Patent Application
20060075835
The present invention is related to a device for the adjustment of a temperature of a liquid and a corresponding method.
It is generally known that chemical analysis of samples and chemical/physical processes must be performed at a predetermined temperature in order to obtain accurate results. In particular for a high number of chemical analysis within a relatively short period of time, or for processes in which a temperature or different temperatures must be adjusted, powerful and cost intensive temperature adjustment units are required in order that these demands can be met.
Different devices and methods for the adjustment of the temperature are known. It is referred representatively to the following documents: DE-42 03 202 A1, EP-0 160 282 B1, EP-0 318 255 A2, WO 98/38487, U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,882 und EP-0 345 882 A1.
The known teachings can basically be divided in two groups. The so-called solid body incubators belong to the first group, for which the samples are heated or cooled by the solid body, for which a corresponding amount of time is needed depending on the heat capacity. If the temperature of liquid samples must be adjusted, one ore more of the following problems occur:
Temperature adjustment units which are based on a radiation, in particular on an IR-(infrared)-radiation, belong to the second group. An improved behavior can indeed be confirmed compared to the first group but also for this second group a number of disadvantages to be taken into account occur, which disadvantages result in a suboptimal heating behavior for liquids:
Therefore, the present invention is based on the object to specify a device for the adjustment of a temperature of a liquid, the device not having one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for the adjustment of a temperature of a liquid which is contained in a sample vessel, the device comprising a control unit and a temperature adjustment unit effective to act on the liquid contained in the sample vessel, the control unit being operatively connected to the temperature adjustment unit, wherein the liquid to be analyzed contains heat absorption elements in order to accelerate the temperature adjustment in the liquid to be analyzed, the absorption elements having a heat conductivity that is greater than 0.6 W/m K.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the adjustment of a temperature of a liquid which is contained in a sample vessel, the method comprising
Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are specified in further claims.
The invention has the following advantages: As the liquid to be analyzed contains absorption elements which have a heat conductivity greater than 0.6 W/m K, the temperature adjustment in the liquid to be analyzed is considerably accelerated. By this, the through put of samples per time unit can be increased accordingly.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit 1 receives no feedback about the temperature generated in the sample vessels 11 to 18.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
The embodiments of the present invention with sensor elements 3 allow the control of the temperature radiation of the temperature adjustment unit 2, so that a desired temperature of the liquids contained in the sample vessels can be set quickly and precisely.
In
It has been found that an IR-(Infrared)-radiation unit is particularly suitable as temperature adjustment unit 2. An IR-radiation unit irradiates the liquid in the sample vessels 11 to 18 within the infrared wave length range. However, other wave length ranges are also conceivable.
In one embodiment, the temperature adjustment unit 2 may be a radiant panel heater (two dimensional) in thick film technology or thin film technology.
In order that the adjustment of the temperature of the liquids contained in the sample vessels 11 to 18 can be performed quicker and more efficiently, it is suggested according to the present invention to add absorption elements to the liquids contained in the sample vessels. The absorption elements thereby have the task to absorb the radiation energy emitted by the temperature adjustment unit 2 and to emit it as heat to the liquids contained in the sample vessels 11 to 18. The choice for an absorption element therefore depends on the temperature adjustment unit 2 or on the wavelength range of the radiation, respectively.
The absorption elements should not chemically influence the liquid to be analyzed or to be processed—i.e. they are inert with regard to the liquid—, and, in addition, shall have, for example, one or more of the following properties:
One or more of the following effects can be achieved by the absorption elements according to the present invention:
Spherical particles, for example, of a size from 0.1 to 100 μm, in particular from 0.5 to 5 μm, are suitable as absorption elements. These may be glass balls with encapsulated magnetic pigments, for instance of iron oxide. Such absorption elements are referred to as e.g. MGPs (Magnetic Glass Particles). Furthermore, the absorption can be increased by using polymers (PS) for the manufacturing of absorption elements. Finally, the heat conductivity and therewith a heat input into the liquids can be increased by adding absorption elements of other inert particles (for example of aluminum, ceramics or carbon fibers).
Particulate solid bodies, as described e.g. in the known teachings according to WO 96/41 811 (respectively U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,477 B1) or WO 00/32 762 (respectively U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,143 B1) or WO 01/37 291 (respectively US-2003/224 366 A1) of the same applicant are particularly suitable as absorption elements. The disclosures of each of these patents and patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
As has already been pointed out, the absorption elements primarily have the task to convert radiation into heat and to emit it into the liquid to be heated in the sample vessel in order to be able to reach a desired temperature of the liquid as quickly as possible. Further embodiments may comprise particles used as absorption elements, at which nucleic acid can be reversibly bound as described in the previously mentioned international patent publication WO 96/41 811. Thereby, the method consists in that nucleic acid is bound to the particles in an isolation step. By this step, an extremely efficient heat transfer can be obtained. The liquid to be analyzed thereby is preferably aqueous, in particular a sample containing nucleic acid, for instance a body fluid or a liquid derived there from.
A further improvement of the efficiency and the heat input into the liquid of the sample vessels 11 to 18 is achieved for the device according to the present invention if the sample vessels 11 to 18 are made of a material with a low heat capacity and/or a reduced absorption. For example, the use of COC (cycloolefin-copolymer) is suitable instead of PP (polypropylene) usually used for sample vessels.
Beside the selection of the suitable material for the sample vessels in order to obtain the above-mentioned properties, a further optimization is possible by suitable properties of the chosen temperature adjustment unit. So, whenever an IR-radiation unit is used its spectrum should be adapted to the material used for the sample vessels 11 to 18. Thus an optimized overall system is obtained.
For the embodiment illustrated in
Alternatively, the liquid in the sample vessels 11 to 18 can be heated from below or from above. In this case, a temperature measurement from the side is preferred.
Like for the embodiment according to
In an alternative embodiment, the sensor elements 3′ are directly provided on the temperature adjustment elements 2a to 2f, as it is representatively indicated for the first temperature adjustment element 2a.
A further embodiment of the device according to the present invention is illustrated in
In order the sensor units 3 are not affected by heat emitted from the temperature adjustment unit 2, the sensor units 3 must be suitably positioned. For the embodiment of
In an arrangement with a single sample vessel containing 100 μl water and 6 mg MGPs and starting from room temperature, a water temperature of 80° Celsius was reached after ca. 40 seconds when using a 90 Watt halogen lamp as temperature adjustment unit. The sample vessel is concentrically arranged above a halogen lamp as the temperature adjustment unit, the halogen lamp being arranged before a rotationally symmetrical mirror. In order to reduce the part of visible rays, a wavelength filter is further arranged between the temperature adjustment unit and the sample vessel. In order to be able to achieve a precise and quick temperature adjustment a contactless temperature sensor is provided to which the control unit and the temperature adjustment unit are operationally connected.
It is explicitly pointed out that a temperature adjustment unit 2, which generates rays in the infrared range, is particularly suitable for all explained embodiments according to the present invention. However, temperature adjustment units are also conceivable which generate rays in other wave length ranges. Whatever wavelength range is chosen, it should correspond to the materials used for the absorption elements and for the sample vessels 11 to 18.
As sample vessels, conventional so-called tubes are suitable, which consist of a cylindrical portion and run out e.g. in a taper towards the closed end.
Alternatively, so-called flat cells are suitable which essentially consist of one or several chambers with a low depth (some hundreds μm) in a carrier material.
It has been found that so-called Eppendorf tubes or other tubes with a capacity of 300 μl to 2.5 ml are suitable. Furthermore, hollow cylinders and capillary tubes are also suitable as sample vessels.
Basically, the capacity of the sample vessels, however they are designed, can amount up to approximately 5 ml. In some embodiments, the capacity of the sample vessels may be in the range from 0.1 to 5 ml. In other embodiments, the capacity of the sample vessels may be in the range from 0.3 to 2.5 ml.
For an alternative embodiment of the sample vessels as flat cells, a depth is selected of e.g. 0.1 to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the capacity of the sample vessels may be from 0.3 to 0.7 mm. The capacity may be in the range from 0.1 to 100 μl, or may be in the range from 0.3 to 50 μl, or may be in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 μl or in the range from 30 to 40
For a further embodiment of the present invention with flat cells as sample vessels, the cells are Olive-shaped, i.e. a cross-section of a cell is oval with a maximal width of 6 mm and a maximal length of 14 mm, the cell depth being approximately 0.65 mm. Besides an oval cross-section, a circular cross-section is also conceivable. In this case, the cell corresponds to a cylindrical cavity that has a diameter of 1.5 mm, for example, and a height of also 1.5 mm. For these embodiments of a flat cell, the information with regard to the capacity in relation to the above-mentioned flat cells is valid correspondingly.
The present invention may be used, without limitation for the following instruments: incubators, thermocyclers, and other instruments in connection with an energy introduction.
While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be clear to one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention. For example, all the techniques and apparatus described above can be used in various combinations. All publications, patents, patent applications, and/or other documents cited in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, patent application, and/or other document were individually indicated to be incorporated by reference for all purposes
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04023309.0 | Sep 2004 | EP | regional |
| 05017580.1 | Aug 2005 | EP | regional |
