INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS FOR EXPOSING A RECEPTACLE TO MULTIPLE THERMAL ZONES
First Claim
1. An instrument for processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the instrument being constructed and arranged to support the receptacle in an operative position during the processing and comprising:
- one or more thermal elements defining one or more multiple chamber thermal zones disposed to be in thermal communication with the receptacle and constructed and arranged to transmit thermal energy between each multiple chamber thermal zone and an associated region of the receptacle, wherein the associated region of the receptacle encompasses all or a portion of each of two or more but less than all chambers of the receptacle, anda controller programmed to control operation of the one or more thermal elements defining the multiple chamber thermal zones to selectively heat or cool the chambers encompassed within the regions associated with the multiple chamber thermal zones.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An instrument for processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the instrument being constructed and arranged to support the receptacle in an operative position during the processing and comprising:
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one or more thermal elements defining one or more multiple chamber thermal zones disposed to be in thermal communication with the receptacle and constructed and arranged to transmit thermal energy between each multiple chamber thermal zone and an associated region of the receptacle, wherein the associated region of the receptacle encompasses all or a portion of each of two or more but less than all chambers of the receptacle, and a controller programmed to control operation of the one or more thermal elements defining the multiple chamber thermal zones to selectively heat or cool the chambers encompassed within the regions associated with the multiple chamber thermal zones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for heating or cooling substances within a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning the receptacle in thermal communication with one or more multiple chamber thermal zones contained in an analyzer, each multiple chamber thermal zone being associated with a region of the receptacle encompassing all or a portion of each of two or more but less than all chambers of the receptacle; and transmitting thermal energy between each multiple chamber thermal zone and the chambers encompassed by the region associated with the multiple chamber thermal zone to selectively heat or cool substances contained within the encompassed chambers to a temperature different than the temperature of the chambers encompassed by at least one other region. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification