Sample block apparatus and method for maintaining a microcard on a sample block

• US 20040023371A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fawcett, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 7,452,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/303.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• 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 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

Abstract

A thermal cycling device for thermally cycling samples of biological material contained in a microcard having a top and bottom surface. The thermal cycling device can include a sample block having an upper surface configured for engaging the bottom surface of a microcard, a vacuum device, and a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block. The upper surface of the sample block may include a plurality of channels, the channels defining spaces between the sample block and the bottom surface of a microcard that may be positioned thereon. The vacuum device may be in fluid communication with the sample block for drawing gas out of the spaces defined by the channels in the sample block. The vacuum device may be configured for substantially maintaining a vacuum between the sample block and microcard so that a retention force is imparted on the microcard to urge the microcard toward the sample block. Methods of maintaining a microcard on a sample block of a thermal cycling device are also provided.

Claims

1. A thermal cycling device for thermally cycling samples of biological material contained in a microcard having a top and bottom surface, comprising:

a sample block having an upper surface configured for engaging the bottom surface of a microcard, the upper surface defining a plurality of channels, the channels defining spaces between the sample block and the bottom surface of a microcard that may be positioned thereon;

a vacuum device in fluid communication with the sample block for drawing gas out of the spaces defined by the channels in the sample block, the vacuum device configured for substantially maintaining a vacuum between the sample block and microcard so that a retention force is imparted on the microcard to urge the microcard toward the sample block; and

a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block, the temperature control system configured for cycling the sample block through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of time and temperatures.

2. The thermal cycling device of claim 1, wherein the channels in the sample block comprise a plurality of perpendicularly intersecting grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

3. The thermal cycling device of claim 2, wherein the grooves in the sample block are positioned in such a manner that the grooves are not positioned immediately vertically below chambers in the microcard.

4. The thermal cycling device of claim 1, wherein the channels in the sample block comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

5. The thermally cycling device of claim 4, wherein the grooves in the sample block are positioned in such a manner that the grooves are not positioned immediately vertically below chambers in the microcard.

6. The thermal cycling device of claim 1, wherein the sample block further comprises a gasket positioned around an outer periphery of the channels in the sample block platform, the gasket configured to engage the bottom surface of the microcard when the microcard is positioned on the sample block.

7. The thermal cycling device of claim 6, wherein the sample block further comprises a groove around the outer periphery of the channels, the gasket being positioned in the groove.

8. The thermal cycling device of claim 1, further comprising a microcard carrier, wherein the microcard carrier is positioned above the microcard when the microcard is positioned on the sample block.

9. The thermal cycling device of claim 8, wherein the microcard carrier includes at least one downwardly projecting rib configured for engagement with an outer periphery of the upper surface of the microcard outside of chambers configured for containing biological material, the rib pressing downward on the outer periphery of the microcard to assist in maintaining a vacuum between microcard and the sample block.

10. The thermal cycling device of claim 9, wherein the microcard carrier includes openings aligning with chambers in the microcard.

11. The thermal cycling device of claim 9, further comprising a cover for pressing downward on the microcard carrier.

12. The thermal cycling device of claim 1, further comprising an optical detection system configured for detecting characteristics of samples of biological material contained in the microcard.

13. A sample block apparatus for a thermal cycler configured for use with a microcard containing a plurality of samples of biological material, comprising:

a sample block comprising an upper surface configured for resting a microcard thereon, the upper surface including surface irregularities for defining spaces between the surface irregularities and a microcard that may be positioned thereon;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the space between the surface irregularity and the microcard positioned thereon, the vacuum source being configured to create a substantial vacuum in the spaces thereby imparting a force on the microcard to retain the microcard on the sample block upper surface; and

a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block to cycle the sample block according to a user-defined profile.

14. The sample block apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surface irregularities on the upper surface of the sample block comprise channels.

15. The sample block apparatus of claim 14, wherein the channels comprise a plurality of perpendicularly intersecting grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

16. The sample block apparatus of claim 15, wherein the grooves are positioned in such a manner that the grooves are not positioned immediately vertically below the chambers in the microcard.

17. The sample block apparatus of claim 14, wherein the channels comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

18. The sample block apparatus of claim 15, wherein the grooves are positioned in such a manner that the channels are not positioned immediately vertically below the chambers in the microcard.

19. The sample block apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surface irregularities on the upper surface of the sample block comprise rough surfaces.

20. The sample block apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sample block further comprises a gasket positioned around an outer periphery of the sample block channels, the gasket configured to engage a bottom surface of the microcard when the microcard is positioned on the sample block.

21. The sample block apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sample block further comprises a groove around the outer periphery of the channels, the gasket being positioned in the groove.

22. The sample block apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user-defined profile of the temperature control system is defined by a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of time and temperatures.

23. A microcard retaining apparatus for a thermal cycler of biological materials, comprising:

a sample block having an upper surface, the upper surface configured to engage a bottom surface of a microcard that may be positioned thereon, the upper surface of the sample block further comprising a plurality of recesses; and

a vacuum port in the sample block in fluid communication with the plurality of recesses to assist in imparting a vacuum in the recesses to cause the microcard to press downward against the upper surface of the sample block, the vacuum port configured for attachment to a vacuum source.

24. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 23, wherein the recesses comprise a plurality of perpendicularly intersecting grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

25. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 23, wherein the recesses comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves on the upper surface of the sample block.

26. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sample block further comprises a groove around the outer periphery of the upper surface of the sample block, the microcard retaining apparatus further comprising a gasket inserted in the groove,

wherein the gasket is positioned between the microcard and sample block during thermal cycling, the gasket assisting in maintaining a seal between the sample block and the microcard.

27. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a microcard carrier, wherein the microcard carrier is positioned above the microcard when the microcard is positioned on the sample block.

28. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 27, wherein the microcard carrier includes at least one downwardly projecting rib configured for engagement with an outer periphery of a top surface of the microcard outside of the samples of biological material, the rib pressing downward on the outer periphery to assist in maintaining a vacuum between the microcard and the sample block.

29. The microcard retaining apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block to raise and lower the temperature of the sample block according to a user-defined profile.

30. A method of maintaining a microcard on a sample block of a thermal cycling device, comprising:

providing a sample block with a plurality of channels on an upper surface thereof;

providing a microcard containing at least one sample of biological material above the upper surface of the sample block so that a bottom surface of the microcard contact the upper surface of the sample block;

imparting a vacuum on spaces defined by the channels on the upper surface of the sample block and the bottom surface of a microcard positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the sample block, the vacuum creating a force to urge the microcard against the upper surface of the sample block; and

thermally cycling the microcard through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing a gasket on an outer peripheral surface of the sample block, the gasket contacting and forming a substantial seal with the bottom surface of the microcard during thermal cycling of the microcard.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising, prior to imparting a vacuum, pressing downward on the microcard to press the microcard against the gasket.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of pressing downward on the microcard is performed by a microcard carrier in contact with the microcard.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising, simultaneously with the step of thermally cycling the microcard, detecting the optical characteristics of the at least one sample of biological material.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of thermally cycling the microcard includes controlling the temperature of the sample block by a temperature control system operatively connected to the sample block, the temperature being raised and lowered according to a user-defined profile.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of thermally cycling the microcard further comprises at least two repetitions of said sequence of times and temperatures.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising optically detecting the characteristics of the at least one sample of biological material.

38. Apparatus for thermally cycling samples of biological material contained in a microcard, comprising:

a sample block configured to assist in heating and cooling a microcard during thermal cycling;

means for urging a microcard against a top surface of a sample block of a thermal cycling device using a vacuum; and

means for imposing a substantial vacuum in a space between the sample block and the microcard.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for urging comprises a plurality of channels positioned on an upper surface of the sample block.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block to raise and lower the temperature of the sample block according to a user-defined profile.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising an optical detection system configured for detecting characteristics of samples of biological material contained in the microcard.

42. A thermal cycling apparatus, comprising:

a base, with said base defining a void therein;

a vacuum port disposed for fluid communication with said void;

support features disposed adjacent said void on the base, with said support features including uppermost surface regions defining a common plane; and

a temperature control system configured for cycling at least one of the base and the support features through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of times and temperatures.

43. The thermal cycling device of claim 42, further comprising an optical detection system configured for detecting characteristics of samples of biological material contained in the microcard.