Microtiter plate with integral heater

• US 6,423,948 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kwasnoski, Joseph, Salemme, F. Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US10/012,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 223 Days
• Field of Search: 219/385, 219/386, 219/428, 219/438, 219/441, 422/101, 422/104, 422/285, 435/288.4, 435/809
• US Class Current: 219/428
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1811 using electromagnetic induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1816 using induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

Abstract

A microtiter plate system includes an integral heater. In an embodiment, the integral heater includes a heater plate. In another embodiment, the integral heater includes resistive heater wires positioned beneath and/or between the wells of a microtiter plate. In an embodiment, the microtiter plate system includes optically clear well bottoms that permit sensing and measurement of samples through the optically clear well bottoms. In an implementation, an optically clear heater is positioned beneath the optically clear well bottoms. In an alternative implementation, resistive heater wires are positioned between the wells. In an embodiment, the microtiter plate system includes a microtiter plate lid with an integral heater, which can be implemented using a heater plate, resistive wires, and the like. In an embodiment, the microtiter plate system includes an integral non-contact heater, such as a ferrous plate and/or ferrous particles, powder and/or fibers, which generate heat when subjected to an electromagnetic field. An electromagnetic field can be generated by an inductive coil or the like. In an embodiment, the microtiter plate system includes an integral non-contact heater which generates heat when subjected to microwave radiation from a microwave generator. In an embodiment, the microtiter plate system includes an integral thermostat that maintains a substantially constant temperature in the microtiter plate system.

Claims

1. A multi-well sample plate system, comprising:

a body manufactured from a thermally conductive and chemically inert material, said body including a plurality of wells formed therein;

a heater integrally disposed within said body; and

one or more electrical contacts coupled to said heater.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a heater plate.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a plurality of resistance wires.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a plurality of resistance wires disposed beneath the plurality of wells.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a plurality of resistance wires disposed between the plurality of wells.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises:

a plurality of resistance wires disposed beneath the plurality of wells; and

a plurality of resistance wires disposed between the plurality of wells.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises:

a heater plate disposed beneath the plurality of wells; and

a plurality of resistance wires disposed between the plurality of wells.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said body further comprises optically clear well bottoms.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heater includes

an optically clear heater and said body includes optically clear well bottoms.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an insulation layer formed around an outer portion of said body.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lid manufactured from a non-metallic, thermally conductive, and chemically inert material;

a lid heater disposed within said lid; and

one or more electrical contacts coupled to said lid heater.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said lid heater comprises a plurality of resistance wires.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said lid heater comprises a heater plate.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor disposed within said body.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor disposed external to said body.

16. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a thermostat disposed within said body.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a power source electrically coupled to at least one of said one or more electrical contacts.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor disposed within said body; and

a power source controller coupled between said temperature sensor and said power source.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said power source controller comprises a programmable power source controller.

20. A microtiter heater system comprising:

a lid manufactured from a thermally conductive, and chemically inert material;

a lid heater disposed within said lid; and

one or more electrical contacts coupled to said lid heater.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said lid heater comprises a plurality of resistance wires.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said lid heater comprises a heater plate.

23. A method of heating a multi-well sample plate having an integral heater disposed therein and one or more electrical contacts coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:

(1) providing electrical power to said one or more electrical contacts, thereby heating the multi-well sample plate;

(2) sensing a temperature of said multi-well sample plate; and

(3) adjusting said electrical power to maintain a desired temperature of said multi-well plate.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein step (2) comprises sensing said temperature with a temperature sensor integrally disposed within said multi-well sample plate.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein step (2) comprises sensing said temperature with a temperature sensor externally disposed on said multi-well sample plate.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein step (2) comprises sensing said temperature with a wireless temperature sensor.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein step (3) comprises adjusting said electrical power with a programmable controller.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein step (3) selectively switching said electrical power on and off.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein step (3) adjusting said electrical power between a range of values.

30. A multi-well sample plate system for heating a multi-well sample plate having an integral heater disposed therein and one or more electrical contacts coupled thereto, comprising:

means for providing electrical power to said one or more electrical contacts, thereby heating the multi-well sample plate;

means for sensing a temperature of said multi-well sample plate; and

means for adjusting said electrical power to maintain a desired temperature of said multi-well plate.