Reaction vessel, reaction apparatus and reaction solution temperature control method

• US 20060205064A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mortarless Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Mortarless Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Tajima, Hideji
• Application Number:
  US11/433,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205064A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/303.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0013 Controlling the temperature of the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/004 Multifunctional apparatus for automatic manufacturing of various chemical products sequential reactions B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00788 Three-dimensional assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a form other than a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00869 Microreactors placed in parallel, on the same or on different supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00873 Heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• 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 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 7/52 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: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction vessel which makes it possible to control the temperature of the reaction solution accommodated in the reaction chamber with a quick response, without any need for centrifuging when the reaction solution is accommodated in the reaction chamber, and which also makes it possible to cause the reaction to proceed even when the amount of reaction solution accommodated in the reaction chamber is extremely small. The present invention provides a reaction vessel comprising a reaction vessel main body which has a reaction chamber that has an opening part in the upper end and that can accommodate a reaction solution, and a cover member which can seal the opening part of the abovementioned reaction chamber, wherein the abovementioned cover member has a pressing part that can press the reaction solution accommodated in the abovementioned reaction chamber.

Claims

1. A reaction vessel comprising:

a reaction vessel main body defining a reaction chamber having an opening part in an upper end thereof for accommodating a reaction solution; and

a cover member for sealing the opening part of said reaction chamber;

wherein said cover member has a pressing part for pressing the reaction solution accommodated in said reaction chamber.

2. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said pressing part is disposed on said cover member so that the contact area between said reaction solution and said reaction chamber is increased by the pressing of said reaction solution.

3. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said pressing part is disposed on said cover member so that the contact area between said reaction solution and said pressing part is increased by the pressing of said reaction solution.

4. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said pressing part is disposed on said cover member so that said reaction solution is formed into a thin configuration by the pressing of said reaction solution.

5. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said opening part of said reaction chamber has a circumferential portion and said cover member has a first sealing part for forming a tight seal with the circumferential portion of said opening part of said reaction chamber.

6. The reaction vessel according to claim 5, wherein said cover member has a second sealing part for forming a tight seal with an inside surface of said reaction chamber.

7. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said cover member has a lifting part for lifting said cover member.

8. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said reaction vessel further comprises a heat-conducting metal block wherein said heat-conducting metal block contacts at least one of said reaction vessel main body and said cover member.

9. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein said reaction solution comprises a PCR reaction solution, and said reaction vessel comprises a PCR reaction vessel.

10. A reaction apparatus comprising:

a reaction vessel, comprising;

a reaction vessel main body defining a reaction chamber having an opening part in an upper end thereof for accommodating a reaction solution; and

a cover member for sealing the opening part of said reaction chamber;

wherein said cover member has a pressing part for pressing the reaction solution accommodated in said reaction chamber; and

a temperature control device,

wherein said temperature control device controls the temperature of said reaction chamber and said cover member.

11. The reaction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reaction apparatus further comprises a cover member detachment device for removing said cover member from said reaction vessel main body when said cover member is mounted on said reaction vessel main body.

12. The reaction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reaction vessel comprises a PCR reaction vessel, and said reaction apparatus comprises a PCR reaction apparatus.

13. A reaction solution temperature control method comprising:

pressing a reaction solution accommodated in a reaction chamber by means of a pressing member; and

controlling the temperature of said reaction solution via a contact surface between said reaction solution and said reaction chamber and a contact surface between said reaction solution and said pressing member.

14. The reaction solution temperature control method according to claim 13, wherein said reaction solution is pressed so that the contact area between said reaction solution and said reaction chamber is increased.

15. The reaction solution temperature control method according to claim 13, wherein said reaction solution is pressed so that the contact area between said reaction solution and said pressing member is increased.

16. The reaction solution temperature control method according to claim 13, wherein said reaction solution is pressed so that said reaction solution assumes a thin configuration.

17. The reaction solution temperature control method according to claim 13, wherein said reaction solution comprises a PCR reaction solution.