Thermostated block with heat-regulating devices

• US 7,074,367 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D-Eppendorf AG
• Original Assignee: D-Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Jodies, Dietmar, Brust, Ruediger, Tennstedt, Ernst, Lurz, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US10/897,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 422/64, 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 436/47, 436/48, 436/157, 435/288.4, 435/303.1
• US Class Current: 422/552
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/023 adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• 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: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/5255 by moving sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/54 using spatial temperature gradients
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used

Abstract

The invention concerns a thermostated block for laboratory thermostats and comprising wells at a wells side to receive and make large-area contact with the parts of vials filled with sample liquids and comprising at least two heat regulating devices contacting the thermostated block in thermally conducting manner to generate different temperatures at different sites of the thermostated block, said block being characterized in that the heat regulating devices are in large-area contact with adjoining zones of the contact side opposite the wells side of the thermostated block.

Claims

1. A thermostated block for laboratory thermostats comprising;

a body of thermally conductive material and having a wells side with a plurality of wells for receiving a plurality of sample liquid-containing vials provided between opposite end sides of the body, and a contact side ex-tending opposite the wells side; and

at least two heat regulating devices arranged one behind another in one direction for providing a temperature gradient in that direction across the tempering block and arranged at the contact side of the body in an area contact with the contact side;

wherein the at least two heat regulating devices are operable at different temperatures in a first operation mode for providing the temperature gradient and are as well operable at same temperature in a second operation mode for providing uniform temperature in the block, and wherein the thermostated block comprises at least two heat regulating devices arranged one behind another in a direction transverse to the one direction for providing the temperature gradient.

4. A thermostated block according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two heat regulating devices is opposed by at least two wells arranged one behind another in the direction of the temperature gradient.

5. A thermostated block according to claim 4, wherein the wells are arranged in rows in the direction of the gradient, in at least one of the rows at least half of the number of wells being located opposite the heat regulating devices.

6. A thermostated block according to claim 1, wherein the wells are arranged in rows in the direction of the gradient, in at least one of the rows at least half of the number of wells being located opposite the heat regulating devices.

7. A thermostated block according to claim 1, wherein at least half of the number of wells being located opposite the heat regulating devices.

2. A thermostated block for laboratory thermostats comprising;

a body of thermally conductive material and having a wells side with a plurality of wells for receiving a plurality of sample liquid-containing vials provided between opposite end sides of the body, and a contact side ex-tending opposite the wells side; and

at least two heat regulating devices spaced from each other and operable at different temperatures for providing a temperature gradient in one direction across the tempering block and arranged at the contact side of the body in an area contact with the contact side;

wherein the wells are arranged in rows in the direction of the gradient, in at least one of the rows at least half of the number of wells being located opposite the heat regulating devices,

wherein at least one of the at least two heat regulating devices is opposed by at least two wells arranged in one of the rows, and

wherein the thermostated block comprises at least two heat regulating devices arranged one behind another in a direction transverse to the one direction for providing the temperature gradient.

3. A thermostated block according to claim 2, wherein the two heat regulating devices arranged one behind another in the direction transverse to the one direction for providing the temperature gradient are operable at same temperature in a first operation mode and are operable at different temperature in a second operation mode.