Device for thermally regulating a rotationally symmetrical container
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Publication Number
US-8986934-B2
Publication Date
2015-03-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device for thermally regulating a rotationally symmetrical container having a lateral surface and/or a base surface, said device comprising at least one thermal-regulation block which is suitable for accommodating the container and has at least two thermal-regulation elements, wherein the thermal-regulation elements in the at least one thermal-regulation block exchange heat with the lateral surface and/or with the base surface of the container to be thermally regulated.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a thermal-regulation device for a rotationally symmetrical container forming a single reaction chamber, together with at least one tempering block accommodating the container. The container exterior lateral surface is in heat exchanging contact with tempering elements of the tempering block during use, and the at least two tempering elements produce at least two different, stable constant temperature zones in the single reaction chamber at the same time.
The device further includes a rotationally symmetrical rotor inserted into the rotationally symmetrical container, with an annular gap provided between the container and the rotor. The rotor includes at least one flow channel configured to convey liquids and/or gases into and/or out of the interior of the container during use, and when the rotor is rotated, the rotor is exposed to the two different, stable temperature zones as the rotor traverses these zones.
The described system is used for nucleic-acid testing, including on-rotor or solid-phase amplification with immobilized biomolecules, such as primers and other organic molecules. As the rotor surface traverses the coexisting stable temperature zones, nucleic acids and/or enzyme reactions are carried out while temperature zones coexist within the single reaction chamber.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims: a device claim with two coexisting stable temperature zones produced by independently heat-exchanging tempering elements plus a rotor with an annular gap and flow channel, and a method claim for testing a biological sample using the coexisting temperature zones and rotor traversal.
Rotationally symmetrical container with coexisting stable temperature zones
A rotationally symmetrical container forming a single reaction chamber, with at least one tempering block accommodating the container, wherein the container exterior lateral surface is in heat exchanging contact with tempering elements during use and the at least two tempering elements produce at least two different, stable constant temperature zones in the single reaction chamber at the same time.
Rotationally driven rotor traversing coexisting temperature zones
A rotationally symmetrical rotor inserted into the rotationally symmetrical container, wherein an annular gap is provided between the container and the rotor and the rotor has at least one flow channel configured to convey liquids and/or gases into and/or out of the interior of the container during use, wherein the rotor is exposed to the two different, stable temperature zones when rotated due to the rotation of the rotor.
Testing a biological sample using independently operated coexisting zones
A method of testing a biological sample comprising providing a rotationally symmetrical container forming a single reaction chamber, inserting a rotationally symmetrical rotor into the single reaction chamber, introducing a biological sample into the reaction chamber, producing a first stable temperature zone using a first tempering element in heat exchanging contact with the container, producing a second stable temperature zone using a second tempering element in heat exchanging contact with the container, operating the first and second tempering elements independently at different temperatures such that the first and second stable temperature zones coexist, and rotating the rotor so that a surface of the rotor traverses the first and second constant temperature zones.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure is the combination of at least two different, stable constant temperature zones coexisting in a single reaction chamber produced by heat exchanging contact tempering elements and a rotationally symmetrical rotor in an annular gap having a traversing rotor surface and rotor flow channel to expose reaction materials as the rotor rotates through the coexisting temperature zones.
Stated Advantages
Enables producing at least two different, stable constant temperature zones in the single reaction chamber at the same time.
Rotor exposure to different stable temperature zones when the rotor is rotated.
Provides a method of testing a biological sample by operating first and second tempering elements independently at different temperatures while the first and second stable temperature zones coexist.
Documented Applications
Nucleic-acid testing using coexisting stable temperature zones and rotor traversal, including on-rotor or solid-phase amplification approaches with a melting-curve readout.
Enzyme reactions associated with nucleic-acid testing using immobilized biomolecules on rotor or surfaces.
Comparative use of solid phase amplification including coupled OnSpot PCR with melting-curve readout versus liquid-phase PCR, with reported temperature profiles and example results.
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