Method to monitor and control the temperature of a sample holder of a laboratory instrument
Inventors
Ebert, Sven • Federer, Paul • Hermann, Pius • Vollenweider, Stefan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12544760-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method to monitor and control the temperature of a sample holder of a laboratory instrument during execution of a temperature profile on the sample holder is presented. The laboratory instrument comprises a sample holder with high temperature uniformity and at least three identical temperature sensors. The measured actual temperatures of the sample holder are processed in order to determine if the execution of the temperature profile should be continued or aborted. Furthermore, temperature sensors which measure actual temperatures that do not fulfil certain requirements are excluded from further monitoring and controlling the temperature of a sample holder.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a laboratory instrument comprising a sample holder with high temperature uniformity, a thermoelectric element in thermal contact with the sample holder, and a control device. The sample holder comprises at least three identical temperature sensors, and the control device controls the thermoelectric element to heat or cool the sample holder to at least one set-point temperature of a temperature profile while receiving at least three measured actual temperatures via the at least three identical temperature sensors.
During execution of the temperature profile, the control device compares the at least three measured actual temperatures with a predefined maximum permissible temperature deviation range from the at least one set-point temperature. The control device calculates at least three temperature differences between each of the at least three measured actual temperatures and compares each of the at least three calculated temperature differences with a predefined maximum permissible temperature difference range.
The document further describes sensor exclusion logic when sensor behavior does not satisfy the predefined maximum permissible ranges, such that sensors failing these requirements are excluded from further monitoring and controlling during repetition rather than necessarily causing immediate abort. Example implementations include deviation and difference thresholds, and a user interface that provides notifications when the number of remaining sensors decreases to two.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim. The inventive coverage centers on instrument control logic that uses at least three identical temperature sensors to enforce both a maximum permissible temperature deviation from set-point temperatures and a maximum permissible temperature difference among sensor readings, with further execution logic that continues or aborts the temperature profile based on the comparison results.
High temperature uniformity sample holder with thermoelectric element and at least three identical temperature sensors
A laboratory instrument comprising a sample holder with high temperature uniformity, a thermoelectric element in thermal contact with the sample holder, a control device, and the sample holder comprising at least three identical temperature sensors.
Temperature profile control with deviation comparison to set-point temperatures
A control device adapted to controlling the thermoelectric element to heat or cool the sample holder to at least one set-point temperature of a temperature profile and receiving, via the at least three identical temperature sensors, at least three measured actual temperatures, wherein the control device compares the at least three measured actual temperatures with a predefined maximum permissible temperature deviation range from the at least one set-point temperature.
Temperature difference calculation and temperature-difference comparison
A control device adapted to calculating at least three temperature differences between each of the at least three measured actual temperatures and comparing each of the at least three calculated temperature differences with a predefined maximum permissible temperature difference range.
Continue vs abort execution based on deviation and temperature-difference criteria
A control device adapted to determining a further execution step selected from continuing execution of the temperature profile if at least two of the measured actual temperatures are within the predefined maximum permissible temperature deviation range from the at least one set-point temperature and if at least one of the at least three calculated temperature differences is within the predefined maximum permissible temperature difference range, or aborting execution of the temperature profile if less than two of the measured actual temperatures are within the predefined maximum permissible temperature deviation range from the at least one set-point temperature and if none of the at least three calculated temperature differences is within the predefined maximum permissible temperature difference range.
The claim set focuses on using at least three identical temperature sensors and two layers of uniformity enforcement: measured actual temperatures are checked against a predefined maximum permissible deviation from set-point temperatures, and sensor-to-sensor temperature differences are calculated and checked against a predefined maximum permissible temperature difference range. The control device then continues or aborts execution of the temperature profile according to these deviation and difference criteria.
Stated Advantages
Predefines conditions under which execution of the temperature profile continues or is aborted based on measured temperature deviations and calculated temperature differences.
Supports sensor-based uniformity monitoring of a high temperature uniformity sample holder using at least three identical temperature sensors.
Provides user interface notifications when the number of remaining temperature sensors decreases to two.
Documented Applications
Temperature-dependent reactions including nucleic acid amplification reaction.
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