Patent Description:
<CIT> D1 discloses a known laboratory apparatus for use in a laboratory sample handling system, comprising a cap waste disposal catcher.

It is the object of the invention to provide a laboratory apparatus having improved properties. It is a further object of the invention to provide a laboratory sample handling system comprising such a laboratory apparatus and a use of such a laboratory apparatus in, in particular such, a laboratory sample handling system and/or of such a laboratory sample handling system.

This object is solved by a laboratory apparatus and a use as defined in the independent claims.

The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus for use in a laboratory sample handling system. The apparatus comprises a cap waste disposal catcher and an electric field generator. The catcher is designed to catch a laboratory cap removed from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample. The generator is designed to generate an electric field to, in particular electrically, attract a residue of the sample released by the cap to the catcher.

In particular after the, in particular automated, removal of the cap from the container or decapping process, respectively, the cap may be dropped and/or fall down, in particular due to gravity, to the catcher. The cap, in particular an inner side of the cap, may be contaminated or polluted or coated, in particular wetted, respectively, from the sample in case the container has been tilted prior to the decapping process. During and/or due to an impact of the cap onto a, in particular rigid or solid, respectively, surface of the catcher, the cap may rotate chaotically and uncontrollably. Thereby, this can lead to the release or detachment, respectively, of the residue of the sample, in particular at least one small, in particular micro, droplet, from the cap.

This, in particular the generator, enables to reduce or to mitigate, respectively, or to prevent or to avoid, respectively, a, in particular uncontrolled, spilling or splashing, respectively, of the residue, in particular from or out of, respectively, the catcher and/or when the cap is caught. This enables to reduce or to prevent a contamination, in particular a cross-contamination, of the container and/or the sample and/or other laboratory sample containers and/or other laboratory samples. Thus, the properties of the laboratory apparatus are improved and it may cause fewer or no problems in a laboratory environment than a laboratory apparatus without such an electric field generator.

In particular the term "pre-analytical" may be used synonymously for the term "handling".

The term "has/having" may be used synonymously for the term "comprises/comprising".

The term "configured" or "adapted" may be used synonymously for the term "designed".

The container may be made of glass or plastic or any other, in particular somewhat, solid material. Additionally or alternatively the container may be designed as a tube. Additionally or alternatively the container may comprise an opening, in particular at a top or upper end. In particular the opening may be defined by an end of a wall and/or a circumference of the container. Additionally or alternatively the container or its opening, respectively, may be open or closed, in particular by the cap.

The cap may be different from the container. Additionally or alternatively the cap may comprise rubber and/or plastic or may completely consist of rubber and/or plastic. Additionally or alternatively the cap may comprise a cylindrical shape, in particular with a circular cross section. Additionally or alternatively the cap may be designed as a lid, in particular a rigid lid, or as a foil, in particular a flexible foil.

The container and/or the cap may comprise/s means of attaching to each other with sufficient security, e.g. threads, locks and/or adhesives may be used.

The term "cap receiver" may be used synonymously for the term "catcher".

The generator may be different from the catcher.

The term "produce" or "develop" may be used synonymously for the term "generate".

The term "capture", "confine" or "retain" may be used synonymously for the term "attract".

The term "droplet" may be used synonymously for the term "residue".

The term "transmitted" or "detached" may be used synonymously for the term "released".

The term "from" may be used synonymously for the term "by".

The term "towards" or "into" may be used synonymously for the term "to".

According to an embodiment of the invention, the laboratory apparatus is for use in a laboratory liquid, in particular aqueous, sample handling system. The catcher is designed to catch the cap removed from a laboratory liquid, in particular aqueous, sample container containing a laboratory liquid, in particular aqueous, sample. The generator is designed to generate the field to attract a liquid, in particular aqueous, residue of the sample released by the cap to the catcher. In particular the sample may be a biological liquid or fluid, respectively, in particular a blood sample, an urine sample, an excrement, an interstitial fluid or a lymph. Additionally or alternatively the term "fluid" may be used synonymously for the term "liquid". Additionally or alternatively the term "hydrous" may be used synonymously for the term "aqueous".

In particular the generator may be designed to be, in particular electrically, powered, in particular to generate the field.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the generator comprises, in particular is, an electrostatic generator. The generator is designed to generate an electrostatic field to electrostatically attract the residue. This enables to electrically polarize the, in particular uncharged or electrically neutral, respectively, and/or aqueous residue especially well and/or, in particular thus, the residue to be attracted especially well. In particular the electrostatic generator may be a friction machine, in particular using the triboelectric effect, or an influence machine, in particular using electrostatic induction. Additionally or alternatively the electrostatic generator may be designed to develop a, in particular electric, charge, in particular to generate the electrostatic field.

In particular the generator may comprise at least one electrode. The electrode may be designed to be, in particular electrically, charged, in particular to generate the field.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a part of the generator, in particular at least one electrode of the generator designed to be, in particular electrically, charged, in particular to generate the field, is arranged at a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively the generator is designed to develop a, in particular electric, charge, in particular to generate the field, at a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively the generator is designed to generate the field at least at a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher. Additionally or alternatively the generator is designed to generate the field to attract the residue to a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher. This enables to reduce or to prevent a spilling of the residue from the catcher especially well. In particular arranged may be spatially arranged. Additionally or alternatively the term "inside" or "internal" may be used synonymously for the term "inner". Additionally or alternatively the surface may be flat. Additionally or alternatively the catcher may be designed to catch the cap by its, in particular inner, surface.

In particular a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher may at least partially or completely consist of a conductive, in particular metallic, material.

At least a part of a, in particular inner, surface of the catcher designed to be exposed to the residue may be hydrophobic.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the laboratory apparatus is for use in a laboratory liquid sample handling system. The catcher comprises a, in particular inner, surface. In particular at least a part of, the surface is designed to be exposed to at least one impacting droplet of a laboratory liquid sample and is, in particular topologically, heterogeneously patterned to originate a heterogeneous flow velocity, in particular distribution, within the impacted droplet on the surface for reducing a rebound energy of the droplet, in particular from the surface. This enables to control or regulate, respectively, a force transmission of the droplet. This enables to reduce or to prevent a spilling of the residue from the catcher especially well. In particular the surface may be flat. Additionally or alternatively the phrase "in contact with" may be used synonymously for the phrase "exposed to". Additionally or alternatively the term "impinging" may be used synonymously for the term "impacting". Additionally or alternatively the term "create" may be used synonymously for the term "originate". Additionally or alternatively the term "along" may be used synonymously for the term "on". Additionally or alternatively the catcher may be designed to catch the cap removed from a laboratory liquid sample container containing a laboratory liquid sample.

These features, in particular alone, may be a, in particular own, invention. In other words:
Laboratory device for use in a, in particular the, laboratory liquid sample handling system, wherein the device comprises:.

In particular the device may be a, in particular the, cap waste disposal catcher. The catcher may comprise the surface and be designed to catch a laboratory cap removed from a laboratory liquid sample container containing a laboratory liquid sample by its surface. In particular the droplet may be released by the cap. Additionally or alternatively the device may be without an electric field generator.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the surface comprises a heterogeneously patterned, in particular chemical, wettability. This enables to originate the heterogeneous flow velocity especially well.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the catcher or the device comprises a low-adhesive, in particular hydrophobic, substrate comprising at least one high-adhesive, in particular hydrophilic, pattern. This enables the heterogeneously patterned wettability of the surface especially well. In particular the substrate may at least partially or completely consist of alumina surface-modified with <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTS) and exposed to UV-light patternedly. Additionally or alternatively hydrophobic may be super-hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic may be super-hydrophilic. Additionally or alternatively hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic may be determined by static and/or dynamic, in particular advancing and/or receding, contact angle water measurement/s. In particular hydrophobic may mean a contact angle of minimal <NUM> ° (degree), in particular minimal <NUM> °. Additionally or alternatively hydrophilic may mean a contact angle of maximal <NUM> °, in particular maximal <NUM> °, in particular maximal <NUM> °.

In particular the surface may be chemically and/or physically treated and/or structured to be heterogeneously patterned. In particular the chemically treated surface may be a macroscopically smooth surface. Additionally or alternatively the physically treated surface may be fine-structured, in particular nano-structured.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the surface is heterogeneously patterned to convert a translation of the impacting droplet at least partially or completely to a deflection, a rolling and/or a rotation, in particular a gyration, of the impacted droplet on the surface. This enables to reduce a rebound energy of the droplet especially well. Additionally or alternatively this, in particular the gyration or an angular momentum, respectively, may be enabled or formed, respectively, by a synergistic effect of asymmetric adhesion or pinning, respectively, forces, in particular accumulated during droplet or liquid film, respectively, retraction, originated from or induced by, respectively, the surface heterogeneity and an excess surface energy of the spreading droplet after impact. In particular the phrase "translational motion" may be used synonymously for the term "translation". Additionally or alternatively the phrase "deflected translational motion" may be used synonymously for the term "deflection". Additionally or alternatively the phrase "gyration motion" may be used synonymously for the term "gyration". Additionally or alternatively the droplet may gyrate clockwise by impacting on a dextrorotary high-adhesive pattern or anticlockwise by impacting on a levorotary high-adhesive pattern.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the catcher or the device comprises an input end and an opposite, in particular output, end. The surface is heterogeneously patterned to convert the translation at least partially or completely to the deflection in a direction from the input end to the opposite end. This enables to reduce or to prevent a spilling of the residue in an undesired direction. In particular the term "entrance" may be used synonymously for the term "input". Additionally or alternatively the term "exit" may be used synonymously for the term "output". Additionally or alternatively the opposite end may be arranged, in particular vertically, below the input end. This may further enable the residue and/or the cap to slide down or downwards, respectively, in particular due to gravity, in particular from the input end to the opposite end. Additionally or alternatively a cap waste disposal compartment, in particular a bucket, may be arranged at the opposite end.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the heterogeneously patterned surface comprises at least one pattern, in particular several patterns each, comprising a rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry, and/or a mirror symmetry and no rotation symmetry, and/or no rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry. The rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry enable the gyration. Additionally or alternatively the mirror symmetry and no rotation symmetry enable the deflection and the rolling. Additionally or alternatively no rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry enable the gyration, the deflection and the rolling. In particular the term "asymmetric" may be used synonymously for the phrase "no rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry". Additionally or alternatively the rotation symmetry may be about a rotation axis orthogonal to a surface plane of the surface. Additionally or alternatively the mirror symmetry may be about a mirror plane orthogonal to the surface plane of the surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pattern comprises at least one arc, in particular an open circular arc, and/or a, in particular open and/or Archimedean, spiral segment, in particular forming a spiral. In particular the pattern comprises two to ten, in particular four, arcs. Additionally or alternatively the open circular arcs forming the spiral may enable the rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry. Additionally or alternatively the term "pinwheel" may be used synonymously for the term "spiral". Additionally or alternatively the at least one circular arc, in particular the circular arcs, may be open and/or concave to the input end and/or closed and/or convex to the opposite end. This may enable the mirror symmetry and no rotation symmetry. Additionally or alternatively the open circular arc may be a half-circle. Additionally or alternatively the open and Archimedean spiral segment may enable no rotation symmetry and no mirror symmetry. Additionally or alternatively the arc may be an arc shape and/or the spiral segment may be a spiral segment shape. Additionally or alternatively the term "design" may be used synonymously for the term "shape".

In particular the heterogeneously patterned surface may comprise at least one pattern, in particular several patterns each, comprising an extension or a size, respectively, in particular a diameter, of minimal <NUM> (millimeter) and/or maximal <NUM>. This may enable the pattern extension to be commensurate, in particular equal, with that of the, in particular impacted and/or maximum spreaded, droplet.

The catcher may comprise a cap catching or input, respectively, area or region, respectively, and be designed to catch the cap in or by, respectively, its catching area. The generator may be designed to generate the field at least in the catching area.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the catcher comprises, in particular is, a cap waste disposal chute. In particular the chute is designed to guide the cap and/or the residue away, in particular to a cap waste disposal compartment, in particular a bucket. In particular the term "funnel" or "duct" may be used synonymously for the term "chute". Additionally or alternatively the term "convey" or "pass" may be used synonymously for the term "guide". Additionally or alternatively an opening of the chute may comprise, in particular be, the catching area.

The invention further relates to a, in particular the, laboratory sample handling system. The system comprises a decapper and a, in particular the, laboratory apparatus according to the invention or as described above, respectively. The decapper is designed to remove a, in particular the, laboratory cap from a, in particular the, laboratory sample container containing a, in particular the, laboratory sample. This enables the container or its opening, respectively, to be opened, in particular which may be required by some types of instruments and/or analysis and/or for the sample. In particular the decapper may be different from the catcher. Additionally or alternatively the decapper may comprise a cap gripper and a container holder. The gripper may be designed to grip the cap. The holder may be designed to hold the container. The gripper and the holder may be moveable, in particular displaceable and/or rotatable, relatively to each other to remove the, in particular gripped, cap from the, in particular held, container. In particular the gripper may be arranged, in particular vertically, above the holder such that, in particular after the removal of the cap, the opening of the container may be, in particular vertically, above the rest of the container. This may enable the sample to stay in the container.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the decapper is designed to drop the removed cap to the catcher. In particular the decapper, in particular its gripper, may be arranged, in particular vertically, above the catcher, in particular such that, in particular after the release of the cap by the decapper, the cap may fall down, in particular due to gravity.

The invention further relates to a use of a, in particular the, laboratory apparatus in a, in particular the, laboratory sample handling system and/or of a, in particular the, laboratory sample handling system according to the invention or as described above, respectively, for catching a, in particular the, laboratory cap removed from a, in particular the, laboratory sample container containing a, in particular the, laboratory sample and for generating an, in particular the, electric field to attract a, in particular the, residue of the sample released by the cap to the catcher.

Additionally or alternatively the invention further relates to a use of a, in particular the, laboratory device in a, in particular the, laboratory liquid sample handling system according to the invention or as described above, respectively, for exposing, in particular at least a part of, the surface heterogeneously patterned to at least one impacting droplet of a, in particular the, laboratory liquid sample to originate a, in particular the, heterogeneous flow velocity within the impacted droplet on the surface for reducing a, in particular the, rebound energy of the droplet.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample handling system <NUM>, <NUM>' and a use of the system <NUM>. The system <NUM> comprises a decapper <NUM> and a laboratory apparatus <NUM> or a laboratory device <NUM>.

The decapper <NUM> is designed to, in particular automatically, remove a laboratory cap <NUM> from a laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample container <NUM>, <NUM>' containing a laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample <NUM>, <NUM>', in particular removes.

The laboratory apparatus <NUM> for a use in the laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample handling system <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises a cap waste disposal catcher <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, and an electric field generator <NUM>.

The decapper <NUM> is designed to, in particular automatically, drop the removed cap <NUM> to the catcher <NUM>, in particular drops.

The catcher <NUM> is designed to catch the laboratory cap <NUM> removed from the laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample container <NUM>, <NUM>' containing the laboratory, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, sample <NUM>, <NUM>', in particular catches.

The generator <NUM> is designed to, in particular automatically, generate an electric field <NUM> to attract a, in particular liquid, in particular aqueous, residue <NUM>, <NUM>' of the sample <NUM>, <NUM>' released by the cap <NUM> to the catcher <NUM>, in particular generates and, thus, attracts.

In detail the generator <NUM> comprises, in particular is, an electrostatic generator <NUM>'. The generator <NUM> is designed to generate an electrostatic field <NUM>' to electrostatically attract the residue <NUM>.

Furthermore, at least a part <NUM> of the generator <NUM>, in particular at least one electrode <NUM>' of the generator <NUM> designed to be charged, in particular being charged, is arranged at a, in particular inner, surface <NUM> of the catcher <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively the generator <NUM> is designed to, in particular automatically, develop a charge <NUM> at the a, in particular inner, surface <NUM> of the catcher <NUM>, in particular develops.

Additionally or alternatively the generator <NUM> is designed to generate the field <NUM> at least at the, in particular inner, surface <NUM> of the catcher <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively the generator <NUM> is designed to generate the field <NUM> to attract the residue <NUM> to the, in particular inner, surface <NUM> of the catcher <NUM>.

In the shown embodiment the charge <NUM> is positive. In alternative embodiments the charge may be negative.

Moreover, the catcher <NUM> is designed to catch the cap <NUM> by its surface <NUM>.

