EP0339557A2 - Device for providing sterilized pipette tips - Google Patents

Abstract

As a reloading unit for a sterilisable container (10, 100), a holder for pipette tips (36, 120) is indicated, which includes a perforated plate (38, 118) into which pipette tips (36, 120) are to be inserted and which consists of a sterilisable material and is located in a folding box (60, 134). The perforated plate (38, 118) has stepped (48) orifices (42, 130) for the pipette tips (36, 120). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a refill unit with pipette tips for an autoclavable container.

According to the prior art, autoclavable containers are known with a perforated plate in which a number of pipette tips are held in such a way that they can be removed by simply putting them on the pipette without touching them by hand. To sterilize the pipette tips, the container and its contents are treated in an autoclave. The containers come onto the market filled with pipette tips. If the supply of pipette tips has been used up, it is possible to refill the perforated plate of the container with pipette tips, which are sold loose in bags. However, this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, so that in practice the Container is often thrown away as soon as it is empty, although multiple autoclaving of the container would be easily possible. Since pipette tips are widely used as disposable items in a wide variety of laboratories, the one-time use of the container can be seen as a waste of material on a large scale. The disposal effort and the environmental impact of the plastic containers are high.

In containers of the type mentioned which are known in practice, the perforated plate is connected in one piece to the container walls. In an alternative design, which can be found in EP-A-01 74 706, the perforated plate is a part which can be detached from the container, but which should only be removed when the container is no longer used for pipette tips and is used for another purpose .

The object of the invention is to provide a refill unit of the type mentioned which is suitable for pipette tips in various standard sizes, the use of which results in a material saving and better material utilization, a simplification of disposal with less pollution of the environment and generally a reduction in costs.

This object is achieved by a refill unit which consists of a folding box which receives and preferably carries a perforated plate made of autoclavable material to be equipped with pipette tips, the openings serving to receive the pipette tips being stepped in the perforated plate. According to the invention, perforated plates equipped with pipette tips are provided as refill units for an autoclavable container, which can also contain a perforated plate equipped with pipette tips as initial equipment. If it is empty, it is exchanged for a new perforated plate supplied with it, so that the container remains in operation and, in the worst case, the perforated plate migrates into the waste. Mind you, it should also be possible to fill the perforated plate with loose pipette tips again, if the necessary time and working capacity is available. Thanks to the gradation of the openings in the perforated plate, it can be equipped with pipette tips in several standard sizes from different manufacturers. The material and structure of the perforated plate are designed for multiple autoclaving. The folding box made of cardboard is thrown away, but forms waste that can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner or sent for paper recycling.

The holder according to the invention with a folding box and a perforated plate carried by it forms a stable, stable unit. If it is not necessary to work in a sterile manner, pipette tips can also be removed directly from the holder by attaching them to the pipette.

In a preferred embodiment, the perforated plate has a flat plate body of essentially rectangular plan. An edge web protrudes downward from the plate body and overlaps two opposite side walls of the essentially cuboid half-box on the outside. The perforated plate is thus securely fixed over the opening of the folding box.

To reinforce the perforated plate, the edge web is preferably designed all around. Since the edge web should lie along two side walls in the interior of the folding box, lateral slots are provided in the upper corner region of the side walls of the folding box over which the edge web extends, into which slots the edge web fits.

The perforated plate can be stiffened with ribs, which preferably extend in a check pattern parallel to the sides of the perforated plate. The side walls of the folding box overlapped by the edge web are provided with slots extending from the upper edge, into which the ribs fit. The engagement of the edge webs or ribs in the slots contributes to the correct positioning of the perforated plate on the folding box. The slots preferably have a bevel which facilitates the placement of the perforated plate on the folding box.

The bottom of the folding box can be open. This saves material.

The folding box can have a hinged lid which is preferably divided by a perforation and spans the perforated plate at a distance. Thanks to the perforation, the hinged lid can easily be torn off so that the pipette tips are fully accessible.

The hinged lid preferably has a tab that can be inserted between the perforated plate and a side wall of the folding box protrudes downward over the edge web of the perforated plate and is stepped at its side edge to form a stop which limits the insertion depth of the flap and meets the bottom of the side slots in the folding box. The flap is held securely in the closed state by the tab. The limit stop for the tongue insertion depth is particularly user-friendly.

An open finger recess can be provided in the side wall of the folding box lying in front of the flap. The tab is therefore easily accessible for opening.

The perforated plate equipped with pipette tips is not necessarily stable itself. A folding box of the type described forms a sufficiently stable support for the perforated plate, from which it can be removed if necessary and converted into an autoclavable container which also supports it perfectly. According to a variant of the invention, however, it is also provided that the perforated plate is firmly connected to a base frame which carries the plate body and which consists of an autoclavable material. A stand for pipette tips that is suitable as a refill unit for an autoclavable container is thus created, which is supplied with pipette tips and is delivered in a folding box and also forms a stable unit outside the folding box and the autoclavable container.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment in terms of production technology, the base frame and the perforated plate are made in one piece Manufactured plastic, in particular by injection molding from polypropylene or polycarbonate.

The perforated plate should protrude laterally beyond the base frame over at least part of its circumference. This arrangement makes it possible to place the perforated plate on a web on the container walls when the stand is inserted into an autoclavable container. The stand thus has a secure hold in the container, and its feet can lie at a distance from the container base, which is preferred for perfect sterilization.

One or more latching elements, in particular in the form of knobs, grooves or the like, can be formed on the side wall of the perforated plate and cooperate with complementary latching elements on the walls of the autoclavable container. In an even simpler embodiment, corresponding locking elements are formed solely on the walls of the autoclavable container. In any case, it is achieved that the stand assumes a latching position in the autoclavable container. The stand thus holds firmly in the container when a pipette tip is removed by being placed on the pipette, even if it jams somewhat in the associated opening of the perforated plate.

One or more upstanding tabs can be formed in the edge region of the perforated plate. These tabs serve as a convenient handle when a perforated plate is to be removed for replacement from the autoclavable container.

The base frame can consist of four feet at the corners of the perforated plate. This ensures a very stable structure with low material requirements.

The perforated plate can have conically tapering openings. The taper of the openings makes it easier to shape the perforated plate during its manufacture.

At least some of the openings can be delimited from below on the conical projections formed on the perforated plate. This design is characterized by low manufacturing costs and good material utilization.

The feet of the stand can start around the openings located at the corners of the perforated plate and have a cavity suitable for receiving a pipette tip. This gives you a shape that is favorable for plastic injection molding technology with maximum display of the feet and full utilization of the perforated grid in the perforated plate.

• Fig. 1 die Seitenansicht eines mit einem Schiebedeckel versehenen autoklavierbaren Behälters, in dem eine Lochplatte mit Pipettenspitzen enthalten ist;
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt durch den Behälter nach II-II von Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite der Lochplatte in Richtung III von Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 die Seitenansicht einer geschlossenen Faltschachtel, die eine mit Pipettenspitzen bestückte Lochplatte auf­nimmt und trägt;
• Fig. 5 eine entsprechende Seitenansicht der geöffneten Falt­schachtel mit herausgenommener Lochplatte, wobei letzte­re nach V - V von Fig. 3 geschnitten ist;
• Fig. 6 eine Vorderansicht der Faltschachtel mit Blick in Richtung VI von Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 eine Abwicklung der Faltschachtel;
• Fig. 8 eine Draufsicht von oben in einen autoklavierbaren Behälter mit Klappdeckel, der einen Ständer für Pipet­tenspitzen enthält;
• Fig. 9 einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Behälter nach IX - IX von Fig. 8;
• Fig. 10 einen weiteren Vertikalschnitt nach X - X von Fig. 8;
• Fig. 11 eine perspektivische Ansicht, die den Ständer mit Pi­pettenspitzen in einer zur Versand und Aufbewahrung dienenden Faltschachtel zeigt;
• Fig. 12 eine Abwicklung dieser Faltschachtel.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1 is a side view of an autoclavable container provided with a sliding lid, in which a perforated plate with Pipette tips are included;
• Figure 2 shows a section through the container according to II-II of Fig. 1.
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the underside of the perforated plate in the direction III of Fig. 2.
• 4 shows the side view of a closed folding box which receives and carries a perforated plate equipped with pipette tips;
• 5 shows a corresponding side view of the opened folding box with the perforated plate removed, the latter being cut according to V - V from FIG. 3;
• Fig. 6 is a front view of the folding box with a view in the direction VI of Fig. 5;
• 7 shows a development of the folding box;
• 8 shows a top view of an autoclavable container with a hinged lid, which contains a stand for pipette tips;
• 9 shows a vertical section through the container according to IX-IX from FIG. 8;
• 10 shows a further vertical section according to X-X of FIG. 8;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the pipette tip stand in a shipping and storage carton;
• Fig. 12 is a processing of this folding box.

1 and 2, an autoclavable container 100 is shown with a basic housing 102 rectangular in plan and open at the top provides that can be closed with a transparent sliding cover 104. The basic housing 102 has the shape of a trough tapering towards the bottom, in which all four side walls 106, 108 are inclined slightly at an angle. The longitudinal walls 106 have at the same height a step 110 extending in the longitudinal direction, on which the sliding cover 104 is guided on the outside. The sliding cover 104 has a U-profile, the U-back 112 covers the opening of the basic housing 102 in the closed position, and the U-leg 114 extend parallel to the longitudinal walls 106 of the basic housing 102 to below the steps 110. The U-legs 114 have a longitudinally continuous, inwardly projecting nose 116 which engages under the step 110 at the lower edge. The basic housing 112 and sliding cover 104 are matched to one another in such a way that the sliding cover 104 engages in the closed position.

On the inside of the longitudinal walls 106, step 110 forms the support for a perforated plate 118 made of autoclavable material, which carries pipette tips 120. Ribs 122 are integrally formed on the inside of the transverse walls 108 of the autoclavable container 100 for additional support of the perforated plate. Two central, upwardly open cutouts 124 in the longitudinal walls 106, which extend almost to the level of step 110, enable the perforated plate 118 accommodated in the autoclavable container 100 to be gripped comfortably.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the perforated plate 118 has a flat plate body 126 which is rectangular in plan with a circumferential edge web 128 which projects slightly upwards and considerably downwards from the plate body 126. The perforated plate 118 fits into the opening of the autoclavable container with play and stands with the edge web 128 on the step 110 and the ribs 122. The plate body 126 is provided with a larger number of openings 130 arranged in a square grid, in which the pipette tips 120 to be accessible for removal from above. The openings 130 are stepped. Pipette tips in two standard sizes are supported partly on the top of the perforated plate 118 and partly on the step 48 in the interior of the openings 130. Conversely, the perforated plate 118 is suitable as a holder for a third standard size of pipette tips which are supported above the step 48 on the bottom of the perforated plate 118 (cf. FIG. 5).

4 to 7 show a cardboard folding box 134, which receives and carries a perforated plate 118 provided as a refill unit for the autoclavable container and equipped with pipette tips 120. The folding box 134 has a rectangular plan, high longitudinal side walls 136, lower transverse side walls 138 and a hinged lid 140 which is attached to one of the longitudinal side walls and can be opened upwards and opens the above opening of the folding box 134. The hinged lid 140 can be in lock the closed position with a tab 142 attached to it. The bottom of the folding box 134 is open.

The perforated plate 118 sits on the transverse side walls 138 of the folding box 134, the transverse sections 144 of its edge web 128 engaging over the transverse side walls 138 on the outside. The latter are provided in the corner area with lateral slots 146 extending from their upper edge, which widen upwards. The slots 146 form a passage for the edge web 128, which runs in front of the transverse side walls 138 and behind the longitudinal side walls 136 of the folding box 134.

Ribs 132, for which slots 148 are provided in the transverse side walls 138, can be formed on the transverse sections of the edge web 128. The slots have a V-shape, which facilitates the placement of the perforated plate 118 on the transverse side walls 138 and the perforated plate 118 is centered. In the attached state, the edge web 128 and the ribs 132 are supported on the bottom of the slots 146, 148.

The hinged lid 140 is divided by a perforation 150. In the closed state, it extends at a distance over the perforated plate 118 which corresponds to the height of the pipette tip heads projecting above the plate body 126. The tab 142 attached to the hinged lid 140 essentially occupies the full length of the folding box 134. It becomes between the perforated plate 118 and a longitudinal side wall 136 of the folding chess tel 134 plugged in. In the middle of this longitudinal side wall 136 there is a finger recess 152 open at the top, through which the tab 142 is easily accessible. In the inserted state, the tab 142 projects downward over the edge web 128 of the perforated plate 118. The side edge of the tab 142 is stepped, thereby forming a stop 154 which limits the insertion depth of the tab 142 and which comes to the bottom of the side slots 146. At the front corners, the tab 142 has two chamfers 156 that facilitate insertion.

8 to 10 show an autoclavable container 10 with a substantially rectangular base housing 12 which is open at the top and a hinged lid 14 articulated thereon. The base housing 12 has a bottom 16, on which four feet 18 are formed in the corner region, and side walls 20 which are inclined slightly outwards, so that the housing opening 22 of the base housing 12 widens upwards. In the vicinity of its upper edge, the side walls 20 are stepped, jumping outwards and forming a step 24 running around them at the same height. Slightly above this, the side walls 20 taper to form an outer step 26, on which the hinged lid 14 rests in the closed state. The latter is a downwardly opening, substantially rectangular shell with a bottom 28 and low side walls 30 which fit over the upper edge of the basic housing side walls 20 which serves as a guide. As can best be seen in FIG. 10, which also has the hinged cover 14 closed in one shows its and semi-open state, the hinged cover 14 is molded on one side at the level of the outer step 26 via a thin material web 32 to the base housing 12, which is particularly useful in plastic injection molding. The material web 32 is flexible and it forms an uncomplicated articulated connection between the basic housing 12 and the hinged cover 14. Another type of articulated connection, for example with hinges molded onto the basic housing and hinged cover, is also possible. The container 10 is designed for repeated autoclaving and for this purpose is made in particular of polypropylene or polycarbonate.

A stand 34 for pipette tips 36 fits into the container 10. The stand 34 consists of a perforated plate 38, which has an essentially rectangular plan, and four feet 40 integrally molded thereon, which protrude downward in the corner region of the perforated plate 38. The perforated plate 38 is provided with a larger number of openings 42 arranged in a square grid, in which the pipette tips 36 are seated and accessible for removal from above. All of the openings 42, with the exception of those in the corners, are surrounded by conical projections 44, which are integrally formed tapering downward onto the underside of the perforated plate 38. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the openings 42 are conical and are stepped with an extension 46 lying at the top. This shape makes it possible to equip the perforated plate 38 with pipette tips 36 in several standard sizes from different manufacturers.

The feet 40 are molded onto the perforated plate 38 around the openings 42 located in the corners of the perforated plate 38. The feet 40 have a conical shape which tapers downwards and a length which considerably exceeds that of the conical extensions 44. The ends of the feet 40 are rounded to a dome 50. The feet 40 have a cavity 52 on the inside which is suitable for receiving a pipette tip 36. If necessary, the wall of the feet 40 can be provided with openings, not shown, which ensure that the pipette tips 54 contained in the feet 40 experience the full effect of the autoclaving treatment.

When inserting the stand 34 into the autoclavable container 10, the perforated plate 38 comes to rest on the inner step 34 of the container side walls 20. The perforated plate 38 engages in this position, for which purpose a number of knobs 56 are formed on the side walls 20 distributed over the circumference. To release from the locking position, two upwardly projecting tabs 58 are integrally formed in the edge region of the perforated plate 38 in the middle of its long sides. The stand 34 does not stand on its feet 40 inside the container 10; the latter rather come to lie at some distance from the bottom 16 of the container 10 with their tip 50.

The stand 34 equipped with pipette tips 36, 54 forms a refill unit for the autoclavable container 10 when its first filling of pipette tips 36, 54 has been used up. The drawn Heard empty stand 34 is then removed from the container 10 at the tabs 58, and a new, fully equipped stand 36 is inserted. 11 and 12 is provided in a folding box 60 which is made of cardboard and has a hinged lid 62 which can be locked with a tab 64 and opened upwards. The blank 66 of the folding box 60 is shown in FIG. 12. The folding box 60 forms a cost-effective, environmentally friendly shipping container for the stand 34. Thanks to the top-opening hinged lid 62, it is possible to remove pipette seats directly from the folding box 60 by plugging them onto a pipette, which is practical for working under non-sterile conditions is. After the hinged lid 62 is closed again, the pipette tips are accommodated in the folding box 60, which is closed on all sides, and is protected against dust.

