EP0402995A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature control device and reaction vessel
Assignee: Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Inc
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Filing: 1990-06-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Reaction vessels are known for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, temperature cycling of such vessels has been both expensive and complicated to implement. Described herein is processing apparatus which overcomes the problems mentioned above. The apparatus features a temperature control device which comprises two surfaces (46) to contact a reaction vessel (10) sandwiched between them. A heater element (54) is disposed on one side of one of the surfaces (46). The heater element (54) is cooled by means of a gas flow through a cavity (58) which is formed above the surface of the heater element (54). The cavity (58) includes an inlet aperture (60) for delivering cooling gas to the cavity (58) and heater element, and an exhaust aperture (62) for venting the air to atmosphere after it has cooled the heater element (54). Most preferably, there is further included means (76, 78) for providing relative movement between the temperature control device and a reaction vessel (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Joseph Jr. C/O Eastman Kodak Comp. Devaney
- 👤 John Stephen C/O Eastman Kodak Company Lercher
- 👤 Jeffrey Allen C/O Eastman Kodak Company Wellman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/505; B01L7/00; B01L7/52; G01N35/10; G01N35/1079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for processing a reaction vessel to cycle it through at least two temperature changes, the apparatus comprising: heating means (54; 54A) for heating at least one side wall (21, 23) of a selected portion (20) of a suitable reaction vessel (10); and moving means (70, 72, 74; 70A; 74B) for moving the reaction vessel (10) and the heating means (54; 54A) in a prescribed path relative to one other; characterized in that the apparatus further comprises cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) for actively cooling the heating means (54; 54A) at repeated intervals, the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) undergoing relative movement with the heating means (54; 54A).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for processing a reaction vessel to cycle it through at least two temperature changes, the apparatus comprising: heating means (54; 54A) for heating at least one side wall (21, 23) of a selected portion (20) of a suitable reaction vessel (10); and moving means (70, 72, 74; 70A; 74B) for moving the reaction vessel (10) and the heating means (54; 54A) in a prescribed path relative to one other; characterized in that the apparatus further comprises cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) for actively cooling the heating means (54; 54A) at repeated intervals, the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) undergoing relative movement with the heating means (54; 54A).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel (10) is flexible and the moving means include compressing means (76, 78; 76B, 76B) for compressing and selectively bursting a portion (20) of the flexible reaction vessel (10) after it has been heated and cooled by the heating means (54; 54A) and the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the compressing means comprise a roller (78; 78B) mounted on an axle (76; 76B).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heating means (54; 54A) and the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) are carried on the axle (76; 76B).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, further including biasing means (110; 120) for biasing the heating means (54; 54A) and the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) against the selected portion (20) of the reaction vessel (10) with a predetermined force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the biasing means (110; 120) is sufficient to compress the reaction vessel (10) into a surface compliance with contacting objects which is at least equivalent to the compliance achieved when using about 2.6N of force delivered over a generally circular area of about 180mm² on a compartment (20) in a reaction vessel (10), the compartment (20) being comprised of opposed side walls (21, 23) each consisting essentially of a sandwich of about 0.013mm thick polyester and about 0.1mm thick polyethylene, and being substantially filled with about 170µl of liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) comprise a jet aperture (60; 60A; 60B) and a source (64) of pressurized gas, the aperture (60; 60A; 60B) being aligned with the heating means (54; 54A) to cool it with the gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
A temperature control device for providing rapid temperature changes in a reaction vessel (10), the device comprising two surfaces (46) for contacting a reaction vessel (10) sandwiched between them, at least one of the surfaces (46) comprising a thermally conductive material, characterized in that the control device further includes:- a) a heater element (54; 54A) disposed on one side of the at least one surface (42, 44); b) a wall surface (56; 56A) spaced from the surface (46) to define a cavity (58; 58B) for providing air flow over the heater element (54; 54A); and c) cooling means (60, 62, 64; 60A, 62A) in the wall surface (56; 56A) for delivering cooling air to the cavity (58; 58B) and the heating element (54; 54A), and for removing air from the cavity (58; 58B) which has flowed over the heating element (54; 54A).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A temperature control device for providing rapid temperature changes in a reaction vessel (10), the device comprising two surfaces (46) for contacting a reaction vessel (10) sandwiched between them, at least one of the surfaces (46) comprising a thermally conductive material, characterized in that the control device further includes:- a) a heater element (54; 54A) disposed on one side of the at least one surface (42, 44); b) a wall surface (56; 56A) spaced from the surface (46) to define a cavity (58; 58B) for providing air flow over the heater element (54; 54A); and c) cooling means (60, 62, 64; 60A, 62A) in the wall surface (56; 56A) for delivering cooling air to the cavity (58; 58B) and the heating element (54; 54A), and for removing air from the cavity (58; 58B) which has flowed over the heating element (54; 54A).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein both of the surfaces (46) comprise the thermally conductive material, and each surface (46) has an associated heater element (54; 54A), wall surface (56; 56A) and the cooling means (60, 62, 64; 60A, 62A).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cooling means (60, 62, 64; 60A, 62A) comprise at least one jet aperture (60; 60A) in the wall surface (56; 56A) opposite to the heater element (54; 54A), and at least one exhaust aperture (62; 62A) disposed to one side of the heater element (54; 54A), the jet aperture (60; 60A) being fluidly connected to an air source (64) and the exhaust aperture (62; 62A) being fluidly connected to the atmosphere.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
48 words
A device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the surfaces (46) is mounted on a movable frame (74; 74B), and means are provided for moving the frame (74; 74B) across a reaction vessel (10) disposed between the surfaces (42, 44).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 11, a roller (78; 78B) is mounted on the frame (74; 74B), the roller (78; 78B) being operable for compressing a reaction vessel (10) against the other of the surfaces not mounted on the frame (74; 74B).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
189 words
In combination, a flexible, collapsible reaction vessel (10) comprising opposed side walls (21, 23) spaced apart at portions of the vessel (10) to provide a compartment (20), and at least one liquid confined to the compartment (20), the side walls (21, 23) being sufficiently compliant as to conform the liquid-confining side walls (21, 23) to the surface of objects pressing thereagainst, and processing apparatus (40) for the vessel (10), the apparatus comprising:- a) heating means (54; 54A) for heating at least one of the side walls (21), the heating means (54; 54A) being mounted to press on the one side wall (21, 23); b) cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) for actively cooling the heating means (54; 54A), and c) means (110; 120) for pressing the heating means (54; 54A) and the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) against the at least one sidewall (21, 23) with sufficient force as to conform the one side wall (21, 23) to the surface of the heating means (54; 54A) and cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
189 words
In combination, a flexible, collapsible reaction vessel (10) comprising opposed side walls (21, 23) spaced apart at portions of the vessel (10) to provide a compartment (20), and at least one liquid confined to the compartment (20), the side walls (21, 23) being sufficiently compliant as to conform the liquid-confining side walls (21, 23) to the surface of objects pressing thereagainst, and processing apparatus (40) for the vessel (10), the apparatus comprising:- a) heating means (54; 54A) for heating at least one of the side walls (21), the heating means (54; 54A) being mounted to press on the one side wall (21, 23); b) cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) for actively cooling the heating means (54; 54A), and c) means (110; 120) for pressing the heating means (54; 54A) and the cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A) against the at least one sidewall (21, 23) with sufficient force as to conform the one side wall (21, 23) to the surface of the heating means (54; 54A) and cooling means (56, 58, 60, 62, 64; 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A combination according to claim 13, wherein the force is at least about 2.6N when the compartment (20) contains a liquid of about 170µl and the side walls (21, 23) each consists essentially of a sandwich of about 0.013mm thick polyester and about 0.1mm thick polyethylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination according to claim 13 or 14, further including in the apparatus:- d) a generally flat support (44) for the reaction vessel (10); and e) heating means (54; 54A) in the support (44) for heating the other of the side walls (23).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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