Title: Solid state rapid thermocycling

Abstract

The rapid thermal cycling of a material is targeted. A solid state heat exchanger with a first well and second well is coupled to a power module. A thermoelectric element is coupled to the first well, the second well, and the power module, is configured to transfer thermal energy from the first well to the second well when current from the power module flows through the thermoelectric element in a first direction, and is configured to transfer thermal energy from the second well to the first well when current from the power module flows through the thermoelectric element in a second direction. A controller may be coupled to the thermoelectric elements, and may switch the direction of current flowing through the thermoelectric element in response to a determination by sensors coupled to the wells that the amount of thermal energy in the wells falls below or exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

Inventors:

Beer, Neil Reginald; Spadaccini, Christopher

Issue Date:

2014-05-13

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1131403

Patent Number(s):

8720209

Application Number:

13/267,777

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01L - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01L - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

B01L2200/12 - Specific details about manufacturing devices

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M41/12 - {of temperature

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24H - FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT GENERATING MEANS, IN GENERAL

F24H1/00 - Water heaters having heat generating means, e.g. boiler, flow- heater, water-storage heater

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01L - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

B01L2300/0829 - Multi-well plates
B01L2300/1805 - Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
B01L7/54 - {using spatial temperature gradients}
B01L7/52 - {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M41/18 - {Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01L - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

B01L2200/0689 - Sealing

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M41/48 - {Automatic or computerized control

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01L - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

B01L2300/1822 - using Peltier elements
B01L2300/1827 - using resistive heater

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24H - FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT GENERATING MEANS, IN GENERAL

F24H1/10 - Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M29/00 - {Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2011 Oct 06

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE