DIRECT PIPETTING IN COMPUTER-CONTROLLED LIQUID HANDLING WORKSTATIONS

摘要

Relates to an interface (1) and its use for the remote control of a computer-controlled liquid handling workstation (2) with a work surface (3), a motorized pipetting robot (5) with at least one pipette (6), and a control computer (10), to which the pipetting robot (5) is connected. A control program (11) activated in this control computer (10) enables the pipetting robot (5) to position the at least one pipette (6) at specific positions (12, 12', 12") on the work surface (3) and to execute a specific action (13) there using the at least one pipette (6). The interface (1) comprises input means (16), visualization means (17), interface software (18), and an electronic memory (19). The visualization means (17) is implemented to visualize the positions (12) at which containers (4) are situated on the work surface (3) of the liquid handling workstation (2) and a selection of the specific actions (13) executable using the pipettes (6). According to the present invention, the interface (1) and the interface software (18) are implemented to visualize as icons (35) at least one pipette (6), optionally selected by the input means (16) or by the interface (1), and at least one designated pipetting position (12,12',12") on a specific container (4), and in addition, to direct the pipetting robot (5) of the computer-controlled liquid handling workstation (2) to position the selected pipettes (6) at the designated pipetting positions (12,12',12") of the specific container (4) immediately after designating the specific position (12,12',12") and prior to executing the selected specific action (13). Alternatively, the interface (1) and the interface software (18) are implemented or used to visualize, in a 2D or 3D simulation, the pipetting robot (5) of the computer- controlled liquid handling workstation (2) and to virtually position the selected pipettes (6) at the designated pipetting positions (12,12',12") of the specific container (4) immediately after designating the specific position (12, 12', 12") and prior to executing the selected specific action (13).