-4707

Covering device for microtiter plates
15

The present invention relates to a covering device for microtiter plates.

Microtiter plates are plastic plates that have recesses that serve as reaction vessels. The microtiter plates are roughly rectangular in shape when viewed from above and have a large number of reaction vessels that are arranged in rows and columns.

Such microtiter plates are used to carry out chemical, biological, in particular microbiological and molecular biological experiments. Microtiter plates are also used in medical diagnosis. The reagents are pipetted into the individual reaction vessels. Pipetting can be carried out manually or automatically using a robot. Such a robot is described, for example, in EP 10 32 839 B1. Regardless of whether pipetting is carried out manually or automatically, when pipetting, a reagent is picked up using a pipette tip, the pipette tip is moved over the reaction vessel and the reagent is dispensed into the reaction vessel. Since the pipette tip is open at the bottom, there is a risk that when moving

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Trademark Attorneys D-85551 Kirchheim b. Munich D-85542 Kirchheim b. Munich

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Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl DE-4707 Page -2-

a drop of the reagent is released from the pipette tip. If the reagent falls into a reaction vessel of the microtiter plate that is not intended to receive the reagent, the contents of this reaction vessel can be contaminated by the unintentional addition of the reagent.
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The invention is based on the object of providing means that prevent such contamination simply and safely.

The invention is solved by a covering device with the feature of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, a covering device for microtiter plates is provided. Microtiter plates have reaction vessels arranged in rows and columns. The covering device comprises:

at least one cover element which is movably mounted in a frame,
a positioning device with which the position of the cover device is determined with respect to a microtiter plate which can be arranged in the area below the cover element(s),

and the cover element(s) are designed such that they cover all reaction vessels except for one row of reaction vessels of the microtiter plate.

By means of the covering device according to the invention, all rows of reaction vessels except for one row of the microtiter plate arranged in the covering device are covered by the covering element(s). Thus, a single row of reaction vessels is not covered and is freely accessible.

If a pipette tip is moved across the freely accessible row of reaction vessels during pipetting and a drop of reagent accidentally comes off the pipette tip during the movement, this drop is caught by the cover element(s) and cannot reach the microtiter plate. This reliably prevents the reagent from entering a reaction vessel of the microtiter plate.

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titer plate for which it is not intended. The covering device according to the invention is suitable for both manual and automatic pipetting.

Preferably, the cover element(s) have a driver which projects upwards so that the cover element(s) can be moved on the driver by an operator or by a robot.

If several cover elements are provided which are designed as strip-shaped lamellae, these lamellae can, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each have a cover strip on one longitudinal edge which is directed upwards and a little away from the longitudinal edge and can be used to cover a slot formed between two adjacent lamellae. This ensures that even if two adjacent lamellae do not abut one another exactly flush and a slot forms between these lamellae, no reagent can get through this slot.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a single cover element is provided which is flat and has a recess whose size and arrangement corresponds to a row of reaction vessels, so that this cover element can be arranged above the microtiter plate in such a way that a single row of reaction vessels is freely accessible.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the drawing as an example. The drawing shows schematically:
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Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a covering device according to the invention

direction in plan view,

Figure 2 shows the covering device from Figure 1 in a sectional view along the section line A-A and in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 3a-3d two lamellas in a sectional view,

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

DE-4707

Figure 4 a base plate with a microtiter plate in plan view,

Figure 5 shows a covering device according to a second embodiment of the

Invention in plan view, and
5

Figure 6 shows the covering device from Figure 5 in a sectional view according to the

Section line B-B looking in the direction of the arrows.

The cover device 1 according to the invention has a frame 2 which is rectangular in plan view and is made up of two longitudinal beams 3 and two cross beams 4 (Figure 1). The frame 2 is detachably placed on a base plate 5 (Figures 2, 4). The base plate 5 is a flat plate which, in plan view, has the same rectangular outer boundary as the frame 2. On the top side of the base plate 5, a circumferential web 6 is formed on the base plate 5.

The web 6 is flush with the inner surfaces of the longitudinal beams 3 and cross beams 4, so that the web 6 serves as a positioning means for positioning the frame 2 on the base plate 5. The web 6 has a projection 6a which engages in a corresponding recess on the frame 2. This clearly defines the arrangement of the frame 2 on the base plate 5.

Three positioning pins 7 are arranged on the base plate 5 in the area inside and adjacent to the circumferential web 6. Two of the positioning pins 7 are arranged adjacent to a longitudinal edge on the base plate 5, being spaced from the transverse edges of the base plate 5 by approximately one quarter of the total length I of the base plate 5. The third positioning pin 7 is arranged adjacent to the other longitudinal edge of the base plate 5 and approximately in the area of the longitudinal center of the base plate 5. A microtiter plate 8 can be placed on the base plate in such a way that the positioning pins 7 engage in corresponding positioning recesses 9 on the microtiter plate 8. Since the positioning pins 7 are designed asymmetrically around a center axis of the base plate 5, the arrangement of the microtiter plate 8 is clearly defined. It is therefore not possible for the microtiter plate 8 to be positioned on the base plate 5 in a different way than in the arrangement shown in Figure 4. It is

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

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It is also not possible for the microtiter plate 8 to be arranged on the base plate 5 rotated by 180°.

In the area above the microtiter plate 8, cover elements 10 in the form of strip-shaped lamellae 11 are mounted. The lamellae 11 engage with their end areas in a groove 12 formed on the inner surfaces of the longitudinal supports 3. The lamellae 11 are slidably mounted in the groove 12.

The present embodiment is intended for a microtiter plate 8 with eight rows of reaction vessels 13 and seven columns of reaction vessels 13. In Figure 1, one row of reaction vessels extends in the Y direction and one column in the X direction. Nine slats 11 are provided to cover the eight rows of reaction vessels. It is expedient for the covering device for n rows of reaction vessels to be designed with n+1 slats. The width B of a slat 11 (Figure 2) corresponds approximately to the center distance d of two reaction vessels in two adjacent rows of reaction vessels (Figure 1). The distance D, which indicates the range within which the slats 11 can be moved between the cross members 2, corresponds approximately to 10 times the width b in the present embodiment. With n For rows of reaction vessels, this distance D is expediently approximately (n+2) times the width b of the slats 11 or the distance d between two adjacent rows of reaction vessels.

In the present embodiment, the distance D is limited on the one hand by the inner surface of a cross member 4 and on the other hand by a groove 14 formed on the inner surface of one of the cross members 4. The microtiter plate 8 is preferably arranged centered in the area limited by the distance D, so that in the area adjacent to the cross members 4 a slat 11 can be arranged in such a way that no reaction vessel of the microtiter plate 8 is located under this slat. These upper and lower edge areas of the movement area D of the slats 11 thus form an alternative position of the slats 11 in order to be able to release a row of reaction vessels 13 of the microtiter plate 8. In Figure 1, the fifth row of reaction vessels is released, which is arranged in the area between the slats numbered 5 and 6. By moving one of these

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By moving these two slats, an adjacent row of reaction vessels can be released, while the originally released row of reaction vessels is covered. This shifting process can be continued indefinitely so that any row of reaction vessels is released, but the other rows of reaction vessels are covered by the slats 11. It is also possible to cover all rows of reaction vessels with the slats 11.

On the top sides of the slats 11, drive pins 15 are arranged so as to protrude upwards, by which the slats 11 can be moved. Preferably, the drive pins 15 of adjacent slats 11 are arranged offset from one another. When the slats 11 are actuated by means of a robot arm, the robot arm is moved transversely to the rows of reaction vessels and thus transversely to the slats 11, so that the offset arrangement of the drive pins 15 ensures that the robot arm can only act on one or a few slats, so that only the predetermined slat is moved. This reduces the risk of incorrect operation.

In the cover device described above, the position of the microtiter plate in relation to the cover elements 10, the slats 11, is clearly defined by the positioning elements (frame 2 in conjunction with the web 6; positioning pins 7 in conjunction with the positioning recesses 9). This ensures that the slats 11 can each be arranged over a row of reaction vessels.

In the above embodiment, the rows of reaction vessels have fewer reaction vessels than the columns of reaction vessels. The covering device according to the invention can also be designed such that the rows covered by a lamella have more reaction vessels than the respective columns.

Figure 3a shows two slats 11 according to a further embodiment of the covering device, each of which has an upwardly projecting driving strip 16 as a driving device. This driving strip 16 is formed along a longitudinal edge of the respective slat 11.

·

Patent Attorneys Reinhardt - Söllner - Ganahl

DE-4707

Figure 3b shows a further embodiment of the slats 11 in a sectional view. These slats 11 each have a narrow cover strip 18 on one of their longitudinal edges 17, which protrudes a little beyond the longitudinal edge 17. This cover strip 18 extends on the slat over the area of all reaction vessels in a row of reaction vessels 13. If two slats 11 are arranged with their longitudinal edges 17 adjacent to one another, the cover strip 18 covers the joint area of the adjacent longitudinal edges. If this joint area is not completely sealed, the cover strip 18 ensures that no reagent can reach the joint area from above. This ensures that no reagent can pass through between two adjacent slats.

Figure 3c shows a further embodiment of slats 11 according to the invention, in which a cover strip 19 is formed adjacent to each of the longitudinal edges 17. The cover strip 19 extends along the longitudinal edge in the entire area of a row of reaction vessels 13. This cover strip 19 protrudes a little upwards from the slat 11 and is bent away from the longitudinal edge 17. This makes it possible to cover a slot formed between two adjacent slats 11. This cover strip 19, since it protrudes a little upwards, is suitable both as a carrier element and for covering any slot between two adjacent slats 11.

Figure 3d shows a further embodiment of the slats 11 according to the invention, which has a driving strip 20 approximately in the middle.

The covering device 1 described above can be provided with signal elements which are arranged in one of the longitudinal supports 3, whereby one signal element is assigned to each slat 11. These signal elements can be reset to an output signal using a reset switch, whereby when a slat 11 is moved, the output signal is converted into a movement signal. The output signal is preferably green and the movement signal red. These signal elements show the operator which slats have already been moved. By removing and shaking the frame 2, all slats are

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11 are moved to a starting position in which they form a closed surface starting from a cross member and at the same time all display elements are set to green. When each individual slat 11 (intermediate position) is moved away from this cross member, the corresponding display element is set to red. Finally, the slat 11 arranged adjacent to this cross member is moved away, whereby an end position of the slats 11 is reached.

A second embodiment of the cover device 1 according to the invention is designed similarly to the cover device 1 described above with a base plate 5 and a frame 2, which is why the same parts are designated with the same reference numerals (Figure 5, Figure 6). This embodiment differs from the above embodiment in that instead of the slats as cover elements, only a single, flat cover element 10 is provided. This cover element 10 is made of a flexible plastic film 21 into which a rigid limiting frame 22 is inserted. The limiting frame 22 is a rigid plastic or metal part that delimits a recess 23 (Figure 5), the area of which includes the area of a row of reaction vessels of the microtiter plate 8. The limiting frame 22 is mounted with its ends displaceably in the grooves 12 of the longitudinal supports 3. The limiting frame 22 can thus be moved over any row of reaction vessels 13 of the microtiter plate 8. The two parts of the plastic film 21 are each connected to the two longitudinal edges of the boundary frame 22. The end regions of the plastic film parts 21 that are remote from the boundary frame 22 are each wound onto a roller 24. The rollers 24 are preferably pre-tensioned with a spring (not shown) in such a way that the plastic film 21 is held with tension between the two rollers 24 and is automatically rolled up or unrolled when the frame 22 is moved.

On the upper side of the limiting frame 22, two upwardly projecting driving pins 25 are formed, which a robot arm or an operator can engage to move the limiting frame 22.

Preferably, the limiting frame 22 is provided with a locking device in the grooves

12 so that it is always in a position in which the recess 23

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a row of reaction vessels 13 is released. However, it can also be provided that the frame has to be lifted a little to be moved and then lowered into the corresponding locking receiving means at the desired position.
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The materials from which the covering device 1 is made (plastic film, plastic parts, metal parts) are preferably designed to be temperature-stable so that they are autoclavable so that the covering device can be sterilized.

The invention has been explained above using cover devices that each cover a single microtiter plate. Within the scope of the invention, it can also be expedient to design the cover device to cover two or more microtiter plates. To do this, for example, the number of slats must be increased or the plastic film extended. If several microtiter plates are to be pipettable at the same time, then it is expedient that a row of reaction vessels can be released from each microtiter plate.

The invention is described above with reference to cover devices for microtiter plates with eight rows and seven columns. Within the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to use microtiter plates with other formats, such as twelve rows and eight columns or 24 rows and sixteen columns.

The invention can be briefly summarized as follows:

It relates to a covering device for microtiter plates which have reaction vessels arranged in rows and columns. The covering device according to the invention is designed in such a way that one row of reaction vessels of microtiter plates can be exposed and the other rows can be covered. This ensures that when a pipette tip is moved to a reaction vessel, no reagent can drip into a reaction vessel for which it is not intended.

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List of reference symbols

1 Covering device 2 Frame 5 3 Longitudinal beam 4 Cross member 5 Base plate 6 web 7 Positioning pin 10 8th Microtiter plate 9 Positioning recess 10 Cover element 11 Slat 12 slot 15 13 Reaction vessel 14 Groove 15 Driving pin 16 Carrying bar 17 Longitudinal edge 20 18 Cover strip 19 Cover strip 20 Carrying bar 21 Plastic film 22 Bounding box 25 23 Recess 24 roller 25 Driving pin

Claims (16)

1. Covering device for microtiter plates having reaction vessels ( 13 ) arranged in rows and columns, comprising - at least one cover element ( 10 ) which is movably mounted in a frame ( 2 ), - a positioning device with which the position of the covering device ( 1 ) is determined with respect to a microtiter plate ( 8 ) which can be arranged in the area below the covering element(s) ( 10 ), and the cover element(s) ( 10 ) are designed such that they cover all reaction vessels ( 13 ) except for one row of reaction vessels ( 13 ) of the microtiter plate ( 8 ). 2. Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of cover elements ( 10 ) are provided which are designed as strip-shaped lamellae ( 11 ), wherein the individual lamellae ( 11 ) are arranged to be movable independently of one another along the direction of the columns of the microtiter plate ( 8 ). 3. Covering device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slats ( 11 ) are formed with a width (b) which corresponds approximately to the center distance between two adjacent rows of reaction vessels ( 15 ). 4. Covering device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that n+1 slats ( 11 ) are provided for n rows of reaction vessels ( 13 ). 5. Covering device according to claim 4, characterized in that the n slats ( 11 ) are movable within a range (D) which corresponds approximately to (n + 2) times the width (b) of the slats ( 11 ). 6. Covering device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lamellae ( 11 ) have upwardly projecting carrier elements ( 15 , 16 , 19 , 20 ) on their side facing away from the microtiter plate ( 8 ). 7. Covering device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the slats ( 11 ) each have a cover strip ( 19 ) on a longitudinal edge which is directed upwards and a little away from the longitudinal edge and with which a slot formed between two adjacent slats ( 11 ) can be covered. 8. Covering device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the slats ( 11 ) are each mounted with their ends in a slot. 9. Covering device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the slats are each mounted with their ends in a guide rail. 10. Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering element ( 10 ) is flat and has a recess ( 23 ) whose size and arrangement corresponds to a row of reaction vessels ( 13 ). 11. Covering device according to claim 10, characterized in that the covering element ( 10 ) is designed to be flexible and a part thereof is wound onto a roller ( 24 ) at the end regions in the direction of movement. 12. Covering device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the rollers ( 24 ) are prestressed by means of a spring such that the covering element is kept under tension in the region between the rollers ( 24 ). 13. Cover device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the recess ( 23 ) is delimited by a rigid frame ( 22 ). 14. Cover device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a locking device is provided with which the cover ( 10 ) with its recess ( 23 ) locks in the region of a row of reaction vessels ( 13 ). 15. Covering device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the positioning device comprises positioning elements ( 7 ) which engage the microtiter plate in a form-fitting manner. 16. Covering device according to claim 15, characterized in that the positioning elements ( 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 ) clearly determine the orientation of the microtiter plate with respect to the cover element(s).