Device and process for metering solutions

1. A process for metering liquids from a plurality of fluid sources, in a time-multiplex manner according to a fluid release plan, into a common patient line, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a common patient line having a cross-sectional area in a range between 0.002 mm 2 and 0.2 mm 2 , which corresponds to a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm in case of a circular cross section;

providing a carrier liquid reservoir with a carrier liquid, the common patient line having carrier liquid therein and being in fluid connection with the carrier liquid reservoir;

connecting each of the plurality of fluid sources to the common patient line by a respective metering passage;

selecting at least two fluid sources according to a fluid release plan;

removing fluid volumes in the range of 50 nL to 50 μL from each of the selected fluid sources;

forming a fluid stream from a sequence of the fluid volumes of at least two different said fluid sources in the common patient line, wherein fluid volumes of immiscible solutions are separated by a separation medium to provide discrete boluses of the fluid volumes flowing out of the common patient line to a patient with the fluid volumes remaining separated by the separation medium and in a particular order as they flow through the common patient line to the patient;

adding up of the individual metered fluid volumes for each source to determine a total volume; and

comparing the total volumes administered for each solution with the fluid release plan in order to minimize deviations.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the separating medium is selected from the group comprising lipid liquids, soybean oil and gases such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or water vapor.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the removing of fluid volumes and the forming a fluid stream from a sequence of the fluid volumes includes metering the fluid volumes by a delivery means associated with the fluid sources.

4. A process in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the delivery means is a micropump.

5. A process in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the fluid volume is taken from the fluid source with a calibrating volume.

6. A process in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the fluid volume is taken from the fluid source with the metering passage comprising a pinchable elastomer channel providing on-off valve.

7. A process in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the delivery means or valves associated with the delivery means are arranged at the point at which a fluid line opens into a collecting channel.

8. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fluid volumes are taken with a pump arranged in the patient line via valves, each valve being arranged downstream of the respective fluid source.

9. A process in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the valves contain fluidic flow resistances in the form of metering capillaries contributing to a known fluidic resistance.

10. A device for metering according to a fluid release, the device comprising:

a plurality of fluid sources;

a common patient line with a cross-sectional area that is, at least in some sections, in a range between 0.002 mm 2 and 0.2 mm 2 , which corresponds to a diameter d between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm in case of a circular cross section;

a carrier liquid reservoir with a carrier liquid therein, the common patient line having carrier liquid therein and being in fluid connection with the carrier liquid reservoir;

a plurality of metering passages, each of the plurality of fluid sources being connected to the common patient line by a respective metering passage;

a means for selecting fluid sources according to the fluid release plan;

a means for removing fluid volumes in the range of 50 nL to 50 μL from the selected fluid sources and forming a fluid stream from a sequence of the fluid volumes of at least two said different fluid sources, wherein fluid volumes of immiscible solutions are separated by a separation medium to provide discrete boluses of the fluid volumes flowing out of the common patient line to a patient with the fluid volumes remaining separated by the separation medium and in a particular order as they flow through the common patient line to the patient;

a control for adding up of the individual metered volumes for each source to determine a total volume and for comparing the total volumes administered for each solution with the fluid release plan in order to minimize deviations.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the means for removing individual fluid volumes from said fluid sources includes a corresponding collecting channel arranged on a common carrier plate in the form of a microfluid metering system.

12. A device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said means for removing individual fluid volumes includes a delivery means associated with the fluid sources.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the delivery means is a micropump.

14. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the fluid volume is taken from the fluid source with a calibrating volume.

15. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the metering passage comprises a pinchable elastomer channel.

16. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the delivery means or valves associated with the delivery means are arranged at a collecting channel connected to or forming a part of the patient line.

17. A device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said means for removing individual fluid volumes includes a pump arranged in the patient line via valves, each valve being arranged downstream of the respective fluid source.

18. A device in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the valves contain fluidic flow resistances in the form of metering capillaries contributing to a known fluidic resistance.

19. A device for metering liquids from a plurality of said fluid sources, in a time-multiplex manner according to a fluid release plan, into a common patient line, the device comprising:

means for selecting fluid sources;

means for removing fluid volumes in the range of 50 bL to 50 μL from the selected fluid sources and forming a fluid stream from a sequence of the fluid volumes of at least two said different fluid sources;

a control unit for adding up of the individual metered volumes for each source to determine a total volume and for comparing the total volumes administered for each solution with the fluid release plan in order to minimize deviations wherein:

said means for removing individual fluid volumes includes a pump arranged in the patient line via valves, each valve being arranged downstream of the respective fluid source; and

the valves contain fluidic flow resistances in the form of metering capillaries.