EP1832336A1 - Device for mixing, in particular the contents of laboratory vessels - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for mixing a laboratory container contents comprises a reception adapter (4) with a support (6, 8) for the reception of the containers in alternation block, and a drive, through which the reception adapter is moved into a mixing movement with a frequency of more than 3000 U/min and/or a radius of more than 2 cm. The mixing movement passes in horizontal, plain circular translatory oscillation manner. The reception adapter shows a vortex-adapter accessible from outside, and a recess structure on a circumference with a recess. The device for mixing a laboratory container contents comprises a reception adapter (4) with a support (6, 8) for the reception of the containers in alternation block, and a drive, through which the reception adapter is moved into a mixing movement with a frequency of more than 3000 U/min and/or a radius of more than 2 cm. The mixing movement passes in horizontal, plain circular translatory oscillation manner. The reception adapter shows a vortex-adapter accessible from outside, and a recess structure on a circumference with a recess. The recess points to the center of circumference for positive take up of test-tube held from outside, into the mixing movement. The vortex adapter shows a trough (12) and/or three flanks radial sloping to the center and/or a surface elastically pushed to a trough. The recess structure of the vortex adapter shows an elastic surface and/or a glass- or adhesive surface from elastomer. A part of the upper surface of an interchangeable mat (10) on the reception adapter is removable. The frequency and radius of the mixing movement is adjustable. The support shows a spring gripping element that holds a received alternation block in positively locking- and frictionally engaging manner. An elastic thrust bearing is in the form of elastic tube or elastic cylinder, in which the gripping element pushes the alternation block. Guidance introduces the alternation block, vertically from above into the support until against an attack. The gripping element exerts a lateral retention force on the alternation block. The support is not positive fit without additional notch and bolt.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for mixing, in particular, laboratory vessel contents with a receiving adapter with a holder for holding vessels, in particular laboratory vessels in removable blocks, and a drive, by means of which the receiving adapter can be set into a mixing movement which is essentially in one, in particular horizontal, plane circular translationally oscillating runs.

Mixing devices in which container contents are mixed are well known. Especially for laboratories, there are mixers that can mix even small amounts of liquid by small containers in suitable holders, so-called "exchange blocks" (devices for receiving vessels that can also be used for temperature control) even in very large groups two-, three or even four-digit number are summarized. Such exchangeable blocks and also the reaction vessels can be standardized. There are, for example, 0.2 ml, 0.5 ml, 1.5 ml and 2.0 mm reaction tubes - as well as suitable replacement blocks. There are also interchangeable blocks for cryo vessels, for falcon vessels (1.5 ml and 50 ml), for glass vessels and beakers, for microtiter plates (MTP), for deep well plates (DWP), for slides and for PCR Plates with 96 wells. This list is not exhaustive, but it does indicate the wide variety of laboratory vessels for which the mixers should be suitable. For this purpose, there are standards and norms of so-called "foot prints" - namely the base structure of exchange blocks. An example of this is the ANSI SBS-1, SBS-2, SBS-3 or SBS-4 (as of 2004).

Because these exchange blocks are basically constructed so that the individual vessels are inserted from above into it, a circular translatory oscillating mixing movement has been established for the known mixer, which runs essentially in a horizontal plane. For this purpose, in the known mixers usually an electric motor balancing drive is responsible to put a "table" in this circular movement. The latter is stored in known different ways: For example, a storage in linear bearings (so-called ball bushings) is known in the two horizontal directions, but is also known a film hinge bearing. Alternatively, there is also electromagnetic storage or storage with piezo elements, which can also serve as the same drive.

Typically, such mixers are driven at a rotational frequency of 200 rpm to 1,500 rpm. The frequency is usually adjustable.

Although the known mixers are quite suitable for mixing the above-mentioned manifold reaction vessels in exchangeable blocks, very versatile - for mixing very different reaction vessels - to use. Because of the required attachment mimic for holding the exchange blocks but a mixing of other vessels is outside of this geometry standards possible only with other, suitable and equipped mixing devices. Therefore, in most laboratories in addition to a mixer of the type described also other devices. For example, a so-called "vortexer" is widely used - which grips a vessel held thereon by hand at its bottom and takes it into a rotary motion, so that a vortex forms in the liquid in the vessel and this liquid mixes.

The present invention has for its object to provide a mixer of the type described above, which has a wider range of applications.

This object is achieved by a device for mixing with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, a mixing device is provided in particular for laboratory vessel contents with a receiving adapter and a drive. The receiving adapter has a holder which is suitable for receiving vessels. This should preferably mean that the vessels can be introduced into the holder of the receiving adapter in such a way that they do not free themselves of themselves during undisturbed operation during the mixing movement into which the receiving adapter can be displaced by means of the drive. Especially for laboratory vessels in interchangeable blocks, the holder of the receiving adapter preferably satisfies certain standards.

The drive of the mixing device according to the invention is able to put the receiving adapter in a mixing movement, which is substantially circularly translationally oscillating in a plane. In other words, such a mixing movement according to the invention can be described by the fact that two (imaginary) Points of the receiving adapter perform a circular motion with substantially the same angular position, the same angular velocity and the same radius. Preferably, the mixing movement is in a horizontal plane - so that a billet taken therein mixed with its vertical reaction vessels.

The mixing device according to the invention is characterized in that the receiving adapter has an externally accessible vortex structure, a vortex adapter. This is suitable to take a container mounted from the outside held, in particular a test tube positively in the mixing movement. To do this, the vortex adapter has a paragraph structure. This is on a (possibly even imaginary) circumference arranged with at least one paragraph, which points to the center of the circumference. For example, the vortex adapter may have a trough whose edge represents the "circumference" according to the invention with the "center" according to the invention in the center of the trough. The trough edge thus forms here so to speak a single circumferential shoulder on the circumference.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the vortex adapter may also have at least three radial flanks sloping towards the center, which are preferably arranged uniformly on the circumference. So then three such edges are preferably arranged at 120 ° to each other, four such flanks below 90 ° and so on.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the vortex adapter can also have an elastic surface which can be impressed into a depression by a vessel held thereon with a certain contact force.

These possibilities of the nature of the vortex structure according to the invention support the safe entrainment of a vessel held on the structure into the mixing movement.

To further support this effect, the vortex adapter may also have a slightly elastic surface and / or a surface adhering to smooth surfaces. In particular, such a surface according to the invention preferably adheres to glass, because test tubes or mixing flasks are commonly made of this material - or of a similar plastic, for which the surface may preferably also be suitable. Preferably, this elastic surface made of elastomer, rubber, rubber, neoprene or the like - also possibly each coated.

Overall, the device according to the invention can advantageously be used both as a mixer and as a vortexer without two devices having to be provided, and in particular even without having to exchange any adapter on the device.

According to the invention, the drive of the mixing device is preferably adjusted so that a frequency of the mixing movement also results in the range of more than 2,000 rpm or even more than 3,000 rpm. The radius of the mixing device is preferably less than 3 cm or even less than 2 cm - to name, for example, suitable mixing motion parameters for vortexing. However, it is particularly preferable to make the mixing movement frequency, and even the radius of the mixing movement variable, adjustable. Thus, for example, mixing programs can also be run by a memory-programmed controller of the mixer according to the invention, which are particularly suitable in a first situation for mixing an inserted alternating block with reaction vessels - and immediately thereafter in a next situation for vortexing a test tube.

Due to the variation of the rotational speed and the stroke, mixing properties which are particularly advantageous for various different mixing tasks are obtained that could not be achieved by variation of only one mixing parameter. For example, in typical applications for the dissolution behavior of solids in the pharmaceutical sector, a particular speed / stroke ratio is optimal, namely, for example, in the dissolution of tablets with a high energy input. Or, products from centrifugation or vacuum concentration in the laboratory are further processed in the form of pellets. A fast and complete resuspension - with an advantageous adjustability of frequency and stroke - plays a major role. On the other hand, the so-called soft vortexing must take into account a particularly gentle treatment of the introduced material - again with advantageous adjustability of frequency and stroke. Thus, for example, certain DNA chains can be brought into an undesirable state by excessive energy supply, which can adversely affect further processing. Other possible applications of a controllable energy supply through an optimizable combination of speed and stroke result, for example, for adaptive comminution of substances by introduced media such as spherical particles, which ensure optimal power transmission, for example, on soft substances.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a generic device for mixing is characterized in that the holder has at least one Federeinspannung that frictionally and frictionally holds a recorded vessel, in particular a recorded exchange block. In this case, the holder is preferably not actually form-fitting and in particular has no additional catch and no additional latch as a mechanical form-fitting elements. This is the holder of the invention particularly for machines - but not least for daily manual insertion, where despite sometimes occasionally decreasing concentration in positioning an exchange block with the vessel contents to be mixed ultimately must be safely and accurately positioned in the mixing device. Laboratory machines are known to allow, for example, rapid and reproducible pipetting and dispensing operations. In this case, otherwise manually performed feed processes are performed, for example, by a motor-driven arm with appropriate dosing. The arm can be movable in all three spatial axes. For a precise dosage, a particularly accurate positioning of the plates and vessels is very advantageous. This also applies to additional devices which are to be used together with such machines - that is, for example, also for mixers of the type according to the invention - which can be equipped automatically by such a laboratory machine with vessels and exchangeable blocks.

Further advantages and features of the device according to the invention will be described with reference to the attached figure, which shows an embodiment of the mixing device according to the invention.

The figure shows a three-dimensional view of a mixing device according to the invention.

