Integrated devices and systems for performing temperature controlled reactions and analyses

• US 6,171,850 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caliper Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert S., Nagle, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/264,285
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/91.2, 435/287.2, 435/286.1, 435/288.4, 435/303.1, 435/305.2, 435/305.3, 435/809, 435/288.5, 204/451, 204/453, 204/455, 204/601, 204/604, 204/605, 219/428, 219/436, 219/437, 219/438, 219/540, 422/943, 422/102, 422/104
• US Class Current: 435/286.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00313 the reactor vessels being formed by arrays of wells in blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• 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 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

Claims

1. A reactor system, comprising:

a reactor element comprising a plurality of reservoirs disposed in a surface of a substrate;

a heating element; and

at least a first heat exchanger disposed within at least one of the plurality of reservoirs, the heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heating element,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of fins.

2. The reactor system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is electrically conductive and is operably coupled to an electrical power supply.

3. The reactor system of claim 1, further comprising an array of a plurality of heat exchangers in thermal communication with the heating element, each of the plurality of heat exchangers disposed in a separate reservoir.

4. The reactor system of claim 1, wherein the at least first heat exchanger is disposed on a solid frame that is removably positioned over the reactor element to insert the heat exchanger into the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

5. The reactor system of claim 4, wherein the frame is rotatably positioned over reactor element to rotate the heat exchanger into and out of the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

6. The reactor system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs is in fluid communication with a channel network disposed within an interior region of the reactor element.

7. The reactor system of claim 1, wherein the heating element further comprises a cooling element.

8. A reactor system, comprising:

a reactor element comprising a plurality of reservoirs disposed in a surface of a substrate;

a heating element; and

at least a first heat exchanger disposed within at least one of the plurality of reservoirs, the heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heating element,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coil.

9. The reactor system of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is electrically conductive and is operably coupled to an electrical power supply.

10. The reactor system of claim 8, further comprising an array of a plurality of heat exchangers in thermal communication with the heating element, each of the plurality of heat exchangers disposed in a separate reservoir.

11. The reactor system of claim 8, wherein the at least first heat exchanger is disposed on a solid frame that is removably positioned over the reactor element to insert the heat exchanger into the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

12. The reactor system of claim 11, wherein the frame is rotatably positioned over reactor element to rotate the heat exchanger into and out of the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

13. The reactor system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs is in fluid communication with a channel network disposed within an interior region of the reactor element.

14. The reactor system of claim 8, wherein the heating element further comprises a cooling element.

15. A reactor system, comprising:

a reactor element comprising a plurality of reservoirs disposed in a surface of a substrate;

a heating element; and

at least a first heat exchanger disposed within at least one of the plurality of reservoirs, the heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heating element,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises a scintered metal element.

16. The reactor system of claim 15, wherein the heat exchanger is electrically conductive and is operably coupled to an electrical power supply.

17. The reactor system of claim 15, further comprising an array of a plurality of heat exchangers in thermal communication with the heating element, each of the plurality of heat exchangers disposed in a separate reservoir.

18. The reactor system of claim 15, wherein the at least first heat exchanger is disposed on a solid frame that is removably positioned over the reactor element to insert the heat exchanger into the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

19. The reactor system of claim 18, wherein the frame is rotatably positioned over reactor element to rotate the heat exchanger into and out of the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

20. The reactor system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs is in fluid communication with a channel network disposed within an interior region of the reactor element.

21. The reactor system of claim 15, wherein the heating element further comprises a cooling element.

22. A reactor system, comprising:

a reactor element comprising a plurality of reservoirs disposed in a surface of a substrate;

a heating element; and

at least a first heat exchanger disposed within at least one of the plurality of reservoirs, the heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heating element,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises a randomly compressed wire.

23. The reactor system of claim 22, wherein the heat exchanger is electrically conductive and is operably coupled to an electrical power supply.

24. The reactor system of claim 22, further comprising an array of a plurality of heat exchangers in thermal communication with the heating element, each of the plurality of heat exchangers disposed in a separate reservoir.

25. The reactor system of claim 22, wherein the at least first heat exchanger is disposed on a solid frame that is removably positioned over the reactor element to insert the heat exchanger into the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

26. The reactor system of claim 25, wherein the frame is rotatably positioned over reactor element to rotate the heat exchanger into and out of the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs.

27. The reactor system of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs is in fluid communication with a channel network disposed within an interior region of the reactor element.

28. The reactor system of claim 22, wherein the heating element further comprises a cooling element.