Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2003-05-06
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C422S091000, C422S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which can be used in research and has a reaction vessel, preferably a multiplicity of reaction vessels combined in a block, for carrying out chemical, biochemical or physical experiments in parallel and/or in series. In many experiments, it is necessary for the reaction vessel to be temperature-controlled, e.g. in the range between −70° C. and +200° C., with a simultaneous shaking movement and simultaneous metering into a closed reaction vessel. The equipment thus has to meet particular requirements.
2. Prior art
For example in chemical research in the pharmaceutical industry or in university research, it is increasingly important to discover, and then to test, a large number of potential active ingredients or combinations as quickly as possible. Some of the chemical research thus currently deals with combinatorial chemistry, parallel synthesis and high-speed chemistry. Of prime importance here is the possibility of being able to make wide use of known or novel chemical reaction types in parallel with minimal adaptation.
Various apparatuses with reaction vessels which are arranged in parallel, can be temperature-controlled and are intended for carrying out a multiplicity of experiments in parallel have thus been provided. In the simplest of these, use was made of open oil baths in which a block of the reaction vessels is fitted such that it can be shaken. The gravest disadvantage of such constructions is the narrowly restricted temperature range as a result of the open temperature-controlled bath in relation to a closed circuit. A further essential disadvantage is that it is not possible, during the shaking movement, to meter, for example, the solution of a reagent into the closed reaction vessels using an addition apparatus, e.g. a needle. Further temperature-controllable apparatuses provided are merely suitable for specific applications, for the most part of complicated construction, excessively large, not particularly user-friendly or barely allow any automation of individual process steps.
DE-A-32 20 879 discloses an apparatus for retaining reaction vessels which can be temperature-controlled and shaken by means of a shaking arrangement. The reaction vessels are retained in each case by means of an elastic coupling at the top and are mounted in recesses of elastic rests at the bottom. For the temperature control of the reaction vessels, there is arranged above the elastic rests, as a resistance heating means, a receiving body with through-passage bores through which the bottom ends of the reaction vessels project. The temperature control of reaction vessels via the resistance heating means and air located therebetween is still capable of improvement in terms of efficiency.
DE-C42 14 866 discloses a further apparatus for retaining test tubes which can be temperature controlled and shaken by means of a vibrating plate. Connected to the vibrating plate is a sample holder which, on its top side, is provided with pads which are made of elastic material and in which the bottom ends of the test tubes engage. A heating plate through which air can flow is arranged between the vibrating plate and sample carrier. In order that the hot air for heating the test tubes does not escape outward, said test tubes have to be enclosed by a casing.
Bohdan Europe, France, have brought an improved apparatus onto the market under the designation RAM Synthesizer BHD 1524. This apparatus comprises a heat-conducting temperature-control block with a multiplicity of depressions. A central inlet is provided in order to supply the temperature-control block with a liquid heat-transfer medium. The reaction vessels, which are screwed on a cavity plate and closed by septa, are introduced into the depressions, the top cavity plate with the screwed-on reaction vessels being rigidly fastened on the temperature-control block. The heating temperature control of the reaction vessels takes place in this case by energy being fed from the heat-transfer medium to the temperature-control block, in the direction of the shell of the reaction vessel. During cooling temperature control, the drop in temperature between the shell of the reaction vessel and the heat-transfer medium, via the heat-dissipating temperature-control block, causes a transfer of energy from the reaction vessel in the direction of the heat-transfer medium. The entire reaction block is positioned on a shaking arrangement and can thus be shaken and temperature-controlled at the same time.
The disadvantage with the RAM Synthesizer BHD 1524 apparatus is that during the shaking operation—with possible temperature control at the same time—the individual reaction vessel cannot be penetrated by a needle-like sampler, which is typically guided by a robot arm, in order for substances to be added or removed. However, it is precisely during the addition of substances that the operation of shaking the reaction vessel is often essential. The reaction vessel must necessarily be closed by a septum, with the result that a sampler introduced into the reaction vessel would have to be moved adequately at the frequency and amplitude of the shaking movement of the reaction vessel. With a, for example, conventional deflection of the reaction vessel of 10 mm with a rotation of 1000 revolutions/minute, the operation of moving the sampler along synchronously is ruled out in practice and is extremely disadvantageous (centrifugal forces). The above described apparatus, however, also has other disadvantages. During the shaking operation, it is necessary for the reaction block to be moved as a whole, which requires very stable equipment (vibration) and a powerful drive. For the temperature transfer from the liquid heat-transfer medium and the wall of the reaction vessel, the temperature-control block is interposed as a delaying and energy-absorbing component. Even in the case of very precise depressions and, at the same time, very precise reactors, a layer of air which, although minimal, has a pronounced insulating effect is produced between the temperature-control block and reactor.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages presented, the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus where an individual reaction vessel and/or a block of reaction vessels are temperature-controlled as far as possible without any delay and with low losses. During the temperature control, it has to be possible for the reaction vessels to be shaken at the required intensity, in which case the substance surrounding the reaction vessels is to be moved as little as possible. Finally, it has to be possible, at the same time as the temperature-control and shaking operations, to use a sampler to meter substances into the reaction vessels, which may possibly be closed by a septum, or to take samples from the reaction vessels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The essential features of the invention may be summarized as follows:
The apparatus for retaining a reaction vessel which can be temperature-controlled and shaken is preferably designed as a block with a multiplicity of combined reaction vessels. A flow channel for supplying a liquid temperature-control medium is routed up to reaction vessels and the apparatus has a shaking arrangement for moving the reaction vessels. The reaction vessels are retained in each case by means of an elastic coupling at the top of their neck sections and are supported in a sealed manner in elastic receptacles beneath their neck sections such that it is not possible for any liquid temperature-control medium supplied via the flow channel to escape. The shaking arrangement preferably acts on the elastic means which provide a supporting function beneath the reaction vessels.
The elastic coupling has a basically sleeve-like configuration with an axial through-passage. Its top end may be provided with an external thread for fastening on a carrier. The bottom end of the coupling advantageously has a fixing region and, right at the bottom, a standard ground joint. A
Güller Rolf
Jablonski Philippe
Munch Séraphin
Tschirky Hansjörg
Chemspeed Ltd.
Quan Elizabeth
Selitto Behr & Kim
Warden Jill
LandOfFree
Device for holding reaction vessels which can be thermally... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for holding reaction vessels which can be thermally..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for holding reaction vessels which can be thermally... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3030320