EP3938111A1 - Dispositif et procédé de traitement thermique d'échantillons - Google Patents

Dispositif et procédé de traitement thermique d'échantillons

Info

Publication number
EP3938111A1
EP3938111A1 EP20705679.7A EP20705679A EP3938111A1 EP 3938111 A1 EP3938111 A1 EP 3938111A1 EP 20705679 A EP20705679 A EP 20705679A EP 3938111 A1 EP3938111 A1 EP 3938111A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
temperature
cover plate
sample block
sample
control unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20705679.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stefan Winter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Analytik Jena GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Analytik Jena GmbH Analysenmessgeraete und Laboreinrichtungen
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Analytik Jena GmbH Analysenmessgeraete und Laboreinrichtungen filed Critical Analytik Jena GmbH Analysenmessgeraete und Laboreinrichtungen
Publication of EP3938111A1 publication Critical patent/EP3938111A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/44—Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/508—Rigid containers without fluid transport within
    • B01L3/5085—Rigid containers without fluid transport within for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
    • B01L3/50851—Rigid containers without fluid transport within for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates specially adapted for heating or cooling samples
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/508—Rigid containers without fluid transport within
    • B01L3/5085—Rigid containers without fluid transport within for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
    • B01L3/50853—Rigid containers without fluid transport within for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates with covers or lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L7/00—Heating or cooling apparatus; Heat insulating devices
    • B01L7/52—Heating or cooling apparatus; Heat insulating devices with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/42—Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/12—Specific details about manufacturing devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/14—Process control and prevention of errors
    • B01L2200/143—Quality control, feedback systems
    • B01L2200/147—Employing temperature sensors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/041—Connecting closures to device or container
    • B01L2300/042—Caps; Plugs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/041—Connecting closures to device or container
    • B01L2300/044—Connecting closures to device or container pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/04—Closures and closing means
    • B01L2300/046—Function or devices integrated in the closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0809—Geometry, shape and general structure rectangular shaped
    • B01L2300/0829—Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/18—Means for temperature control
    • B01L2300/1805—Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
    • B01L2300/1822—Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks using Peltier elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/18—Means for temperature control
    • B01L2300/1894—Cooling means; Cryo cooling

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device and a method for the thermal treatment of in
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • Such a cycle typically consists of a denaturation phase at a high temperature (e.g. 94 to 100 ° C), a primer hybridization phase at a low temperature (e.g. 55 to 65 ° C) and an elongation or amplification phase at a medium temperature (e.g. 60 to 72 ° C).
  • the samples run through this cycle about 30 times.
  • an analysis using optical measurement methods is carried out at the same time as the sample is replicated. These applications are also called “real-time
  • thermo cyclers are conventionally used to carry out the PCR. These devices have a thermoblock on which the sample vessels are placed and which is set up to control the temperature of the sample vessels.
  • the thermal cyclers have control electronics that are set up to control the temperature of the samples according to a desired temperature profile in the value range between 4 ° C and 100 ° C. It is of decisive advantage for the user if these temperature changes can be carried out with the steepest possible temperature gradients and thus with many cycles in the shortest possible time. Ideally, the 30 cycles mentioned above will only take a few minutes.
  • Thermoblocks of conventional thermal cyclers often have a sample block intended to hold sample vessels, Peltier elements that can be controlled by the control electronics for heating and cooling the sample vessels and a heat sink in contact with the Peltier elements, e.g. in the form of heat sinks.
  • the Peltier elements are sandwiched between the
  • the sample block forms a receiving area for the sample vessels.
  • the sample block can have depressions into which the individual sample vessels engage when they are arranged in the receiving area.
  • the sample vessels are often combined in a microtiter plate.
  • the sample vessels are formed by indentations (so-called wells). So-called 96-well and 384-well microtiter plates made from polypropylene on injection molding machines are common. Microtiter plates that have a hard frame overmolded from a second plastic or plastic mixture and are therefore more robust to handle are also common, but are much more expensive. These plates are also referred to in technical jargon by the English term "hard skirted plates".
  • the wells can, depending on the
  • the sample block of the thermal cycler is often designed in such a way that it can receive the individual wells of the microtiter plate in the mentioned wells in the receiving area in a form-fitting manner.
  • the individual sample vessels can be closed or sealed.
  • the individual sample vessels can each have their own closure or a stopper made of an insulating material that cannot be mixed with the sample, e.g. Wax.
  • Microtiter plates can be covered with a sealing mat or a sealing film (also referred to as sealing film), which tightly seals the wells.
  • a sealing mat or a sealing film also referred to as sealing film
  • a heatable cover plate is often used for the sample vessels in thermal cyclers, which is placed on the sample vessels or on a sealing film or sealing mat covering the sample vessels and, if necessary, pressed against them.
  • the cover plate is typically kept at a temperature which is approximately 5 K above the highest temperature occurring in the temperature profile of the sample block.
  • the disadvantage of this solution is that in certain phases of the cycle, for example in a cooling phase, there is a large temperature difference between the sample block and the cover plate, and consequently a large temperature gradient across the sample vessels.
  • the sample block can cool the sample to temperatures below 70 ° C, while the cover plate remains at a temperature which can be 5 K above the maximum temperature of the PCR temperature cycle, for example in the vicinity of 100 ° C.
  • the high temperature gradient leads to undesired heat input from the cover plate into the samples during the cooling phase. This means that the final temperature of the cooling phase is only reached with a delay and stands in the way of a further reduction in the cycle duration.
  • the influence of the heated cover plate on the temperature of the samples can be kept low by means of the largest possible contact area between the sample vessels and the sample block.
  • microtiter plates with conically shaped wells and corresponding sample blocks with conically shaped depressions in the receiving area for the microtiter plates are therefore often used. This configuration ensures a relatively large
  • Sample vessels DE 69914220 T2 suggests the use of sample vessels that are as thin as possible. These sample vessels can be designed as wells of a microtiter plate, which through
  • Thermoforming or vacuum molding can be produced from a thin thermoplastic film.
  • the microtiter plates can comprise a frame that supports the edges of the plates or individual wells. This frame can be injection molded and joined to the film forming the thin-walled sample vessels by means of a heat connection.
  • this assembly of deep-drawn parts and injection-molded parts is relatively complex and correspondingly expensive.
  • US Pat. No. 9,492,825 describes a special microtiter plate for PCR applications which consists of materials with different levels of thermal conductivity. In the area of its base area intended for contact with the sample block, it is formed from a relatively good heat-conducting material, while in an area intended for contact with the cover plate it is formed from a relatively good heat-conducting material.
  • the cycle speeds can be influenced considerably. Nevertheless, even when using these microplates, the cover plate, which is tempered to 5 K above the maximum temperature of the PCR temperature cycle, acts against the cooling cycles of the sample block. This effect has a very clear effect in the case of relatively flat, very thin-walled microplates, as described for example in DE 699 14 220 T2 or used in the above-mentioned speedCycler, and results in a reduction in the possible cycle frequency.
  • the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying an improved device and an improved method for the thermal treatment of samples contained in sample vessels.
  • the device and the method should ensure that even in low
  • Sample vessels e.g. in microtiter plates for small volumes samples contained in a desired temperature profile as exactly as possible and run through at high speed.
  • the device according to the invention for the thermal treatment of samples contained in sample vessels comprises:
  • a first temperature control device which is thermally coupled to the sample block and is set up to set a temperature of the sample block
  • a cover plate for sample vessels arranged in the receiving area of the sample block
  • a second temperature control device which is thermally coupled to the cover plate and is configured to set a temperature of the cover plate
  • control unit which is connected to the first and the second temperature control device and is set up to control the first and the second temperature control device
  • control unit is set up to control the temperature of the sample block and the temperature of the cover plate in a coordinated manner by means of the first and the second temperature control device.
  • the device can, for example, be a thermal cycler for carrying out the PCR in the
  • Sample containers contained samples.
  • the device according to the invention is set up to regulate the temperature of the cover plate in a manner matched to the temperature of the sample block. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to regulate the temperature of the cover plate in such a way that the undesired formation of condensation on a cover of the sample vessels is prevented, and on the other hand to reduce the influence of the heated cover plate on the sample temperature, so that the desired sample temperatures can be set quickly and precisely is possible.
  • control unit can be set up to control the temperature of the cover plate and the temperature of the sample block in such a way that the temperature of the cover plate is equal to or greater than the temperature of the sample block and that a difference between the temperature of the cover plate and the sample block does not exceed a, in particular a predetermined, maximum value.
  • control unit regulates the temperature of the sample block and the cover plate in such a way that the temperature of the cover plate is on the one hand equal to or greater than the
  • the temperature gradient is specifically controlled and ideally kept as low as possible, thus reducing the influence of the cover plate on the sample temperature.
  • the maximum value of the temperature difference can depend on the type of application, e.g. on the nature of the sample vessels and on the temperature profile to be set for the samples.
  • the maximum value of the temperature difference is advantageously much smaller than the difference between the highest and the lowest temperature setpoint to be set by the control unit for the sample block,
  • the maximum value of the temperature difference is less than a quarter or even less than a tenth of the difference between the highest and the lowest
  • Temperature difference between the temperature of the cover plate and the sample block is less than 10 K, in particular less than 5 K.
  • the control unit can be set up to control the temperature of the cover plate and the temperature of the sample block in such a way that it is coordinated with one another that it controls the temperature of the cover plate as a function of the temperature of the sample block.
  • the control unit can include, for example, a first controller which is set up to control the temperature of the sample block, in particular cyclically, by means of the first temperature control device, according to a predefined setpoint temperature profile.
  • Tempering device to regulate the temperature of the cover plate using a reference variable, the reference variable depending on one of the following variables: a setpoint temperature of the sample block, an actual temperature of the sample block or one of the first controller
  • the first and / or the second controller can be designed as electrical or electronic control circuits.
  • the first and / or the second controller can also be implemented as software that is executed by a microcontroller of the control unit.
  • the control unit can be designed as electrical or electronic control circuits.
  • the first and / or the second controller can also be implemented as software that is executed by a microcontroller of the control unit.
  • the microcontroller of the control unit.
  • the reference variable for the second controller is determined from the target temperature of the sample block, the actual temperature of the sample block or from the manipulated variable output by the first controller.
  • the second controller or another connected to the second controller can be used
  • Component of the control unit determine the reference variable for the second controller by adding a value representing the temperature difference between the sample block and the cover plate to the actual temperature of the sample block, the setpoint temperature of the sample block or the manipulated variable.
  • control unit can be designed to control the temperature of the cover plate and the temperature of the sample block in such a way that it is coordinated with one another so that it controls the temperature of the sample block as a function of the temperature of the cover plate.
  • control unit can for example include a first controller which is set up to control the temperature of the sample block by means of the first temperature control device.
  • the control unit can additionally comprise a second controller which is set up to control the temperature of the cover plate, in particular cyclically, by means of the second temperature control device according to a predetermined target temperature profile, the first controller being set up to control the temperature of the sample block using a To regulate reference variable, which depends on one of the following variables: a target temperature of the cover plate, an actual temperature of the
  • the temperature of the cover plate is determined by the temperature of the sample block
  • the temperature of the sample block is determined according to the temperature of the cover plate
  • the first and / or the second controller can also in this embodiment be implemented as electrical or electronic control circuits and / or as executable by a microcontroller of the control unit Software.
  • the reference variable can be determined in a manner analogous to that in the embodiment described above.
  • the device according to the invention is particularly advantageously used for the thermal treatment of samples in sample vessels which are combined in a microtiter plate for small sample volumes.
  • the cover plate can have a planar front surface which is designed to rest against sample vessels arranged in the receiving region of the sample block in such a way that the
  • Sample vessels are sandwiched between the sample block and the cover plate.
  • the cover plate can have a multiplicity of openings or windows through which an optical observation of the sample vessels is possible and which are arranged in a, for example, rectangular, central region of the cover plate.
  • the second temperature control device can comprise at least one heating element arranged on the cover plate and at least one cooling element, wherein the at least one cooling element surrounds the central area of the cover plate which has the openings or windows
  • Peripheral area is arranged.
  • Several cooling elements are advantageously arranged in the peripheral area.
  • the at least one heating element can be arranged on or in webs of the cover plate that run between the openings or windows.
  • the cover plate can consist of a material containing at least one refractory metal, produced by powder metallurgy, containing copper or silver. These materials have the advantage of high thermal conductivity combined with a comparatively low thermal capacity.
  • the thermal conductivity of the material from which the cover plate is formed is advantageously between 160 and 500 W / mK and the heat capacity between 150 and 300 J / kgK.
  • the first temperature control device can have at least one thermoelectric element in contact with the sample block, e.g. a Peltier element, and one with the at least one
  • thermoelectric element in contact heat sink The device advantageously comprises several Peltier elements.
  • the method according to the invention for the thermal treatment of samples in sample vessels with the aim of DNA replication comprises the following steps:
  • Controlling a temperature of the sample block by means of a control unit and a first temperature control device which is thermally coupled to the sample block and which is controlled by the control unit for setting the temperature of the sample block;
  • the step of closing the sample vessels can be carried out before or after the arrangement of the sample vessels in the receiving area of the sample block.
  • the sample vessels can be closed by means of individual, preferably optically transparent, closures each assigned to a sample vessel or, if the sample vessels are combined in a microtiter plate, by means of a preferably optically transparent sealing film or sealing mat.
  • Sample vessels are covered with the cover plate.
  • the temperature of the cover plate and the temperature of the sample block can be coordinated so that the temperature of the cover plate is equal to or greater than the temperature of the sample block and that a difference between the temperature of the
  • the maximum value can be specified by the control unit and, for example, be stored in a memory of the control unit.
  • the maximum value can, for example, be a fraction of the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the nominal temperature profile of the sample block or samples, e.g. a value of a few degrees Kelvin.
  • the temperature of the sample block can be regulated according to a predetermined target temperature curve, the temperature of the cover plate being regulated using a reference variable that depends on one of the following variables: a target temperature of the Sample block, an actual temperature of the sample block or a manipulated variable output by the control unit for setting the temperature of the sample block to the first temperature control device.
  • the specified target temperature profile of the sample block can be, for example, a cyclical temperature profile for carrying out the PCR in the samples.
  • the temperature of the cover plate can be regulated according to a predetermined target temperature profile, the temperature of the sample block being controlled using a reference variable that depends on one of the following variables: a target temperature of the cover plate, an actual temperature of the cover plate or a manipulated variable output by the control unit for setting the temperature of the cover plate to the second temperature control device.
  • An arrangement for performing the method described here in accordance with one of the specified configurations and variants comprises a device configured, for example, as a thermal cycler, in accordance with one of the configurations described above and a plurality of
  • Sample vessels containing samples to be thermally treated the sample vessels being combined in a microtiter plate, and the microtiter plate being arranged in a receiving area of the sample block and being covered by the cover plate. That way is the
  • Microtiter plate sandwiched between the sample block and the cover plate.
  • the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are particularly advantageously used when using sample vessels combined in microtiter plates for small sample volumes in the low microliter range, for example those as described in DE 600 26 834 T2 and DE 699 14 220 T2.
  • sample vessels combined in microtiter plates for small sample volumes in the low microliter range for example those as described in DE 600 26 834 T2 and DE 699 14 220 T2.
  • the device and the method described enable fast and precise setting of the sample temperatures according to a specified, required for the PCR
  • the volume of an individual sample vessel of the microtiter plate or of the sample received in a single sample vessel is between 10 and 20 ⁇ l.
  • the sample vessels can be designed as wells or depressions in the microtiter plate.
  • the wall thickness of the sample vessels combined in the microtiter plate can be selected, at least in an area intended for receiving a liquid sample, so that it is not more than 100 ⁇ m, advantageously between 10 and 40 ⁇ m.
  • Show it: 1 shows a diagram of the temperature profile over time of a sample block, a
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a device for the thermal treatment of samples
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a plan view of the device according to FIG. 2;
  • Sample vessel sealing cover e.g. a sealing film
  • a cover plate which is heated to avoid condensation on the cover.
  • Sample vessels for small sample volumes also have a correspondingly low overall height.
  • the temperature of the sample block (solid line) is determined according to a
  • the temperature profile for one cycle of the PCR is regulated: In a first period of time, the sample block is heated to 95 ° C (denaturation phase), then the sample block is cooled to 50 ° C (primer hybridization phase) and held at this temperature for a second period of time.
  • sample block is then reheated to a temperature of 72 ° C
  • the sample block is again heated to 95 ° C and a new cycle begins.
  • the temperature of the heatable cover plate (dashed line) is kept constant at 95 ° C.
  • the dotted line shows the course of the sample temperature. It can be seen that the influence of the heated cover plate on the temperature of the samples means that the temperature of the samples does not precisely follow the course of the temperature of the sample block. It is particularly disadvantageous that the samples do not reach the final temperature of 50 ° C. desired for the primer hybridization phase, but rather remain at an actual final temperature of around 60 ° C.
