Thermal regulation of fluidic samples within a diagnostic cartridge

• US 20030073229A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Don, Soerensen, Olaf, Greenstein, Michael, Ingle, Frank, Drese, Klaus Stefan, Drbal, Vladimir, Pittaro, Rick, Stawitcke, Frederick, Hartmann, Hans-Joachim, Mauze, Ganapati R., Pering, Richard, Verdonk, Ed
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1872 Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices

Abstract

A method and miniature analytical device with thermal regulation of reactants using a localized heat source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, such as light emitting diodes (“LED”s) and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (“VCSEL”s), generating internal heat, such as resistive, inductive and Peltier heaters, or external heating. The miniature analytical device comprises of array of temperature-controlled zones to restrict the volume heated and localize the heating by having the localized heat source comprise an array of emitters or heaters.

Claims

1. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation comprising:

a localized heat source; and

a first array of temperature-controlled zones comprising reactants,

wherein said localized heat source regulates temperature in said zones.

2. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, wherein:

said localized heat source comprising a second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters, wherein a second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters is positioned to correspond with said first array of temperature-controlled zones.

3. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 2, wherein:

said second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters comprising vertical cavity surface emitting laser light sources.

4. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 3, wherein:

said second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters transmits infrared light through the reactants to measure the concentration of a material within said reactants.

5. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 3, wherein:

said second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters transmits infrared light through the reactants to measure the temperature of the reactants.

6. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, wherein:

said second array of electromagnetic radiation emitters comprises with at least one light source chosen from a vertical cavity surface emitting laser light source, a light emitting diode, an infrared lamp, an infrared laser, and an infrared diode laser, said first array positioned to correspond with said second array.

7. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 6, wherein:

at least one of said light source in said second array generates infrared light of a different wavelength.

8. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 6, wherein:

said light sources generate infrared light with a wavelength of at least 0.775 micrometers.

9. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 6, wherein:

said light sources generate infrared light with a wavelength of at most 7000 micrometers.

10. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, wherein:

said localized heat source comprises a second array of internal heat generators, wherein said second array of internal heat generators is positioned within said first array of temperature-controlled zones.

11. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 10, wherein:

said internal heat generators comprise of at least one electrical heater chosen from resistive heaters, inductive heaters, and Peltier heaters.

12. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 11, further comprising:

a third array of electrical leads positioned to correspond with said second array of internal heat generators.

13. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, wherein:

said localized heat source comprises a second array of external heaters, wherein said second array of external heaters is positioned to correspond with said first array of temperature-controlled zones.

14. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply coupled to said localized heat source providing sufficient drive current to increase the temperature of said temperature-controlled zones.

15. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 14, further comprising:

a controller coupled to said power supply for controlling the drive current to said localized heat sources.

16. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 15, wherein:

said controller modulates the power supply based on a temperature measured from the temperature-controlled zones.

17. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third array of temperature monitors, said third array positioned to correspond to said first array of temperature-controlled zones.

18. A miniature analytical device with thermal regulation according to claim 1, wherein:

said reactants comprise assay elements for body fluid analysis.

19. A method of thermal regulation for a miniature analytical device comprising:

heating a first array of temperature-controlled zones containing reactants with a localized heat source;

measuring the temperature of said temperature-controlled zones;

modulating said localized heat source; and

regulating the temperature of said temperature-controlled zones.

20. A method of thermal regulation for a miniature analytical device according to claim 19, further comprising:

modifying at least one absorptive property of said reactants.