Temperature controller for small fluid samples with different heat capacities
First Claim
1. A temperature controlled fluidic sample system comprising:
- a fluidic sample device comprising;
a first substrate block having a first inner surface and a first outer surface;
a second substrate block having a second inner surface and a second outer surface;
a first groove formed in the first inner surface, the first groove having first and second ends opening to a peripheral edge of the first substrate block;
the first and second inner surfaces of the first and second substrate blocks facing each other so as to form a first through channel between the first and second substrate, wherein;
the first through channel has first and second ends opening to a peripheral edge of the fluidic sample device;
the first through channel incorporates said first groove;
the first through channel is located between two imaginary planes that are spaced apart by a height (h) of the first through channel, the two imaginary planes being parallel to one another and defining between them a first volume in which the first through channel resides; and
at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the first volume;
a heater thermally coupled to said first outer surface;
a heat sink thermally coupled to said second outer surface; and
a temperature controller configured to receive temperature information from said temperature sensor and cause the heater to provide heat and the heat sink to provide cooling, such that;
a temperature gradient is formed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; and
a desired temperature is maintained within said first volume.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling the temperature of fluidic samples includes a device having a first outer surface and a second outer surface which are parallel to one another. The interior of the device contains two or more channels suitable for accommodating samples. The channels lay on a common plane that is also parallel to the first and second outer surfaces. A temperature sensor is positioned between the channels along the common plane. A heater is thermally coupled to one of the two outer surfaces while a heat sink is coupled to the other of the two outer surfaces, thereby establishing a temperature gradient between the first and second outer surfaces. A temperature controller receives sensed temperature input from the temperature sensor and adjusts the heater in response thereto.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A temperature controlled fluidic sample system comprising:
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a fluidic sample device comprising; a first substrate block having a first inner surface and a first outer surface; a second substrate block having a second inner surface and a second outer surface; a first groove formed in the first inner surface, the first groove having first and second ends opening to a peripheral edge of the first substrate block; the first and second inner surfaces of the first and second substrate blocks facing each other so as to form a first through channel between the first and second substrate, wherein; the first through channel has first and second ends opening to a peripheral edge of the fluidic sample device; the first through channel incorporates said first groove; the first through channel is located between two imaginary planes that are spaced apart by a height (h) of the first through channel, the two imaginary planes being parallel to one another and defining between them a first volume in which the first through channel resides; and at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the first volume; a heater thermally coupled to said first outer surface; a heat sink thermally coupled to said second outer surface; and a temperature controller configured to receive temperature information from said temperature sensor and cause the heater to provide heat and the heat sink to provide cooling, such that; a temperature gradient is formed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; and a desired temperature is maintained within said first volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28)
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21. A temperature controlled fluidic sample system comprising:
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a fluidic sample device having first and second outer surfaces and at least one internal compartment configured to hold a fluid sample, said compartment being located between two imaginary planes that are spaced apart by a height (h) of said compartment, the two imaginary planes being parallel to one another and also parallel to the first and second outer surfaces, the two imaginary planes defining between them a first volume in which the compartment resides; at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the first volume; a heater thermally coupled to said first outer surface; a heat sink thermally coupled to said second outer surface such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface overlap one another in a direction perpendicular to at least one of the outer surfaces; and a temperature controller configured to receive temperature information from said temperature sensor and cause the heater to provide heat and the heat sink to provide cooling, such that; a temperature gradient is formed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; and a desired temperature is maintained within said first volume. - View Dependent Claims (22, 29)
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23. A method of controlling temperature of at least two fluidic samples having different heat capacities, the method comprising:
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passing first and second fluidic samples along first and second paths formed in a common device, the first fluidic sample having a first heat capacity and the second fluidic sample having a second heat capacity, said first and second paths being substantially along a common plane within said device; forming a temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to said plane such that a uniform heat flux passes through said plane, the temperature gradient being formed between a heater thermally coupled to said device and providing heat on one side of the plane, and a heat sink thermally coupled to said device and providing cooling on an opposite side of the plane; measuring a temperature of the device at a point in said plane, said point being between the first and second paths; and adjusting at least one of the heater and the heat sink, based on the measured temperature of the device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 30)
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26. A method of controlling temperature of at least two fluidic samples, the method comprising:
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passing first and second fluidic samples along first and second paths formed in a common device, the first fluidic sample having a first flow rate through the device and the second fluidic sample having a second flow rate through the device, said first and second paths being substantially along a common plane within said device; forming a temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to said plane such that a uniform heat flux passes through said plane, the temperature gradient being formed between a heater thermally coupled to said device and providing heat on one side of the plane, and a heat sink thermally coupled to said device and providing cooling on an opposite side of the plane; measuring a temperature of the device at a point in said plane, said point being between the first and second paths; and adjusting at least one of the heater and the heat sink, based on the measured temperature of the device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 31)
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Specification