  • FIG. 2 an example of an improved device according to the invention for controlling the temperature of samples is shown schematically in a sectional illustration.
  • the device has a sample block 4 on, on the underside of which temperature control elements 5 are arranged, which are in thermal contact with the sample block 4 in order to heat or cool it.
  • the temperature control elements 5 can be designed, for example, as Peltier elements.
  • the temperature control elements 5 are in contact with a heat sink 6.
  • the heat sink 6 comprises a plurality of heat sinks for dissipating heat from the temperature control elements 5.
  • the temperature control elements 5 are thus sandwiched between the sample block 4 and the Heat sink 6 arranged.
  • the sample block 4 is made of a material with high
  • Thermal conductivity e.g. made of silver or aluminum. This enables the temperature of the sample block 4 to be set quickly by means of the temperature control elements 5.
  • the sample block 4 On its front side, which is opposite the rear side in contact with the temperature elements 5, the sample block 4 has a receiving area for sample vessels 9.
  • sample vessels 9 are combined in a microtiter plate 3.
  • the microtiter plate 3 used here is a microtiter plate for small volumes.
  • the receiving area of the sample block 4 accordingly has a surface resting against the rear side of the microtiter plate 3 with recesses for receiving the sample vessels 9.
  • the microtiter plate 3 is covered by a sealing film 10, which the individual, as wells in the
  • Microtiter plate designed, sample vessels 9 sealed tight.
  • the microtiter plate 3 with the sealing film 10 is covered by a cover plate 2.
  • the cover plate 2 is thermally coupled to a temperature control device which comprises one or more heating elements 1.
  • a temperature control device which comprises one or more heating elements 1.
  • a single, flat heating element 1 is present.
  • the heating element or elements 1 can be configured as resistance heating elements, for example.
  • Fig. 3 is a view of the device is shown schematically from above.
  • the heating element 1 has a plurality of openings 12 through which optical measurements, e.g. Fluorescence measurements on in the sample vessels 9 of the microtiter plate 3
  • the cover plate 2 can consist of a material that is transparent to measurement radiation. Alternatively and advantageously, it can consist of a material which is not transparent to the measuring radiation and which, in addition to good thermal conductivity, has a low thermal conductivity
  • Suitable materials are refractory metals and refractory metal alloys, for example materials containing at least one refractory metal and made of copper or silver produced by powder metallurgy.
  • Refractory metals are usually refractory metals of the 4th, 5th and 6th subgroups of the periodic table of the elements, e.g. titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten, as well as one or more of these metals Understand alloys.
  • Refractory metals or alloys which have a thermal conductivity in the range between 160 and 400 W / mK and a heat capacity between 150 and 300 J / kgK are advantageous for use as the material of the cover plate 2.
  • a tungsten-copper sintered material with a thermal conductivity between 160 and 230 W / mK and a heat capacity between 200 and 250 J / kgK can be considered.
  • the cover plate 2 Openings aligned with the openings 12 of the heating element 1, through which the measuring radiation from the sample vessels of the microtiter plate 3 can be detected.
  • the sealing film 10 consists of a polymer that is transparent to measurement radiation.
  • the temperature control device for the cover plate 2 also includes a plurality of cooling elements 11.
  • the cooling elements 1 1 are in the present example on the periphery of the
  • Cover plate 2 arranged.
  • heat pipes or fluid cooling, e.g. Water or air cooling.
  • the device for thermal treatment of the samples contained in the microtiter plate 3 further comprises a control unit 13 which is electrically connected to the temperature control elements 5 for setting the temperature of the sample block 4 and to the heating element 1 and the cooling elements 11 for setting the temperature of the cover plate 2 .
  • the control unit 13 can comprise an electrical or electronic control circuit, in particular with a microcontroller with software for executing a data memory containing temperature control.
  • the control unit 13 is set up to control the temperature of the cover plate 2 and the temperature of the sample block 4 in a coordinated manner.
  • the control unit 13 includes two controllers, namely a first controller 7 for controlling the temperature of the sample block 4 and a second controller 8 for controlling the temperature of the cover plate.
  • the first controller 7 is set up to use a reference variable that represents the setpoint temperature profile of the PCR cycle and the current actual temperature of the sample block 4
  • the controlled variable can be made available, for example, by a temperature sensor (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) which detects the current actual temperature of the sample block 4.
  • the first controller 7 is also set up to measure the actual temperature of the sample block 4
  • the signal can be, for example, the reference variable of the first controller 7, the controlled variable of the first controller 7 or the manipulated variable output by the first controller 7 or a signal derived from one of these variables.
  • the second controller 8 is designed to use a command variable derived from the signal obtained from the controller 7 and representing the actual temperature of the sample block 4 and a control variable representing the current actual temperature of the cover plate 2 to determine a manipulated variable and to transmit it to the heating element 1 and / or output to the cooling elements 1 1 in order to set the temperature of the cover plate 2 to the value of the reference variable.
  • the controlled variable can be, for example, a temperature of the cover plate 2 detected by a temperature sensor (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).
  • the reference variable for the second controller 8 can be determined based on the signal made available by the first controller 7 in such a way that it corresponds to a setpoint temperature corresponds to the cover plate 2, which is equal to the actual temperature of the sample block 4 or is a few Kelvin, for example 2 to 10 K, higher than the actual temperature of the sample block 4.
  • the method is carried out by means of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the sample vessels 9 containing the samples, which are combined in the microtiter plate 3 are arranged in the receiving area of the sample block 4.
  • the sample vessels 9 are closed, e.g. by means of a sealing film 10 which is placed or glued onto the microtiter plate 3.
  • the sample vessels 9 are then covered with the cover plate 2.
  • the microtiter plate 3 is then sandwiched between the sample block 4 and the cover plate 2.
  • the control unit 13 the temperature of the
  • Cover plate 2 and the temperature of the sample block 4 are regulated in a coordinated manner, so that the samples have a desired, e.g. one used for DNA amplification by means of PCR,
  • control unit 13 can regulate the temperature of the cover plate 2 and the sample block in such a way that the temperature of the cover plate 2 is equal to or greater than the temperature of the sample block 4 and that the difference between the temperature of the cover plate 2 and the temperature of the sample block does not exceed a maximum value.
  • this maximum value can be a few Kelvin, e.g. 2 to 10 K.
  • the temperature of the cover plate 2 is controlled as a function of the temperature of the sample block 4.
  • the temperature of the sample block 4 is controlled for the thermal treatment of the samples, namely in the present example according to one for the cycles the course of the PCR.
  • the first controller 7 under-regulates the temperature control elements 5 thermally coupled to the sample block 4
  • the first controller also outputs a signal representing the actual temperature of the sample block 4 to the second controller 8, which signal, for example, the reference variable of the first controller 7, the
  • the second controller 8 determines its reference variable from the signal, for example in the simplest case by adding an amount representing a desired temperature difference between the sample block 4 and the cover plate 2 to the value of the signal.
  • the reference variable determined in this way corresponds to a setpoint temperature of the cover plate 2, which is higher by the desired temperature difference than the current actual temperature of the sample block 4.
  • the second controller regulates the temperature of the cover plate 2 based on the determined reference variable and a control variable representing the current actual temperature of the cover plate 2, which can be determined for example by means of a temperature sensor. For this purpose, it can send a manipulated variable to the heating element 1 and / or to the Output cooling elements 1 1 in order to set the temperature of the cover plate 2 to the value of the reference variable.
  • the profiles of the temperatures of the sample block 4, the cover plate 2 and a sample contained in the microtiter plate 3 in the course of the described method are illustrated in FIG. 4 in a schematic representation.
  • the temperature of the sample block 4 (solid line) follows the predetermined temperature profile for one cycle of the PCR. It essentially corresponds to the temperature profile of the sample block with the denaturation phase, the primer hybridization phase and the amplification phase, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the temperature of the cover plate 2 of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 does not remain constant at a high value.
  • the temperature of the cover plate 2 (dashed line) is adapted at any time to the temperature profile of the sample block 4, so that a temperature difference between the cover plate 2 and the sample block 4 does not exceed a maximum value of 10 K. exceeds. From FIG. 4 it can be seen that, as a result of this temperature regulation of the cover plate 2, the temperature of the sample (dotted line) is essentially also significantly
  • the value given by the sample block 4 is reached during the cooling phase.
  • the invention includes a large number of variants and modifications of the exemplary embodiment described here.
  • a temperature sensor that detects the current actual temperature of the sample block outputs a signal representing the actual temperature of the sample block to the second controller of the control unit in order to derive the reference variable of the second controller.
  • a first controller connected to the temperature control elements for the sample block regulates the temperature of the sample block as a function of the temperature of the cover plate, which is regulated by a second controller regulates.
  • the second controller is given a command variable reflecting the course of the PCR cycles, while the first controller receives a signal representing the actual temperature of the cover plate from the second controller, on the basis of which the command variable of the first controller for temperature control of the sample block is determined .

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de traitement thermique d'échantillons contenus dans des récipients d'échantillons (9). Ledit dispositif comprend : un bloc d'échantillons (4) ayant une zone de réception pour les récipients d'échantillons (9) ; un premier dispositif de contrôle de température qui est couplé thermiquement au bloc d'échantillons (4) et qui est conçu pour régler une température du bloc d'échantillons (4) ; une plaque de couverture (2) pour des récipients d'échantillons (9) disposés dans la zone de réception du bloc d'échantillons (4) ; un second dispositif de contrôle de température qui est couplé thermiquement à la plaque de recouvrement (2) et qui est conçu pour régler une température de la plaque de recouvrement (2) ; et une unité de régulation (13) qui est reliée au premier et au second dispositif de contrôle de température et qui est conçue pour commander le premier et le second dispositif de contrôle de température, l'unité de régulation (13) étant conçue pour réguler la température du bloc d'échantillons (4) et la température de la plaque de recouvrement (2) au moyen du premier et du second dispositif de contrôle de température accordés l'un à l'autre. La présente invention concerne en outre un procédé de traitement thermique d'échantillons contenus dans des récipients d'échantillons.
EP20705679.7A 2019-03-15 2020-02-14 Dispositif et procédé de traitement thermique d'échantillons Withdrawn EP3938111A1 (fr)

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DE102019106699.9A DE102019106699B4 (de) 2019-03-15 2019-03-15 Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur thermischen Behandlung von Proben
PCT/EP2020/053903 WO2020187503A1 (fr) 2019-03-15 2020-02-14 Dispositif et procédé de traitement thermique d'échantillons

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EP (1) EP3938111A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN113543886A (fr)
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WO (1) WO2020187503A1 (fr)

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KR102285089B1 (ko) * 2020-03-02 2021-08-04 주식회사 더웨이브톡 미생물 검출 장비
CN118234570A (zh) * 2021-12-07 2024-06-21 株式会社日立高新技术 温度控制装置
DE102023101970B4 (de) * 2023-01-26 2025-06-12 Applyo Jena GmbH Kühlbarer Träger sowie Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Herstellung gefrorener Probensphären

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CA2031912A1 (fr) * 1989-12-22 1991-06-23 Robert Fred Pfost Couvercle chauffe
US7133726B1 (en) 1997-03-28 2006-11-07 Applera Corporation Thermal cycler for PCR
EP1000661A1 (fr) 1998-10-29 2000-05-17 Hans-Knöll-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung e.v. Plaque multi-puits ultramince pour le thermocyclage en utilisant un bloc de chauffage
EP1045038A1 (fr) 1999-04-08 2000-10-18 Hans-Knöll-Institut Für Naturstoff-Forschung E.V. Thermocycleur à bloc de régulation rapide
US9492825B2 (en) 2007-09-06 2016-11-15 It-Is International Limited Thermal control apparatus for chemical and biochemical reactions
US20090165574A1 (en) 2007-12-27 2009-07-02 Finnzymes Instruments Oy Instrument and method for nucleic acid amplification
CA2837127C (fr) 2011-05-24 2019-09-17 Ingeny PCR B.V. Systeme pour et procede de changement de temperatures de substances
JP2014143927A (ja) * 2013-01-28 2014-08-14 Hitachi High-Technologies Corp 核酸増幅装置および温度調節機能の異常検出方法
KR102415232B1 (ko) * 2015-04-20 2022-07-04 한국전자통신연구원 마이크로 가열 장치
SG11201805140VA (en) 2015-12-22 2018-07-30 Life Technologies Corp Systems and methods for a thermal cycler heated cover

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DE102019106699B4 (de) 2024-01-25
US20220155195A1 (en) 2022-05-19
US11977012B2 (en) 2024-05-07
CN113543886A (zh) 2021-10-22
WO2020187503A1 (fr) 2020-09-24
DE102019106699A1 (de) 2020-09-17

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