BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump for conveying a fluid within a cartridge and to an analyzer for testing a biological sample.

The present invention deals with analyzing and testing a sample, in particular from a human or animal, preferably for analytics and diagnostics, e.g. with regard to the presence of diseases and/or pathogens and/or for determining blood counts, antibodies, hormones, steroids or the like.

The present invention is particularly useful within the field of bioanalytics. However, a food sample, an environmental sample or another sample may also be tested in accordance with the features of the present invention discussed herein, in particular for environmental analytics or food safety and/or for detecting other substances.

Preferably, by means of the present invention, at least one analyte (target analyte) of a sample can be determined, identified or detected. In particular, the sample can be tested for qualitatively or quantitatively determining at least one analyte, e.g. in order to detect or identify a disease and/or pathogen.

Within the meaning of the present invention, analytes are in particular nucleic-acid sequences, in particular DNA sequences and/or RNA sequences, and/or proteins, in particular antigens and/or antibodies. Preferably, by means of the present invention, nucleic-acid sequences and/or proteins can be determined, identified or detected as analytes of a sample. Mostly preferred, the present invention deals with systems, devices and other apparatuses for carrying out a nucleic-acid assay for detecting a nucleic-acid sequence and/or a protein essay for detecting or identifying a protein.

The present invention preferably deals with what are known as point-of-care systems, e.g. within particular mobile systems, devices or other apparatuses, and deals with methods for carrying out tests on a sample at the sampling side and/or independently or away from a central laboratory or the like. Preferably, point-of-care systems can be operated autonomously or independently of a mains network for supplying electrical power.

Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,669 discloses such point-of-care systems for testing a biological sample. The system comprises a single-use cartridge and an analyzer. Once the sample has been received, the cartridge is inserted into the analyzer in order to carry out the test. The cartridge comprises a microfluidic system and a sensor apparatus comprising electrodes to test the sample.

Furthermore, International Patent Application Publication WO 2006/125765 A1 discloses a point-of-care system for integrated or automated DNA or protein analysis, comprising a single-use cartridge and an analyzer for fully automatically processing and evaluating molecular-diagnostic analysis using the cartridge.

Usually, pumps, in particular peristaltic pumps, are used to convey the sample or other fluids in such point-of-care systems.

For example, European Patent EP 1 829 568 B1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,836 B2 disclose a method for operating a peristaltic pump having a roller head which supports a plurality of rollers, the roller head being brought into contact with a flexible fluid channel of a cartridge and being rotated such that the plurality of rollers contact the fluid channel and cause fluids to flow through the fluid channel.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0356205 A1 discloses a peristaltic pump comprising a central section with a hub, a plurality of arms coupled to the central section and a plurality of rollers, one roller coupled to each of the plurality of arms. The rolling surface of the rollers is arranged to engage a polymer sheet or a flexible tubing.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2017/0058881 A1 discloses a micro peristaltic pump comprising a rotor with rollers that are pressed against a circular arc shaped flow path in a microfluidic chip, wherein the rotor is rotary-driven by a driving motor and the circular arc shaped flow path is caused to make a peristaltic motion by rotation of the rotor to send a liquid in the flow path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide an improved peristaltic pump and an improved analyzer comprising such a pump, preferably wherein an improved, in particular reliable, simple, gentle, hygienic and/or energy-efficient, conveyance of fluid and/or a robust and easy construction of the pump is made possible or facilitated.

The above problem is solved by a peristaltic pump and an analyzer as described herein. Advantageous developments of the present invention are subject of the dependent claims.

For the conveyance of a fluid within a cartridge for testing an in particular biological sample, it is proposed that a peristaltic pump comprising a preferably electric motor and a pump head is used, preferably wherein the pump is in contact or can be brought into contact with a pump apparatus of the cartridge for conveying a sample and/or another fluid within the cartridge.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the pump head of the pump is constructed as a screwless assembly, preferably wherein all parts of the pump head are connected to each other by means of a snap/clip-on connection. This provides a simple, robust and/or cost-effective construction and/or facilitates a fast, cost-effective and easy assembly of the pump head.

The terms “snap”, “clip” and/or “snap/clip-on connection” is preferably understood to refer to an assembly/connection method wherein at least two parts are assembled/connected to one another—in particular in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner—using the elasticity/flexibility of the parts to be assembled/connected and/or without using (additional) fastening elements, such as nails, screws, bolts or the like.

In particular, at least two parts are snap-fitted/clipped together by pushing the interlocking components of these parts together and/or into one another, preferably wherein at least one interlocking component is (temporarily) deformed.

The pump, in particular the pump head, preferably comprises a plurality of preferably cone-shaped rollers for contacting the cartridge, in particular for acting on the pump apparatus of the cartridge, preferably wherein the rollers are clipped in the pump head. Mostly preferred, the rollers are clipped in brackets, which in turn are clipped in a main body of the pump head.

According to another aspect of the present invention, which can also be implemented independently, the pump head comprises a plurality of pivotable brackets for the rollers, wherein each of the rollers is mounted to one of the brackets and can be rotated about a roller axis and wherein each of the brackets is mounted to the main body of the pump head and can pivot about a pivot axis relative to the main body.

Due to the pivotable brackets, it is possible to pivot the rollers, preferably independently from one another and/or about pivot axes that are transerval, in particular perpendicular, to the corresponding roller axes.

In this way, it is possible to adapt the pump head, i.e. its frontside (the side facing the cartridge), to the surface of the cartridge, in particular such that unevennesses or asperities can be compensated for and/or smoothed out.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can also be realized independently, the pivot axes of the brackets run through the associated/corresponding rollers. Mostly preferred, the roller axes and the pivot axes intersect with each other. In this way, the force transmission from the pump to the cartridge is improved. In particular, no torque is caused and an unwanted tilting/lifting of the rollers relative to the surface of the cartridge is prevented.

Mostly preferred, the pivot axes run through the broader half of the cone-shaped rollers and/or at a level between ¼ and ⅓ of the height of the rollers, measured from its broader bottom. This allows a constant pressure (distribution) along the roller axes as the cartridge might bend (locally) when brought into contact with the pump head.

According to another aspect of the present invention, which can also be realized independently, the pump comprises a coupling apparatus for (mechanically) connecting the pump head to the motor, wherein the coupling apparatus is constructed as a bayonet coupling. This allows an easy and fast assembly/disassembly of the pump.

Preferably, the coupling apparatus comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the coupling parts are connected to one another via a bayonet joint and/or in a detachable manner, in particular such that the assembly/disassembly of the coupling apparatus is screwless and/or can be done without using tools.

Mostly preferred, the coupling apparatus comprises a coupling/inner spring, wherein the coupling parts are pressed apart from one another by means of the coupling/inner spring, in particular such that the bayonet joint cannot accidentally open. In this way, it is prevented that the coupling apparatus falls apart during use of the pump. In particular, it is prevented for the pump head or its second coupling part to decouple from the motor or the first coupling part.

Preferably, the pump, in particular its pump head or coupling apparatus, is compressible and/or the coupling parts can be moved axially to one another, preferably by compressing the coupling/inner spring and/or in order to adjust the force acting on the cartridge and/or such that damaging of the cartridge is prevented.

According to another aspect of the present invention, which can also be realized independently, the coupling apparatus is constructed as a tumbling/flexible/beam coupling, preferably wherein the coupling is flexible/bendable and/or adapted to compensate (angular) misalignment and/or an offset between the pump head and the motor and/or to allow a tumbling motion of the pump head (relative to the motor).

Preferably in addition to its coupling/inner spring, the coupling apparatus might be equipped with an optional tumbling/outer spring, in particular wherein the tumbling/outer spring is embodied as an integrated spring and/or formed by the wall of the coupling apparatus.

The construction of this kind makes it possible to compensate an angular misalignment between the pump and the cartridge, e.g. when the motor axis of the pump is not perpendicular to the cartridge or its main plane.

With other words, due to the flexibility of the pump, in particular its coupling apparatus, and/or due to the pivotable rollers, the (entire) pump head and/or the rollers can be adjusted to the cartridge, in particular to the surface of the cartridge and/or to the orientation of the cartridge relative to the pump.

The proposed analyzer preferably comprises on the one hand a receptacle for the cartridge containing a sample and on the other hand a peristaltic pump for conveyance of the sample or other fluids within the cartridge. In particular, the cartridge can be inserted into the analyzer for testing the sample and/or can be moved, displaced or pressed towards or against the peristaltic pump, in particular its pump head, or vice versa.

In the context of the present invention, the term “analyzer” is preferably understood to refer to a preferably mobile instrument/apparatus, which is designed to chemically, biologically and/or physically tests and/or analyze a sample or a component thereof, preferably in and/or by means of a cartridge containing the sample. The analyzer preferably controls the testing of the sample in and/or by means of the cartridge. In order to carry out the test, the cartridge can be connected to, in particular received by, the analyzer, as already mentioned.

The term “cartridge” is preferably understood to refer to an in particular disposable apparatus or unit which is designed to receive, to store and/or to physically, chemically and/or biologically treat and/or prepare and/or to measure a sample, preferably in order to detect, identify or determine at least one analyte, in particular a protein and/or nucleic-acid sequence, of the sample.

A cartridge within the meaning of the present invention preferably comprises a fluid system having a plurality of channels, cavities and/or valves for controlling the flow through the channels and/or cavities. In particular, a cartridge is designed to be at least substantially planar and/or card-like. Mostly preferred, a cartridge is designed as a (micro)fluidic card and/or as a support/container that can be closed and/or inserted and/or plugged in an analyzer when it contains a sample.

The term “coupling” is preferably understood to refer to an in particular detachable connection between two parts/components, in particular coupling parts, for power/torque transmission.

The term “beam coupling” is preferably understood to refer to a flexible/elastic/bendable coupling and/or a coupling that is adapted to compensate angular and/or parallel misalignment between two parts/components, in particular coupling parts. A beam coupling preferably is at least partially flexible/elastic/bendable and/or comprises a flexible/elastic/bendable part/section/portion, such as a spring, and/or a part/section/portion with reduced stiffness and/or increased elasticity (compared to the other and/or adjacent part/section/portion of the coupling).

The above-mentioned aspects and features of the present invention and the aspects and features of the present invention that will become apparent from the claims and the following description can in principle be implemented independently from one another, but also in any combination.

Other aspects, advantages, features and properties of the present invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

