Laboratory plate thermal vault

Abstract

A portable temperature transfer device for transferring thermal energy to and / or from a laboratory plate is provided as well as its methods of use. The temperature transfer device comprises a base and a raised stage that comprises a thermal conductive material and an encasement that interfaces with the base to create a cavity that encloses a laboratory plate. The raised stage allows direct contact between individual wells of the laboratory plate and the temperature transfer device. The encasement completes the thermally conductive environment for the laboratory plate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60 / 980,167 filed Oct. 15, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to temperature transfer devices and methods for using the same. In particular, some aspects of the temperature transfer devices are adapted to be used with various laboratory or cell culture plates.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many chemical, binding, and molecular biological reactions, as well as in vitro culture of cells or tissue, require maintaining proper conditions such as temperature and humidity. In research or laboratory settings, often laboratory or cell culture plates (hereinafter simply “laboratory plates”) are used.[0004]The laboratory plates generally comprise a plurality of wells that are designed, for example, to hold cells or tissues in culture medium; biological, experimental or production reactions; biological or chemical reaction a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]Another object of the instant invention is to create an enclosed environment to protect the laboratory plate from transient environmental temperature changes.

[0016]Another object of the instant invention is to act as a temperature equilibration storage system, such that a laboratory plate can be removed from one environment, and transferred to another environment at some later time without changes in the internal temperature of the laboratory plate wells.

[0017]Another object of the instant invention is to provide a temperature control device that is readily portable and amenable for work conducted in a variety of different environments (e.g. under a laboratory hood).

[0018]Another object of the invention is to provide a common surrounding environment for the wells of a laboratory plate regardless of their position in the array of plate wells. The constant environment provided by the instant invention enables greater consistency in the established physical states of each well, including temperature, thermal transfer, humidity, gas exchange, pH, static electric charge, and light exposure, based on position of the well.

[0019]Another object of the instant invention is provide increased productivity with laboratory plate-based assays by reducing “edge effects” caused by well to well variation in thermal energy transfer, gas exchange, pH balance, water loss, static charge, and light exposure that result due to the relative physical position of the well on the plate.

[0020]These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a portable temperature transfer device typically comprising a base, a stage located on top of said base and an encasement that rests on the stage and encloses the stage. The stage comprises a thermo-conductive material adapted for rapidly transferring thermal energy from the temperature control device to the plurality of laboratory plate wells and is adapted to be in contact with at least the bottom surface of the laboratory plate wells when the laboratory plate is placed on top of said portable temperature transfer device. The encasement also comprises a thermo-conductive material to replicate the base plate temperature and fits into a groove created around the perimeter of the stage such that when the laboratory encasement is placed on top of the stage, the stage prevents any significant lateral movement of the encasement relative to the base.

Problems solved by technology

While laboratory plates are useful in holding cells and reactions separate from those in other wells, the overall design of laboratory plates makes it difficult to control the temperature.

Thus, conventional methods for controlling the temperature of laboratory plates requires a relatively large apparatus compared to the size of laboratory plates for temperature control.

Furthermore, these temperature control devices are generally not readily portable nor are these methods very quick or easy to conduct in a sterile environment (e.g. under a laboratory hood).

Although these routines are set up to maximize throughput, problems are often encountered that produce less than satisfactory conditions for conducting experimental assays.

One of the problems that can contribute to reduced productivity is what is commonly referred to in the art as “edge effects”.

The problem remains largely unresolved for most applications.

Likewise, negative edge effects can also occur which result in an unexpectedly lower optical density.

The bulletin does not, however, provide a method of adjusting the temperature of the wells.

Moreover, it does not recognize that the problem in positive and negative edge effects is not the temperature difference between the environment, reactants and well as the paper teaches.

The true cause of edge effects is the temperature differential between wells with time.

In addition to thermal energy control on laboratory plates, the effects of differences in local humidity and water loss can be significant.

Further, currently available incubators are insufficiently designed to prevent evaporation from the edge wells and within an incubator, conditions can vary between shelves and even between locations on the same shelf.

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