Temperature control apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing temperature control to a specimen carrier, comprising:
- (a) one or more specimen carriers, each of said specimen carriers comprising a compartment for holding a specimen and reaction fluids;
(b) an enclosure having an interior space and having a site for positioning said one or more specimen carriers;
(c) a temperature-controlled plate located in said enclosure, said temperature-controlled plate having a first position in thermal contact with one side of said one or more specimen carriers placed at said site and a second position out of said thermal contact;
(d) means for moving said temperature-controlled plate between said first position and second position;
(e) means for providing laminar air flow between said temperature-controlled plate and said one or more specimen carriers when said temperature-controlled plate is in said second position;
(f) temperature control means capable of adjusting the temperature of said temperature-controlled plate in response to control signals; and
(g) computer means connected to said temperature control means and to said means for providing laminar air flow, wherein when said temperature-controlled plate is in the first position, the temperature of the one or more specimen carriers may be brought to a first temperature through thermal contact with the temperature-controlled plate and when the temperature-controlled plate is int he second position, laminar air flow provided between the temperature-controlled plate and the one or more specimen carriers may be used to bring the one or more specimen carriers to a second temperature.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for performing automated sample preparation, DNA amplification and detection, which apparatus has heat-sinking, flat carriers for holding specimens and reagents, devices for heating and cooling and maintaining the specimen to or at any given temperature for any given time periods, and a computer to generate signals that control said temperatures and times.
193 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing temperature control to a specimen carrier, comprising:
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(a) one or more specimen carriers, each of said specimen carriers comprising a compartment for holding a specimen and reaction fluids; (b) an enclosure having an interior space and having a site for positioning said one or more specimen carriers; (c) a temperature-controlled plate located in said enclosure, said temperature-controlled plate having a first position in thermal contact with one side of said one or more specimen carriers placed at said site and a second position out of said thermal contact; (d) means for moving said temperature-controlled plate between said first position and second position; (e) means for providing laminar air flow between said temperature-controlled plate and said one or more specimen carriers when said temperature-controlled plate is in said second position; (f) temperature control means capable of adjusting the temperature of said temperature-controlled plate in response to control signals; and (g) computer means connected to said temperature control means and to said means for providing laminar air flow, wherein when said temperature-controlled plate is in the first position, the temperature of the one or more specimen carriers may be brought to a first temperature through thermal contact with the temperature-controlled plate and when the temperature-controlled plate is int he second position, laminar air flow provided between the temperature-controlled plate and the one or more specimen carriers may be used to bring the one or more specimen carriers to a second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing temperature control to one or more specimens in one or more specimen carriers in a specimen treatment process, comprising:
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(a) placing one or more specimen carriers in an enclosure having an interior space and having a site for positioning one or more specimen carriers, each of the said one or more specimen carriers comprising a compartment for holding a specimen; (b) providing; (i) a temperature-controlled plate located in said enclosure, said temperature-controlled plate having a first position in thermal contact with one side of said one or more specimen carriers placed at said site and a second position out of said thermal contact; (ii) means for moving said temperature-controlled plate between said first position and second position; (iii) means for providing laminar air flow between said temperature-controlled plate and said one or more specimen carriers when said temperature-controlled plate is in said second position; (iv) temperature control means capable of adjusting the temperature of said temperature-controlled plate in response to control signals; and (v) computer means connected to said temperature control means and to said means for providing laminar air flow, wherein when said temperature-controlled plate is in the first position, the temperature of the one or more specimen carriers may be warmed through thermal contact the temperature-controlled plate and when the temperature-controlled plate is in the second position, laminar air flow provided between the one or more specimen carriers and the temperature-controlled plate may be used to cool the one or more specimen carriers; (c) performing temperature-changing steps in a predetermined sequence along with one or more specimen treatment steps said temperature-changing steps including; (i) changing the temperature of said one or more specimen carriers to a warmer desired temperature by moving said temperature-controlled plate to said first position utilizing said means for moving said temperature-controlled plate between said first and second positions with respect to said site and providing control signals to adjust the temperature to said warmer desired temperature and to maintain the temperature of the temperature-controlled plate at said warmer desired temperature for a first predetermined time period; and (ii) moving said temperature-controlled plate to said second position utilizing said means for moving the said temperature-controlled plate between said first and second positions and one ore more specimen carriers utilizing said means for providing laminar air flow to adjust the temperature of said temperature-controlled plate to a cooler desired temperature; and
maintaining said cooler desired temperature for a second predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification