Patent DE-102010030489-A1 (DE)
Title: System for treatment such as analysis and/or synthesis of liquids, comprises liquid unit having functional unit, liquid storage of first type, liquid storage of second type, first liquid line, and second liquid line, and measuring device
Inventor: FIKUS AXEL
IPC: B01J19/00
Filed: 2010-06-24
Abstract: The system (1) for the treatment such as analysis and/or synthesis of liquids, comprises a liquid unit (500) with a functional unit (530), a liquid storage of first type (130, 230), a liquid storage of second type (330, 430), a first liquid line, which connects the liquid storage of first type and liquid unit for feeding the liquids from the liquid storage of first type into the liquid unit, and a second liquid line, which connects the liquid storage of second type and liquid unit for dissipating the liquids from the liquid unit into the liquid storage of second type. The system (1) for the treatment such as analysis and/or synthesis of liquids, comprises a liquid unit (500) with a functional unit (530), a liquid storage of first type (130, 230), a liquid storage of second type (330, 430), a first liquid line, which connects the liquid storage of first type and liquid unit for feeding the liquids from the liquid storage of first type into the liquid unit, and a second liquid line, which connects the liquid storage of second type and liquid unit for dissipating the liquids from the liquid unit into the liquid storage of second type. A passage of the liquid by the first liquid line is temporarily blocked in the direction from the liquid unit to the liquid storage of the first type by using a first valve. A passage of the liquid by the second liquid line is temporarily blocked in the direction from the liquid storage of the second type to the liquid unit by using a second valve. The first valve and/or the second valve are a check valve. The system has a first flow path for transporting the liquid from the liquid storage of first type into the liquid unit. The first check valve is arranged in the first flow path, so that its passage direction points out towards the liquid unit in the direction of the first flow path. The system has a second flow path for transporting the liquid from the liquid unit into the liquid storage of second type. The second check valve is arranged in the second flow path, so that its passage direction points out towards the liquid storage of second type in the direction of the second flow path. A flow of liquid is pneumatically producible by the first liquid line, the second liquid line and/or the liquid unit. The first and second check valves are a pneumatic actuated valve. The system includes individual exchangeable modules, where a first exchangeable module has the liquid unit, a liquid supply to the liquid unit and a liquid discharge from the liquid unit and a second exchangeable module has the liquid storage of first type and/or second type and an interface for connecting the liquid storage of first type and/or the second type to the liquid supply and/or the liquid discharge. The second module includes the first and second check valves, and an additional interface for connecting respective liquid storage to a pneumatic line of a pneumatic system. The pneumatic system is designed, so that a pressure prevailing in each pneumatic line is individually controllable to create a predetermined pressure at all liquid storage of first- and second type. The additional interface has a closure element such as a diaphragm, membrane or a filter, which liquid-tightly but gas-permeably locks the liquid storage against the penetration or escape of microorganisms or the leakage of liquid from the liquid storage. All liquid storage of first and second types, the liquid unit, all liquid lines from the liquid storage to the liquid unit and all liquid discharges from the liquid unit are composed in a cartridge, which is enclosed against the environment, liquid-tightly and gas-tightly surrounds housing and has a further interface for connecting to the pneumatic system. The liquid is contained within the liquid storage of first type and/or the liquid storage of second type in a flexible gas- and liquid-impermeable container, which is connected to the first liquid line. The system has the flow path for transporting the liquid from the several first storages of first types into the several second storages of second types through the liquid unit. The system further comprises a measuring device for determining a mass flow or a volume flow of the liquid through the flow path, and a control unit that is designed to control the pressure created at the liquid storage of the first type and second type based on the measured value provided by the measuring device. The liquid unit has a first liquid line section connected with the first liquid storage of first type, and a second liquid line section connected with a second liquid storage of first type. The first liquid line section and the second liquid line section combine to a third liquid line section at a first point. The third liquid line section branches into a fourth liquid line section and a fifth liquid line section at a second point of the third liquid line section distanced from the first point. The fourth liquid line section flows into the functional unit. A sixth liquid line section guides away from the functional unit and is connected with the first liquid storage of second type. The fifth liquid line section is connected with the second liquid storage of second type. The liquid unit is designed as micro-fluidic chip, which comprises functional unit, a micro-channel section guiding to the functional unit as liquid supply and a micro-channel section guiding away from the functional unit as liquid discharge. The liquid unit only includes passive elements for controlling the liquid flow. The first module and/or the second module comprise a regulatable thermoelectric element or a regulatable heating element. The system contains a signal detecting device and/or a signal producing device that are designed to detect an optical or magnetic properties, an analyte present in the functional unit of the liquid unit or a reaction product of the analyte.