WO2015081798A1

WO2015081798A1 - Rotary auxiliary liquid aspirator

Info

Publication number: WO2015081798A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/092222
Authority: WO
Inventors: 罗耿荣
Original assignee: 罗耿荣
Priority date: 2013-12-05
Filing date: 2014-11-25
Publication date: 2015-06-11
Also published as: CN103638998A; CN103638998B

Abstract

A rotary auxiliary liquid aspirator comprises a liquid aspirator body and a sucking tube connector (1) for mounting a sucking and measuring tube (9). The liquid aspirator body comprises a shell (2) and a pump (3) disposed in the shell (2). The sucking tube connector (1) is rotationally connected to the shell (2) by using a rotating joint device (4). The sucking tube connector (1) is in communication with the pump (3) by using the rotating joint device (4).

Description

Rotary auxiliary aspirator

Technical field:

The invention relates to the technical field of laboratory auxiliary tools, in particular to a rotary auxiliary pipette.

Background technique:

In medical, pharmaceutical, genetic and protein research, biological research, drug development laboratories, and other biotechnology applications, it is often necessary to use a pipette to quantitatively remove liquids. When removing liquids, an auxiliary pipette is required for pipetting. The existing auxiliary pipette comprises a pipette body 1', a pipette joint 2' connected to the pipette body 1', a pipette 3' connected to the pipette joint 2', and a pipette body 1' For the gun-shaped structure, one end of the pipette body 1' is provided with a handle 11', and the straw joint 2' is disposed at the other end of the pipette body 1', and the handle 11' and the pipette 3' are distant from each other, and the whole The length is 15cm, the height is 43cm, the width is 5cm, so the occupied volume is 3225cm ³ , so the volume is relatively large, occupying the operation space and the storage space is large, and the pipette 3' is fixed on the handle 11', the suction amount The tube 3' cannot be rotated and adjusted relative to the handle 11'. The experimental occasion, experimental requirements, operating angle, user height and other factors will directly affect the operating state, and it is inconvenient to operate in a small space such as a biological safety cabinet, and because of the handle and The pipettes are far away from each other, and the pipette moves indirectly through the body of the pipette through the handle. The operation action and position are not easy to control, the operation is not smooth and unstable, the operation is easy to shake and the operation error occurs, and the hand is moved. Elbow expansion is large Fatigue; Further, the conventional need for auxiliary vertical pipette when using a liquid, pipetting according to the mark, discharge, dispense, affect the accuracy of the inclination absorbent liquid discharge, inconvenient to use, low precision.

Summary of the invention:

The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary auxiliary pipette which reduces volume and operation space, is convenient to operate, and has high precision in view of the deficiencies of the prior art.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

a rotary auxiliary pipette comprising a pipette body, a pipette joint for installing a pipette, the pipette body comprising a casing, a pump body disposed in the casing, and the pipette joint being rotatably connected by the rotary joint device On the housing, the straw connection is in communication with the pump body via a rotary joint arrangement.

The rotary joint device includes a first rotary joint rotatable in a vertical plane, the upper end of the first rotary joint is closed and a hollow tubular shaft communicating with the interior of the first rotary joint is protruded in a lateral direction, and the lower end of the first rotary joint is opened The connecting port is connected with a straw joint, and the first rotary joint is rotatably connected to the main body of the liquid suction body through a hollow tube shaft, and the hollow tube shaft communicates with the pump body.

The hollow tube shaft of the first rotary joint is rotatably connected to the body of the pipette through a second rotary joint rotatable along a horizontal plane, the hollow tube shaft is rotatably coupled to the second rotary joint, and the second rotary joint is rotatably coupled to the body of the liquid suction device The second rotary joint is internally provided with a liquid absorption passage, and the two ends of the liquid absorption passage are respectively connected with the pump body and the hollow tube shaft.

The top end of the second rotary joint is provided with a joint connecting seat, and a front end surface of the top of the second rotary joint is provided with a shaft hole communicating with the liquid suction passage, and the hollow tube shaft passes through the front end of the joint connecting seat and is rotatively connected in the shaft hole a circular table is protruded from the outer surface of the hollow tube shaft Step, the circular step is rotated in the joint connecting seat, and the rear end surface of the circular step and the second rotary joint are sealed and connected by the first O-ring, and the front end cover of the joint connecting seat is provided with a cover plate and a cover sleeve It is disposed on the hollow tube shaft at a position in front of the circular step, and the cover plate is fixed on the joint connecting seat by screws, and the rear end surface of the cover plate is pressed against the front end surface of the circular step.

The cover plates are two, and the two cover plates are located on two sides of the hollow tube shaft, and the two cover plates are respectively provided with semi-circular holes for the hollow tube shafts on one side of the hollow tube shaft, and the semi-circle of the two cover plates The shaped holes combine to form a circular hole through which the hollow tube shaft passes.

The pump body comprises a piston sleeve connected in the housing, a piston slidingly connected in the piston sleeve, a piston rod, and a linear motor located below the piston sleeve. The upper end of the piston rod is connected to the bottom of the piston, and the lower end of the piston rod is connected with a straight line. At the output end of the motor, the bottom of the second rotary joint is rotatably connected to the top of the piston sleeve, and the liquid suction passage is in communication with the piston sleeve.

The bottom of the second rotary joint is convexly provided with a boss, and the boss is rotatably disposed in the top of the piston sleeve, and the outer surface of the boss and the inner surface of the piston sleeve are sealed and connected by a third O-ring, the boss A tapered groove is formed in the bottom, and the lower end of the liquid suction passage communicates with the top of the tapered groove.

The pump body further includes a fixing seat disposed at the bottom of the piston sleeve and a fixing sleeve sleeved outside the piston sleeve. The fixing seat is fixed on the housing, and the piston rod is vertically slidably disposed on the fixing seat, and the fixing sleeve is fixed The bottom of the barrel is threadedly connected to the fixing seat, and the top of the fixing sleeve is formed with a pressing portion extending above the piston sleeve, and the bottom periphery of the second rotating joint is formed with a flange, and the bottom of the flange is pressed against the piston sleeve On the top circumference, the bottom of the compression portion is pressed against the top of the flange.

A cylindrical body is protruded from the top of the fixing base, and an outer thread is arranged on the outer surface of the cylindrical body. The bottom of the piston sleeve is inserted into the cylinder body, and the bottom of the fixing sleeve is screwed on the cylinder body.

The housing is provided with a display screen and a control button, and a control circuit board is arranged in the housing, and the display screen, the control button and the pump body are respectively electrically connected with the control circuit board.

The invention has the beneficial effects that the invention comprises a pipette body, a straw joint for installing a pipette, the pipette body comprises a casing, a pump body disposed in the casing, and the straw joint is connected by a rotary joint device. On the housing, the suction pipe joint communicates with the pump body through the rotary joint device, and the present invention can freely rotate the suction pipe joint through the rotary joint device to form an inverted V-shaped structure of the pipette and the liquid suction device body, thereby maximizing the pipette The center of gravity is close to the user's wrist, which effectively reduces the expansion of the elbow during pipetting, greatly reducing fatigue. The pipette can be rotated and adjusted in all directions. It can be adjusted for different experimental occasions, different requirements, different operating angles and different heights. In the most suitable operating state, the operation and position control are accurate and convenient, the operation is more convenient, smooth, smooth, flexible, does not shake, reduces operational errors, high precision, and can greatly reduce the overall height of the auxiliary pipette and The volume, occupying the operation space and the storage space are small, and it is convenient to operate in a small space such as a biological safety cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional auxiliary pipette.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the structure of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the structure of a first rotary joint of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of the fixing sleeve of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the state of use of the present invention.

detailed description:

The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, as shown in Figures 2 to 7, a rotary auxiliary pipette comprising a pipette body, a straw connector 1 for mounting the pipette 9, and a pipette body. The housing 2 is provided with a pump body 3 disposed in the housing 2, and the suction pipe joint 1 is rotatably coupled to the housing 2 via a rotary joint device 4, and the suction pipe joint 1 is in communication with the pump body 3 via the rotary joint device 4.

The rotary joint device 4 includes a first rotary joint 41 rotatable in a vertical plane, the upper end of the first rotary joint 41 being closed and laterally convexly disposed with a hollow tube shaft 411 communicating with the inside of the first rotary joint 41, the first rotation The lower end of the joint 41 is provided with a connection port 412 and a suction pipe joint 1 is attached. The first rotary joint 41 is rotatably connected to the pipette body through a hollow pipe shaft 411, and the hollow pipe shaft 411 is in communication with the pump body 3. The straw joint 1 can be rotated 360 degrees in the vertical plane around the hollow tube shaft 411 by the first rotary joint 41, so that the pipette 9 and the pipette body form an inverted V-shaped structure, which can maximize the center of gravity of the pipette Close to the user's wrist, effectively reducing the expansion of the elbow when pipetting, greatly reducing fatigue. The pipette 9 can be rotated to a position coincident with the body of the pipette, which can reduce the overall volume of the auxiliary pipette and facilitate operation and storage in a small space.

A hollow tubular string 413 for inserting into the nozzle of the pipette 9 is protruded from the connecting port 412 of the first rotary joint 41. The hollow tubular string 413 is in communication with the hollow tubular shaft 411, and the suction pipe 9 is mounted on the suction pipe joint 1, The hollow tubular string 413 is inserted into the nozzle of the pipette 9 to form a sealing structure, and the sealing effect is good. The hollow tubular string 413 connects the hollow tubular shaft 411 with the pipette 9 Pass through to form a channel.

The inner surface of the connecting port 412 of the first rotary joint 41 is provided with an internal thread 414. The suction pipe joint 1 is screwed onto the connecting port 412 of the first rotary joint 41 for convenient assembly and disassembly, and the connection is stable.

The hollow tube shaft 411 of the first rotary joint 41 is rotatably coupled to the liquid suction body by a second rotary joint 42 rotatable along a horizontal plane. The hollow tubular shaft 411 is rotatably coupled to the second rotary joint 42 and the second rotary joint 42 is rotated. Connected to the body of the pipette, the second rotary joint 42 is internally provided with a liquid suction passage 421, and two ends of the liquid suction passage 421 are respectively connected with the pump body 3 and the hollow tube shaft 411 to form a second rotary joint 41 and a second The liquid passage rotated by the rotary joint 42 and the arbitrary rotation of the first rotary joint 41 and the second rotary joint 42 ensure that the liquid passage communicates with the pump body 3 and the pipette 9, and the rotary joint device 4 realizes both the rotating function and the liquid conveying. Function, simple structure and easy to use. The first rotary joint 41 is rotatable 360 degrees along the vertical plane, and the second rotary joint 42 is rotatable 360 degrees along the horizontal plane, and the first rotary joint 41 and the second rotary joint 42 are combined, so that the pipette 9 can be fully omnidirectional. Free rotation adjustment angle, can be applied to different experimental occasions, different requirements, different operating positions and angles, users of different heights, etc., freely flexible and applicable.

The top end of the second rotary joint 42 is provided with a joint connecting seat 43. The front end surface of the top of the second rotary joint 42 is provided with a shaft hole 422 communicating with the liquid suction passage 421. The hollow tube shaft 411 passes through the front end of the joint connecting seat 43. And rotatingly connected in the shaft hole 422, the circumferential outer surface of the hollow tube shaft 411 is convexly provided with a circular step 415, the circular step 415 is rotatably disposed in the joint connecting seat 43, the rear end surface of the circular step 415 and the second rotation Between joints 42 The first O-ring 44 is sealingly connected, and the front end cover of the joint connecting seat 43 is provided with a cover 45 which is sleeved on the hollow tube shaft 411 at a position in front of the circular step 415, and the cover 45 is screwed Tightly fastened to the joint connecting seat 43, the rear end surface of the cover 45 is pressed against the front end surface of the circular step 415, and the circular step 415 is pressed against the second rotary joint 42 by the cover 45 to make the first O-shaped The sealing ring 44 is clamped between the rear end surface of the circular step 415 and the front end surface of the top of the second rotary joint 42 to form a dynamic seal, and the hollow tube shaft 411 and the second rotary joint 42 are ensured regardless of the rotation of the hollow tube shaft 411. There is no leakage of liquid between them, the sealing effect is good, the structure is simple, the assembly and disassembly is convenient, and the replacement of the first O-ring 44 is easy.

A first annular groove 423 surrounding the outer circumference of the shaft hole 422 is opened on the front end surface of the top of the second rotary joint 42. The first O-ring 44 is disposed in the first annular groove 423, and the rear end surface of the circular step 415 The top pressure is pressed on the first O-ring 44 to improve the sealing effect.

The cover plate 45 is two, and the two cover plates 45 are located at two sides of the hollow tube shaft 411. The two cover plates 45 are respectively provided with a semicircular hole 451 which cooperates with the hollow tube shaft 411 on one side of the hollow tube shaft 411. The semicircular holes 451 of the two cover plates 45 are combined to form a circular hole through which the hollow tube shaft 411 passes, and the circular step 415 is restricted in the joint connecting seat 43 by the combination of the two cover plates 45 of the split type, and is assembled and disassembled. Convenience.

The pump body 3 includes a piston sleeve 31 connected in the housing 2, a piston 32 slidably coupled in the piston sleeve 31, a piston rod 33, a stepping linear motor 34 located below the piston sleeve 31, and a piston rod 33 The upper end is connected to the bottom of the piston 32, the lower end of the piston rod 33 is connected to the output end of the linear motor 34, and the bottom of the second rotary joint 42 is rotatably connected to the piston. At the top of the sleeve 31, the liquid suction passage 421 is in communication with the piston sleeve 31. The linear motor 34 has a screw structure, and the screw of the linear motor 34 serves as an output end to drive the piston rod 33 and the piston 32 to move up and down. The linear motor 34 can precisely control the distance moved by the piston 32, thereby accurately controlling the pump body 3 to absorb or drain. The volume of the liquid is convenient to control, and the precision of liquid absorption or drainage is high. The use of the 32-type structure of the piston can eliminate the possibility of sucking back into the liquid. And the pipette 9 can tilt the liquid to drain without affecting the accuracy. The pump body 3 adopts an airless pump and no air valve design, which can reduce the airflow caused by the air pump in the safety cabinet, reduce the risk of pollution, and is more efficient and durable.

A boss 424 is protruded downwardly from the bottom of the second rotary joint 42. The boss 424 is rotatably disposed in the top of the piston sleeve 31, and the third O-ring is sealed between the outer surface of the boss 424 and the inner surface of the piston sleeve 31. The ring 35 is sealingly connected to form a dynamic seal, preventing liquid leakage between the boss 424 and the piston sleeve 31, and the sealing effect is good. A third annular groove 426 is formed on the outer surface of the boss 424. The third O-ring 35 is disposed in the third annular groove 426 to improve the sealing effect. The bottom of the boss 424 is provided with a tapered groove 425. The lower end of the liquid suction channel 421 communicates with the top of the tapered groove 425. The tapered groove 425 enables the liquid in the piston sleeve 31 to enter the liquid absorption passage more quickly during the draining process. In 421, and the impact force between the liquid and the boss 424 is reduced, the discharge speed is fast.

The pump body 3 further includes a fixing seat 36 disposed at the bottom of the piston sleeve 31 and a fixing sleeve 37 sleeved on the outside of the piston sleeve 31. The fixing seat 36 is fixed on the housing 2, and the piston rod 33 slides vertically. The bottom of the fixing sleeve 37 is screwed onto the fixing seat 36. The top of the fixing sleeve 37 is formed with a pressing portion 371 extending above the piston sleeve 31, and the bottom periphery of the second rotary joint 42 is formed. Formed with flange 427, flange 427 The bottom is pressed against the top circumference of the piston sleeve 31, and the bottom of the pressing portion 371 is pressed against the top of the flange 427, and the second rotary joint 42 is restrained by the fixing sleeve 37 to the pressing portion 371 and the piston sleeve 31. Between the two, the second rotary joint 42 can be rotated, and the piston sleeve 31 can be sealed, and the assembly and disassembly is convenient.

