Sample Block Apparatus and Method for Maintaining a Microcard on a Sample Block

• US 20130345097A1
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fawcett, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 10,253,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/39
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• 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 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

Abstract

A thermal cycling device for thermally cycling samples of biological material contained in a microcard having a top and bottom surface. The thermal cycling device can include a sample block having an upper surface configured for engaging the bottom surface of a microcard, a vacuum device, and a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block. The upper surface of the sample block may include a plurality of channels, the channels defining spaces between the sample block and the bottom surface of a microcard that may be positioned thereon. The vacuum device may be in fluid communication with the sample block for drawing gas out of the spaces defined by the channels in the sample block. The vacuum device may be configured for substantially maintaining a vacuum between the sample block and microcard so that a retention force is imparted on the microcard to urge the microcard toward the sample block. Methods of maintaining a microcard on a sample block of a thermal cycling device are also provided.

Claims

1. A biological analysis system, comprising:

a sample block having an upper surface that contacts a substrate, the substrate configured to contain at least one biological sample, the upper surface of the sample block having at least one surface irregularity that defines at least one space located between the upper surface of the sample block and a surface of the substrate;

a vacuum device that is in fluid communication with the at least one space, the vacuum device configured to draw gas out of the at least one space thereby creating a vacuum that retains the substrate on the sample block; and

a temperature control system coupled to the sample block, the temperature control system configured to maintain the substrate at at least one pre-determined temperature for at least one predetermined amount of time during at least one biological process.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical detection system configured to detect at least one optical signal during at least one biological process, wherein the optical detection system is positioned above the substrate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control system provides substantial temperature uniformity across the substrate during at least one biological process.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface irregularity is selected from the group consisting of channels, recesses, and voids.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of intersecting grooves.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of substantially parallel grooves.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of intersecting grooves and substantially parallel grooves.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of lateral and longitudinal grooves.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of perpendicular and parallel grooves.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one vacuum port that places at least one vacuum source into fluid communication with the at least one space.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one space is a sealed volume.

12. An optical detection system, comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the substrate configured to contain at least one DNA sample;

a sample block having an upper surface and at least one surface irregularity formed within the upper surface, the upper surface supporting the first surface of the substrate such that the first surface of the substrate overlays the at least one surface irregularity to form a sealed volume;

a temperature control system coupled to the sample block, the temperature control system maintaining the substrate at at least one pre-determined temperature for at least one pre-determined amount of time during at least one biological process;

a vacuum device in fluid communication with the at least one surface irregularity formed in the sample block, said vacuum device exerting and maintaining a vacuum within the sealed volume to urge the substrate toward the sample block during at least one biological process; and

an optical detector configured to detect at least one optical signal during at least one biological process.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one surface irregularity is selected from the group consisting of channels, recesses, and voids.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of intersecting grooves.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of substantially parallel grooves.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of intersecting grooves and substantially parallel grooves.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of lateral and longitudinal grooves.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of perpendicular and parallel grooves.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface irregularity comprises a plurality of perpendicular and parallel grooves.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein an entire surface area of the second surface of the substrate is positioned adjacent at least one component of the optical detector.