Digital PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) thermal cycler

Abstract

The invention provides a digital PCR thermal cycler. The digital PCR thermal cycler comprises a shell; a door opening and closing module (12); the thermal cycler comprises a shell (1), a temperature control module (13), and an air pump (17), an air storage tank (16), a separator (18) and a water storage module (19) which are arranged in the shell, the air pump (17) is communicated with the separator (18) through a first air supply pipeline (44), the separator (18) is used for removing water in air, and the separator (18) is communicated with the air storage tank (16) through a second air supply pipeline (45); wherein the water storage module (19) is in fluid communication with the separator (18) to receive water separated from the air by the separator (18). According to the digital PCR thermal cycler, impurities such as oil and water in compressed air can be removed, and moisture in the air is prevented from entering systems such as an air storage tank and an air passage; improved door opening and closing operation is provided, and the sealing performance of a sealed pressure maintaining environment is improved; and moreover, the three areas independently control the temperature, so that the heat uniformity is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bioengineering technology, in particular to a digital PCR thermal cycler. Background Art

[0002] A digital PCR thermal cycler is a core device used for precise temperature control and amplification reactions in digital PCR (dPCR) experiments. Its main function is to precisely control temperature cycles to amplify DNA or RNA fragments and perform quantitative analysis in conjunction with a micro-reaction system. The thermal cycler repeatedly heats and cools the sample according to a set program, allowing the target DNA or RNA to replicate hundreds or thousands of times under the action of specific enzymes, thereby facilitating detection. Digital PCR requires higher temperature control accuracy and usually requires precise switching of multiple temperature stages such as annealing, extension, and denaturation. A digital PCR thermal cycler with precise temperature control is essential.

[0003] Existing thermal cyclers have numerous shortcomings, such as easy clogging of micropores or channels during droplet dispensing and uneven droplet size. Digital PCR thermal cyclers incorporate a compressed air system with an air filter, primarily to generate droplets and prevent moisture from entering the air tank and airway system. Furthermore, the door opening and closing mechanisms of existing thermal cyclers present numerous issues, such as the need for an additional power source, resulting in a complex structure and a lack of buffering when the door is opened and closed.

[0004] Furthermore, the chip in the thermal cycler is operated in a sealed and pressure-maintained environment. If the seal is not good, the precise temperature control and the generation of droplets will be affected. The current technology has deficiencies in these aspects. The present invention is proposed to address the many problems of thermal cyclers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a novel digital PCR thermal cycler.

[0006] The present invention also aims to provide a digital PCR thermal cycler that can remove impurities such as oil and water from compressed air. Excessive moisture in the air (high humidity environment) may have a significant impact on systems that rely on gas pressure control (such as the droplet generation system in digital PCR, the microfluidic chip pressure drive module, the pneumatic valve control system, etc.).

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital PCR thermal cycler, wherein high-precision air pressure control ensures uniform droplet generation and a rapid generation rate.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital PCR thermal cycler that provides improved door opening and closing operations.

[0009] The present invention also aims to provide a digital PCR thermal cycler with uniform temperature control and extremely high temperature uniformity in the temperature ramp area, thereby ensuring the stability of the droplets on the chip during the reaction process.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital PCR thermal cycler to improve the sealing performance of the sealed pressure-maintaining environment.

[0011] To achieve the above purpose or one of the purposes, the technical solutions of the present invention are as follows:

[0012] A digital PCR thermal cycler, comprising:

[0013] case;

[0014] a door module, combined with the housing, configured to be openable to expose the chip cavity and closed to seal the chip cavity; and

[0015] The temperature control module is set in the housing and is used to control the temperature of the chip in the chip cavity.

[0016] The thermal cycler further comprises an air pump, an air storage tank, a separator and a water storage module arranged in the housing; the air pump is connected to the separator through a first air supply line, the separator is used to remove water from the air, and the separator is connected to the air storage tank through a second air supply line;

[0017] The water storage module is in fluid communication with the separator to receive water separated from the air by the separator.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing includes a base, and the water storage module is arranged above the base;

[0019] A water tank is provided on the base at a position corresponding to the water storage module, and at least one water leakage hole communicating with the outside of the shell is opened in the water tank.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water storage module comprises:

[0021] a drawer frame disposed on the base; and

[0022] A drawer is slidably arranged in a drawer frame,

[0023] The drawer includes a water storage chamber and a water inlet. The water outlet of the separator is connected to the water inlet through a water pipe. The water separated from the air by the separator enters the water storage chamber through the water inlet.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a tapered water guide port is provided on the drawer frame, and when the drawer is fully inserted into the drawer frame, the tapered water guide port faces the water inlet;

[0025] The tapered water guide port has a substantially tapered water inlet.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water storage module further includes a plug connector, one end of which is connected to the water pipe, and the other end is configured to adapt to the conical water outlet, so that when the plug connector is inserted into the conical water outlet, the plug connector is positioned and fixed on the drawer frame.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insertion end of the drawer into the drawer frame is provided with at least one magnetic block, and a magnetic block corresponding to the magnetic block is provided on the drawer frame, so that the drawer can be positioned and fixed when the drawer is inserted into the drawer frame.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insertion end of the drawer into the drawer frame is provided with a first magnet, and a first Hall sensor is provided on the drawer frame, and the first Hall sensor is used to sense the presence or absence of the first magnet to detect whether the drawer is loaded.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises a communication cavity communicating with the water storage cavity, and a float is provided in the communication cavity;

[0030] A second magnet is provided on the upper side of the float, and a second Hall sensor is provided on the drawer frame. The second Hall sensor is used to sense the presence of the second magnet to detect whether the water storage chamber is overflowing.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drawer has a front panel on a side close to the shell, and a handle is formed in the front panel to facilitate human hands to grab the drawer.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air pump is directly or indirectly arranged on the base through at least two stages of shock absorbing elements.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch door module includes a door assembly, the door assembly is provided with at least one group of protruding pins, each group includes two pins, each group of pins is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the door assembly, and at least one pin is evenly arranged on each side;

[0034] The door opening and closing module includes a door opening and closing cylinder, two connecting rods and at least two parallel connecting rods, which correspond to the pins one by one;

[0035] One end of the door opening and closing cylinder is hinged and fixed, and the other end of the door opening and closing cylinder is directly or indirectly connected to two connecting rods to actuate the connecting rods so that the connecting rods can be driven; one end of each parallel connecting rod is hinged and fixed to a connecting rod, and the other end is hinged and fixed to a fixed frame, so that every two adjacent parallel connecting rods, the connecting rods and the fixed frame form a four-bar linkage;

[0036] A locking hook is provided on one end of each parallel link away from the connecting rod, and the locking hook is configured to be able to engage with the pin shaft so that when the connecting rod moves to one side, the locking hook constrains the pin shaft to lock the door assembly in the closed position, and when the connecting rod moves to the other side, the locking hook releases the pin shaft to enable the door assembly to be opened.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door opening and closing cylinder is directly or indirectly connected to a gas storage tank, and the gas storage tank serves as a power source for the door opening and closing cylinder.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch door module further comprises a lock assembly, wherein the lock assembly is configured to further lock the door assembly;

[0039] The door assembly is provided with a clamping portion, and the lock assembly includes:

[0040] The locking frame is fixed on the temperature control module;

[0041] a telescopic lock element, disposed on or in the lock frame, capable of cooperating with the clamping portion, and having an inclined surface;

[0042] a first spring disposed between the telescopic lock element and the lock frame;

[0043] A door opening button, wherein an actuating block is provided on the inner side of the door opening button, and the actuating block has an inclined surface adapted to the inclined surface on the telescopic lock element; and

[0044] The second spring is set inside the door opening button and is used to reset the door opening button.

[0045] In which, the lock assembly is configured so that when the door opening button is pressed, the actuating block overcomes the elastic force of the second spring to actuate the telescopic lock element, causing the telescopic lock element to retract into the lock frame against the elastic force of the first spring, thereby releasing the clamping portion of the telescopic lock element; and when the door opening button is released, the telescopic lock element extends out of the lock frame under the elastic force of the first spring, thereby causing the telescopic lock element to be clamped on the clamping portion, and the actuating block and the door opening button return to their original positions under the elastic force of the second spring.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of the second springs arranged on the inner side of the door opening button is two.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one side of the door assembly is movably fixed by a rotating shaft, and a torsion spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft;

[0048] A damper is provided on one side of the door assembly where the rotating shaft is provided.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Hall detection component is provided on a side of the door assembly close to the lock assembly for detecting whether the door assembly is in a closed state.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control module includes:

[0051] heat sink;

[0052] A temperature control plate is relatively fixedly arranged on the radiator; and

[0053] The fan is relatively fixedly arranged on the radiator.

[0054] Wherein, the radiator is a special-shaped radiator.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a chip cavity for accommodating a chip is formed between the temperature control module and the switch door module;

[0056] The chip cavity is sealed with the temperature control module through a first hollow sealing ring, and the chip cavity is sealed with the switch door module through a second hollow sealing ring.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door assembly is provided with a guide pressing assembly, and the guide pressing assembly is used to press the chip when the door assembly is closed;

[0058] The guide pressing assembly is provided with a plurality of floating pressure heads, one end of the floating pressure head extends into the guide pressing assembly and the other end is exposed outside the guide pressing assembly. The end of the floating pressure head extending into the guide pressing assembly is supported by a third spring.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide and pressing assembly is further provided with a plurality of positioning elements for constraining and limiting the chip.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control module is divided into three independent temperature control zones, the chip cavity includes three independent areas, and the number of the second hollow sealing rings is three.

[0061] The present invention has the following beneficial effects compared to the prior art:

[0062] This invention incorporates a separator (or air filter) and a drawer-type water storage module to filter out liquid components from compressed air, preventing water vapor and oil mist from entering precision instruments, ensuring stable results and equipment safety. The microfluidic chips and droplet generation devices used in digital PCR are extremely fine (micrometer-level). Excessive moisture in the air (in a high-humidity environment) can significantly impact systems that rely on gas pressure control (such as the droplet generation system in digital PCR, the microfluidic chip pressure drive module, and the pneumatic valve control system), interfering with droplet size and uniformity and reducing the reliability of the amplification reaction.

[0063] Conventional machines are all equipped with an air tank and an air pump externally, but the present invention embeds the air pump and the air tank, reducing the volume. In addition, the present invention directly uses the air pump and the air tank as the power source for opening and closing the door, thus eliminating the need for a separate power source.

[0064] A water trough is located beneath the water storage module to prevent water from accidentally leaking into the machine or elsewhere. Water can flow directly through the trough and out of the machine through a drain hole. The drawer can detect when it's full, alerting the user to prevent overflow. It also monitors whether the drawer is properly installed. The air filter is connected using a quick-connect connector and features a tapered water guide port that works in conjunction with the quick-connect connector to direct water and the connector.

[0065] The air pump is placed in a sealed chamber with cushioning and noise reduction materials inside as the first level of shock absorption. A shock-absorbing pad is also installed under the air pump as the second level of shock absorption to reduce the resonance of the whole machine caused by the vibration during the working process of the pump, thereby reducing the impact on the machine.

[0066] Two compression springs under the door opening button ensure it automatically rebounds after being pressed and released. A compression spring also exists behind the telescopic lock element, ensuring it automatically rebounds after being released. The door opening system utilizes a combination of torsion springs and damping components, such as a small cushioning cylinder. While torsion springs alone would cause the door to spring open instantly, the addition of a small cushioning damping component provides a buffering effect, allowing the door to open slowly to the desired position, enhancing the user experience.

[0067] The radiator of the present invention is a special-shaped radiator with serrated and other special-shaped structures on the heat sink, which can greatly increase the heat dissipation area and improve the heat dissipation efficiency. The sealed pressure-maintaining cavity uses a hollow O-ring to ensure the sealing. The guide and clamping assembly has a built-in compression spring to ensure that the chip is not crushed, while ensuring that the chip fits tightly with the bottom, has good thermal conductivity, and a reasonable arrangement of force points. The three zones are independently temperature-controlled with good thermal uniformity, and each partition can carry out different temperature change experimental procedures; at the same time, the three zones share a main cavity, and only one air pump is used to control the pressure change of the main cavity. The present invention adopts six-point symmetry and double-sided tightening to close the door, which is tightly sealed, uniformly stressed, and has good sealing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the housing is removed;

[0069] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A top view of a digital PCR thermal cycler.

[0070] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A side cross-sectional view of a digital PCR thermal cycler;

[0071] Figure 4 The water storage module and separator of the digital PCR thermal cycler of an embodiment of the present invention are shown;

[0072] Figure 5 A partial cross-sectional view of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a water storage tank, an air pump, and a separator;

[0073] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view shows the connection between the water storage module and the separator of the digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0074] Figure 7 A partial top view of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the drawer rack is removed to clearly illustrate the water tank;

[0075] Figure 8 A partial top view of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0076] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a drawer of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] Figure 10 A rear view of a drawer of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0078] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a drawer of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0079] Figure 12 A perspective view of a door module and a temperature control module of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the door assembly is in a closed state;

[0080] Figure 13 The door module and temperature control module of the digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown from another angle, wherein the door assembly is in a closed state;

[0081] Figure 14 for Figure 12Front view of the door switch module and temperature control module;

[0082] Figure 15 for Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the door switch module and the temperature control module;

[0083] Figure 16 for Figure 15 A partial enlarged view of

[0084] Figure 17 for Figure 12 Rear view of the door switch module and temperature control module;

[0085] Figure 18 for Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the door switch module and the temperature control module;

[0086] Figure 19 This is a front view of a door module and a temperature control module of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the door assembly is in an open state;

[0087] Figure 20 for Figure 19 A cross-sectional view of the door switch module and the temperature control module;

[0088] Figure 21 for Figure 19 Rear view of the door switch module and temperature control module;

[0089] Figure 22 The structure of the guide and pressing assembly of the digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0090] Figure 23 A perspective view of a guide and compression assembly of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0091] Figure 24 3D is a perspective view of a heat sink of a digital PCR thermal cycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] Below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail, wherein the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements. In addition, in the detailed description below, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, known structures and devices are embodied in a schematic manner to simplify the drawings.

[0093] This invention proposes a novel digital PCR thermal cycler. This device is conventionally box-shaped, with a housing that insulates the core components. The housing can be composed of an outer shell, an upper shell, and a base. The outer shell is equipped with a power button and indicator lights, which indicate the device's status and operating state. The upper shell is equipped with a door-opening button, or compartment-opening button. Pressing it opens the compartment door, allowing chips to be inserted and removed from the thermal cycler. The upper shell also features a touchscreen display for operating the device.

[0094] See the application Figure 1 When the housing is open, the thermal cycler primarily comprises a base 11, a door module 12, a temperature control module 13, an electrical control module 14, an air tank 16, an air pump 17, a separator 18, and a water storage module 19. The door module 12 is coupled to the housing and is configured to open to expose the chip cavity 71 and close to seal it. The temperature control module 13 is disposed within the housing to control the temperature of the chip within the chip cavity 71.

[0095] The present invention adds a gas tank 16, an air pump 17, a separator 18 and a water storage module 19 to the traditional thermal cycler, all of which are arranged in the shell. The gas tank and the air pump are used for pressurization control. Compressed air is used to divide the PCR reaction liquid into thousands of micro-reaction units. High-pressure air is required to push the reagents through the microfluidic chip or a special droplet generator to complete the formation of droplets. In addition, the reaction unit control of digital PCR requires air pressure support. High-precision air pressure control ensures the uniformity of droplet generation and a fast generation rate. Conventional machines are equipped with gas tanks and air pumps on the outside. The present invention embeds the air pump and gas tank, reducing the volume. In addition, the present invention directly uses the air pump and gas tank as the power source for opening and closing the door, so there is no need to equip a separate power source.

[0096] Furthermore, the present invention incorporates a separator (or air filter) and a drawer-type water storage module to filter out liquid components from compressed air, preventing water vapor and oil mist from entering precision instruments. This ensures stable results and equipment safety, and protects the stable operation of the microfluidic channels / droplet generators. The microfluidic chips and droplet generation devices used in digital PCR are extremely delicate (micrometer-level). Excessive moisture in the air (in a high-humidity environment) can significantly impact systems that rely on gas pressure control (such as the droplet generation system in digital PCR, the microfluidic chip pressure drive module, and the pneumatic valve control system), reducing the reliability of the amplification reaction.

[0097] The following is a detailed introduction to them. The air pump 17 is connected to the separator 18 through the first air supply line 44. The separator 18 is used to remove water from the air. The separator 18 is connected to the air tank 16 through the second air supply line 45. The water storage module 19 is in fluid communication with the separator 18 to receive the water separated from the air by the separator 18. Furthermore, the water storage module 19 is arranged above the base 11. A water tank 20 is provided at a position on the base 11 corresponding to the water storage module 19, and at least one water leakage hole 21 communicating with the outside of the shell is opened in the water tank 20. A water tank is reserved below the water storage module 19 to prevent water from flowing into the inside of the machine or other locations due to accidents. Water can flow directly to the outside of the machine through the water tank and the water leakage hole.

[0098] As shown, the water storage module 19 includes a drawer frame 31 mounted on the base 11 and a drawer 32 slidably mounted within the drawer frame 31. The drawer 32 includes a water storage chamber 36 and a water inlet 30. The water outlet of the separator 18 communicates with the water inlet 30 via a water pipe 43, allowing water separated from the air by the separator 18 to enter the water storage chamber 36 through the water inlet 30. The drawer frame 31 is provided with a tapered water inlet 23. When the drawer 32 is fully inserted into the drawer frame 31, the tapered water inlet 23 faces the water inlet 30. The tapered water inlet 23 has a generally conical water inlet. The water storage module 19 also includes a plug connector 33, one end of which is connected to the water pipe 43 and the other end is configured to mate with the tapered water inlet 23. When the plug connector 33 is inserted into the tapered water inlet 23, the plug connector 33 is positioned and secured to the drawer frame 31.

[0099] Working principle of the whole machine: After the rear is powered on, turn on the power switch of the rear electronic control module 14, turn on the switch on the right side of the upper shell, the machine starts self-detection, the front indicator light shows the machine detection status, the PC module controls the operation of the machine, the internal air pump works, and adjusts the internal pressure of the machine. The PC module can control the opening and closing of the compartment door and the operation of the temperature control module. The temperature control module can control the heating and cooling of the chip sample. During the operation of the air pump, the filtered water will flow into the inside of the drawer, and the water will be detected and informed to the user.

[0100] Preferably, the insertion end of the drawer 32 inserted into the drawer frame 31 is provided with at least one magnetic block 47, and a magnetic block corresponding to the magnetic block 47 is provided on the drawer frame 31, so that the drawer 32 can be positioned and fixed when inserted into the drawer frame 31. Furthermore, the insertion end of the drawer 32 inserted into the drawer frame 31 is provided with a first magnet 46, and a first Hall effect sensor 39 is provided on the drawer frame 31. The first Hall effect sensor 39 is used to sense the presence of the first magnet 46 to detect whether the drawer 32 is loaded. Advantageously, the drawer 32 also includes a connecting cavity 37 connected to the water storage chamber 36, and a float 38 is provided in the connecting cavity 37; a second magnet 48 is provided on the upper side of the float 38, and a second Hall effect sensor 40 is provided on the drawer frame 31. The second Hall effect sensor 40 is used to sense the presence of the second magnet 48 to detect whether the water storage chamber 36 is overflowing. The drawer 32 has a front panel 41 on one side close to the housing, and a handle 42 is formed in the front panel 41 to facilitate manual grasping of the drawer 32 .

[0101] The drawer can detect whether the water inside is full, reminding the user to prevent water from overflowing, and can also monitor whether the drawer is installed properly. The air filter is connected using a quick-connect connector and is designed with a tapered water guide port to guide water and the connector when used with the quick-connect connector.

[0102] The air pump is placed inside the housing. To reduce the impact of vibration, the air pump 17 is directly or indirectly mounted on the base 11 via at least two stages of shock-absorbing elements: a first-stage shock-absorbing element 34 and a second-stage shock-absorbing element 35. The first-stage shock-absorbing element 34 can be a shock-absorbing material wrapped around the air pump, while the second-stage shock-absorbing element 35 can be a shock-absorbing pad. The air pump is placed in a sealed chamber with cushioning and noise-reducing materials as primary shock absorption. A shock-absorbing pad is also installed below the air pump as secondary shock absorption, reducing the resonance of the entire machine caused by vibration during the pump's operation, thereby minimizing the impact on the machine.

[0103] The door module 12 includes a door assembly 25 and a lock assembly 22. The door assembly 25 is provided with six protruding pins 54, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the door assembly 25, with three pins 54 evenly arranged on each side. The door module 12 includes a door cylinder 51, two connecting rods 52, and six parallel connecting rods 53. One end of the door cylinder 51 is hinged and fixed, and the other end of the door cylinder 51 is indirectly connected to the two connecting rods 52 to actuate the connecting rods 52 so that the connecting rods 52 can be driven. The other end of the door cylinder 51 is first connected to a longitudinal axis 57, which is connected to a transverse axis 58. The two ends of the transverse axis 58 are respectively connected to a connecting rod 52, and alternatively The other end of the door opening and closing cylinder 51 can also be directly connected to the two connecting rods 52; one end of each parallel link 53 is hinged and fixed to a connecting rod 52, and the other end is hinged and fixed to the fixed frame, so that every two adjacent parallel links 53 form a four-bar mechanism with the connecting rod 52 and the fixed frame; a locking hook 56 is provided on the end of each parallel link 53 away from the connecting rod 52, and the locking hook 56 is configured to be able to combine with the pin shaft 54 ​​so that when the connecting rod 52 moves to one side, the locking hook 56 constrains the pin shaft 54 ​​to lock the door assembly 25 in the closed position, and when the connecting rod 52 moves to the other side, the locking hook 56 releases the pin shaft 54 ​​to enable the door assembly 25 to be opened.

[0104] The above structure is adopted, and the door is closed with six-point symmetry and double-sided tension, which makes the door tightly closed and sealed, with uniform force and good sealing performance. It should be noted that the door assembly (25) is provided with at least one group of protruding pins (54), which does not necessarily have to be six, but can be two or four, each group including two pins, each group of pins (54) is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the door assembly (25), and at least one pin (54) is evenly arranged on each side; the door opening and closing module (12) includes a door opening and closing cylinder (51), two connecting rods (52) and at least two parallel connecting rods (53), which correspond to the pins (54) one by one.

[0105] Here, the door opening and closing cylinder 51 is directly or indirectly connected to the gas tank 16, and the gas tank 16 serves as the power source of the door opening and closing cylinder 51. In the door opening and closing mode, the door closing and locking utilizes the door opening and closing cylinder as an actuator, and there is no need to provide a separate locking mechanism power source.

[0106] The lock assembly 22 is configured to further lock the door assembly 25, such as Figure 16As shown, the door assembly 25 is provided with a clamping portion 61, and the lock assembly 22 includes: a lock frame 62, which is fixed to the temperature control module 13; a telescopic lock element 63, which is provided on or in the lock frame 62, and the telescopic lock element 63 can cooperate with the clamping portion 61, and the telescopic lock element 63 has an inclined surface; a first spring 64, which is provided between the telescopic lock element 63 and the lock frame 62; a door opening button 26, an actuating block 65 is provided on the inner side of the door opening button 26, and the actuating block 65 has an inclined surface, which is adapted to the inclined surface on the telescopic lock element 63; and a second spring 66, which is provided on the door opening button 26. The inner side is used to reset the door opening button 26, wherein the lock assembly 22 is configured so that when the door opening button 26 is pressed, the actuating block 65 overcomes the elastic force of the second spring 66 to actuate the telescopic lock element 63, so that the telescopic lock element 63 overcomes the elastic force of the first spring 64 and retracts into the lock frame 62, thereby releasing the telescopic lock element 63 from the clamping portion 61, and when the door opening button 26 is released, the telescopic lock element 63 extends out of the lock frame 62 under the elastic force of the first spring 64, thereby causing the telescopic lock element 63 to be clamped on the clamping portion 61, and the actuating block 65 and the door opening button 26 return to their original positions under the elastic force of the second spring 66.

[0107] Advantageously, there are two second springs 66 disposed inside the door opening button 26. There are two compression springs below the door opening button to ensure that the button automatically rebounds after being pressed and released, and a compression spring at the rear of the telescopic lock element to ensure that it automatically rebounds after being released, and the door opening button contacts the inclined surface of the telescopic lock element.

[0108] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one side of the door assembly 25 is movably fixed by a rotating shaft 59, and a torsion spring 76 is sleeved around the rotating shaft 59. A damper 75 is provided on the side of the door assembly 25 where the rotating shaft 59 is located. Here, the damper 75 utilizes a small air cushion cylinder. The door opens using a combination of the torsion spring and the small air cushion cylinder. Using the torsion spring alone would cause the door to spring open instantly, but the addition of the small air cushion provides a buffering effect, allowing the door to slowly open to the desired position, enhancing the user experience.

[0109] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Hall effect detection assembly 55 is provided on one side of the door assembly 25 near the lock assembly 22 to detect whether the door assembly 25 is in a closed state. Performing Hall effect detection on the door avoids starting an experiment with the door open and causing sample waste.

[0110] The temperature control module 13 of the present invention mainly includes a radiator 24, a temperature control plate 74, and a fan 15. The temperature control plate 74 is relatively fixedly arranged on the radiator 24, and the fan 15 is relatively fixedly arranged on the radiator 24. It should be noted that the radiator 24 of the present invention is a special-shaped radiator, such as Figure 24 As shown, the heat sink has a serrated structure, which can greatly increase the heat dissipation area and improve the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0111] A chip cavity 71 for accommodating a chip is formed between the temperature control module 13 and the switch door module 12. The chip cavity 71 is sealed from the temperature control module 13 by a first hollow sealing ring 72, and from the switch door module 12 by a second hollow sealing ring 73. It should be noted that a hollow O-ring is used to seal the pressure-maintaining cavity to ensure tightness.

[0112] It should be noted that the door assembly 25 is provided with a guide pressing assembly 80, which is used to press the chip when the door assembly 25 is closed; the guide pressing assembly 80 is provided with a plurality of floating pressure heads 81, one end of the floating pressure head 81 extends into the guide pressing assembly 80, and the other end is exposed outside the guide pressing assembly 80. The end of the floating pressure head 81 extending into the guide pressing assembly 80 is supported by a third spring 83. The guide pressing assembly 80 is also provided with a plurality of positioning elements 82 for constraining and limiting the chip, see Figure 23 The guide clamping assembly has a built-in compression spring. The pressure of the compression spring is calculated to ensure that the chip is not damaged. At the same time, it ensures that the chip fits tightly with the bottom, has good thermal conductivity, and has a reasonable arrangement of force points.

[0113] As a preferred embodiment, the temperature control module 13 is divided into three independent temperature control zones, the chip cavity 71 includes three independent zones, and the number of the second hollow sealing rings 73 is three. The three zones are independently temperature controlled, with good thermal uniformity, and each zone can perform different temperature change experimental procedures; at the same time, the three zones share a main cavity, and only one air pump is used to control the pressure change of the main cavity. Uniform temperature control and extremely high temperature uniformity in the temperature control zones ensure the stability of the droplets in the chip during the reaction process.

[0114] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention. The scope of application of the present invention is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

[0115] List of reference numerals:

[0116] 11 base

[0117] 12 door opening and closing modules

[0118] 13 temperature control module

[0119] 14 Electronic control module

[0120] 15 fans

[0121] 16 gas tanks

[0122] 17 air pump

[0123] 18 separators

[0124] 19 water storage module

[0125] 20 sinks

[0126] 21 Leakage hole

[0127] 22 lock components

[0128] 23 conical water outlet

[0129] 24 Radiator

[0130] 25 door components

[0131] 26 door opening button

[0132] 30 water inlet

[0133] 31 drawer rack

[0134] 32 drawers

[0135] 33 plug connector

[0136] 34First stage shock absorbing element

[0137] 35 Second stage shock absorber

[0138] 36 water storage chamber

[0139] 37 communicating cavity

[0140] 38 float

[0141] 39 First Hall sensor

[0142] 40 second Hall sensor

[0143] 41 front panel

[0144] 42 Clasp

[0145] 43 water pipes

[0146] 44 first gas supply pipeline

[0147] 45 Second gas supply pipeline

[0148] 46 First Magnet

[0149] 47 magnetic blocks

[0150] 48 Second Magnet

[0151] 51 door opening and closing cylinder

[0152] 52 connecting rod

[0153] 53 parallel linkage

[0154] 54 pin

[0155] 55 Hall detection component

[0156] 56 lock hook

[0157] 57 longitudinal axis

[0158] 58 horizontal axis

[0159] 59 reels

[0160] 61 clamping part

[0161] 62 lock frame

[0162] 63 telescopic lock element

[0163] 64 first spring

[0164] 65 actuator block

[0165] 66 second spring

[0166] 71 chip cavity

[0167] 72 first hollow sealing ring

[0168] 73 second hollow sealing ring

[0169] 74 temperature control board

[0170] 75 damper

[0171] 76 torsion spring

[0172] 80 guide clamping assembly

[0173] 81 floating pressure head

[0174] 82 positioning elements

[0175] 83Third spring.

Claims

1. A digital PCR thermal cycler, characterized in that The thermal cycler comprises: case; A door module (12) is combined with the housing and configured to be able to open to expose the chip cavity (71) and close to seal the chip cavity (71); and The temperature control module (13) is arranged in the housing and is used to control the temperature of the chip in the chip cavity (71). The thermal cycler further comprises an air pump (17), an air storage tank (16), a separator (18) and a water storage module (19) arranged in the housing; the air pump (17) is connected to the separator (18) via a first air supply line (44); the separator (18) is used to remove water from the air; and the separator (18) is connected to the air storage tank (16) via a second air supply line (45); The water storage module (19) is in fluid communication with the separator (18) to receive the water separated from the air by the separator (18).

2. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing comprises a base (11), and the water storage module (19) is arranged above the base (11); A water tank (20) is provided on the base (11) at a position corresponding to the water storage module (19), and at least one water leakage hole (21) communicating with the outside of the shell is opened in the water tank (20).

3. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 1, characterized in that The water storage module (19) comprises: A drawer frame (31) is provided on the base (11); and A drawer (32) is slidably disposed in the drawer frame (31). The drawer (32) includes a water storage chamber (36) and a water inlet (30), the water outlet of the separator (18) is connected to the water inlet (30) through a water pipe (43), and the water separated from the air by the separator (18) enters the water storage chamber (36) through the water inlet (30).

4. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 3, characterized in that: The drawer frame (31) is provided with a tapered water guide port (23), and when the drawer (32) is fully inserted into the drawer frame (31), the tapered water guide port (23) faces the water inlet (30); The tapered water guide port (23) has a substantially tapered water inlet.

5. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water storage module (19) further comprises a plug connector (33), one end of which is connected to the water pipe (43), and the other end of which is configured to be adapted to the tapered water guide port (23), so that when the plug connector (33) is inserted into the tapered water guide port (23), the plug connector (33) is positioned and fixed on the drawer frame (31).

6. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 1, wherein: The switch door module (12) includes a door assembly (25), wherein the door assembly (25) is provided with at least one group of protruding pins (54), each group including two pins, each group of pins (54) being symmetrically arranged on both sides of the door assembly (25), and at least one pin (54) being evenly arranged on each side; The door opening and closing module (12) comprises a door opening and closing cylinder (51), two connecting rods (52) and at least two parallel connecting rods (53), which correspond one to one with the pin shaft (54); One end of the door-opening and closing cylinder (51) is hinged and fixed, and the other end of the door-opening and closing cylinder (51) is directly or indirectly connected to two connecting rods (52) to actuate the connecting rods (52) so that the connecting rods (52) can be driven; one end of each parallel connecting rod (53) is hinged and fixed to a connecting rod (52), and the other end is hinged and fixed to a fixing frame, so that every two adjacent parallel connecting rods (53) and the connecting rods (52) and the fixing frame form a four-bar linkage; A locking hook (56) is provided on one end of each parallel link (53) away from the connecting rod (52), and the locking hook (56) is configured to be able to engage with the pin shaft (54) so ​​that when the connecting rod (52) moves to one side, the locking hook (56) constrains the pin shaft (54) to lock the door assembly (25) in the closed position, and when the connecting rod (52) moves to the other side, the locking hook (56) releases the pin shaft (54) to enable the door assembly (25) to be opened.

7. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 6, characterized in that: The door module (12) further includes a lock assembly (22), wherein the lock assembly (22) is configured to further lock the door assembly (25); The door assembly (25) is provided with a clamping portion (61), and the lock assembly (22) comprises: A locking frame (62) is fixed on the temperature control module (13); A telescopic lock element (63) is provided on or in the lock frame (62), the telescopic lock element (63) can cooperate with the clamping portion (61), and the telescopic lock element (63) has an inclined surface; a first spring (64) disposed between the telescopic lock element (63) and the lock frame (62); A door opening button (26), wherein an actuating block (65) is provided on the inner side of the door opening button (26), and the actuating block (65) has an inclined surface adapted to the inclined surface on the telescopic lock element (63); and The second spring (66) is arranged inside the door opening button (26) and is used to reset the door opening button (26). The lock assembly (22) is configured such that when the door opening button (26) is pressed, the actuating block (65) overcomes the elastic force of the second spring (66) to actuate the telescopic lock element (63), so that the telescopic lock element (63) overcomes the elastic force of the first spring (64) and retracts into the lock frame (62), thereby releasing the telescopic lock element (63) from the clamping portion (61); and when the door opening button (26) is released, the telescopic lock element (63) extends out of the lock frame (62) under the elastic force of the first spring (64), thereby clamping the telescopic lock element (63) on the clamping portion (61), and the actuating block (65) and the door opening button (26) return to their original positions under the elastic force of the second spring (66).

8. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 6, characterized in that: One side of the door assembly (25) is movably fixed by a rotating shaft (59), and a torsion spring (76) is sleeved on the rotating shaft (59); A damper (75) is provided on one side of the door assembly (25) where the rotating shaft (59) is provided.

9. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 6, characterized in that The temperature control module (13) comprises: Radiator (24); A temperature control plate (74) is relatively fixedly disposed on the radiator (24); and The fan (15) is relatively fixedly arranged on the radiator (24). Wherein, the radiator (24) is a special-shaped radiator.

10. The digital PCR thermal cycler according to claim 9, characterized in that: A chip cavity (71) for accommodating a chip is formed between the temperature control module (13) and the switch door module (12); The chip cavity (71) is sealed with the temperature control module (13) through a first hollow sealing ring (72), and the chip cavity (71) is sealed with the switch door module (12) through a second hollow sealing ring (73).

Images