Title: Methods and compositions for rapid thermal cycling

Abstract

The rapid thermal cycling of a material is targeted. A microfluidic heat exchanger with an internal porous medium is coupled to tanks containing cold fluid and hot fluid. Fluid flows alternately from the cold tank and the hot tank into the porous medium, cooling and heating samples contained in the microfluidic heat exchanger's sample wells. A valve may be coupled to the tanks and a pump, and switching the position of the valve may switch the source and direction of fluid flowing through the porous medium. A controller may control the switching of valve positions based on the temperature of the samples and determined temperature thresholds. A sample tray for containing samples to be thermally cycled may be used in conjunction with the thermal cycling system. A surface or internal electrical heater may aid in heating the samples, or may replace the necessity for the hot tank.

Inventors:

Beer, Neil Reginald; Benett, William J.; Frank, James M.; Deotte, Joshua R.; Spadaccini, Christopher

Issue Date:

2015-10-27

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1224445

Patent Number(s):

9170028

Application Number:

13/267,767

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

B01L2200/0689 - Sealing
B01L2200/12 - Specific details about manufacturing devices
B01L2300/0829 - Multi-well plates
B01L2300/1805 - Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
B01L2300/1822 - using Peltier elements
B01L2300/1827 - using resistive heater
B01L7/52 - {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples
B01L7/54 - {using spatial temperature gradients}

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

C12M29/00 - {Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps
C12M41/12 - {of temperature
C12M41/18 - {Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes}
C12M41/48 - {Automatic or computerized control

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
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

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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:

42 ENGINEERING