Patent Application
20220055027
The disclosure relates to a method for adjusting a cell concentration and/or a particle concentration in a dispensing device. In addition, the disclosure relates to a dispensing apparatus with a dispensing device.
A plurality of apparatuses are known from the prior art, by means of which a liquid, in particular a liquid drop containing one cell, can be discharged. Devices are known in the art in which the discharge of the liquid is accomplished by means of free jet pressure methods. A distinction is made between such apparatuses in which the discharge of the liquid is accomplished by a drop-on-demand mode of operation or a continuous-jet mode of operation.
In the drop-on-demand mode of operation, individual liquid drops are deliberately generated from a liquid dispensing device of the apparatus at a selected time. Thus, individual liquid drops are generated on command using a separate activation signal. In contrast to the drop-on-demand mode of operation, in the continuous-jet mode of operation, a thin liquid jet is dispensed from the liquid dispensing device by pressure, and after discharge from the dispensing apparatus, the liquid jet breaks up into individual liquid drops that can be diverted electrostatically. In the continuous-jet mode of operation, a separate activation signal is thus not furnished for each individual liquid drop, and the individual liquid drops cannot be deliberately generated at a selected time.
In apparatuses that are known from the prior art, the problem often arises that the cell concentration in the liquid is too high, such that liquid drops are discharged that have more than one cell, which are unusable for further processing. The problem may also arise that the cell concentration in the liquid is too low. In this case, a plurality of liquid drops are discharged in succession that do not have any cells, such that the method of discharging the liquid drops is not efficient.
The object of the disclosure consists of providing an improved method.
The object is accomplished via a method for setting a cell concentration and/or a particle concentration in a dispensing device that has a fluid chamber via which a liquid sample can be discharged, wherein the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration is ascertained, and the cell concentration and/or particle concentration that has been ascertained is compared with a target value, and a force exerted on one cell and/or one particle is adjusted based on the result of the comparison.
A further object of the disclosure consists of providing an improved dispensing apparatus.
This object is accomplished by a dispensing apparatus that carries out a method according to the disclosure.
The object is also accomplished by a dispensing apparatus with a dispensing device, a sound generator, an actuating means for actuating the dispensing device, a control apparatus and an evaluation device for ascertaining a cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the dispensing device, wherein the control apparatus for adjusting a cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the dispensing device adjusts a force exerted on a cell and/or a particle as a function of a result of comparing the ascertained cell concentration and/or particle concentration with a target value.
The solution according to the disclosure has the advantage that the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration can be adjusted actively. This is a simple way to prevent a liquid sample that is not usable for further analysis from being discharged or analysed. As a result, an efficient method can be realised.
The dispensing apparatus is used to discharge at least one liquid sample. The liquid sample discharged via the dispensing apparatus can be a liquid drop, in particular a free-floating liquid drop. Alternatively, the discharged liquid sample can be a liquid jet which, after being discharged from a dispensing device of the dispensing apparatus, optionally breaks up into individual liquid drops. The dispensing apparatus can be a droplet generator. The liquid drop can have a volume in a range between 1 pl (picolitres) and 50 nl (nanolitres).
The liquid sample may be a liquid and may have at least one cell and/or at least one particle. The discharged liquid sample, in particular the liquid drop or liquid jet, may have no cells and/or no particles. Alternatively, the discharged liquid sample, in particular the liquid drop or liquid jet, may have a single cell and/or a single particle. The discharged liquid sample, in particular the liquid drops or liquid jet, can alternatively have more than a single cell and/or more than a single particle.
The liquid of the liquid sample can have a composition that is conducive to cell growth. The particle can be a glass or polymer bead and have substantially the same volume as the cell. The cell is a biological cell, in particular the cell is the smallest unit of life that is autonomously capable of reproduction and self-preservation.
The force can be part of a force field, in particular a multidimensional force field. By means of the force field, it is ensured that a force is respectively applied to each of the cells and/or particles of the liquid sample. The force can be adjusted in such a way that the cell and/or the particle is arranged in one direction and accelerated or decelerated or held substantially stationary, in particular stationary, in a discharge direction. If the cell slows down, it moves slower than it would move, for example, due to the flow force exerted on it due to weight force and/or a dispensing operation.
The force can be caused by sound. In this case, the liquid sample, in particular the cells and/or particles, is subjected to an acoustic field. In this case, a stationary acoustic field or a resonance can arise. Alternatively or additionally, the force can be caused by electromagnetism and/or electrostatics and/or hydrodynamics and/or optofluidics. Alternatively, the force can also be caused by a combination of the above-mentioned possibilities.
As a result of the acoustic field, the cells and/or particles can be arranged and/or moved and/or held in the dispensing device. This is possible because when an acoustic field, in particular a stationary acoustic field, is formed with respect to the cell and/or the particle, a force is exerted on the cell and/or the particle. This force is called acoustic radiation force or sound radiation force.
As subsequently explained in detail, the force or force field exerted on the cell and/or particle can prevent cells and/or particles from being discharged together with the liquid from the dispensing device, in particular a section of the dispensing device. After the liquid sample has been discharged, new liquid and optionally cells and/or particles flow into the section of the dispensing device. As a result the cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the section of the dispensing device can straightforwardly be adjusted.
The acoustic field can be generated by a sound generator. The sound generator is designed in such a way that it can generate an acoustic field with a certain frequency. The force can preferably be adjusted by adjusting an orientation and/or a frequency and/or an amplitude and/or a phase and/or a modulation of the sound. In addition, the sound generator can be designed in such a way that it can generate acoustic fields that have different frequencies and/or amplitudes and/or phases and/or modulations and/or orientations, and are in particular offset in time. The sound generator can be formed by a piezo converter.
The target value can be a value that is or can be predetermined. In such a case, the target value can be entered by the user or determined automatically. The target value can be stored in an electrical memory. The target value can have a value in the range between 100 cells per millilitre and 108 cells per millilitre.
The result of the comparison may be that the cell concentration and/or particle concentration is less than, or equal to, or greater than the target value.
The method can be carried out automatically. This signifies that the method, without user involvement, automatically adjusts the cell concentration and/or particle concentration.
The cell and/or particle concentration can be determined by determining the number of cells and/or particles per volume, or the number of cells or a volume ratio between the cell volume and the sample volume. Alternatively or additionally, a value can be determined from which the concentration can be inferred. Such a value may arise, for example, from the analysis of the generated image. Parameters such as contrast, brightness, morphology, colour, pattern or the like may provide a basis for this.
In a particular embodiment, a triggering of the dispensing apparatus for discharging a portion of the liquid sample can be changed in order to adjust the cell and/or particle concentration. In particular, a specific time and/or the frequency of the triggering and/or the frequency of the triggering and/or the manner of the triggering and/or the amplitude of the triggering and/or a volume of the discharged liquid sample can be changed. These measures also make it easy to adjust the force and/or force field exerted on the cell and/or particle.
In a particular embodiment, the force can be adjusted such that the cell and/or particle is held substantially stationary, and in particular stationary, and the liquid sample is discharged by means of the dispensing device if the ascertained cell concentration and/or particle concentration is less than the target value. Likewise, the liquid sample can be discharged and the force field can be adjusted such that the cells and/or the particles are held substantially stationary, in particular stationary. In particular, the dispensing device can be subjected to the acoustic field and the liquid sample can be discharged via the dispensing device if the ascertained cell concentration and/or particle concentration is less than the target value.
In this case, at least one dispensing operation can be carried out in which the liquid sample is discharged that has liquid and no cells and/or particles. In particular, multiple dispensing operations can be carried out, in each of which respectively a liquid sample is discharged that contains the liquid and contains no or few cells and/or particles. In this way, a high volume of liquid is straightforwardly discharged very quickly.
As described above, discharging a liquid sample from the dispensing device effects a following flow of liquid sample within the dispensing device. In particular, as explained in greater detail below, the liquid sample present in the dispensing device, in particular in a fluid chamber of the dispensing device, follows into a discharge channel of the dispensing device. As a result, the cell concentration and/or particle concentration can be quickly and straightforwardly increased because it is likely that the liquid sample fed in has cells and/or particles. The cell concentration and/or particle concentration can be increased because cells and/or particles are moved, arranged, concentrated or kept in place in at least one node or nodal region of the acoustic field or of the minimum of the time-averaged pressure, and thus are not discharged during the dispensing operation.
In addition, it is possible that no force is exerted on the cell and/or particle, or force is adjusted in such a way that movement of the cell and/or particle in the discharge direction is possible if the ascertained cell concentration and/or particle concentration is equal to the target value. Likewise, it is possible that no force field is exerted on the cells and/or particles, or that a force field is adjusted such as to allow the cells and/or particles to move in the discharge direction.
In the context of the disclosure, “no force” means that no external force resulting from the above-described possibilities such as acoustophoresis is exerted on the cell and/or the particle. This external force acts in addition to the forces that are always acting on the cell and/or particle, such as for example weight.
In an embodiment in which no force is exerted on the cell and/or particle, the dispensing device is not subjected to an acoustic field. In this case, the liquid sample that has at least one, in particular exactly one, cell and/or at least one, in particular exactly one, particle can be discharged without the dispensing device being subjected to the acoustic field.
In the event that the cell concentration and/or particle concentration is greater than the target value, liquid sample can be discharged. As a result, a large quantity of liquid can straightforwardly be discharged in a short time, thus reducing the cell and/or particle concentration.
A large quantity of liquid can preferably be discharged by discharging the liquid sample for a predetermined period of time. Thus, the liquid sample can be discharged uninterruptedly during the predetermined time, or multiple dispensing operations can be carried out during the predetermined time.
Alternatively or additionally, a predetermined number of dispensing operations can be carried out. It is possible in this case for no force or force field to be exerted on the cells and/or particles. In particular, it is possible that the cells and/or particles are not subjected to an acoustic field.
In an alternative mode of operation, a force that has been adjusted in such a way as to keep the cell and/or the particle substantially stationary, in particular stationary, and no force, can be alternatingly exerted on the cell and/or the particle. Likewise, the cells and/or particles can be alternatingly subjected to a force field and to no force field. This can be accomplished by switching the acoustic field on or off for a predetermined time.
In particular, the sound generator can be switched off before the liquid sample is discharged, and the dispensing device can be subjected to the acoustic field again after the liquid sample has been discharged. To discharge the next liquid sample, the sound generator can once again be switched off.
Switching the sound generator on and off before discharging the liquid sample can be carried out multiple times in succession within a period of time that is or can be predetermined. As a result of the acoustic field being temporarily switched off, the cells and/or particles can be transported further during this period. Thus, it is possible that only a desired number or concentration of cells and/or particles are transported.
The above-described switching on and off of the sound generator can be carried out multiple times in succession for a number of dispensing operations that is or can be predetermined. During the respective dispensing operations, one liquid drop can be discharged.
Moreover, an advantage of this mode of operation consists in the fact that the number of discharged liquid samples that have more than one cell and/or particle can be reduced. In particular, this is advantageous because for the analysis of the discharged liquid samples, liquid samples that have a single sample and/or a single cell are particularly advantageous.
After the predetermined time period and/or after the number of dispensing operations, the dispensing device can once again be subjected to the acoustic field if the cell concentration and/or particle concentration is still greater than the target value.
As a result, in the above-described mode of operation, the result is straightforwardly accomplished that the discharged liquid sample has or can have, in addition to the liquid, at least one cell, and in particular exactly one cell, and/or at least one particle, and in particular exactly one particle.
Alternatively or additionally, a force can be exerted on the cell and/or the particle that is adjusted in such a way that it opposes a movement of the cell and/or the particle, but the cell and/or the particle is able to move. Likewise, it is possible that a force field can be exerted on the cells and/or particles that opposes a movement of the cells and/or particles.
In this case, a force is exerted on the cell and/or the particle, and this force slows down a movement of the cell and/or the particle compared to an operation in which the cell and/or the particle moves due to weight and/or due to the force exerted on the cell during a dispensing operation, such as for example a flow force. Preferably, the sound generator can be operated alternatingly between a state in which the force exerted on the cell and/or particle is adjusted such that the cell and/or particle is substantially stationary, in particular stationary, and a different state in which the force exerted on the cell and/or particle, as described above, slows the movement of the cell and/or particle.
In this mode of operation as well, the result is accomplished that the cells and/or particles can be transported further. Therefore, in this mode of operation as well, the discharged liquid sample may have, in addition to the liquid, at least one cell, in particular exactly one cell and/or at least one particle, in particular exactly one particle.
The alternating operation of the sound generator can be carried out for a predetermined period of time and/or for a predetermined number of dispensing operations. During the respective dispensing operations, one liquid drop can be discharged.
After the predetermined time period and/or after the number of dispensing operations, the dispensing device can once again be subjected to the acoustic field if the cell concentration and/or particle concentration is still greater than the target value.
In a particular mode of operation, a two- or three-dimensional force field, in particular an acoustic field, can be generated. This force field, in particular acoustic field, can arrange the at least one cell and/or the at least one particle in a desired arrangement (area, points, lines, pattern or Chladni sound figure); in particular, such a force field, in particular acoustic field, can focus or concentrate or align the cells and/or particles in the centre of the discharge channel.
If the cell and/or particle concentration is then equal to the target value, the force field, in particular the acoustic field, can in addition also be selected, and in particular can be adjusted, in such a way that the cells are transported further in the deploying direction.
If the cell and/or particle concentration does not match the target value, the force field, in particular the acoustic field, can be selected, and in particular can be adjusted, in particular in addition to the central focusing, so that the cells are transported further only slowly, and in particular not at all, in the deploying direction.
If the cell and/or particle concentration is less than the target value, the force field, in particular the acoustic field, can be selected, and in particular can be adjusted, in particular in addition to the central focusing, so that the cells are transported further only slowly, and in particular not at all, in the deploying direction; and by repeatedly dispensing drops, additional cells and/or particles flow into the discharge channel and thus the concentration is increased.
If the cell and/or particle concentration is greater than the target value, the force field, in particular the acoustic field, can be selected, and in particular can be adjusted, in particular in addition to the central focusing, so that the cells are transported further only slowly, and in particular not at all, in the deploying direction; and as a result of drops of a certain volume range being dispensed within a certain dosing frequency range, a suitable quantity of cells and/or particles are transported further.
A method and/or a dispensing apparatus is particularly advantageous, in this case, by which it is possible to carry out one or the other of the above-mentioned modes of operation that depend on the result of the comparison. The control apparatus in this case can control the sound generator in such a way that the dispensing apparatus is or is not subjected to the acoustic field. Moreover, the control apparatus can control the sound generator in such a way that the type of acoustic field can be selected, and in particular can be adjusted. Alternatively, the control apparatus can modify the dispensing operation. Moreover, the control apparatus can control the actuating means in such a way that the liquid sample is discharged from the dispensing device.
In a particular embodiment, the dispensing device may have a discharge channel through which the liquid sample may be discharged. At least a portion of the discharge channel can be observed in order to obtain the cell concentration and/or particle concentration. In particular, in order to ascertain the cell concentration and/or particle concentration, the entire discharge channel or a portion of the discharge channel containing a discharge opening can be observed.
Ascertaining the cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the at least one portion of the discharge channel affords the advantage that it is possible to predict whether the liquid sample, in particular the liquid drop, to be discharged in the next step, or the liquid samples, in particular the liquid drops, to be discharged in the next steps, contain a certain number of cells and/or particles. In particular, it is possible to predict whether the liquid drops to be discharged will contain no cells or a single cell or multiple cells and/or no particles or a single particle or multiple particles. This knowledge makes it possible for dispensing operations to be carried out very efficiently.
In this case, the liquid sample contained in the at least one portion of the discharge channel can be discharged immediately during a next dispensing operation. Alternatively, the liquid sample contained in the at least one portion of the discharge channel can be discharged only after a predetermined number of dispensing operations.
The discharge of the liquid sample can be carried out by a drop-on-demand mode of operation. In this case, the dispensing apparatus, as already described above, discharges the liquid sample discretely and not continuously. To implement the drop-on-demand mode of operation, the dispensing apparatus can have an actuating means, for example, which can be a piezoelectrically operated actuator. Moreover, the dispensing device can have a section, in particular a mechanical membrane, that can be actuated by the actuating means. When the actuating means is actuated, a volume of the discharge channel is reduced and the liquid sample, in particular a liquid drop, is ejected from the dispensing device. As a result, in the drop-on-demand mode of operation, the cells and/or particles that are present in the discharge channel can be moved stepwise along a deploying direction of the liquid sample.
In order to ascertain the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration, the number of cells and/or particles can be ascertained in at least a portion of the discharge channel, in particular in the entire discharge channel, preferably in a nozzle-shaped end region of the discharge channel. As a result, the cell concentration and/or particle concentration in at least one portion of the discharge channel or the entire discharge channel can straightforwardly be obtained.
Alternatively, the particle and/or cell concentration or the particle and/or cell count can be determined after ejecting a portion of the liquid sample. It is possible for example to determine the number of drops and the particles and/or cells they contain. In particular, this can occur with the help of at least one image. This image can for example be taken of the liquid sample in flight or after the liquid sample has landed on a surface. An image can also be created of a portion of a container into which the at least one drop has been placed.
To determine the number of cells and/or particles, alternatively or additionally, an image of the at least one portion of the discharge channel can be generated. In particular, an image of the entire discharge channel can be generated. In this case, the dispensing apparatus can have an optical detection device that has an imaging device. The imaging device serves to generate at least one image of the at least one portion of the discharge channel or of the entire discharge channel. Based on the generated image, the evaluation device can ascertain the number of cells and/or particles present in the at least one portion of the discharge channel, in particular in the entire discharge channel.
Alternatively or additionally, the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration can be determined by determining how many liquid droplets are dispensed, each respectively having no cells and/or no particles or having a single cell and/or a single particle or having multiple cells and/or multiple particles.
The control apparatus can regulate the cell concentration and/or particle concentration to the target value or to a value in a target range.
In one particular embodiment, to adjust the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration in the dispensing device, in particular in the discharge channel, the at least one portion of the discharge channel, in particular the entire discharge channel, can be subjected to an acoustic field, in particular a two- or three-dimensional stationary acoustic field. This acoustic field can be configured in such a way that at least one cell and/or at least one particle is held substantially stationary, in particular stationary, in at least one direction. The cell and/or the particle are present in the discharge channel, or portion of the discharge channel, subjected to the acoustic field. In particular, the acoustic field may be configured in such a way that the cell and/or particle is held or slowed in a direction opposite to a deploying direction of the liquid. Following a dispensing operation, cells arranged in another portion of the discharge channel can reach the portion of the dispense channel.
As a result, the cells and/or particles are straightforwardly prevented from sedimenting, or sedimentation is slowed, within the dispensing device, in particular within the discharge channel. Moreover, the acoustic field is configured in such a way as to prevent the cell and/or particle from being discharged together with the liquid when the liquid sample is discharged via the dispensing device. As a result, an acoustophoretic focusing or concentration of the cells and/or particles is achieved by the sound generator and the emitted acoustic field in the at least one portion of the discharge channel, in particular in the entire discharge channel.
Since, after a dispensing operation, liquid and possibly cells and/or particles flow out of a fluid chamber of the dispensing device into the discharge channel, the cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the at least one portion of the discharge channel can be straightforwardly increased. The fluid chamber can be used to accommodate the liquid sample. In particular, the user of the dispensing device can put the liquid sample into the fluid chamber. The fluid chamber in this case is fluidically connected with the discharge channel. There is a fluidic connection between two components if the liquid can flow from one component into the other component.
The frequency, orientation, amplitude and/or phase of the acoustic field emitted by the sound generator may be selected such that a wall separation of the dispensing device along the deploying direction of the liquid is equal to half the wavelength of the sound wave in the liquid or an integer multiple of half the wavelength. In the case of two- or three-dimensional fields, in particular more complex geometries and/or more complex excitations (for example multiple frequencies), non-trivial superpositions may arise. Stationary waves or acoustic fields can also be generated in this way. Consequently, the result is achieved that stationary waves are respectively generated by superimposing a propagating sound wave and a sound wave reflected on the walls of the dispensing device. The stationary waves also extend parallel to the deploying direction of the liquid. This has the effect that the cells and/or particles are aligned by the acoustic field in a direction transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the deploying direction of the liquid sample.
The fluid chamber and/or the at least one portion of the discharge channel can be subjected to multiple acoustic fields, in particular acoustic fields that are time-offset with respect to each other. The acoustic fields can differ in their frequency, amplitude, phase, modulation and/or orientation. In particular, the fluid chamber can be subjected to acoustic fields of different frequencies, in particular multiple acoustic fields that are time-offset with respect to each other, if the cell concentration and/or the particle concentration is less than or greater than or equal to or similar to the target value.
By applying one or more acoustic fields of different frequency, amplitude, phase, modulation and/or orientation to the discharge channel, the result is achieved that the cells and/or particles present within the at least one portion of the discharge channel are moved to new positions. The repositioning of the cells and/or particles within the at least one portion of the discharge channel reduces the risk that a liquid will be discharged that contains more than one cell and/or more than one particle.
By applying one or more acoustic fields to the fluid chamber that have different frequency, amplitude, phase, modulation and/or orientation, the result is accomplished that the liquid present in the fluid chamber is mixed. As a result, a substantially homogeneous distribution, or if needed a more inhomogeneous distribution, is realised, of the cells and/or particles within the liquid present in the fluid chamber. This is advantageous because as a result, the probability is increased that after a liquid discharge, a liquid sample having at least one cell and/or at least one particle will flow from the fluid chamber into the discharge channel.
Another advantage of subjecting the fluid chamber and/or the discharge channel to acoustic fields of different frequency, amplitude, phase, modulation and/or orientation consists of the fact that clusters, namely multiple interconnected cells and/or particles, can be broken up.
In a particular embodiment, the discharge channel may have at least one section that has a flow cross-section that is variable along a deploying direction of the liquid. For example, the discharge channel may have a nozzle at its end that is further from the fluid chamber. The variable flow cross-section ensures that the flow paths of the individual cells and/or particles differ from each other. Thus, a cell flowing along a central axis of the discharge channel may have a shorter flow path than, for example, a cell that flows near an discharge channel wall and is deflected by the discharge channel wall. This is a simple way to prevent a liquid sample, in particular the liquid drop, from being discharged with more than one cell and/or particle.
The dispensing apparatus can have a deflection and/or suction device. The diversion device is used to deflect the discharged liquid sample, in particular the discharged liquid drop. The suction device is used to suction off the dispensed liquid sample, in particular the discharged liquid drop. The diversion operation and/or the suctioning operation may depend on the cell concentration and/or particle concentration obtained. The discharged liquid sample can then be diverted and/or suctioned out into a reject container. Alternatively, the discharged liquid sample can be fed into a container, in particular a container of the microtitre plate.
The diversion and/or suctioning can take place before the discharged liquid sample enters the container, in particular the container of the microtitre plate. The discharged liquid sample can then be diverted and/or suctioned out if the liquid sample contains no cells and/or no particles. Alternatively, the discharged liquid sample can be diverted and/or suctioned out if the number of cells and/or particles contained in the liquid sample is greater than a predetermined value, in particular greater than 1.
The dispensing apparatus can have a displacement device. The dispensing device and/or the container and/or the reject container can be displaced by means of the displacement device. The displacement operation can depend on the ascertained cell concentration and/or particle concentration and/or on a dosing operation. Thus, the liquid sample can be fed into the reject container if no cells, and/or no predetermined number of cells and/or particles, are present in the discharged liquid sample. By contrast, the discharged liquid sample can be fed into the container if a single cell and/or a single particle is arranged in the liquid sample. As described above, depending on the ascertained cell concentration and/or cell concentration in the at least one portion of the discharge channel, in particular the entire discharge channel, it can be predicted whether the discharged liquid sample has no cells, a single cell or multiple cells and/or has no particles, a single particle or multiple particles.
The dispensing device, in turn, can be detachably connected to the remaining parts of the dispensing apparatus, in particular mechanically. As a result, the dispensing device can straightforwardly be switched out.
A computer program is particularly advantageous that comprises commands that, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the disclosure. A data carrier on which the computer program according to the disclosure is stored is also advantageous. In addition, a data carrier signal that transmits a computer program according to the disclosure is advantageous.
The subject matter of the disclosure is shown schematically in the figures, wherein elements that are the same or have the same effect are mostly provided with the same reference symbols. In the figures:
The optical detection device 10 has an imaging device 11 for generating an image of the at least one portion of the discharge channel 3 and additional elements that are not shown in the drawings. To generate an image, the at least one part of the discharge channel 3 is illuminated by means of an illumination light 17 and a detection light 16 emanating from the at least one part of the discharge channel 3 is detected by the optical detection device 10. The imaging device 11 generates an image of the at least one portion of the discharge channel 3 based on the detected detection light 16.
The optical detection device 10 is electrically connected to an evaluation device 12. The evaluation device 12 can determine the number of cells 4 and/or particles contained in the at least one part of the discharge channel 3 based on the generated image. Thus, the evaluation device 12 can determine the cell concentration and/or particle concentration in the at least one portion of the discharge channel 3.
The evaluation device 12 is electrically connected to a control device 9. The control apparatus 9 and evaluation device 12 can be part of a computer. Based on the evaluation result of the evaluation device 12, the control apparatus 9 controls the dispensing operation of the dispensing device 1. The control apparatus 9 is electrically connected to a displacement device 13. The displacement device 13 can move the dispensing device 1 and/or the container 14 and/or a reject container 15 in such a way that the liquid 2 can be dispensed into the desired storage location.
In addition, the control apparatus 9 can control a deflection and/or suction device 18 of the dispensing apparatus 6. In this case, the control apparatus 9 can control the diversion device and/or suction device 18 in such a way that the discharged liquid sample 20 is diverted and/or suctioned away if the liquid sample 20 has no cells 4 and/or no particles, or if the liquid sample 20 has multiple cells 3 and/or multiple particles. Based on the cell concentration and/or particle concentration determined by the evaluation device 12, the control apparatus 9 can predict whether the liquid drop or liquid drops to be discharged during the next dispensing operation will have no cells and/or particles, or will have one or more cells and/or particles. The control apparatus 9 can then control the displacement device 13 and/or the diversion device and/or suction device 18 as a function of the prediction.
The dispensing apparatus 6 has an actuating means 8 that is pressed against a section of the dispensing device 1 to actuate the dispensing device 1. In this case, the liquid sample 20, in particular a liquid drop, is discharged if the actuating means 8 presses against the section of the dispensing device 1. The actuating means 8 and the optical detection device 10 are opposite each other with respect to the dispensing device 1. The dispensing device 1 consists at least partially of a transparent material, such that at least a portion of the discharge channel 3 can be detected by means of the optical detection device 10.
The dispensing apparatus 1 also has a sound generator 7 that emits an acoustic field. In this case, the sound generator 7 is positioned in such a way that at least a portion of the discharge channel 3, in particular the entire discharge channel 3, can be subjected to the acoustic field. In particular, the sound generator 7 can be in mechanical contact with the actuating means 8 and thus can transmit the sound particularly efficiently.
The discharge channel 3 is completely filled with the liquid sample 20. In this case, only that portion of the discharge channel 3 that has a discharge opening of the discharge channel 3, shown in dashed lines in
The cells 4 arranged in the discharge channel 3 move towards the discharge opening of the discharge channel 3 due to weight, even if no liquid 2 is discharged from the dispensing device 1.
Since the upper end of the dispensing device 1 and the lower end of the dispensing device 1 have substantially the same design, by superimposing respectively one or more sound waves emitted from the sound generator 7 and one or more sound waves reflected on one or more discharge channel walls 19, one or, in the multidimensional case, multiple stationary waves can be generated, and the result can thus be achieved that the cells 4 are held substantially stationary, in particular stationary. The stationary waves run parallel to the deploying direction R and run between the upper end of the dispensing device 1 that faces towards the fluid chamber 5 and the lower end of the dispensing device 1 that faces away from the fluid chamber 5.
In the following, a first mode of operation of the dispensing apparatus 6 according to the disclosure is described with reference to
The imaging device 11 generates an image of the discharge channel 3, in particular the portion of the discharge channel 3 shown in dashed lines in
The control apparatus 9 checks whether the cell concentration is less than a predetermined target value. In the case shown in
In the next step, the sound generator 7 is activated and the discharge channel 3, in particular the portion of the discharge channel 3 shown in dashed lines, is subjected to an acoustic field generated by the sound generator 7. As described above, the acoustic field is configured in such a way that a force is exerted on the cells 4 to prevent the cells 4 from moving towards the nozzle-shaped end of the discharge channel 3 that faces away from the fluid chamber 5.
In addition, one dispensing operation is carried out, or multiple dispensing operations are carried out. In particular, multiple liquid drops are discharged, as shown in
Below, a second mode of operation of the dispensing apparatus 6 according to the disclosure is described with reference to
In the next step, the sound generator 7 is switched off and the actuating means 8 is actuated such that a dispensing operation is carried out. After the liquid sample 20 has been discharged, the sound generator 7 is switched back on, and the observed portion of the discharge channel 3 is subjected to the acoustic field. Switching the sound generator on and off before the liquid sample 20 is discharged is repeated multiple times in a predetermined period of time and/or for a predetermined number of dispensing operations.
Alternatively, the sound generator 7 in the switched-on state is set in such a way that the force exerted on the cells causes the cells to be held substantially stationary, in particular stationary. Subsequently, the sound generator 7 is not switched off, but is shifted to a second state in which the force acting on the cells is less than the flow force acting on the cells during the dispensing operation. In addition, a dispensing operation is carried out if the sound generator 7 is in the second state. The force acting on the cells in the second state of the sound generator may be greater than the weight force acting on the cells, but less than the flow force that acts on the cells during the dispensing operation. Consequently, the movement of the cells towards the discharge opening is slowed.
Regardless of which of the above-mentioned methods is used to operate the sound generator 7, a plurality of discharged liquid samples 20 have only a single cell 4, as is apparent in
Since, in the state shown in
In this case, the cell concentration in the observed region of the discharge channel 3, which is not shown in
In contrast, as is apparent from
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In each of the above-described modes of operation, an image is generated of the discharge channel 3, in particular of the portion of the discharge channel 3, and the number of cells 4 and/or particles arranged in the discharge channel 3 is determined. Depending on the number of cells 4 present in the discharge channel 3, the observed portion of the discharge channel 3 is or is not subjected to the acoustic field.
1 Dispensing device
2 Liquid
3 Discharge channel
4 Cell
5 Fluid chamber
6 Dispensing apparatus
7 Sound generator
8 Actuating means
9 Control apparatus
10 Detection device
11 Imaging device
12 Evaluation apparatus
13 Displacement device
14 Container
15 Reject container
16 Detection light
17 Illumination light
18 Deflection and/or suction device
19 Discharge channel wall
20 Liquid sample
R Deploying direction
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101086 | Dec 2018 | LU | national |
The present application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/084880 filed Dec. 12, 2019, which claims the benefit of and priority to Luxembourgian Patent Application No. 101086 filed Dec. 27, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/084880 | 12/12/2019 | WO | 00 |
