Thermal cycling apparatus and method for providing thermal uniformity
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for thermally cycling biological samples comprising:
- a thermal block assembly for receiving said biological samples;
a thermoelectric module coupled to said thermal block assembly;
a frame comprising a printed circuit board material positioned around the thermoelectric module and configured to align the thermoelectric module with the thermal block assembly;
a heat sink, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said thermoelectric module with a thermal interface medium, wherein said heat sink comprises a base plate and fins;
a rigid thermal diffusivity plate, wherein said rigid thermal diffusivity plate (a) comprises a different material than said base plate and fins, (b) is positioned between the thermoelectric module and heat sink and contacts the thermoelectric module and the heat sink and (c) is configured to provide temperature uniformity to said thermal block assembly during thermal cycling.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for rapid thermal cycling including a thermal diffusivity plate. The thermal diffusivity plate can provide substantial temperature uniformity throughout the thermal block assembly during thermal cycling by a thermoelectric module. An edge heater can provide substantial temperature uniformity throughout the thermal block assembly during thermal cycling.
29 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally cycling biological samples comprising:
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a thermal block assembly for receiving said biological samples; a thermoelectric module coupled to said thermal block assembly; a frame comprising a printed circuit board material positioned around the thermoelectric module and configured to align the thermoelectric module with the thermal block assembly; a heat sink, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said thermoelectric module with a thermal interface medium, wherein said heat sink comprises a base plate and fins; a rigid thermal diffusivity plate, wherein said rigid thermal diffusivity plate (a) comprises a different material than said base plate and fins, (b) is positioned between the thermoelectric module and heat sink and contacts the thermoelectric module and the heat sink and (c) is configured to provide temperature uniformity to said thermal block assembly during thermal cycling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for thermally cycling biological samples comprising:
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a thermal block assembly for receiving said biological samples; a thermoelectric module capable of heating and cooling, wherein the thermoelectric module is coupled to said thermal block assembly; a printed circuit board positioned around the thermoelectric module and configured to align the thermoelectric module with the thermal block assembly; a heat sink; a frame positioned around the thermoelectric module; and a rigid thermal diffusivity plate comprising copper coupled to said thermoelectric module with a thermal interface medium and coupled to said heat sink, wherein said rigid thermal diffusivity plate is positioned between said thermoelectric module and said heat sink, has at least 25% greater thermal diffusivity than said heat sink and is configured to provide temperature uniformity to said thermal block assembly during thermal cycling. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for thermally cycling biological samples comprising:
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a thermal block assembly for receiving biological samples; a thermoelectric module in direct contact with a printed circuit board and coupled to said thermal block assembly; a frame positioned around the thermoelectric module and configured to align the thermoelectric module with the thermal block assembly; a heat sink, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said thermoelectric module with a thermal interface medium, wherein said heat sink comprises a baseplate and fins, is structured and arranged to provide a heat sink uniformity to the block assembly; a rigid thermal diffusivity plate, wherein said rigid thermal diffusivity plate comprises a different material from the baseplate and fins, is positioned between the thermoelectric module and heat sink, structured and arranged to provide temperature uniformity to said thermal block assembly during thermal cycling, and wherein the rigid thermal diffusivity plate has a thickness less than the baseplate; and wherein the uniformity provided by the diffusivity plate is greater than the heat sink thermal uniformity at an at least one specified point during a thermal cycle. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification