High throughput thermal cycler
US5601141A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F3/12
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A batch thermal cycler for large numbers of biological or chemical samples uses n modules each in good thermal contact with the samples, but substantially isolated from one another, thermally and functionally. Each module carries samples on an upper sample plate. The module has a temperature sensor adjacent the samples, an electrical resistance heating element, and a circulating fluid heat exchanger for step cooling. Heating occurs at a point generally between the samples and the source of the cooling. The modules are individually replaceable. O-rings automatically seal fluid and electrical interfaces. An electrical controller has n simultaneous channels that provide closed loop control of the electrical power to each module. As a method, the invention includes at least one modular temperature zone where the temperature is sensed at a point adjacent the samples in that zone. The samples are heated adjacent the sample plate. Cooling is by a step change. The cooling overshoots a set lower temperature. A small, well-controlled heating corrects the overshoot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.