Slip cover for heated platen assembly

• US 20040018610A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sandell, Donald R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,560,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

Abstract

A heated platen assembly for use in a biological testing device is disclosed having a heated platen defining a plurality of optical openings configured to permit radiation to pass through the heated platen, a light transmissive slip cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of optical openings, and means for retaining the slip cover over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

Claims

1. A heated platen assembly for use in a biological testing device, comprising:

a heated platen defining a plurality of optical openings, the optical openings configured to permit radiation to pass through the heated platen, the heated platen having a first side configured to face away from a plurality of sample wells and a second side configured to face toward the plurality of sample wells;

a light transmissive slip cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of optical openings on the first side of the heated platen; and

means for retaining the slip cover over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

2. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for retaining comprises a recessed portion defined by the heated platen, a part of the heated platen defining the recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover.

3. The heated platen assembly of claim 2, wherein a top surface of the slip cover is substantially flush with a top surface of the heated platen when the slip cover is positioned in the recessed portion of the heated platen.

4. The heated platen assembly of claim 2, wherein the means for retaining comprises a frame member configured to retain the slip cover over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

5. The heated platen assembly of claim 4, wherein the frame member is removably attachable to the heated platen.

6. The heated platen assembly of claim 4, wherein the frame member further comprises a recessed portion configured to retain the slip cover in a desired relation to the heated platen.

7. The heated platen assembly of claim 4, wherein the frame member comprises sheet metal.

8. The heated platen assembly of claim 4, wherein the frame member defines a plurality of holes for attaching the frame member to the heated platen.

9. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, wherein the slip cover comprises glass.

10. The heated platen assembly of claim 9, wherein the slip cover has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm or less.

11. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, wherein the slip cover comprises a non-fluorescing clear polycarbonate.

12. The heated platen assembly of claim 11, wherein the slip cover has a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm to approximately 3.2 mm.

13. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, wherein the slip cover is adhered to the heated platen.

14. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket between the slip cover and the heated platen.

15. The heated platen assembly of claim 14, wherein the gasket is positioned between an outer edge of the slip cover and the heated platen.

16. The heated platen assembly of claim 4, further comprising a gasket positioned between a surface of the slip cover facing the plurality of optical openings and an area of the surface of the heated platen surrounding the plurality of optical openings.

17. The heated platen assembly of claim 1, wherein the heated platen defines 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 96, 384, or 1,536 optical openings.

18. A heated platen assembly for use in a biological testing device, comprising:

a heated platen defining a plurality of optical openings to allow radiation to pass from a first side of the heated platen configured to face away from a sample to be tested to a second side of the heated platen opposite the first side and configured to face toward the sample to be tested; and

means for covering at least one of the plurality of optical openings on the first side of the heated platen, the means for covering at least one of the plurality of optical openings being transmissive to light.

19. The heated platen assembly of claim 18, wherein the means for covering at least one of the plurality of optical openings comprises a slip cover.

20. The heated platen assembly of claim 18, further comprising retaining means configured to retain the means for covering over at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

21. The heated platen assembly of claim 20, wherein the retaining means comprises a recessed portion defined by the heated platen.

22. The heated platen of claim 21, wherein the retaining means further comprises a frame member configured to retain the slip cover within the recessed portion.

23. The heated platen assembly of claim 20, wherein the retaining means comprises a frame member configured to retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

24. The heated platen assembly of claim 22, wherein the frame member includes a recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

25. The heated platen assembly of claim 23, wherein the frame member includes a recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

26. A heated platen assembly for use in a biological testing device, comprising:

a heated platen defining a plurality of optical openings, the optical openings configured to permit radiation to pass through the heated platen, the heated platen having a first side configured to face away from a plurality of sample wells and a second side configured to face toward the plurality of sample wells;

a light transmissive slip cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of optical openings on the first side of the heated platen; and

a fastening apparatus configured to retain the slip cover over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

27. The heated platen assembly of claim 26, wherein the fastening apparatus comprises a recessed portion defined by the heated platen and configured to hold the slip cover in place over at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

28. The heated platen of claim 27, wherein the fastening apparatus further comprises a frame member configured to hold the slip cover within the recessed portion.

29. The heated platen assembly of claim 26, wherein the fastening apparatus comprises a frame member configured to hold the slip cover in place over at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

30. The heated platen assembly of claim 28, wherein the frame member defines a recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

31. The heated platen assembly of claim 29, wherein the frame member defines a recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings.

32. The heated platen assembly of claim 30, further comprising a seal member positioned between a surface of the slip cover facing the plurality of optical openings and an area of the surface of the heated platen surrounding the plurality of optical openings.

33. The heated platen assembly of claim 31, further comprising a seal member positioned between a surface of the slip cover facing the plurality of optical openings and an area of the surface of the heated platen surrounding the plurality of optical openings.

34. The heated platen assembly of claim 27, wherein the fastening apparatus further comprises a seal member configured to provide a press fit between the slip cover and the heated platen.

35. A heated platen assembly for use in a biological testing device, comprising:

a heated platen defining a plurality of optical openings configured to permit radiation to pass from a first side of the heated platen to a second side of the heated platen;

a light transmissive slip cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of optical openings; and

a fastening apparatus configured to retain the slip cover over at least one of the plurality of optical openings, the fastening apparatus comprising a recessed portion defined by the heated platen configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over the at least one of the plurality of optical openings, and the fastening apparatus further comprising a frame member configured to retain the slip cover within the recessed portion.

36. The heated platen assembly of claim 35, wherein the frame member defines a recessed portion configured to surround and retain the slip cover in place over at least one of the plurality of optical openings.