A cylindrical body 361 is protruded from the top of the fixing base 36. The outer surface of the cylindrical body 361 is provided with an external thread 362. The bottom of the piston sleeve 31 is inserted into the cylindrical body 361, and the bottom of the fixing sleeve 37 is screwed on the cylindrical body 361. The rotation of the fixing sleeve 37 can be adjusted by rotating the fixing sleeve 37, thereby adjusting the degree of tightness of the pressing portion 427 of the pressing portion 371.

The bottom of the pressing portion 371 and the top of the flange 427 are sealingly connected by the second O-ring 38 to form a dynamic seal. The bottom of the pressing portion 371 defines a second annular groove 372, and the second O-ring 38 is disposed at the second. In the annular groove 372, liquid leakage between the pressing portion 371 and the second rotary joint 42 is further prevented, and the sealing effect is better.

The circumferential outer surface of the piston 32 and the inner surface of the piston sleeve 31 are sealingly connected by a fourth O-ring 39 to form a dynamic seal, and the outer circumference of the piston 32 is provided with a fourth annular groove 321 for the fourth O-type seal. The ring 39 is disposed in the fourth annular groove 321 to prevent liquid leakage between the piston 32 and the piston sleeve 31, and the sealing effect is good.

The housing 2 is provided with a display screen 5 and a control button 6. The housing 2 is provided with a control circuit board 7. The display screen 5, the control button 6, and the pump body 3 are electrically connected to the control circuit board 7, respectively, to form an intelligent control system. The control button 6 sets parameters such as the volume of the suction and discharge liquid and inputs the command and sends it to the control circuit board 7. After the command is processed by the control circuit board 7, the related information is displayed on the display screen 5, and the linear motor 34 is controlled to perform the suction and discharge operation. . The conventional auxiliary aspirator control switch has a power of 1000 grams and requires a long time when aspirating. When the index finger is pressed, it is easy to fatigue. The control button 6 of the auxiliary pipette of the present invention has a power of only 110 grams, and the liquid suction, liquid discharge, liquid separation, and mixing blow can be automatically performed with a single push. Finish the operation without having to hold it down for a long time. The invention can freely set the pipetting volume by the control button 6, and automatically and accurately control the pipetting operation by the pump body 3, without the need to peg the liquid level of the pipette, and is convenient to use. The auxiliary pipette of the invention has a free mode, a quantitative mode, a liquid dispensing mode and a mixed blowing mode, and the operation is more convenient.

The invention can freely rotate the suction pipe joint 1 through the rotary joint device 4 to form the inverted V-shaped structure of the pipette 9 and the pipette body, which can maximize the center of gravity of the pipette close to the wrist of the user, and effectively reduce the elbow when pipetting The expansion range greatly reduces fatigue. The pipette 9 can be rotated freely around the horizontal plane and the vertical plane to adjust the angle. For different experimental occasions, different requirements, different operating positions and angles, users of different heights can adjust to the most suitable. The operation state, operation action and position control are accurate and convenient, the operation is more convenient, smooth, stable, flexible, does not shake, reduces operation error, high precision, and can greatly reduce the overall height and volume of the auxiliary pipette, occupying operation The space and storage space are small, and it is convenient to operate in a small space such as a biological safety cabinet.

Of course, the above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and equivalent changes or modifications made to the structures, features, and principles of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A rotary auxiliary pipette comprising a pipette body, a pipette joint (1) for mounting a pipette, the pipette body comprising a casing (2), a pump disposed in the casing (2) The body (3) is characterized in that: the straw joint (1) is rotatably connected to the casing (2) by a rotary joint device (4), and the suction pipe joint (1) passes through the rotary joint device (4) and the pump body (3) ) Connected.
A rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 1, wherein said rotary joint device (4) comprises a first rotary joint (41) rotatable in a vertical plane, the first rotary joint (41) The upper end is closed and protrudes laterally with a hollow tube shaft (411) communicating with the inside of the first rotary joint (41). The lower end of the first rotary joint (41) is provided with a connection port (412) and a suction pipe joint (1) is installed. The first rotary joint (41) is rotatably connected to the pipette body through the hollow tube shaft (411), and the hollow tube shaft (411) is in communication with the pump body (3).
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 2, characterized in that the hollow tube shaft (411) of the first rotary joint (41) is rotatably connected by a second rotary joint (42) rotatable along a horizontal plane. On the main body of the pipette, the hollow tube shaft (411) is rotatably connected to the second rotary joint (42), the second rotary joint (42) is rotatably connected to the liquid suction body, and the second rotary joint (42) is internally opened. The liquid absorption channel (421) and the two ends of the liquid absorption channel (421) are respectively connected to the pump body (3) and the hollow tube shaft (411).
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 3, wherein the top end of the second rotary joint (42) is provided with a joint connecting seat (43), and the second rotating joint A shaft hole (422) communicating with the liquid absorption passage (421) is opened on the front end surface of the top portion of the head (42), and the hollow tube shaft (411) passes through the front end of the joint connection seat (43) and is rotatably connected to the shaft hole (422). The circumferential outer surface of the hollow tube shaft (411) is convexly provided with a circular step (415), and the circular step (415) is rotatably disposed in the joint connecting seat (43), and the rear end surface of the circular step (415) The first O-ring (44) is sealingly connected with the second rotary joint (42), the front end cover of the joint connecting seat (43) is provided with a cover plate (45), and the cover plate (45) is sleeved on the hollow tube. The shaft (411) is located in front of the circular step (415), and the cover plate (45) is fixed to the joint connecting seat (43) by screwing, and the rear end surface of the cover plate (45) is pressed against the circular step ( Front end face of 415).
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 4, wherein the cover plate (45) is two, and the two cover plates (45) are located on both sides of the hollow tube shaft (411), and the two covers are A semicircular hole (451) for engaging the hollow tube shaft (411) and a semicircular hole (451) combination of the two cover plates (45) are respectively opened on one side of the plate (45) toward the hollow tube shaft (411). A circular hole is formed through which the hollow tube shaft (411) passes.
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 3, characterized in that the pump body (3) comprises a piston sleeve (31) connected in the casing (2) and slidably connected to the piston sleeve ( 31) piston (32), piston rod (33), linear motor (34) under the piston sleeve (31), the upper end of the piston rod (33) is connected to the bottom of the piston (32), the piston rod (33) The lower end is connected to the output end of the linear motor (34), the bottom of the second rotary joint (42) is rotatably connected to the top of the piston sleeve (31), and the liquid suction passage (421) is in communication with the piston sleeve (31).
A rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 6, wherein: The bottom of the second rotary joint (42) is convexly provided with a boss (424), and the boss (424) is rotatably disposed in the top of the piston sleeve (31), and the outer surface of the boss (424) and the piston sleeve (31) The inner surfaces are sealedly connected by a third O-ring (35), and the bottom of the boss (424) is provided with a tapered groove (425), and the lower end of the liquid suction passage (421) and the tapered groove (425) The top of the connection.
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 6, characterized in that the pump body (3) further comprises a fixing seat (36) disposed at the bottom of the piston sleeve (31) and sleeved on the piston sleeve (31) an external fixing sleeve (37), the fixing seat (36) is fixed on the housing (2), and the piston rod (33) is vertically slidably disposed on the fixing seat (36), and the fixing sleeve (37) The bottom thread is connected to the fixing seat (36), and the top of the fixing sleeve (37) is formed with a pressing portion (371) extending above the piston sleeve (31), and the bottom periphery of the second rotary joint (42) A flange (427) is formed, the bottom of the flange (427) is pressed against the top circumference of the piston sleeve (31), and the bottom of the pressing portion (371) is pressed against the top of the flange (427).
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to claim 8, wherein the fixing seat (36) has a cylindrical body (361) protruding from the top, and the outer surface of the cylindrical body (361) is externally threaded (362). The bottom of the piston sleeve (31) is inserted into the cylinder (361), and the bottom of the fixing sleeve (37) is screwed to the cylinder (361).
The rotary auxiliary pipette according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: the casing (2) is provided with a display screen (5), a control button (6), and a casing (2) A control circuit board (7) is disposed therein, and the display screen (5), the control button (6), and the pump body (3) are electrically connected to the control circuit board (7), respectively.