Abstract:
A method and apparatus for automatically inserting fluids into vessels, stirring the fluids within the vessels and withdrawing the stirred fluids from the vessels by vacuum. A movable arm supports fluid delivery pipettes, a stirring device and a fluid withdrawal system. A microprocessor automatically controls the alignment and operation of a movable arm and its appended operational implements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an automated method and apparatus for inserting and/or removing fluids from an array of pipettes having a mechanism to stir the contents of each pipette.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There are many known multiple-sample analyzer systems, some including stirrers.  
           [0003]    One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,986 to Kadota which teaches an analysis unit having a stirrer, although this element is neither shown in the drawings nor described in detail in the specification. See Col. 4, lines 30-32.  
           [0004]    Related U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,549 to Mimura and 6,019,945 to Ohishi similarly teach analyzer units with stirring mechanisms in block diagrammatic form, such as FIG. 2, references 65 and 66 and FIG. 3, references 13 a  and 13 b.    
           [0005]    Each of these patents teach methods and an apparatus for testing multiple samples where the samples are disposed in movable arrays, but the details and operational functionality of the stirrer in each of these patents are not disclosed. This patent teaches a novel method and automated apparatus for inserting and withdrawing fluids from pipettes and stirring the contents within the pipette.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    One of the objects of the instant invention is automatically aligning a fluid head with a pipette and inserting and/or withdrawing liquids from the pipette and stirring the liquids in the pipette.  
           [0007]    Another object of the instant invention is to power the stirring mechanism by air or electricity.  
           [0008]    Another object of the instant invention is to utilize a stirring apparatus configured of economical and functional bent wire.  
           [0009]    Another object of the instant invention is to utilize an extendible arm to support and control the liquid, vacuum and stirring functions with respect to the pipette or other vessel.  
           [0010]    Another object of the instant invention is to provide means for releasably controlling the location and movement of the pipettes or other vessels. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side cut away view of the operational arm in the retracted position showing the stirrer.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a side cut away view of the operational arm in the extended position showing the stirrer.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a side view of the operational arm and the supporting arm showing a suction or fluid delivery tool.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a side view of the operational arm and the supporting arm showing a suction or fluid delivery tool. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus  2  has base  4  to support the apparatus structure. Base  4  has top  6 , a bottom  8 , edges  10  and  10 ′ and ends  12  and  12 ′. Alternatively, the base can be any planar surface, such as a work table, which can rigidly and securely support and position apparatus  2 .  
         [0017]    Cross arm  16  is supported at the appropriate distance above top  6  of base  4  by vertical supports  14  and  14 ′. Vertical supports  14  and  14 ′ can be attached to base  4  or to a work table or surface in any commonly known or hereinafter developed manner.  
         [0018]    Support arm  18  is slidably disposed on, and is supported by, cross arm  16 . Vertical supports  14  and  14 ′ are spaced sufficiently apart to permit support arm  18  to move horizontally across all of the pipettes, centrifuge tubes, or vessels  20  disposed in vessel holder  22 . Vessel holder  22  may be disposed on the top  6  of base  4 .  
         [0019]    Vessel holder  22  may be any type of support for one or a plurality of vessels  20 . Vessel holder  22  must releaseably support each vessel  20  in rigid and precise alignment relative to the planes formed by top  6  of base  4  and support arm  18 .  
         [0020]    The movement of support arm  18  along cross arm  16  may be controlled by any known or in the future developed precisely controlled stepper mechanism, generally shown as  24 , which may have an extendible controlling arm  26  disposed between stepper mechanism  24  and cross arm  18 . The stepper mechanism  24  may be powered by electricity, air, magnetism or by any future developed power source. The movement of the support arm  18  in the horizontal direction, as shown by arrow  28 , along cross arm  16  is controlled by stepper mechanism  24  which is in turn controlled by computer  30 . Computer  30  may be a personal computer, microcontroller or any other programmable logic device created in the future.  
         [0021]    A tool holder  32  is slidably depended from support arm  18  and moves in a horizontal plane along support arm  18  as shown by arrow  34 . Tool holder  32  slidably moves along support arm  18  and its movement is controlled by stepper mechanism  36  and tool holder stepper arm  38 . Tool holder stepper mechanism  36  may be powered by electricity, air, magnetism or by any future developed power source. The movement of the tool holder  32  in the horizontal direction, as shown by arrow  34 , along support arm  18  is controlled by stepper mechanism  36  which is in turn controlled by computer  30 . Computer  30  may be a personal computer, microcontroller or any other programmable logic device created in the future.  
         [0022]    Tool holder  32  may hold may different types of tools in existence or developed in the future. For many scientific and biotechnical applications, the tools may normally consist of a fluid delivery tool  40 , a fluid suction tool  42  and stirrer mechanism  44 .  
         [0023]    Tool holder  32  also has means to move each tool  40 ,  42 ,  44  in an axial vertical direction with respect to the top  6  of base  4  as is shown by arrow  50 . Tool holders  32  vertical movement of tools  40 ,  42 ,  44  in the direction of arrow  50  may be powered by electricity, air, magnetism or by any future developed power source. The vertical movement is controlled by one or more vertical stepper mechanisms  52  which is in turn controlled by computer  30 . Computer  30  may be a personal computer, microcontroller or any other programmable logic device created in the future. One or more vertical stepper mechanisms  52  may be connected to support arm  18  for support, positioning and alignment with respect to vessels  20  and vessel holder  22 .  
         [0024]    Connections between tools  40 ,  42  and  44  to external sources of suction, fluids to be inserted into tools, and power and control signals are provided by control and supply lines  46 ,  48  and  54 . These can be any commonly known and used supply lines and power and control lines as needed for each particular specific application. These lines  46 ,  48  and  54  will be flexible to permit tool holder  32  to traverse support arm  18  in the direction of arrow  34  and will be supported by usual means such as support wires or springs  68  so as to prevent crimping or entanglement while in operation.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 2 and 3 show a cut away side view of stirrer  44  with power and control lines  54  mounted on tool holder  32  which is in turn mounted on support arm  18 . In the configuration shown, tool holder  32  consists of a pneumatically driven cylinder  56  with extendible arm  58 . Stirrer motor  60  is mounted on the distal end of extendible arm  58 . Stirrer tool shaft  62  is rotatably connected to stirrer motor  60  and is configured to accept different stirrer wires  64  for different applications. Stirrer wires  64  can be made from any stiff material such as steel. A bend  64  is placed in each stirrer wire  64  so that rotation of stirrer wires  64 , when stirrer wire  64  is located in fluid within a vessel  20 , causes fluid within each vessel  20  to be mixed. Stirrer bend  64  is configured at such an angle so that stirrer wire  64  can fit within each vessel  20  without contacting the sides of each vessel. A stop or limit switch  70  may be added to stirrer  44  to sense the vertical position of extendible arm  58 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a side view of fluid delivery  40  and fluid suction  42  tools. These tools are located in alignment with a vessel  20  by computer  30  and fluids are either pumped into or sucked out of vessels  20  through fluid pipes  46  and  48 .  
         [0027]    In operation, at least one vessel  20  is inserted in an aperture of a vessel holder  22  which is in turn supported on a base  4 . The location of vessel  20  on vessel holder  22  is automatically detected by a computer  30  or other programmable logic device. A stirring  44 , and/or a device to insert or withdraw fluids  40 ,  42  from vessel  20  is inserting into vessel  20  and the fluids in vessel  20  are mixed, inserted and/or withdrawn.  
         [0028]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.