U.S. patent application number 14/376670 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-15 for electronic pipette.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy. Invention is credited to Mikael Lind, Juha Telimaa.
Application Number | 20150013476 14/376670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47757640 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150013476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Telimaa; Juha ; et
al. |
January 15, 2015 |
Electronic Pipette
Abstract
An electronic pipette comprising a piston actuated in a cylinder
by a motor, a control system for carrying out pipette operations,
and a user interface for operating the pipette, wherein the user
interface comprises at least one touch screen for operating the
pipetting operations of the pipette, which touch screen comprises
at least one touching or pressing area for operating the pipetting
operations of the pipette. The invention also relates to a method
for operating an electronic pipette and a use of a touch screen as
a part of a user interface of an electronic pipette for operating
the pipetting operations of the pipette.
Inventors: |
Telimaa; Juha; (Jarvenpaa,
FI) ; Lind; Mikael; (Helsinki, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy |
Vantaa |
|
FI |
|
|
Family ID: |
47757640 |
Appl. No.: |
14/376670 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 8, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI2013/050142 |
371 Date: |
August 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/864.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/024 20130101;
B01L 3/0286 20130101; G01N 1/14 20130101; B01L 2200/087 20130101;
B01L 3/0237 20130101; B01L 3/021 20130101; B01L 2200/143 20130101;
B01L 3/0227 20130101; B01L 2300/027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
73/864.16 |
International
Class: |
B01L 3/02 20060101
B01L003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2012 |
FI |
20125149 |
Claims
1. An electronic pipette, comprising: a piston actuated in a
cylinder by a motor, a control system for carrying out pipette
operations, and a user interface for operating the pipette, wherein
the user interface comprises at least one touch screen for
operating the pipetting operations of the pipette, which touch
screen comprises at least one touching or pressing area for
operating the pipetting operations of the pipette.
2. The electronic pipette according to claim 1, wherein the user
interface comprises 2-4 touch screens.
3. The electronic pipette according to claim 2, wherein the size
and/or location of the touching or pressing areas within the touch
screens for different pipette operations are adjustable.
4. The electronic pipette according to claim 3, wherein the
touching or pressing areas of different pipette operation are
transferrable between different touch screens.
5. The electronic pipette according to claim 3, wherein the
touching or pressing areas for different pipette operations within
the touch screens are identifiable by pre-programmed icons.
6. The electronic pipette according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one touch screen comprises sliding functions or operations
that are operated by moving finger along the surface of the touch
screen.
7. The electronic pipette according to claim 1, wherein some parts
of the at least one touch screen are adjustable to be inactive.
8. The electronic pipette according to claim 1, wherein the user
interface of the pipette comprises a programmable feature for
monitoring the use of pipette operations and for suggesting
modifications for locations of pressing or touching areas.
9. The electronic pipette according to claim 2, wherein at least
some of the touch screens are curved and follow the curved surface
of the pipette.
10. A method for operating an electronic pipette having a user
interface, comprising: operating the pipetting operations of the
pipette by touching or pressing a touch screen, which touch screen
is part of user interface of the pipette.
11. Use of a touch screen as a part of a user interface of an
electronic pipette for operating the pipetting operations of the
pipette.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a submission under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371
of International Application No. PCT/FI2013/050142, filed Feb. 8,
2013, which claims priority to Finnish Application No. 20125149,
filed Feb. 13, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly
incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a pipette intended for use
in the dosage of liquids and comprising an electronically operating
control system with a user interface comprising an electronic
display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Pipettes used for liquid dosage in laboratories comprise a
piston movable in a cylinder for aspiration of liquid into a tip
container connected with the cylinder. The volume is usually
adjustable. There are also electronic pipettes whose piston is
actuated by means of an electric motor and a control system
associated with it. However, there are also electronic pipettes
whose pistons are actuated by manual force and which comprise an
electronic display only. Electronic pipettes have a user interface
for selection of the desired pipette function (e.g., direct or
reverse pipetting), setting of the volume and for giving commands
for performing operations. The user interface has the necessary
switches for input of the necessary settings and performance of the
functions. The user interface is connected to a display, by means
of which the volume and other necessary data can be displayed. The
display can also show menus allowing data input in the control
system.
[0004] Examples of known electronic pipettes are disclosed in
International Publication Nos. WO 2005079989 and WO 2005079987, for
example.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 8,033,188 discloses an electronic pipette,
which comprises menu driven software for controlling the
information displayed on the user interface display, for inputting
information to program the pipettor and for controlling the
operation of the pipettor. In this solution, the user interface
also comprises a circular touch pad for navigating the user
interface display and for operating the pipette.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An electronic controllable pipette in accordance with the
present invention is equipped with one or more touch screens by
which the pipetting operations of the pipette are operated.
[0007] The term "touch screen" within context of this description
means an electronic visual display that displays information and
that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the
display area.
[0008] The touch screens may be used as modifiable function keys or
buttons by which the pipetting operations of pipette are
controlled. The touch screens may be equipped with pre-programmed
icons for different operations of the pipette, whereby the icons
define the active pressing areas of the touch screen for activating
the related functions of the pipette. These icons may be moved to
different places on the touch screen and/or on different touch
screens of the pipette. The size of the icons, or the active area
of the touch screen for receiving a touch to activate selected
operation, may also be adjustable. Some areas of the touch screen
or whole touch screen may also be adjusted to be inactive, so they
may be used as support surfaces when operating the pipette.
[0009] Examples for pipetting operations to be covered with
pre-programmable icons include ejecting the tip of the pipette,
filling of the tip container, dispensing the tip container, and
mixing action of the pipette, for example.
[0010] The touch screens may also be equipped with sliding
functions, whereby, for example, the pipetting motion can be
carried out by moving finger along the surface of the touch screen,
which corresponds to a similar type of motion in manual pipettes.
In this sliding function, the piston of the pipette follows the
movement of the finger in real time. Alternatively, this sliding
function can be used to activate pipette's mixing function, for
example.
[0011] The touch screens of the electronic pipette in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention may also be curved, so
that they may follow the curved surfaces of the pipette.
[0012] With an electronic pipette, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to change
locations of areas registering pressing or touching for operating
the pipette to be suitable for different users and for different
hands, thereby minimizing the stress caused to the hand when
operating the pipette. The present invention also makes it possible
to easily switch the locations of the pressing or touching areas,
for example, for different fingers, during the use of the pipette,
which makes it possible to minimize further the stresses caused by
pipetting.
[0013] The electronic pipette, in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention, may also be equipped with a programmable
feature for monitoring the physical stresses caused by the use of
the pipette, and based on the monitoring, for suggesting
modifications or changes to the placements of pressing or touching
areas in order to lower the physical stresses. This programmable
feature is advantageously part of the control software of the
electronic pipette.
[0014] The present invention also allows a method for operating an
electronic pipette, wherein the pipetting operations of the pipette
are carried out by touching or pressing a touch screen, which touch
screen is part of the user interface of the pipette.
[0015] Further, the present invention also allows a use of a touch
screen as a part of a user interface of an electronic pipette for
operating pipetting operations of the pipette.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Exemplifying embodiments of the invention and its advantages
are explained in greater detail below in the sense of an example
and with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an electronic pipette in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention,
[0018] FIG. 2 shows the main touch screen areas of the pipette of
FIG. 1,
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a functional diagram of an electronic pipette
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
[0020] FIGS. 4A-4F show an example of operating an electronic
pipette in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention,
[0021] FIGS. 5A-5E show an example of changing positions of
operations in setting mode of an electronic pipette in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, and
[0022] FIG. 6 shows examples of programmable icons for an
electronic pipette in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an example of an electronic pipette 1 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When the
pipette 1 is used, a tip container (not shown) is attached to the
lower end 2 on the pipette. Inside the pipette 1 is located a
piston movable in a cylinder in order to aspire liquid into the tip
container. The piston of the pipette 1 is actuated by electric
motor located within the pipette. The pipette 1 is operated with a
control system that have a user interface comprising, in this
example, three touch screens 3, 4 and 5.
[0024] During the use of the pipette 1, the pipette is gripped with
hand from handle portion 6, which handle portion also comprises at
its upper end a finger support 7. The touch screens 4 can be
operated with the index finger of the gripping hand and the touch
screens 3 and 5 can be operated with the thumb of the gripping
hand. Alternatively, the touch screens 3, 4 and 5 can be operated
with the fingers of the other hand.
[0025] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the touch screen 3 on the
pipette 1 is divided to several areas 8-12 each of which can be set
to either purely present information, register pressing or touching
and carry out certain action, or combination of these two. Further,
each of the areas 8-12, as well as the touch screens 4 and 5 or
parts or these touch screens, can also be set to be inactive, for
example, to be used as support surfaces.
[0026] Touch screens 3, 4 and 5 or parts of them can also be set to
register sliding functions, whereby, for example, the pipetting
motion can be carried out by moving finger along the surface of the
touch screen. In this sliding function, the piston of the pipette
follows the movement of the finger in real time. Alternatively,
this sliding function can be used to activate pipette's mixing
function, for example.
[0027] Touch screens 3, 4 and 5 also comprise pre-programmed icons
for different pipetting operations, such as ejecting the tip of the
pipette, filling of the tip container, dispensing the tip
container, and mixing action of the pipette, for example. These
icons advantageously identify the operation of the pressing or
touching area as well as the active area related to this
action.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows an example of a functional diagram of an
electronic pipette, like the pipette 1 of FIG. 1. The operations of
the pipette are controlled with a central processing unit (CPU),
which is equipped with memory for storing pre-programmed operations
and functions. The user gives commands to the CPU through touch
screens A-D of which in this example there are four. The CPU is
supplied with operating power by a battery and a voltage regulator,
which can be recharged with a changer through charging connections
when the pipette is placed in its stand. The CPU of the pipette can
also be connected to external databases through data interface. The
CPU receives information from and controls the pipette's piston
reference position detector. In accordance with instructions
received from the user through the touch screens A-D, the CPU
controls the motor of the pipette through a motor driver. The
dashed line on FIG. 3 presents boundary surface between the pipette
itself and the stand of the pipette in which the pipette is placed
when not in use.
[0029] FIGS. 4A-4F shows an example of operating an electronic
pipette in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the touch screens of the pipette are used to
change the pipetting volume.
[0030] In this operation, the user first touches the area of touch
screen A showing the present pipetting volume, as shown in FIG. 4A.
This action activates the touch screen A to change its view to a
numeric touchpad, where the present pipetting volume (235 .mu.l) is
shown near the upper edge of the touch screen A over the numeric
touchpad, and below the numeric touchpad is an area for a new
pipetting volume. By touching the numbers of the numeric touchpad,
the user inputs the new pipetting volume, as is shown in FIG. 4B.
After correct new pipetting volume has been typed, the user accepts
the new pipetting volume by touching the area showing the newly
input pipetting volume, as shown in FIG. 4C. After the new
pipetting volume is accepted, the touch screen A returns to the
previous view where the pipetting volume has now changed to the new
pipetting volume (73 .mu.l) as shown in FIG. 4D. By touching or
pressing the area of the touch pad A identified with word "FILL",
as shown in FIG. 4D, the user fills the tip of the pipette with set
pipetting volume of 73 .mu.l. Since the tip of the pipette now
contains liquid, the area of the touch screen A, previously
identified with word "FILL," is changed to be identified with word
"Dispense" by the control system of the pipette automatically and
the operation activated by touching or pressing that area is
changed correspondingly. Now, when the area with word "Dispense" is
touched or pressed by the user, as is shown in FIG. 4E, the liquid
volume of 73 .mu.l, which previously was filled in the tip of the
pipette, is dispensed from the tip of the pipette. In order to
remove the used tip of the pipette, the user touches or presses a
separate touch screen B, as shown in FIG. 4F, which touch screen B
is set to activate the tip ejecting operation. The user is informed
of this operation with the word "EJECT" located in the touch screen
B.
[0031] FIGS. 5A-5E shows an example of changing positions of
operations in setting mode of an electronic pipette in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] When pipette is in setting mode, the selected "EJECT" tab in
touch screen B can be moved by activating it with a touch, as is
shown in FIG. 5A. After activating the selected tab, it can then be
moved out of the area of the touch screen B by moving finger along
the touch screen B to the edge of the touch screen, as is shown in
FIG. 5B. After the selected "EJECT" tab is moved out of the touch
screen B, a touch screen where the tab is to be moved, in this case
touch screen A, is activated by touching or pressing the touch
screen, as is shown in FIG. 5C. Then the selected "EJECT" tab can
be dragged to a selected location within touch screen A, as is
shown in FIG. 5D. By releasing the tab, a new position for it
within the touch screen B is set, as shown in FIG. 5E.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows examples with pre-programmable icons for
operations of an electronic pipette in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from the
figure, these icons advantageously also contain clarifying words
relating to the operations activated by touching the icon in
question in the touch screen of the pipette.
[0034] While the present invention has been illustrated by
description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The
present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited
to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and
described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details
without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants'
invention.
* * * * *