Enhanced sample processing devices, systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of conducting a thermal cycling process comprising:
- providing a device comprising a plurality of process chambers, each process chamber of the plurality of process chambers defining a volume for containing sample material;
providing a base plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thermal structure;
locating a first major surface of the device in contact with the top surface of the base plate, wherein at least some process chambers of the plurality of process chambers are in thermal communication with the thermal structure when the device is in contact with the top surface of the base plate;
providing sample material in the plurality of process chambers; and
controlling the temperature of the thermal structure by directing electromagnetic energy at the bottom surface of the base plate while rotating the base plate and the device about the axis of rotation, whereby the temperature of the sample material is controlled.
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for processing sample materials. The sample materials may be located in a plurality of process chambers in the device, which is rotated during heating of the sample materials.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a thermal cycling process comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chambers, each process chamber of the plurality of process chambers defining a volume for containing sample material;
providing a base plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thermal structure;
locating a first major surface of the device in contact with the top surface of the base plate, wherein at least some process chambers of the plurality of process chambers are in thermal communication with the thermal structure when the device is in contact with the top surface of the base plate;
providing sample material in the plurality of process chambers; and
controlling the temperature of the thermal structure by directing electromagnetic energy at the bottom surface of the base plate while rotating the base plate and the device about the axis of rotation, whereby the temperature of the sample material is controlled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of conducting a thermal cycling process comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chambers, each process chamber of the plurality of process chambers defining a volume for containing sample material;
providing a base plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thermal structure that comprises at least one thermoelectric module;
locating a first major surface of the device in contact with the top surface of the base plate, wherein the plurality of process chambers are in thermal communication with the thermal structure when the device is in contact with the top surface of the base plate;
providing sample material in the plurality of process chambers; and
controlling the temperature of the thermal structure by controlling the temperature of the at least one thermoelectric module while rotating the base plate and the device about the axis of rotation, wherein the temperature of the sample material is controlled. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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35. A method of conducting a thermal cycling process comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chambers, each process chamber of the plurality of process chambers defining a volume for containing sample material;
providing sample material in the plurality of process chambers;
directing electromagnetic energy into the plurality of process chambers to raise the temperature of the sample material in the plurality of process chambers; and
rotating the device about an axis of rotation while directing electromagnetic energy into the plurality of process chambers, wherein the temperature of the sample material in the plurality of process chambers is controlled as the device rotates about the axis of rotation.
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46. A method of processing sample material comprising:
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providing a device comprising at least one process chamber array that comprises a loading chamber and a first process chamber;
providing sample material in the at least one process chamber array, the sample material being provided in the loading chamber of the at least one process chamber array;
moving the sample material from the loading chamber to the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array by rotating the device the device about an axis of rotation;
providing a base plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thermal structure;
locating a first major surface of the device in contact with the top surface of the base plate, wherein the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array is in thermal communication with the thermal structure when the device is in contact with the top surface of the base plate; and
controlling the temperature of the thermal structure by directing electromagnetic energy at the bottom surface of the base plate while rotating the base plate and the device about the axis of rotation, whereby the temperature of the sample material is controlled.
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71. A method of conducting a thermal cycling process comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chamber arrays, each process chamber array of the plurality of process chamber arrays comprising a loading chamber and a first process chamber;
providing a base plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thermal structure that comprises at least one thermoelectric module;
locating a first major surface of the device in contact with the top surface of the base plate, wherein the first process chamber of at least one process chamber array of the plurality of process chamber arrays is in thermal communication with the thermal structure when the device is in contact with the top surface of the base plate;
providing sample material in at least one process chamber array of the plurality of process chamber arrays, the sample material being provided in the loading chamber of the at least one process chamber array;
moving the sample material from the loading chamber to the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array by rotating the device the device about an axis of rotation; and
controlling the temperature of the thermal structure by controlling the temperature of the at least one thermoelectric module while rotating the base plate and the device about the axis of rotation, wherein the temperature of the sample material is controlled. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A method of processing sample material comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chamber arrays, each process chamber array of the plurality of process chamber arrays comprising a loading chamber and a first process chamber;
providing sample material in at least one process chamber array of the plurality of process chamber arrays, the sample material being provided in the loading chamber of the at least one process chamber array;
moving the sample material from the loading chamber to the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array by rotating the device the device about an axis of rotation;
directing electromagnetic energy into the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array to raise the temperature of the sample material in the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array; and
rotating the device about an axis of rotation while directing electromagnetic energy into the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array, wherein the temperature of the sample material in the first process chamber of the at least one process chamber array is controlled as the device rotates about the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
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105. A device for processing sample material, the device comprising:
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a substrate comprising first and second major surfaces;
a plurality of process chambers in the device, each of the process chambers defining a volume for containing a sample; and
a plurality of valves with at least one of the valves located between selected pairs of the process chambers, each valve comprising an impermeable barrier, wherein the impermeable barrier of each of the valves separates the selected pairs of process chambers. - View Dependent Claims (106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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113. A device for processing sample material, the device comprising:
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a substrate comprising first and second major surfaces;
a plurality of process chambers in the device, each of the process chambers defining a volume for containing a sample; and
a plurality of valves with at least one of the plurality of valves located between selected pairs of the process chambers, each valve comprising shape memory polymer.
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116. A device for processing sample material, the device comprising:
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a substrate comprising first and second major surfaces;
a plurality of process chambers in the device, each of the process chambers defining a volume for containing a sample;
a seal defining the volume of at least some of the process chambers, wherein the seal comprises shape memory polymer.
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117. A device for processing sample material, the device comprising:
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a substrate comprising first and second major surfaces;
a plurality of process chambers in the device, each of the process chambers defining a volume for containing a sample; and
a control pattern on the device, the control pattern comprising at least one indicator associated with each of the plurality of process chambers, each of the indicators having at least one characteristic indicative of electromagnetic energy to be delivered to each process chamber associated with that indicator, whereby the delivery of the electromagnetic energy to selected process chambers can be controlled.
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118. A method of processing sample material comprising:
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providing a device comprising a plurality of process chamber arrays, each of the process chamber arrays comprising a loading chamber and a process chamber;
providing sample material in the loading chamber of at least one of the process chamber arrays;
moving the sample material from the loading chamber to the process chamber by rotating the device;
providing paramagnetic particles within the sample material located in the process chamber;
providing a magnet proximate the device; and
rotating the device such that the paramagnetic particles within the sample material are subjected to the magnetic field of the magnet during the rotating.
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124. A sample processing system comprising:
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a rotating base plate;
at least one thermal structure attached to the base plate, the at least one thermal structure comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; and
at least one thermoelectric module in thermal communication with the thermal structure, the at least one thermoelectric module arranged to control the temperature of the thermal structure while the base plate is rotating.
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Specification