Sealing cover plate for PCR reaction and PCR analyzer

Abstract

The utility model relates to a sealing cover plate for PCR reaction and a PCR analyser, the PCR analyser comprises a full skirt plate, the sealing cover plate and a moving assembly, the sealing cover plate covers the full skirt plate, separation pins are arranged on the inner walls of the two opposite sides of the moving assembly in the first direction, the sealing cover plate comprises a plate body and a first side plate, and the first side plate is arranged on the plate body. The side, away from the plate body, of the first side plate is provided with a first boss, and in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the size of the first boss in the thickness direction of the plate body is gradually increased and then gradually decreased, so that when the moving assembly moves in the second direction to execute the cover opening action, the separating pin can move along with the moving plate and abut against the first boss, and the separating pin is separated from the moving plate. Therefore, the sealing cover plate can be jacked; meanwhile, the separation pin can abut against the step surface of the full skirt plate, so that the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate can be separated from each other, secondary liquid adding can be facilitated, and the full skirt plate can be prevented from being damaged or sample pollution caused by splashing of a test sample in the full skirt plate can be avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of biological detection, and particularly to a sealing cover plate for PCR reaction and a PCR analyzer. Background Art

[0002] Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique used to amplify specific DNA fragments. It can be regarded as a special DNA replication in vitro, and its greatest feature is that it can greatly increase trace amounts of DNA. A PCR analyzer is an extremely important tool in molecular biology research and has been widely used in laboratories around the world for a variety of experimental applications such as molecular cloning, gene expression analysis, genotyping, sequencing, and mutation.

[0003] During the process of performing a PCR reaction using a PCR analyzer, a sealing cover plate needs to be used to cover the full skirt plate containing the test sample to ensure the sealing of the experimental process. However, due to high temperature and high pressure generated during the reaction process, the full skirt plate is easily tightly adhered to the sealing cover plate, making it inconvenient for the user or the manipulator to remove the sealing cover plate, and thus inconvenient for secondary liquid addition to the full skirt plate; while forcibly separating the sealing cover plate from the full skirt plate manually will damage the full skirt plate due to excessive force, or cause the test sample in the full skirt plate to splash out, resulting in sample contamination. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Based on this, in view of the problem that the sealing cover plate in the existing PCR analyzer adheres to the full skirt plate and it is difficult to separate the sealing cover plate from the full skirt plate, it is necessary to provide a sealing cover plate for PCR reaction that is easy to separate from the full skirt plate and a PCR analyzer including the sealing cover plate.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a sealing cover plate for PCR reaction, including:

[0006] A plate body for covering the top surface of the full skirt plate;

[0007] Two first side plates are provided on one side of the plate body along its thickness direction and are respectively provided on opposite edges of the plate body along a first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction;

[0008] Each of the first side plates has a first boss at one end away from the plate body; in a second direction perpendicular to both the thickness direction and the first direction, the dimension of the first boss in the thickness direction first gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0009] In one embodiment, the sealing cover plate further includes two second side plates, and the two second side plates are also disposed on one side of the plate body in the direction of its own thickness, and the two second side plates are respectively disposed on opposite edges of the plate body along the second direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, at least one of the two second side plates has a second boss at an end far from the plate body, and the second boss is used for being limited in a groove formed in the full skirt plate.

[0011] In one embodiment, a sunk groove is formed in the side of the plate body where the first side plate is provided, and a sealing gasket is embedded in the sunk groove.

[0012] In one embodiment, the plate body is provided with an ejection hole penetrating through opposite sides of itself, and the ejection hole is used for a ejector pin to be inserted therein so that the ejector pin can separate the sealing gasket from the plate body.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a PCR analyzer, including:

[0014] A base, on which a temperature control module is provided;

[0015] A full skirt plate, disposed above the temperature control module, and the full skirt plate has stepped surfaces on opposite sides in the first direction;

[0016] The sealing cover plate as described in any of the above solutions, and the sealing cover plate covers the full skirt plate;

[0017] A moving assembly, capable of moving along the second direction, and separation pins located above the stepped surfaces are respectively provided on inner walls on opposite sides of the moving assembly in the first direction, and the separation pins are configured to abut against the first boss when the moving assembly moves so that the sealing cover plate can be lifted, and to abut against the stepped surface so that the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate can be separated from each other.

[0018] In one embodiment, the moving assembly includes two moving plates spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and the separation pins are provided on one side of each moving plate facing the other moving plate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the moving assembly further includes a thermal cover, and sliding pins are respectively provided at two ends of the thermal cover in the first direction, and the moving plate is provided with inclined slots inclined relative to the second direction, and the sliding pins are slidably limited in the inclined slots of the corresponding moving plate;

[0020] When the moving component moves along the second direction, the sliding pin can slide in the inclined groove, so that the thermal cover can move relative to the moving plate in the thickness direction of the sealing cover plate to cover or disengage from the sealing cover plate.

[0021] In one embodiment, one end of the base in the second direction has a baffle, and the baffle is used to abut against the thermal cover when the moving component moves a certain distance along the second direction, so that the thermal cover can move relative to the moving plate.

[0022] In one embodiment, at least one end of the sealing cover plate at both ends in the second direction is provided with a second boss, and at least one end of the full skirt plate at both ends in the second direction is also provided with a limiting groove, and the second boss is limited in the corresponding limiting groove.

[0023] The above-mentioned sealing cover plate and PCR analyzer for PCR reaction are provided with two first side plates spaced relatively along the first direction on one side of the plate body of the sealing cover plate along its own thickness direction, and a first boss with a size that gradually increases and then gradually decreases in the thickness direction is provided at one end of each first side plate away from the plate body. And a separation pin is provided on the moving component of the PCR analyzer, so that when the moving component of the PCR analyzer moves along the second direction to perform the open cover operation, the separation pin can move along with the moving plate and abut against the first boss, so that the sealing cover plate can be lifted upward, so that the sealing cover plate has a tendency to separate from the full skirt plate; at the same time, the separation pin can also abut against the step surface of the full skirt plate when the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate are about to separate, so as to ensure that the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate are separated from each other. Therefore, there is no need to forcibly separate the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate manually, and it is convenient to perform secondary liquid addition to the full skirt plate, and it can avoid damaging the full skirt plate or splashing the test sample in the full skirt plate, resulting in sample contamination. Description of the Drawings

[0024] Figure 1 Is an axonometric view of a PCR analyzer provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 2 Is a front view of a PCR analyzer provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 3 Is Figure 2 An enlarged schematic view of area A in

[0027] Figure 4 Is an axonometric view of the sealing cover plate in a PCR analyzer provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Description of the Reference Numerals:

[0029] 10. PCR Analyzer; 100. Temperature Control Module; 200. Full Skirt; 201. Step Surface; 300. Sealing Cover Plate; 310. Plate Body; 311. Sunk Groove; 312. Ejection Hole; 320. First Side Plate; 321. First Boss; 330. Second Side Plate; 331. Second Boss; 400. Moving Component; 410. Moving Plate; 411. Inclined Groove; 420. Thermal Cover; 421. Sliding Pin; 430. Separation Pin. Detailed Embodiment

[0030] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present application more apparent and understandable, the following will describe the detailed embodiment of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that if there are terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., the orientation or positional relationship indicated by these terms is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

[0032] In addition, if there are terms such as "first" and "second", these terms are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of the present application, if there is a term "plural", the meaning of "plural" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0033] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, if terms such as "installed", "connected", "joined", "fixed", etc. appear, these terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly defined. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, if there is a description such as a first feature being "on" or "under" a second feature, its meaning can be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are indirectly in contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature can be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0035] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as "fixed to" or "disposed on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can also be an intermediate component. If an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component at the same time. If so, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this application are only for the purpose of illustration and do not represent the only implementation.

[0036] This application provides a sealing cover plate for PCR reaction and a PCR analyzer, wherein the PCR analyzer includes the sealing cover plate. The PCR analyzer is used to simulate the DNA replication process in vivo in vitro based on the amplification principle of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sealing cover plate is used to cover the full skirt plate containing the test sample during the PCR reaction to be able to seal the test sample and ensure the smooth progress of the PCR reaction.

[0037] The structures of the PCR analyzer and the sealing cover plate in this application will be described below. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the sealing cover plate of this application is not limited to being used in the PCR analyzer to seal the test sample in the full skirt plate, and can also be used to cover any other reaction plate containing the test sample to seal the test sample, which is not limited here.

[0038] Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Figure 1 andFigure 2 Shown is a PCR analyzer 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. The PCR analyzer 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes a base (not shown in the figure), a temperature control module 100, a full skirt 200, a sealing cover 300, and a moving assembly 400. The temperature control module 100 is disposed on the base, the full skirt 200 is disposed above the temperature control module 100, the sealing cover 300 covers the full skirt 200, and the moving assembly 400 is slidably connected to the base. The base is used to play a supporting role in the entire PCR analyzer 10; the full skirt 200 is used to hold test samples; the temperature control module 100 is used to heat the full skirt 200 so as to be able to heat the test samples contained in the full skirt 200 to different temperatures, thereby enabling rapid amplification of target DNA fragments through cycles of high-temperature denaturation, low-temperature annealing, and appropriate-temperature extension; the sealing cover 300 is used to seal the test samples contained in the full skirt 200 during the PCR reaction to keep the test samples in the full skirt 200 warm, prevent heat loss, and avoid the volatilization of test samples into the air; the moving assembly 400 can move relative to the base along a second direction (i.e., the Y direction shown in the figure) to perform the actions of closing and opening the cover, enabling the operator to perform secondary liquid addition or remove the full skirt 200 and the sealing cover 300.

[0039] Specifically, in one embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the full skirt 200 has stepped surfaces 201 on opposite sides in a first direction (i.e., the X direction shown in the figure) perpendicular to the second direction. On opposite inner walls of the moving assembly 400 in the first direction, separation pins 430 are respectively provided above the stepped surfaces 201. The separation pins 430 are configured to abut against the stepped surfaces 201 of the full skirt 200 when the sealing cover 300 is removed by a manipulator or manually, so that the sealing cover 300 and the full skirt 200 will not be removed together, thus facilitating the separation of the sealing cover 300 and the full skirt 200 from each other.

[0040] More specifically, please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 . The moving assembly 400 includes two moving plates 410 spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The separation pins 430 are provided on one side of each moving plate 410 facing the other moving plate 410. Further, the moving assembly 400 further includes a thermal cover 420. The thermal cover 420 is provided with heating wires therein, which are used to cover the sealing cover 300 when the sealing cover 300 covers the full skirt 200 to heat the sealing cover 300, so that heat can be transferred to the top surface of the full skirt 200 through the sealing cover 300, preventing the evaporation of test samples into the air and preventing the condensation of test samples due to cooling during the reaction.

[0041] Preferably, in order to perform the actions of closing or opening the thermal cover 420, as Figure 1 shown, sliding pins 421 are respectively provided at both ends of the thermal cover 420 in the first direction. Each moving plate 410 is provided with an inclined slot 411 that is inclined with respect to the second direction (i.e., the horizontal direction). In the direction from the inside to the outside in the figure, the inclined slot 411 slopes upward in the direction away from the sealing cover plate 300. The sliding pins 421 are slidably limited in the inclined slots 411 of the corresponding moving plate 410.

[0042] In this way, the sliding pins 421 can slide in the inclined slots 411, so that the thermal cover 420 can move relative to the moving plate 410 in the thickness direction of the sealing cover plate 300 (i.e., the Z direction shown in the figure, which is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction) to cover or disengage from the sealing cover plate 300.

[0043] More preferably, in order to enable the moving assembly 400 to automatically perform the action of opening to disengage from the sealing cover plate 300 or closing to press against the sealing cover plate 300 while moving in the second direction, one end of the base in the second direction has a baffle (not shown in the figure). The baffle is used to abut against the thermal cover 420 when the moving assembly 400 moves a certain distance outward in the second direction in the figure, so that the thermal cover 420 can move relative to the moving plate 410 to cover the sealing cover plate 300.

[0044] In terms of the structure of the sealing cover plate 300, as Figure 4 shown, the sealing cover plate 300 includes a plate body 310, a first side plate 320, and a second side plate 330. The plate body 310 is used to cover the top surface of the full skirt plate 200. There are two first side plates 320, and the two first side plates 320 are provided on one side of the plate body 310 in its own thickness direction and are respectively provided at the opposite two edges of the plate body 310 in the first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction. Further, in order to enable the sealing cover plate 300 to be automatically separated from the full skirt plate 200 when the moving assembly 400 moves in the second direction, as an improvement to the structure of the sealing cover plate 300, each first side plate 320 has a first boss 321 at the end away from the plate body 310; in the second direction, the dimension of the first boss 321 in the thickness direction first gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0045] It can be understood that when observing the first boss 321 in the first direction, the contour of the first boss 321 can be circular arc-shaped or triangular, as long as in the second direction, the dimension of the first boss 321 in the thickness direction of the sealing cover plate 300 first gradually increases and then gradually decreases, and no further limitation is made here.

[0046] In this way, through the above design, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, when the moving component 400 moves in the second direction to perform the open cover action (i.e., when the moving component 400 moves away from the plane of the paper in the figure), the separation pin 430 can move along with the moving plate 410 and abut against the first boss 321, so that the sealing cover plate 300 can be lifted upward, making the sealing cover plate 300 tend to separate from the full skirt plate 200; at the same time, combined with Figure 4 As shown, the separation pin 430 can also abut against the step surface 201 of the full skirt plate 200 when the sealing cover plate 300 and the full skirt plate 200 are about to separate. Thus, when the manipulator grabs the sealing cover plate 300, the grasping force can be greater than the adsorption force between the full skirt plate 200 and the sealing cover plate 300, and further ensure that the sealing cover plate 300 and the full skirt plate 200 are separated from each other.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the sealing cover plate 300 further includes two second side plates 330. The two second side plates 330 are also arranged on one side of the plate body 310 along its own thickness direction, and the two second side plates 330 are respectively arranged at the opposite two edges of the plate body 310 along the second direction. Optionally, any first side plate 320 is respectively connected to a second side plate 330 at the opposite two ends in the second direction, and any second side plate 330 is respectively connected to a first side plate 320 at the opposite two ends in the first direction.

[0048] In this way, a first side plate 320, a second side plate 330, another first side plate 320 and another second side plate 330 of the sealing cover plate 300 enclose the plate body 310 along the four peripheral edges of the plate body 310, making the sealing cover plate 300 convenient for machine tool processing, better meeting the processing requirements of small batch cost reduction, and also convenient for the manipulator to grab.

[0049] In a still further embodiment, in order to enable the sealing cover plate 300 to be better positioned with the full skirt plate 200 when covering the full skirt plate 200 and avoid offset between the sealing cover plate 300 and the full skirt plate 200, at least one of the two second side plates 330 has a second boss 331 at the end far from the plate body 310. Correspondingly, the full skirt plate 200 also has a limiting groove at least at one end of the two ends in the second direction. The second boss 331 is limited in the corresponding limiting groove, so that when the sealing cover plate 300 covers the full skirt plate 200, the center of the sealing cover plate 300 and the center of the full skirt plate 200 can coincide with each other, thus achieving a better sealing effect. The structure of the second boss 331 is the same as that of the first boss 321. When observed from the first direction, the contour of the second boss 331 is also arc-shaped or triangular, which will not be elaborated here.

[0050] In addition, in order to enhance the sealing effect of the sealing cover plate 300, a sealing gasket (not shown in the figure) is provided on one side of the plate body 310 where the first side plate 320 and the second side plate 330 are provided. One side of the sealing gasket is attached to the plate body 310, and the other side is attached to the top surface of the full skirt plate 200. And in order to better fix the sealing gasket on the sealing cover plate 300 and further improve the sealing performance of the PCR experiment, so as to effectively reduce the evaporation of the sample, please continue to refer to Figure 4 , a sunk groove 311 is formed on one side of the plate body 310 where the first side plate 320 is provided, and a part of the sealing gasket is embedded in the sunk groove 311. And furthermore, the plate body 310 is provided with an ejecting hole 312 penetrating through opposite sides of itself. The ejecting hole 312 is used for inserting an ejecting pin so that the sealing gasket can be separated from the plate body 310 by using the ejecting pin.

[0051] It can be seen that the PCR analyzer 10 provided by the present application is provided with a mechanically separable sealing cover plate 300. After the PCR test is completed, when the moving assembly 400 moves and the hot cover 420 opens the cover, the separating pin 430 fixed on the moving plate 410 can abut against the first boss 321 of the sealing cover plate 300, so that the sealing cover plate 300 can move upward. At the same time, the separating pin 430 can abut against the stepped surface 201 of the full skirt plate 200 to limit the upward movement of the full skirt plate 200. Thus, the technical effect of easily separating the sealing cover plate 300 from the full skirt plate 200 can be achieved. Furthermore, the PCR analyzer 10 is stable and reliable during use. It can not only facilitate the secondary liquid addition to the full skirt plate 200, but also avoid damaging the full skirt plate 200 or splashing the test sample in the full skirt plate 200, resulting in sample contamination.

[0052] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of concise description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as the scope described in this specification.

[0053] The above-described embodiments only represent several implementation manners of the present application. The description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several deformations and improvements can be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sealing cover plate for PCR reaction, characterized in that: include: The plate body is used to cover the top surface of the full skirt board; Two first side plates are arranged on one side of the plate body along its thickness direction and are respectively arranged on two opposite edges of the plate body along a first direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction; Each of the first side plates has a first boss at one end away from the plate body; along a second direction perpendicular to both the thickness direction and the first direction, a size of the first boss in the thickness direction first gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

2. The sealing cover plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing cover plate further comprises two second side plates, which are also arranged on one side of the plate body along its thickness direction, and are respectively arranged on two opposite edges of the plate body along the second direction.

3. The sealing cover plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least one of the two second side plates has a second boss at an end away from the plate body, and the second boss is used to be limited in a groove formed in the full skirt plate.

4. The sealing cover plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plate body is provided with a sink groove on one side where the first side plate is provided, and a sealing gasket is embedded in the sink groove.

5. The sealing cover plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plate body is provided with ejection holes penetrating two opposite sides thereof, and the ejection holes are used for inserting ejection pins so that the ejection pins can separate the sealing pad from the plate body.

6. A PCR analyzer, characterized in that: include: A base, wherein a temperature control module is provided on the base; A full skirt plate, disposed on the temperature control module, the full skirt plate having step surfaces on two opposite sides in the first direction; The sealing cover plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealing cover plate covers the full skirt plate; A moving component is capable of moving along the second direction. The inner walls on both sides of the moving component opposite to each other in the first direction are respectively provided with separation pins located on the step surface. The separation pins are configured to abut against the first boss when the moving component moves so that the sealing cover plate can be lifted, and to abut against the step surface so that the sealing cover plate and the full skirt plate can be separated from each other.

7. The PCR analyzer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The moving assembly includes two moving plates that are arranged relatively and spaced apart along the first direction, and the separation pin is arranged on a side of each moving plate that faces the other moving plate.

8. The PCR analyzer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The moving assembly further comprises a heat cover, wherein the heat cover is provided with sliding pins at both ends of the first direction respectively, and the moving plate is provided with an inclined groove inclined relative to the second direction, and the sliding pin is slidably limited in the inclined groove corresponding to one of the moving plates; When the moving assembly moves along the second direction, the sliding pin can slide in the inclined groove, so that the thermal cover can move relative to the moving plate along the thickness direction of the sealing cover plate to cover the sealing cover plate or detach from the sealing cover plate.

9. The PCR analyzer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The base has a baffle at one end in the second direction, and the baffle is used to abut against the thermal cover when the moving component moves a distance along the second direction, so that the thermal cover can move relative to the moving plate.

10. The PCR analyzer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The sealing cover plate is provided with a second boss at at least one of the two ends in the second direction, and the full skirt plate is also provided with a limiting groove at at least one of the two ends in the second direction, and the second boss is limited in the corresponding limiting groove.

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