Further, the catcher <NUM> or the device <NUM> for a use in the laboratory liquid sample handling system <NUM>' comprises the, in particular inner, surface <NUM>. The surface <NUM> is designed to be exposed to at least one impacting droplet <NUM>" of the laboratory liquid sample <NUM>' and is heterogeneously patterned to originate a heterogeneous flow velocity within the impacted droplet <NUM>" on the surface <NUM> for reducing a rebound energy of the droplet <NUM>", in particular is exposed and, thus, originates and, thus, reduces.

In detail the surface <NUM> comprises a heterogeneously patterned wettability 7a, 7b.

In detail the catcher <NUM> or the device <NUM> comprises a low-adhesive, in particular hydrophobic, substrate <NUM> comprising at least one high-adhesive, in particular hydrophilic, pattern <NUM>.

Furthermore, surface <NUM> is heterogeneously patterned to convert a translation TM of the impacting droplet <NUM>" at least partially to a deflection DF, a rolling RL and/or a rotation RO, in particular a gyration GY, of the impacted droplet <NUM>" on the surface <NUM>, in particular converts.

In detail the catcher <NUM> or the device <NUM> comprises an input end 2IE and an opposite, in particular output, end 2OE. The surface <NUM> is heterogeneously patterned to convert the translation TM at least partially to the deflection DF in a direction DI from the input end 2IE to the opposite end 2OE.

Moreover, the heterogeneously patterned surface <NUM> comprises at least one pattern <NUM>, in particular several patterns <NUM> each, comprising a rotation symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS, and/or a mirror symmetry MS and no rotation symmetry RS, and/or no rotation symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS.

In detail the pattern <NUM> comprises at least one arc <NUM>, in particular an open circular arc <NUM>', and/or a, in particular open and/or Archimedean, spiral segment <NUM>", in particular forming a spiral <NUM>‴.

In <FIG> the translation TM of the impacting droplet <NUM>" is converted to the gyration GY of the impacted droplet <NUM>" on the low-adhesive substrate <NUM> comprising the at least one high-adhesive pattern <NUM>, <NUM> comprising the open circular arcs <NUM>' forming the spiral <NUM>‴ comprising the rotation symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS. In particular during a spreading stage, a translational kinetic energy is converted to a surface energy of the droplet <NUM>". After reaching maximum spreading and forming a circular film, the liquid or droplet <NUM>", respectively, heterogeneously recedes, in particular on the low-adhesive substrate <NUM> faster than on the high-adhesive pattern <NUM>, <NUM>, thus, rotating, in particular gyrating. In other words: the surface energy is converted to a rotational kinetic energy.

In <FIG> the translation TM of the impacting droplet <NUM>" is converted to the deflection DF and the rolling RL of the impacted droplet <NUM>" on the low-adhesive substrate <NUM> comprising the at least one high-adhesive pattern <NUM>, <NUM> comprising the circular arcs <NUM>' open to the input end 2IE and/or closed to the opposite end 2OE comprising the mirror symmetry MS and no rotation symmetry RS.

In <FIG> the translation TM of the impacting droplet <NUM>" is converted to the deflection DF, the rolling RL and/or the gyration GY of the impacted droplet <NUM>" on the low-adhesive substrate <NUM> comprising the at least one high-adhesive pattern <NUM>, <NUM> comprising the open Archimedean spiral segment <NUM>" comprising no rotation symmetry RS and no mirror symmetry MS.

Further, the catcher <NUM> comprises, in particular is, a cap waste disposal chute <NUM>'. In particular the chute <NUM>' is designed to guide the cap <NUM> and/or the residue <NUM> away, in particular to a cap waste disposal compartment <NUM>, in particular guides.

Claim 1:
Laboratory apparatus (<NUM>) for use in a laboratory sample handling system (<NUM>), wherein the apparatus (<NUM>) comprises:
- a cap waste disposal catcher (<NUM>), wherein the catcher (<NUM>) is designed to catch a laboratory cap (<NUM>) removed from a laboratory sample container (<NUM>) containing a laboratory sample (<NUM>), and
- an electric field generator (<NUM>), wherein the generator (<NUM>) is designed to generate an electric field (<NUM>) to attract a residue (<NUM>) of the sample (<NUM>) released by the cap (<NUM>) to the catcher (<NUM>).