Device for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples

1. A device for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples comprising a pump that comprises a cylindrical chamber, a piston movable in this cylindrical chamber and a piston drive that engages the piston, the device further comprising a pulse generator that effects dispensing of samples from a liquid by generating pressure waves in this liquid, and a tip connected to the cylindrical chamber with a line, wherein the piston drive comprises a first drive and a second drive used as the pulse generator, and wherein the device also comprises a channel for flushing or rinsing the cylindrical chamber, and the channel discharges into the cylindrical chamber.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical chamber, piston, line, and tip define a space therebetween that is filled with an essentially coherent liquid column in the presence or absence of an air gap, and the volume of a liquid sample dispensed is determined solely by the parameters of one single pulse generated by the pulse generator.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first drive comprises a first plate movable with a spindle connected thereto and the second drive comprises a second plate connected with the first plate by the pulse generator and engages the piston.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the first drive comprises a first plate movable with a spindle connected thereto and the second drive comprises a second plate connected with the first plate by the pulse generator and engages the piston.

5. A device according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein the cylindrical chamber has a volume of between 5 and 200 μl.

6. A device according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein the pulse generator comprises a reloaded stack of piezoelectric elements.

7. A device according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein the tip is a disposable tip or needle for pipetting liquids.

8. A system for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples, comprising a plurality of devices according to claims 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 .

9. A system for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 5 .

10. A system for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 6 .

11. A system for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 7 .

12. A system according to claim 8 comprising n pumps, n lines, and n tips, the first drive and the second drive having m pulse generators, wherein n is a whole number selected from 8, 96, or 384 and m is a whole number selected from 1, 2, or 3.

13. A system according to claim 9 comprising n pumps, n lines, and n tips, the first drive and the second drive having m pulse generators, wherein n is a whole number selected from 8, 96, or 384 and m is a whole number selected from 1, 2, or 3.

14. A system according to claim 12 , comprising an array of pumps and tips arranged in parallel to one another, wherein the array corresponds in layout and format of a microplate having 96, 384, 864, 1536, or more wells.

15. A system according to claim 13 , comprising an array of pumps and tips arranged in parallel to one another, wherein the array corresponds in layout and format of a microplate having 96, 384, 864, 1536, or more wells.

16. A system according to claim 8 , comprising an array of 96, 384, or more pumps, lines, and tips, arranged in parallel to one another, the first drive, comprising at least three spindles acting on a joint first plate, and the second drive, comprising at least three pulse generators, each having a preloaded stack of piezoelectric elements, with the second drive additionally comprising a second plate connected to the first plate via the pulse generators and that engages all pistons simultaneously.

17. A system according claim 9 , comprising an array of 96, 384, or more pumps, lines, and tips, arranged in parallel to one another, the first drive, comprising at least three spindles acting on a joint first plate, and the second drive, comprising at least three pulse generators, each having a preloaded stack of piezoelectric elements, with the second drive additionally comprising a second plate that is connected to the first plate by the pulse generators and that engage all pistons simultaneously.

18. A system according to claim 16 , comprising a channel system that discharges into each of the cylindrical chambers.

19. A system according to claim 17 , comprising a channel system that discharges into each of the cylindrical chambers.

20. A system according to claim 8 , wherein the tips are tip plates ( 16 , 16 ′) that can be removed or automatically picked up and discarded.

21. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the tips are tip plates ( 16 , 16 ′) that can be removed or automatically picked up and discarded.

22. A system according to claim 8 , further comprising a computer for controlling the aspiration and dispensing of liquid samples.

23. A system according to claim 9 , further comprising a computer for controlling the aspiration and dispensing of liquid samples.

24. A system according to claim 10 comprising n pumps, n lines, and n tips, the first drive and the second drive having m pulse generators, wherein n is a whole number selected from 8, 96, or 384 and m is a whole number selected from 1, 2, or 3.

25. A system according to claim 11 comprising n pumps, n lines, and n tips, the first drive and the second drive having m pulse generators, wherein n is a whole number selected from 8, 96, or 384 and m is a whole number selected from 1, 2, or 3.

26. A system according to claim 10 , comprising an array of 96, 384, or more pumps, lines, and tips, arranged in parallel to one another, the first drive, comprising at least three spindles acting on a joint first plate, and the second drive, comprising at least three pulse generators, each having a preloaded stack of piezoelectric elements, with the second drive additionally comprising a second plate that is connected to the first plate by the pulse generators and that engage all pistons simultaneously.

27. A system according to claim 11 , comprising an array of 96, 384, or more pumps, lines, and tips, arranged in parallel to one another, the first drive, comprising at least three spindles acting on a joint first plate, and the second drive, comprising at least three pulse generators, each having a preloaded stack of piezoelectric elements, with the second drive additionally comprising a second plate that is connected to the first plate by the pulse generators and that engage all pistons simultaneously.

28. A system according to claim 10 , further comprising a computer for controlling the aspiration and dispensing of liquid samples.

29. A system according to claim 11 , further comprising a computer for controlling the aspiration and dispensing of liquid samples.

30. A system according to claim 24 , comprising an array of pumps and tips arranged in parallel to one another, wherein the array corresponds in layout and format of a microplate having 96, 384, 864, 1536, or more wells.

31. A system according to claim 25 , comprising an array of pumps and tips arranged in parallel to one another, wherein the array corresponds in layout and format of a microplate having 96, 384, 864, 1536, or more wells.

32. A system according to claim 27 , comprising a channel system that discharges into each of the cylindrical chambers.

33. A system according to claim 28 , comprising a channel system that discharges into each of the cylindrical chambers.

34. A system according to claim 10 , wherein the tips are tip plates ( 16 , 16 ′) that can be removed or automatically picked up and discarded.

35. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the tips are tip plates ( 16 , 16 ′) that can be removed or automatically picked up and discarded.