In the figure, a mixing device 2 can be seen with an upper-side, frame-shaped receiving adapter 4, which has a holder 6, 8 for receiving change blocks.

The receiving adapter 4 holds the support structures 6 and 8 in the shape of a frame around a substantially rectangular inner space 10 , which corresponds to the "foot print" of a Exchange block (not shown) corresponds. This rectangular area 10 is covered by a rectangular mat 10 , which has in its center a trough 12 with a wall-like edge elevation. The mat 10 is removable for cleaning and is injection molded from EPDM or silicone rubber.

If now a vortex a test tube (not shown) held in the trough 12 , and pressed with gentle contact pressure, the receiving adapter 4 is together with the trough 12 in its in a horizontal plane circular translationally oscillating mixing movement - and so puts a liquid in the Test tube for mixing in a vortex. As soon as the operating force of the contact pressure is released, the drive (not shown) of the mixing device 2 stops automatically. This automatic starting and stopping of the vortexing, which depends on the contact pressure, is possible according to the invention by a sensor which reacts to the contact pressure and switches on and off the drive of the mixer 2 . This switching can also be controlled with a time delay in order, for example, not to take account of an accidental decrease in the contact pressure - and also not to switch on the vortexer immediately, if it is touched accidentally, for example.

As a support structures 6, 8 carries the frame-shaped receiving adapter 4 on the one hand three upside-down U-shaped spring clips 8, two of which are arranged on the receiving adapter frame 4 center- symmetrically along a longitudinal inner edge and one on a transverse inner edge in that from each of the spring clips 8 a resilient leg points into the interior of the frame 4 . On the other hand, the receiving adapter 4 carries in each case opposite to its other two inner edges of three elastic abutment 6 each in the form of an elastomeric cylinder.

Now, if a change block (not shown) is inserted from above into the holder 6, 8 of the receiving adapter 4 , the shape of the inner edges of the spring clips 8 and the elastic abutment 6 passes the exchange block passively into the holder up against a stop 14 . There is an introduced change block then essentially only force and friction and in particular not also positively, so preferably without additional catch or additional latch.

This is the holder of the invention especially for machines - but not least for the daily manual insertion, where despite perhaps occasionally decreasing concentration in positioning an exchange block with the mixing Ultimately, vessel contents must be securely and accurately positioned in the mixing device.

In the illustrated bracket 6, 8 causes the Federeinspannung 8 on a recorded change block (not shown) has a lateral holding force, which pushes it with its lower edge elastic in the elastic abutment 6 . Thus, although the Federeinspannungen 8 are not actually form-fitting, because they have, for example, no latching recess, in which, for example, a lower edge of a bill of exchange could engage positively. But by pushing in the lower edge of an inserted change block in the elastic abutment additionally creates a kind of positive connection.

Claims (11)

Device for mixing in particular of laboratory vessel contents with - A recording adapter with a holder for receiving vessels, especially of laboratory vessels, especially in removable blocks, and a drive, by means of which the receiving adapter can be put into a mixing movement, which essentially oscillates in a circular, translationally oscillating manner, in particular in a horizontal plane, characterized in that - The recording adapter has an externally accessible structure (Vortex adapter) with - A paragraph structure on a circumference with at least one shoulder, which has the center of the circumference, for the positive entrainment of an externally mounted vessel, in particular test tube, in the mixing movement. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the vortex adapter - a trough and / or at least three radial flanks falling to the center and / or - An elastically depressible to a trough surface having. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the heel structure of the vortex adapter has an elastic surface and / or on smooth surfaces, in particular glass, adhesive surface, in each case in particular made of elastomer. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vortex adapter is removable from the receiving adapter, in particular part of the upper surface of a replaceable mat on the receiving adapter. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording adapter by the drive in a mixing movement with a frequency of more than 2,000 U / min, in particular of more than 3,000 U / min, and / or with a radius of less than 3 cm, in particular less than 2 cm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording adapter can be offset by the drive in a mixing movement whose frequency and / or whose radius is adjustable. Device for mixing, in particular, laboratory vessel contents, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, having - A recording adapter with a holder for receiving vessels, especially of laboratory vessels, especially in removable blocks, and a drive, by means of which the receiving adapter can be put into a mixing movement, which essentially oscillates in a circular, translationally oscillating manner, in particular in a horizontal plane, characterized in that - The holder has at least one Federeinspannung that frictionally holds a recorded vessel, in particular a recorded exchange block, and frictionally. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the holder is not form-fitting, in particular without additional catch and additional latch. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the Federeinspannung on a recorded vessel, in particular a recorded exchange block, lateral holding force. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by a guide which introduces a male receptacle, in particular a male exchange block, vertically from above into the holder up against a stop. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by at least one elastic counter bearing, in particular in the form of an elastic hose or cylinder, in which the Federeinspannung a received vessel, in particular a recorded exchange block pushes.

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