Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Mechanical measurement system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2004-08-17
Shah, Kamini (Department: 2863)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Mechanical measurement system
C702S060000, C702S062000, C702S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06778917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for driving an electronic metering system with an electrical hand metering device and to a metering system for carrying out the method.
Electronic metering devices are applied in the laboratory for metering fluids. They are known in various embodiments. Metering devices functioning according to the air cushion principle have an integrated piston-cylinder unit, by way of which an air column is displaceable in order to suction sample fluid into a metering syringe and to expel this from the syringe. With this the piston-cylinder unit does not come into contact with the fluid. Only the metering syringe which as a rule consists of plastic is contaminated and may be exchanged after use.
With direct displacement metering devices on the other hand a syringe is directly filled with sample fluid. The piston and the cylinder of the syringe are thus contaminated by the fluid so that the syringe before the exchange of the fluid mostly must be replaced by a new syringe or be cleaned. Also this syringe consists as a rule of plastic.
Pistonless metering devices may comprise a metering tip with a balloon-like end section which is expanded for suctioning fluid, and for expulsion is compressed. Such metering tips are also already conceived as an exchange part.
Micro-metering devices may have a micro-membrane pump and/or a free jet metered, wherein at least one of these components is designed with micro-system technology, in particularly with silicon, glass and plastic injection molding technology and/or plastic imprinting technology. The metering is achieved by deformation of a wall of a container which is filled with fluid. The electrical drive for the deformation of the wall may be piezoelectric, thermoelectric, electromagnetic, electrostatic, electromechanical, magnetorestrictive, etc.
Air cushion, direct displacement, pistonless and micro-metering devices may have an unchangeable or changeable metering volume. A changing of the metering volume is achieved by adjustment of the displacement of the displacement means, i.e. of the displacement path of the piston or of the degree of deformation of the balloon-like end section or of the chamber wall.
Dispensers are metering devices which may repetitively dispense an accommodated fluid in small part quantities.
Furthermore there are multi-channel metering devices which have several “channels” by way of which it is simultaneously metered.
All metering devices may be designed as hand apparatus.
All previously mentioned metering devices may be electronic metering devices in the meaning of this application. With this they comprise a drive means with an electrical drive for driving a displacement means. Furthermore they have an electronic control and/or regulating means in particular for the drive, which may be an electrical drive motor, an electric linear drive or a drive mentioned in the context of micro-metering devices. Furthermore they have an electrical voltage source for supplying the control and/or regulating means and a drive, which may be chargeable. Electronic metering devices have the advantage of the high reproducibility of meterings. In particular by way of preset metering speeds (&mgr;l/s) more exact results may be achieved than with manually driven apparatus. Furthermore they may have the advantage of the multi-functionality, since they may carry out functions of pipetting, dispensing, titrating, mixing, etc.
The known electronic hand metering devices Response® of the applicant function according to the air cushion principle and are obtainable in the single-channel or multi-channel design. Four models cover the metering range of 0.5 &mgr;l to 5 ml. This metering device may function in various operating manners, amongst other things pipetting and dispensing. The dispensing is possible in up to 25 part steps. The user may select between three various metering speeds. The metering device may be applied for charging the accumulator cells in a charging station.
From EP 0 864 364 A2 there is known a similar hand metering device with chargeable batteries and a charging station for their charging. The hand metering device may be operated in various operating modes, which apart from pipetting and dispensing have a free hand operation. Therein the hand metering device is programmed such that it controls the suctioning, the dispensing and time delays for exchanging and treating the metering tip. It carries out these program steps via a predetermined number of cycles.
The previously known electronic hand metering devices have the disadvantage that the specific operating parameters (e.g. step widths of the piston advance, metering speeds, charging condition criteria, display outputs) and the program are fixedly predetermined. The electronic control means specifically comprises a computer which functions according to a fixed stored program in which these parameters are contained. Thus for each model a special software is required and a retrospective change of the parameters is hardly possible. Furthermore it is disadvantageous that the programming of the free hand operation must be effected tediously via the keyboard of the hand metering device and that in the free hand operation the steps which are programmed in must be rigidly worked through and the course of operation may not be influenced.
Metering devices are testing means within the sense of GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) guidelines and comparable QS standards (ISO 9000 ff, EN 45000 ff).
According to the GLP guidelines the error limits published by the manufacturer must be checked at regular time intervals. By way of the applicant there is known a system with which the calibration of metering devices may be carried out quickly, comfortably and inexpensively.
This system is based on a calibration software PICASO® which runs on a PC. Furthermore one requires a measuring construction which comprises weighing vessels, adapters carrying sleeves as well as vapor traps and a semi-microscale. In the software there is laid down all relevant data for the metering devices to be tested. Deviations from these nominal values after transferring the weighing values to the computer are immediately evaluated. A measuring row has up to 15 individual weighings. From these the mean value, incorrectness, impression and standard deviation are evaluated and compared to predetermined nominal values. All measuring and reference data may be protocolled according to GLP-DIN.
With the calibration via the operating keyboard of the electronic hand metering pipette the metering data is inputted and their operation controlled. The weighing values are typed into a PC. This is tedious and may lead to errors.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method for operating an electronic metering system with improved operating parameters, operating procedures, program parts or complete programs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a metering system. A method solving the object is specified in claim
1
. Formations of this as well as advantageous metering systems for carrying it out is the subject matter of the subsequent claims.
This object is achieved by a method for operating an electronic metering system with an electronic hand metering device. The hand metering device comprises a drive means comprising an electrical drive; at least one displacement means drivable by the drive means, for metering the fluid; a program-controlled electronic control and/or regulating means, in particular for the drive; at least one non-volatile write-read memory; an electrical voltage source in particular for the electrical drive and the electronic control and/or regulating means and a data interface. The data interface is connected to the electronic control and/or regulating means, with a computer and with a data transfer means. The data transfer means comprises a data interface for connecting the data interface of the metering device to the computer, wherein the parameters specific to at least one of the apparatus type, the apparatus, u
Shah Kamini
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
LandOfFree
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