Heat transfer apparatus for sample containing well plates

• US 6,341,490 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2001
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilson, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gilson, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US09/798,886
• Time in Patent Office: 332 Days
• Field of Search: 62/32, 62/33, 62/36, 62/37, 165/80.3
• US Class Current: 62/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• 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: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/022 the means being wires or pins
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

A thermal transfer comb includes numerous upwardly extending pins received in spaces around and between the sample containing wells of a well plate. Peltier effect modules are in contact with a base panel of the thermal transfer comb to apply heat to or remove heat from the comb. A heat sink and fan transfer heat from or to the modules.

Claims

1. Heat transfer apparatus for well plates of the type having a plurality of vertically extending, spaced apart sample containing wells in an array with a predetermined pattern of spaces around the wells, said heat transfer apparatus comprising:

a thermal transfer comb including a base panel and a plurality of vertically extending pins attached in heat transfer relationship to said base panel;

said pins being arranged to correspond with the predetermined pattern of spaces around the wells of the well plate; and

a source for supplying or absorbing heat, said source being in heat transfer proximity with said thermal transfer comb.

2. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the well plate having a rectilinear row and column X-Y well array where there are n wells in each X row and m wells in each Y column, said pins being in a rectilinear row and column array with at least n+1 pins in each X row and at least m+1 pins in each Y column.

3. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said pins being in an array with n+1 pins in each X row and m+1 pins in each Y column.

4. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said source comprising a peltier effect module in contact with the underside of said base panel.

5. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a heat sink in contact with the underside of said peltier effect module.

6. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a fan for moving air across said heat sink.

7. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said base panel having a pattern of holes, said pins being received in said holes.

8. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said pins being pressed into said holes.

9. Heat transfer apparatus for well plates of the type having a top wall and a plurality of spaced apart sample containing wells arranged in rows and columns depending down from the top wall with a predetermined pattern of spaces around and between the wells, said heat transfer apparatus comprising:

a flat planar thermally insulating jacket containing a module socket;

a peltier effect module seated in said socket and having upper and lower faces exposed at the top and bottom of said jacket;

a heat sink below said jacket in heat transfer proximity to said lower face of said module; and

a thermal transfer comb having a base panel supported at the top of said jacket in thermal transfer relation with said upper face of said module;

said comb having an array of thermally conductive pins extending vertically up from said base panel, said array corresponding to the predetermined pattern of spaces of the well plate.

10. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a heat insulating cover carried by said jacket and enclosing said thermal transfer comb.

11. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 10, said cover having well access openings in rows and columns corresponding to the wells of the well plate.

12. Heat transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a lower housing surrounding said heat sink, and a fan for moving air through said lower housing and across said heat sink.