# US 2010/0167406 A1 · Measuring apparatus and method for determining fluid parameters provided by a laboratory system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167406 A1 - Document ID: US20100167406A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/617,237 - Filed: 2009-11-12 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-13 - Inventors: WOLFGANG STREIT; Gerald Probst; Juha Koota; Gyoergy Wenczel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167406A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples} - B01L 2200/028: Modular arrangements - B01L 2200/146: Employing pressure sensors - B01L 2200/147: Employing temperature sensors - B01L 2300/024: Storing results with means integrated into the container - B01L 2300/043: Hinged closures - B01L 2300/0636: Integrated biosensor, microarrays - B01L 2300/0663: Whole sensors - B01L 2300/0822: Slides - B01L 2300/0877: Flow chambers - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - Y10T 436/25: including sample preparation - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Relates to a measuring apparatus (4) and corresponding methods carried out in e.g. hybridization systems for determining fluid parameters provided by a laboratory system (1). The measuring apparatus (4) comprises a measuring unit (5) and a processing unit (6) for determining the fluid parameters provided by the laboratory system (1) and the measuring unit (5) is accomplished to be able to be integrated into this laboratory system (1). The measuring apparatus (4) according to the invention is characterised in that the measuring unit (5) comprises a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and at least one sensor (17). The measuring block (15) comprises hollow spaces (16) for receiving or guiding fluids (13) provided by the laboratory system (1). The at least one sensor (17) is arranged, for determining physical and/or chemical parameters of fluids (13) located in the hollow spaces (16), on or in fluidic operative connection with these hollow spaces (16) of the measuring block (15). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Measuring apparatus (4) with a measuring unit (5) and a processing unit (6) for determining fluid parameters provided by a laboratory system (1), the measuring unit (5) being accomplished to be integratable into this laboratory system (1), wherein (a) the measuring unit (5) comprises a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and at least one sensor (17); (b) the measuring block (15) comprises hollow spaces (16) for receiving or guiding fluids (13) provided by the laboratory system (1), the hollow spaces (16) being arranged substantially completely within the measuring block (15); and (c) the at least one sensor (17), for determining physical and/or chemical parameters of fluids (13) located in the hollow spaces (16), is arranged on or in fluidic operative connection with these hollow spaces (16) of the measuring block (15). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (17) is accomplished for determining a flow rate of a fluid or for determining a fluid pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit (5) comprises at least two sensors (17), of which the first sensor (19) is accomplished for determining a flow rate of a fluid and the second sensor (20) is accomplished for determining a fluid pressure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit (5) comprises, for determining a flow rate of a fluid, at least two identically constructed sensors (17) which are arranged set apart from one another on or in fluidic operative connection with a fluid line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 4, wherein the at least two identically constructed sensors (17) are accomplished as flow sensors (19) or as light barriers (21). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit (5) of the measuring apparatus (4) is accomplished to be insertable into a hybridisation system (2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit (5) of the measuring apparatus (4) is accomplished to be insertable into a hybridisation system (2), and wherein the measuring unit (5) of the measuring apparatus (4) comprises a niche (25) in which at least one temperature sensor (24) is arranged, the measuring unit (5) and a surface (31) of the hybridisation system (2), from which a temperature is to be determined, being accomplished so as to be movable relative to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one temperature sensor (24) of the measuring unit (5) is accomplished to be able to be abutted resiliently to a surface (31) of the hybridisation system (2), from which a temperature is to be determined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Hybridisation system (2) with at least one hybridisation unit (3), this hybridisation unit (3) comprising a standard device (33) which defines in combination with an object carrier (35) at least one hybridisation room (34), this standard device (33) comprising connections for the feeding and discharging of fluids (13) provided by the hybridisation system (2), wherein the hybridisation system (2) comprises at least one measuring unit (5) according to claim 1, the measuring unit (5) comprising substantially the same connections for the feeding and discharging of fluids (13) provided by the hybridisation system (2) as the standard device (33) and being accomplished in its basic dimensions in such a way that the measuring unit (5) is accomplished to be insertable into a hybridisation unit (3) instead of the standard device (33). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 9, the standard device (33) being accomplished as a first standard device (33′), wherein the measuring unit (5) is accomplished to be insertable instead of the first standard device (33′). ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 9, the standard device (33) being accomplished as a second standard device (33″) which defines in combination with an object carrier (35) at least two hybridisation rooms (34), wherein the measuring unit (5) comprises a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and with at least one sensor (17) as well as a reaction block (40), the reaction block (40) defining with the object carrier (35) at least one hybridisation room (34), and the measuring unit (5) being accomplished to be insertable instead of the second standard device (33″). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 9, the standard device being accomplished as a third standard device (33′″) which defines in combination with an object carrier (35) at least three or more hybridisation rooms (34), wherein the measuring unit (5) comprises a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and with at least one sensor (17) as well as a reaction block (40), the reaction block (40) defining with the object carrier (35) at least two or more hybridisation rooms (34), and the measuring unit (5) being accomplished to be insertable instead of the third standard device (33′″). ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 10, wherein it comprises at least one group made up of four hybridisation units (3), at least one measuring unit (5) being inserted into a group of hybridisation units (3) instead of a first or second standard device (33′,33″). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 11, wherein the reaction block (40) of the measuring unit (5) comprises, for replacing the second or third standard device (33″,33′″), at least one specimen supply line (41) for the feeding of specimen liquids into at least one hybridisation room (34). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 11, wherein the reaction block (40) of the measuring unit (5) comprises, for replacing the second or third standard device (33″,33′″), at least one agitation device (42) for moving liquids in at least one hybridisation room (34), the agitation device (42) comprising at least one membrane (42) which separates a pressure chamber (44), in which an agitation pressure can be generated, from an agitation chamber (45) which is connected to at least one hybridisation room (34) via an agitation line (46). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 15, wherein the reaction block (40) of the measuring unit (5) comprises, for replacing the second or third standard device (33″,33′″), at least one pressure means (47), which is completely separate from the agitation device (42), for building up a room pressure in at least one hybridisation room (34), this room pressure (42) being superimposed by the agitation pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 9, wherein the measuring unit (5), which comprises at least one temperature sensor (24), and a surface (31) of the hybridisation system (2) are accomplished so as to be movable relative to each other, the surface (31) being accomplished as a temperature control plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) Hybridisation system (2) according to claim 17, wherein the temperature control plate is accomplished as a bottom plate or as a cover plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) Hybridisation system (2) according to one of claims 15, wherein at least one sensor (17) is embodied for determining a chamber pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) Method for determining fluid parameters provided by a laboratory system (1) using a measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1 with a measuring unit (5) and a processing unit (6), the measuring unit (5) being integrated into this laboratory system (1), wherein (a) the measuring unit (5) comprises a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and at least one sensor (17); (b) the measuring block (15) comprises hollow spaces (16) which receive fluids (13) provided by the laboratory system (1) and which are arranged substantially completely within the measuring block (15); and (c) physical and/or chemical parameters of the fluids (13) located in the hollow spaces (16) are determined by the at least one sensor (17) which is arranged on or in fluidic operative connection with these hollow spaces (16) of the measuring block (15). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Method according to claim 20, wherein a pressure and/or a flow rate of a fluid (13) located in the hollow spaces (16) of the measuring block (15) is measured using the at least one sensor (17). ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) Method according to claim 20, wherein a flow rate of a fluid (13) is measured using at least two identically constructed sensors (17), the at least two identically constructed sensors (17) being arranged set apart from one another on or in fluidic operative connection with a fluid line. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) Method according to claim 20, wherein signals received by the at least one sensor (17) of the measuring unit (5) and processed by the processing unit (6) are used for calibrating and/or adjusting the laboratory system (1). ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) Method according to claim 20, wherein it is carried out for determining physical and/or chemical fluid parameters provided by a hybridisation system (2). ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Method according to claim 24, wherein a temperature of a surface (31) of the hybridisation system (2) is determined using a temperature sensor (24) arranged in a niche (25) of the measuring unit (5), the measuring unit (5) and the surface (31) of the hybridisation system (2) being movable relative to each other. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) Method for determining fluid parameters provided by a hybridisation system (2) using a measuring apparatus (4) according to claim 1, wherein at least one hybridisation unit (3) of the hybridisation system (2) comprises a standard device (33) which defines in combination with an object carrier (35) at least one hybridisation room (34), wherein fluids (13), which are provided by the hybridisation system (2), being fed into and/or discharged from the standard device via connections thereof, wherein a measuring unit (5) of the measuring apparatus (4) is inserted into a hybridisation unit (3) instead of the standard device (33), the measuring unit (5) comprising a measuring block (15) without a reaction room (34) and at least one sensor (17), and the measuring unit (5) comprising substantially the same connections for the feeding and discharging of fluids (13) provided by the hybridisation system (2) as the standard device (33) and being accomplished in its basic dimensions like this standard device (33). ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) Method according to claim 26, wherein at least one measuring unit (5) is inserted instead of a first standard device (33′), the first standard device (33′) defining at least one hybridisation room (34) in combination with an object carrier (35). ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) Method according to claim 26, wherein at least one measuring unit (5) is inserted instead of a second standard device (33″), the measuring unit (5) furthermore comprising a reaction block (40), the reaction block (40) defining with the object carrier (35) at least one hybridisation room (34) and the at least one sensor (17) determining the physical and/or chemical fluid parameters at a separate location from but simultaneously with a hybridisation reaction.