Other packaging for the stand provided as a refill unit with pipette tips is also conceivable, e.g. B. foil bags, tear packs and containers made of plastic. The material of the packaging container is not autoclavable, while the stand 34 itself consists of a material suitable for repeated autoclaving treatment, e.g. B. polypropylene or polycarbonate.

It should also be noted that the autoclavable container described is also suitable for other laboratory applications, e.g. B. for freezing, for heating by microwave radiation, for centrifuging, etc.

The invention is not limited to the two exemplary embodiments described, between which features are largely interchangeable.

List of reference numbers

• 10 autoclavable containers
• 12 basic housing
• 14 hinged lid
• 16 bottom
• 18 feet
• 20 side wall
• 22 housing opening
• 24 inner level
• 26 outer stage
• 28 bottom
• 30 side wall
• 32 bridge
• 34 stands
• 36 pipette tip
• 38 perforated plate
• 40 feet
• 42 opening
• 44 cone shoulder
• 46 extension
• 48 level
• 50 crest
• 52 cavity
• 54 pipette tip
• 56 pimples
• 58 tab
• 60 folding boxes
• 62 hinged lid
• 64 tab
• 66 cutting
• 100 autoclavable containers
• 102 basic housing
• 104 sliding cover
• 106 long side wall
• 108 transverse side wall
• 110 level
• 112 U-back
• 114 U-leg
• 116 nose
• 118 perforated plate
• 120 pipette tip
• 122 rib
• 124 detail
• 126 plate body
• 128 edge web
• 130 opening
• 132 rib
• 134 folding box
• 136 long side wall
• 138 transverse side wall
• 140 hinged lid
• 142 tab
• 144 transverse section
• 146 side slit
• 148 slot
• 150 perforation
• 152 finger recess
• 154 stop
• 156 chamfer

Claims (18)

1. refill unit with pipette tips for an autoclavable container, characterized in that it consists of a folding box (60, 134) which receives and preferably carries a perforated plate (38, 118) made of autoclavable material to be fitted with pipette tips (36, 120), the openings (42, 130) serving to receive the pipette tips (36, 120) in the perforated plate (38, 118) being stepped (48). 2. Refill unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the perforated plate (118) has a flat plate body (126) of substantially rectangular plan with a downwardly projecting edge web (128), the two opposite side walls (138) of the substantially cuboid folding box (134) overlaps on the outside. 3. Refill unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge web (128) rotates, and that in the upper corner region of the overlapping side walls (138) there are lateral slots (146) into which the edge web (128) fits. 4. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the perforated plate (118) is stiffened with ribs (122) which preferably extend in a square pattern parallel to the sides of the perforated plate (118), and that the side walls (138) of the folding box (134) overlapping the edge web (128) are provided with slots (148) extending from the upper edge, into which the ribs (122) fit. 5. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the edges of the slots (146, 148) have a slope which facilitates the placement of the perforated plate (118). 6. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bottom of the folding box (134) is open. 7. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the folding box (134) has a preferably by a perforation (150) divided, the perforated plate (118) spanning the hinged lid (140). 8. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the hinged lid (140) one between the hole plate (118) and a side wall (136) of the folding box (134) has an insertable tab (142) which projects downward over the edge web (128) of the perforated plate (118) and on its side edge to form an insertion depth of the tab ( 142) limiting stop (154) is stepped, which hits the bottom of the side slots (146). 9. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an open finger recess (152) is provided in the side wall (136) in front of the tab (142). 10. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the perforated plate (38) is fixedly connected to a base frame carrying the plate body, which consists of an autoclavable material. 11. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base and the perforated plate (38) are made in one piece from plastic, in particular polypropylene or polycarbonate. 12. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the perforated plate (38) protrudes laterally beyond at least part of its circumference over the base frame. 13. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that on the side wall of the perforated plate (38) or a plurality of latching elements, in particular in the form of knobs, grooves or the like. 14. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one upstanding tab (58) is integrally formed in the edge region of the perforated plate (38). 15. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the base frame consists of four feet (40) located at the corners of the perforated plate (38). 16. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the perforated plate (38) has conically tapering openings (42). 17. Refill unit according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least a part of the openings (42) from below on the perforated plate molded cone lugs (44) is limited. 18th Refill unit according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the feet (40) attach around the openings (42) located at the corners of the perforated plate (38) and have a cavity (52) suitable for receiving a pipette tip (54).

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