WO2000061279A1

WO2000061279A1 - Reaction vessel containing a siphon pipe

Info

Publication number: WO2000061279A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/002988
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johann Schwartz; Heinz STADTMÜLLER; Walter Hudler; Wolfgang JÖRG; Martin Schmidt; Gerhard Steiner
Original assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma Kg
Priority date: 1999-04-08
Filing date: 2000-04-04
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: DE19915811A1; JP2002540931A; DE19915811C2; MXPA01010014A; CA2372796A1; EP1183098A1; AU3558800A

Abstract

The invention relates to a reaction vessel (1) which can be used in a reaction block to perform solid phase syntheses, wherein the reaction fluid (2) can be fed to a micro-titration plate using a siphon outlet. A siphon pipe (16) is located at the outlet (15) of the reaction vessel and an ascending pipe (21) is arranged at a radial distance to said siphon pipe. The ascending pipe (21) is closed in the upper region and is connected to the siphon pipe (16). The lower region of said siphon is interconnected with the receiving chamber (12) of the reaction vessel. This configuration prevents any additional forming when a siphon outlet is constructed and practically eliminates leakages in the area of the siphon outlet.

Description

REACTION TUBE CONTAINING SYPHONE TUBE

The invention relates to a reaction vessel for holding a reaction liquid which can be used together with other reaction vessels in a reaction block for carrying out solid-phase syntheses and whose reaction liquid can be fed to a microtiter plate via a siphon outlet.

Such a reaction vessel is known from US Pat. No. 5,770,157 A. In order to achieve a siphon outlet, a tube piece is inserted into the outlet opening of this reaction vessel, which is firmly connected at one end by melting to the bottom of the reaction vessel and the other end is to be suspended in a drainage tube so that the reaction liquid is conveyed into it can. The drainage tubes are arranged at a lateral distance from each other next to a reaction vessel in a reaction block, so that the tube piece is to be bent 180 ° both in the area where it merges with the bottom and in its other end area. The siphon outlet formed by the hose piece is accordingly arranged laterally next to the reaction vessel outside of it.

The bending of the sometimes brittle tube piece connected to the reaction vessel by hand and the introduction into the drain tube requires, especially since the space in a reaction block is limited, not only skill, these operations are also extremely time-consuming. Above all, it is disadvantageous that by bending and / or laying the hose Piece the melt connection between this and the bottom of the reaction vessel is stressed to a high degree, so that damage is often unavoidable. This can lead to leaks, which sometimes put a solid phase synthesis into question and which involve a great deal of work and a high cost. In addition, the arrangement of the piece of tubing forming the siphon outlet takes up a considerable amount of space next to the reaction vessel in the reaction block, the reaction block is thus almost completely filled by the reaction vessels and tube pieces, so that uniform heating or cooling of the reaction vessels by rinsing is almost impossible. The known reaction vessels are therefore unsuitable for use in a reaction block.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a reaction vessel for receiving a reaction liquid of the aforementioned type, which is not only designed in a structurally simple manner and is therefore economical to produce, but which can also be almost completely ruled out that leaks occur. Rather, it should be achieved that an additional processing to form a siphon outlet is not required and that considerable space can be saved with the same capacity of the reaction vessel, so that in a reaction block larger free spaces for the supply of liquids and gases to the in one Reaction block used to heat or cool evenly used reaction vessels. In addition, a versatile usability with low susceptibility to malfunction and simple handling should be guaranteed.

According to the invention, this is achieved in a reaction vessel for receiving a reaction liquid of the type mentioned at the outset in that a siphon tube connected to the outlet thereof is preferably centrally located in the reaction vessel and a riser tube is located at a radial distance therefrom End region is closed, are arranged and that the riser communicates in the lower region of the reaction vessel with its receiving space and is connected to the siphon tube in the upper region.

It is expedient here to design the siphon tube in one piece with a housing forming the receiving space of the reaction vessel and preferably to spray it onto the bottom thereof and to insert the riser pipe into the housing at an axial distance from it, with the bottom of the riser pipe being held in the housing in the housing Edge area can be provided with a preferably circumferential extension, in particular in the form of a shoulder, on which the riser pipe is supported with a molded collar, and the collar should preferably have symmetrically arranged through openings. Furthermore, it is advisable to form an outlet connection on the outside of the housing, preferably to spray it on centrally, on the outside of the housing.

It is also very advantageous to arrange a filter insert, in particular in the form of a frit, in the transition area between the receiving space of the housing and the riser tube, which can be supported on the collar of the riser tube, and the riser tube in the upper edge area with one in the receiving area of the Ge - To provide house-opening passage opening, the throttle, for. B. should be assigned in the form of a frit used in the interior of the riser.

It is also appropriate to provide the housing of the reaction vessel in the upper region with an inlet opening for introducing a compressed gas.

If a large number of such reaction vessels are used in a reaction block, it is expedient to seal the reaction vessels together in an airtight manner by means of a plate. If a reaction vessel is designed to hold a reaction liquid according to the invention, it is not only possible to assemble it in an extremely simple manner, but it is also almost impossible for the individual components of the reaction vessel to be damaged. When it is installed, the riser tube has to be put over the siphon tube formed on the housing of the reaction vessel in order to create a reaction vessel which can be used in a very versatile manner over a long period of time and without operational disturbances being feared.

Furthermore, it is of considerable advantage, since the siphon tube is arranged inside the housing of the reaction vessel and thus space is saved, that when the reaction vessel is inserted into a reaction block there are large free spaces in which to cool and heat the reaction liquids filled in the reaction vessels the open spaces are flushed with liquids or gases, can be used. A uniform influencing of the individual reaction vessels is therefore ensured, so that there is a versatile usability with simple handling.

The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the reaction vessel designed according to the invention for holding a reaction liquid, which is explained in detail below:

The designated 1 in an axial section reaction vessel serves to receive reaction liquids 2 in order to be able to carry out solid-phase syntheses in a reaction block, and essentially consists of a cup-shaped housing 11, a centrally formed on the bottom 13 in the receiving space 12 of the Housing 11 projecting siphon tube 16 and a riser tube 21 slipped over it and arranged at a lateral distance from it, which is supported on the bottom 13 of the housing 11 and communicates with the interior 12 thereof. In order to accomplish this, the riser pipe 21 an annular flange 23 is formed, and on the bottom 13 of the housing 11 a peripheral projecting extension 14 is provided in the edge region, on which the flange 23 rests. The riser pipe 21 or its flange 23 is thus supported at a distance from the bottom 13. And since the flange 23 is provided with openings 24 arranged in a uniformly distributed manner, the reaction liquid 2 can flow from the interior 12 of the housing 11 into the annular space 22 formed between the siphon tube 16 and the riser tube 21. In addition, a filter insert 25 in the form of an annular frit is placed on the flange 23, particles in the reaction liquid are thus retained and do not get into the annular space 22.

After a plurality of reaction vessels 1 have been inserted into a reaction block (not shown) and filled with the reaction liquid 2, these are sealed airtight together with the aid of a plate 20. If appropriate, the reaction vessels 1 are then heated or cooled in order to influence the solid phase synthesis. When this process is complete, the reaction liquid has to be transferred to a microplate. This is done in such a way that the reaction liquid 2 located in the receiving space 12 of the housing 11 is acted upon by a pressurized gas which can be supplied via a bore 18 machined into the upper region of the housing 12. The reaction liquid 102 rises in the annular space 22 because the riser tube 21 is closed in the upper end region and flows into the interior 17 of the siphon tube 16, which is connected to an outlet connection 15 formed centrally on the outside of the base 13 is. With the aid of the outlet connector 15, the reaction liquid 2 can accordingly be filled into the respective receiving space of a microtiter plate. Of course, it is also possible to empty the reaction vessels 1 by suction by applying a vacuum to the outlet connection 15. Since, when the reaction vessels 1 are heated, an excess pressure is built up in that part of the interior 12 of the housing 11 which is not filled with reaction liquid 2 and which can result in the reaction liquid 2 being pressed into the siphon tube 16 and thus the housing 11 being unintentionally empty In order to prevent this, a through hole 26 is machined into the upper end of the riser pipe 21. With the help of the through hole 26, a pressure equalization takes place in the two rooms connected to it, so that the reaction liquid 2 located in the annular space 22 is also acted on and thus no increase takes place. And in order to exclude when sucking the reaction liquid 2 that the liquid flow is interrupted by the air sucked through the through hole 26, a frit 27 is also arranged in front of the through hole 26, which acts as a throttle, so that only a small amount of air can be sucked in. Despite the simple construction, the reaction vessel 1 can be used without problems over a longer period of time, in particular for carrying out solid-phase syntheses.

Claims

Patent claims

1. reaction vessel (1) for receiving a reaction liquid (2), which can be used for carrying out solid-phase syntheses together with further reaction vessels in a reaction block and whose reaction liquid (2) can be fed via a siphon outlet to a microtiter plate, characterized in that in the reaction vessel (1 ) preferably a siphon tube (16) connected to its outlet (15) and at a radial distance from it a riser tube (21), which is designed to be closed in the upper end region, and in which the riser tube (21) is arranged in the lower region of the reaction vessel (1) communicates with its receiving space (12) and is connected to the siphon tube (16) in the upper region.

2. Reaction vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the siphon tube (16) is integrally formed with a housing (11) forming the receiving space (12) of the reaction vessel (1), preferably molded onto the bottom (13) thereof.

3. Reaction vessel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the riser tube (21) with an axial distance to the bottom (13) of the housing (11) is inserted into this.

4. Reaction vessel according to claim 3, characterized in that for holding the riser tube (16) in the housing (12) the bottom (13) of which is provided in the edge region with a preferably circumferential extension (14), in particular in the form of a shoulder, on which the riser pipe (16) is supported with a molded collar (23).

5. Reaction vessel according to claim 4, characterized in that the collar (23) is preferably provided with symmetrically arranged through openings (24).

6. Reaction vessel according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that on the bottom (13) of the housing (11) on the outside of which an outlet connection (15) is molded, preferably injection-molded centrally.

7. Reaction vessel according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a filter insert (25), in particular in the form of a frit, is arranged in the transition region between the receiving space (12) of the housing (11) and the riser pipe (21) .

8. Reaction vessel according to claim 7, characterized in that the filter insert (25) on the collar (23) of the riser pipe (21) is supported.

9. Reaction vessel according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the riser tube (21) is provided in the upper edge region with a through opening (26) opening into the receiving space (12) of the housing (11).

10. Reaction vessel according to claim 9, characterized in that the through opening (26) is associated with a throttle (27), in particular in the form of a frit used in the interior (22) of the riser tube (21).

11. Reaction vessel according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (11) of the reaction vessel (1) has an inlet opening (18) in the upper region for introducing a compressed gas.

12. Reaction block with a plurality of reaction vessels used in these, which are designed according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the reaction vessels (1) are sealed airtight together by a plate (20).