Temperature control device and reaction vessel

• US 5,460,780 A
• Filed: 12/18/1989
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clinical Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clinical Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Lercher, John S., Wellman, Jeffrey A., Devaney, Mark J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Timothy M.
• Application Number:
  US07/452,932
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 422/55, 422/58, 422/66, 422/68.1, 422/98, 422/89, 435/6, 435/91, 935/77, 935/78
• US Class Current: 422/547
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• 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: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums

Abstract

A combination is provided of a reaction vessel and apparatus for processing it. Preferably, the latter features a temperature control device comprising two surfaces to contact a reaction vessel sandwiched between them, a heater element being disposed on one side of one of the surfaces, a cavity being provided at the heater element, and pressure means for delivering cooling gas to the cavity and the heater element and for removing the air after it has cooled the heater element. Most preferably, there is further included means for providing relative movement between the control device and a reaction vessel so sandwiched between the two surfaces.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing a flexible reaction vessel containing burstable compartments to cycle it through at least two temperature changes, the apparatus comprising:

means for heating at least one side wall of a selected portion of a suitable reaction vessel,

means for actively cooling said heating means at repeated intervals,

and means for moving one of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means in a prescribed path relative to the other of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means, said moving means comprising means for compressing and bursting selectively, said compartments of the flexible reaction vessel after it is heated and cooled by said heating means and said cooling means, respectively.

2. Apparatus for processing a flexible reaction vessel containing burstable compartments to cycle it through at least two temperature changes, the apparatus comprising:

means for heating at least one side wall of a selected portion of a suitable reaction vessel,

means for actively cooling said heating means at repeated intervals,

and means for moving one of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means in a prescribed path relative to the other of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means, said moving means comprising means for compressing and bursting selectively, said compartments of the flexible reaction vessel after it is heated and cooled by said heating means and said cooling means, respectively) said moving means and said compressing means comprising a roller mounted on a axle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said heating means and said cooling means are carried on said axle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including mean for biasing said heating means and said cooling means against the selected reaction vessel portion with a predetermined force.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and wherein said biasing means is sufficient to compress the reaction vessel into a surface compliance with contacting objects that is at least equivalent to the compliance achieved when using about 270 g of force delivered over a generally circular area of about 180 mm² on a compartment in a reaction vessel, said compartment being comprised of opposed sidewalls each consisting essentially of a sandwich of about 0.013 mm thick polyester and about 0.1 mm thick polyethylene, and being substantially filled with about 170 μ

l of liquid.

6. Apparatus for processing a reaction vessel to cycle it through at least two temperature changes, the apparatus comprising:

means for heating at least one side wall of a selected portion of a suitable reaction vessel,

means for actively cooling a said heating means at repeated intervals,

and means for moving one of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means in a prescribed path relative to the other of a) said reaction vessel and b) said heating and cooling means,

wherein said cooling means further comprise a jet aperture and a source of pressurized gas, said aperture and aligned with said heating means to cool it with said gas.

7. In combination, a flexible, collapsible reaction vessel comprising opposed side walls spaced apart at portions of the vessel to provide a compartment, and at least one liquid confined to said compartment, said side walls being sufficiently compliant as to conform said liquid-confining side walls to the surface of objects pressing thereagainst,

and processing apparatus for said vessel, said apparatus comprising a) means for heating at least one of said side walls, said heating means being mounted to press on said one side wall, b) cooling means for actively cooling said heating means, and c) means for pressing said heating and said cooling means against said at least one sidewall with sufficient force as to conform said one side wall to the surface of said heating and cooling means.

9. A combination as defined in claim 7 and further including in said apparatus, d) a generally flat support for said reaction vessel, and e) heating means in said support for heating the other of said side walls.

10. A combination as defined in claim 7, 8 or 9, and further including in said apparatus, a roller for compressing and bursting selectively, said compartment.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said roller, and said heating and Cooling means for said at least one side wall are mounted on an axle.

8. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said force is at least about 270 g of loading when said compartment contains a liquid of about 170 μ

l and said side walls each consists essentially of a sandwich of about 0.013 mm thick polyester and about 0.1 mm thick polyethylene.

12. A temperature control device for providing temperature changes in a reaction vessel, said device comprising two surfaces for contacting a reaction vessel sandwiched between them, at least one of said surfaces comprising a thermally conductive material,

and further including in said control device a) a heater element disposed on a side of said at least one surface material, b) a wall surface spaced from said surface material to define a cavity for providing air flow over said element, and c) cooling means in said wall surface for delivering cooling air to said cavity and said heating element and for removing air from said cavity that has flowed over said heating element.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, in which both of said surfaces comprise said thermally conductive material, and there is further included with both of said surfaces on the side of the material opposite to the side that is to contact a reaction vessel, said heater element and said wall surface.

14. A device as defined in claim 12 or 13, wherein said cooling means comprise at least one jet aperture in said wall surface opposite to said heater element, and at least one exhaust aperture disposed to one side of said heater element, said jet aperture being fluidly connected to an air source and said exhaust aperture being fluidly connected to the atmosphere.

15. A device as defined in claim 12 or 13, in which at least one of said surfaces is mounted on a movable frame, and further including means for moving said frame across a reaction vessel disposed between said surfaces.

16. A device as defined in claim 15, and further including on said frame, a roller for compressing a reaction vessel against the other of said surfaces not mounted on said frame.