Pipetting means and method of operating a pipetting means

Abstract

A pipetting means includes a micropump comprising a pump chamber with a first opening and a second opening. Furthermore, the micropump includes means for changing the volume of the pump chamber. A first active valve is provided to perform opening and closing the first opening. Furthermore, a second active valve is used to perform opening and closing the second opening. Furthermore, the pipetting means comprises a pipette tip connected to the first or second opening via a pipette channel.

1 . A pipetting apparatus, comprising: 
 a micropump having 
 a pump chamber with a first opening and a second opening;  
 an actor for changing the volume of the pump chamber;  
 a first active valve for opening and closing the first opening;  
 a second active valve for opening and closing the second opening; and  
   a pipette tip connected to the first or second opening via the pipette channel.    
     
     
         2 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the active valves of the micropump include piezoelectric valves.  
     
     
         3 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actor for changing the volume of the pump chamber includes a membrane and a piezoelectric actuator for actuating the membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the membrane is arranged between holding elements.  
     
     
         5 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a pump body including a first disc-shaped body element and a second disc-shaped body element arranged thereupon.  
     
     
         6 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pump body comprises a semiconductor material.  
     
     
         7 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump chamber further comprises at least one further opening; and wherein 
 the micropump further comprises at least another active valve for opening and closing the at least one further opening.    
     
     
         8 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter for filtering a working medium of the micropump.  
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a pipetting apparatus, comprising: 
 a micropump having 
 a pump chamber with a first opening and a second opening;  
 an actor for changing the volume of the pump chamber;  
 a first active valve for opening and closing the first opening;  
 a second active valve for opening and closing the second opening; and  
   a pipette tip connected to the first or second opening via the pipette channel; the method comprising the steps of: 
 actively closing the first or second opening, whereby an environment is disconnected from the pump chamber;  
 actively opening the second or first opening, whereby the pump chamber is connected to the pipette channel;  
 enlarging the volume of the pump chamber for sucking dosing fluid through the pipette tip; and  
 reducing the volume of the pump chamber for expelling dosing fluid through the pipette tip.  
   
     
     
         10 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pipetting apparatus is used as an air cushion pipetting apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pipetting apparatus is used as a direct displacement pipetting apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . The pipetting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pipetting apparatus is used as a micro-titer pipetting apparatus.