Device and method for controlling the temperature in a moving fluid in a laboratory sample processing system
First Claim
1. A temperature control device comprising:
- a housing, a well within the housing configured to receive an object, at least one fluid port in the housing configured to provide fluid access to the well;
a thermal element in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well;
a temperature sensor disposed in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by fluid in the well as the housing portion moves;
an agitation system coupled to at least a portion of the housing to cause fluid flow within the well to periodically cover and uuncover the temperature sensor with fluid within the well; and
a controller in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and the agitation system and operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature readings from the temperature sensor and movement of the agitation system, wherein temperature readings when the temperature sensor is covered with the fluid correspond to peak temperatures in the temperature data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature control device and method are provided for an analytical system for performing laboratory protocols. The device includes a well within a housing configured to receive a biological specimen according to a predetermined sample process. The specimen is suspended by a holding device in the well. A thermal element is provided in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well. A temperature sensor is located in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by rocking motion of fluid in the well. A controller, in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and an agitation system, is operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature data, for example, peak temperature data, from the temperature sensor.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A temperature control device comprising:
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a housing, a well within the housing configured to receive an object, at least one fluid port in the housing configured to provide fluid access to the well; a thermal element in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well; a temperature sensor disposed in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by fluid in the well as the housing portion moves; an agitation system coupled to at least a portion of the housing to cause fluid flow within the well to periodically cover and uuncover the temperature sensor with fluid within the well; and a controller in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and the agitation system and operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature readings from the temperature sensor and movement of the agitation system, wherein temperature readings when the temperature sensor is covered with the fluid correspond to peak temperatures in the temperature data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22)
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19. A temperature control device comprising:
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a housing, a well within the housing configured to recieve an object, at least one fluid port in the housing configured to provide fluid access to the well; a device for holding the object in the well for movement with respect to the housing, wherein the holding device comprises a slide holder comprising a frame defining a substantially open bottom region, the frame including lips configured to support ends of a microscope slide, wherein the object comprises a biological specimen on the slide accessible to fluid within the well through the open bottom region of the frame; a thermal element in heat exchange communication with fluid in the well; a temperature sensor disposed in the well at a location to be covered and uncovered by fluid in the well as the housing portion moves; an agitation system coupled to at least a portion of the housing to cause fluid flow within the well; and a controller in communication with the thermal element, the temperature sensor, and the agitation system and operative to control the thermal element in correlation with temperature readings from the temperature sensor and movement of the agitation system.
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23. A method for controlling temperature in an analytical system for performing laboratory protocols, comprising:
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providing a housing having a well for containing a biological specimen; placing the biological specimen into the well; introducing a fluid into the well in contact with the biological specimen; heating the fluid in the well in accordance with a predetermined protocol; rocking the housing to cause flow of the fluid within the well to periodically cover and uncover a temperature sensor with fluid within the well; sensing the temperature of the fluid within the chamber at a location remote from the biological specimen, wherein sensed temperatures when the temperature sensor is covered with the fluid correspond to peak temperatures in the temperature data; and controlling the heating of the biological specimen in the chamber in correlation with temperature data from the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification