Thermal tube rack for use in thermally controllable stirring device

Abstract

To provide a thermal tube rack for use together with a thermally controllable stirring device.SOLUTION: A tube rack comprises a frame including an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion in a stacked arrangement. Each of the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion includes a plurality of sidewalls defining an interior volume. Each of the upper frame portion and a bottom frame portion includes one or more members having an array of openings formed therein. The array of the openings is configured to receive and hold sample tubes therein. The tube rack also includes an insert held in the frame at its lower end. The insert includes a flat bottom surface and an upper surface including a plurality of wells formed therein and configured to receive the rounded lower ends of the sample tubes. The frame is formed of a thermally insulating material, and the insert is formed of a thermally conductive material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 655,872, filed June 4, 2024, entitled "Thermal Tube Rack for Use in a Thermally Controllable Stirring Device," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to tube racks, and more particularly to thermal tube racks for use with temperature control and mixing equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of Related Art Plate shakers, primarily used in molecular biology applications, are ideal for cell lysis, mixing tissue samples or cytogenetic suspensions, vortexing cell suspensions, and / or emulsifying bipolar viscous fluids for uniform blending. Plate shakers feature digital controls to manipulate shaking speed and duration for specific test requirements. Additionally, some plate shakers also include temperature control to optimize / control the temperature of the sample being stirred; such temperature control is also adjustable by the digital control.

[0003] Existing plate shakers typically include an upper coupling or carrier plate that accommodates the positioning of a sample holder thereon, providing agitation for the sample holder and, optionally, thermal conditioning for the sample holder (i.e., the sample contained therein). One or more fixtures may also be provided adjacent to the carrier plate to secure the sample holder to the carrier plate. Sample holders that can be used with plate shakers include microplates and various tube or vial racks, with the exact configuration of the carrier plate and fixtures depending on the sample holder being used.

[0004] With regard to tube racks and other sample holders that may be used with plate shakers for sample preparation, existing tube racks and sample holders may lack the ability to provide accurate and consistent control of the temperature of the samples contained therein.

[0005] As an example, existing tube racks are typically constructed as single-material racks (i.e., plastic racks) that lack the ability to thermally couple with the carrier plate of a temperature-controlled plate shaker. That is, because the plastic material of the rack does not provide thermal conductivity, the plastic molded wells 124 of the rack surround and insulate the lower portions of the tubes from the temperature-controlled carrier plate, thus inhibiting accurate temperature control of the samples. Furthermore, existing tube racks have an open-air structure without an enclosed peripheral wall, making it extremely difficult to maintain the temperature of the tubes at the peripheral positions of the tube rack at a desired temperature.

[0006] As another example, existing adapter plates or microplates are currently available that can be secured to the carrier plate of a plate shaker. Such adapter plates or microplates are typically formed entirely of metal (or other thermally conductive material) to provide thermal conductivity between the carrier plate and the adapter plate / microplate. However, such adapter plates or microplates are heavy and lack the ability to provide insulation for samples to facilitate sample temperature regulation. Furthermore, existing adapter plates or microplates are limited in terms of the sample formats they can accommodate. As an example, existing adapter plates or microplates cannot accommodate Corning Falcon® 5 mL round-bottom polystyrene test tubes, which may be used in cytometer systems for sample analysis. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, a need exists for an improved tube holder that can be used with temperature control and mixing equipment such as heated and cooled plate shakers. It would be desirable for such a tube holder to provide thermal conductivity between the plate shaker and the tube holder while also providing thermal insulation for the sample, thereby providing improved temperature control of the sample. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Summary of the Invention Provided herein is a tube rack for use with a thermally controllable stirring device. The tube rack comprises a frame including upper and lower frame portions in a stacked arrangement, each of the upper and lower frame portions including a plurality of sidewalls defining an interior volume, each of the upper and lower frame portions having an array of openings formed therein and including one or more members configured to receive and hold sample tubes in the array of openings. The tube rack also comprises an insert at its lower end held within the frame, the insert having a flat bottom surface and an upper surface including a plurality of wells formed therein and configured to receive the rounded lower ends of sample tubes. The frame is formed of a thermally insulating material, and the insert is formed of a thermally conductive material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sample stirring and heating / cooling system according to one aspect or embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a thermally controllable stirring device included in the system of FIG. 1 according to one aspect or embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a tube rack included in the system of FIG. 1 according to one aspect or embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the tube rack of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tube rack of FIG. 3. [Figure 6]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a thermal insert included in the tube rack of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Description of the Invention The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for practicing the invention. However, various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] For purposes of explanation, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "sideways," "longitudinal," and derivatives thereof will refer to the present invention as oriented in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention contemplates various alternative modifications unless expressly specified to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting.

[0012] In this disclosure, the distal end of a component or device means the end furthest from the user's hand when the component or device is in the use position, i.e., when the user is holding the catheter insertion device in preparation for or during use, and the proximal end means the end closest to the user's hand. Similarly, in this application, the terms "distal direction" and "distal" mean the direction toward the distal tip of the needle or catheter of the system, and the terms "proximal direction" and "proximal" mean the direction opposite to the direction of the distal tip of the needle or catheter.

[0013] 1, a sample stirring and heating / cooling system 10 is shown according to one aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure. System 10 generally includes a heat-controllable stirring (or shaking) device 20 and a tube holder 100 usable with device 20 for preparing samples for testing. In some embodiments, tube holder 100 is adapted to hold an array of Falcon® 5 ml round-bottom polystyrene test tubes therein, e.g., 40 Falcon tubes, although it will be recognized that according to further aspects of the present disclosure, tube holder 100 may otherwise be configured to hold a plurality of different types and / or numbers of tubes therein.

[0014] 1 and 2, a thermally controllable stirring device 20 provides for the releasable attachment of a sample holder (e.g., tube holder 100) to its upper surface. The illustrated device 20 has, as a lower portion, a fixed support 22 and, as an upper portion, a main component 24 movably mounted thereon, the latter serving to releasably receive the sample holder.

[0015] A first positioning fixture 26, which can be linearly moved outward or inward for fixing to a first edge region of the sample holder, is provided on the upper surface of the main component 24. The first positioning fixture 26 is located at a first corner 28 of the main component 24. Furthermore, another positioning fixture 30, which can be linearly moved outward or inward for application to a second edge region of the sample holder, is provided on the upper surface of the main component 24. The second positioning fixture 30 is located at a second corner 32 of the main component 24. Alternatively, the second positioning fixture 30 can also be rigidly attached to the main component 24. The first positioning fixture 26 and the second positioning fixture 30 each have two positioning pins 34, between which the respective corner regions of the rectangular sample holder are engaged, firmly fixing the sample holder between the positioning fixtures 28, 30. The first positioning fixture 26 and the second positioning fixture 30 (i.e., their pins 34) can be moved inward and outward by an actuator (not shown) so that the sample holder can be switched between an engaged or secured configuration and a released configuration for positioning or removing the sample holder.

[0016] Apparatus 20 also includes an arrangement of a thermal coupling plate and flat-top adapter (collectively designated 36) on the exposed upper side, or mounting surface, of main component 24. Arrangement 36 includes a thermal coupling plate, which may be fabricated from a highly thermally conductive material (e.g., metal), for controlling the temperature of the sample holder and the liquid medium contained therein, particularly for heating or cooling it. The thermal coupling plate forms part of the mounting surface of the sample holder and may be surrounded by an insulating frame 38 (e.g., fabricated from plastic). The flat-top adapter of arrangement 36 provides a flat, planar surface on which a flat-bottom sample holder (e.g., tube holder 100) may be mounted. The flat-top adapter is inserted into and connects to insulating frame 38, lying directly and substantially above the entire surface of the thermal coupling plate.

[0017] 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that apparatus 20 may include control electronics that function to set the temperature of thermal coupling plate and flat-top adapter arrangement 36, and therefore, the temperature of the sample contained in the sample holder attached thereto. The control electronics may include a microprocessor that may be incorporated into apparatus 20 for this purpose, and feedback control is used to maintain apparatus 36 at a predetermined temperature (e.g., 20°C-120°C), which may be higher or lower than ambient temperature. Additionally, apparatus 20 may be configured to communicate with external host systems via one or more suitable communication interfaces, such as, by way of non-limiting example, CAN, Bluetooth, WLAN, USB, etc.

[0018] 3-6, detailed views of a tube rack 100 are shown, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The tube rack 100 has a hybrid construction, with portions formed of an insulating material, such as plastic, and portions formed of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum or another thermally conductive metal. In particular, the tube rack 100 includes a frame 102 formed of an insulating material (e.g., plastic) and an insert 104 formed of a thermally conductive material (e.g., aluminum or another thermally conductive metal).

[0019] The frame 102 of the tube rack 100 includes an upper frame portion 106 and a lower frame portion 108, which may have a generally box-shaped or rectangular profile of similar / identical size. The upper frame portion 106 and the lower frame portion 108 are stacked in a vertical arrangement and may be integrally formed or otherwise secured / connected to one another. The upper frame portion 106 and the lower frame portion 108 each include an arrangement of four sidewalls 110 that generally define the interior volume of the tube rack 100. The sidewalls 110 provide a generally enclosed frame 102 within which the sample tubes 200 are held. The upper frame portion 106 of the frame 102 also includes an upper member 112 having a plurality of openings 114 formed therein. The openings 114 are sized to accommodate positioning of the tubes 200 therein in a secure manner; the number of openings 114 may vary depending on design considerations; in one embodiment, 40 openings 114 are shown in FIG. 3 . Like the upper frame portion 106, the lower frame portion 108 of the frame 102 may also include an upper member 116 having a plurality of openings 114 formed therein, the number and locations of the openings 114 being the same as those of the upper member 112 of the upper frame portion 106. The lower frame portion 108 of the frame 102 may also include a lower member 117 having a plurality of openings 114 formed therein, the number and locations of the openings 114 being the same as those of the upper members 112, 116. With the openings 114 of the upper members 112, 116 and lower member 117 so positioned, the tubes 200 held in the tube rack 100 are supported at multiple locations along their lengths.

[0020] In some embodiments, the top member 112 of the upper frame portion 106 may be marked with well position identifiers, as is customary with multi-sample trays and plates.

[0021] As best shown in FIG. 4 , lower frame portion 108 includes a receptacle 118 at its lower end. Receptacle 118 is defined by sidewalls 110 and is configured to receive and retain conductive inserts 104 of tube rack 100 therein. In some embodiments, sidewalls 110 may include a retention structure thereon, such as a clip or a lip extending inwardly therefrom, which functions to secure conductive inserts 104 within receptacle 118. Lower frame portion 108, including its sidewalls 110, includes a contoured structure resembling a standard sample plate, which may be placed and secured in apparatus 20 using first positioning fixture 26 and second positioning fixture 30.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the conductive insert 104 includes a flat bottom surface 120 configured to seat directly on the thermal coupling plate and flat-top adapter arrangement 36, providing direct thermal contact between the arrangement 36 and the insert 104. The top surface 122 of the conductive insert 104 has wells 124 formed therein, identical in number and arrangement to the openings 114 formed in the upper members 112, 116 of the frame 102. Each well 124 has a hemispherical structure configured to receive and support the spherical lower end of a respective tube 200. The wells 124 configured in this manner maximize the surface area of ​​contact between the conductive insert 104 and the tube 200, providing efficient transfer of thermal energy from the conductive insert 104 to the tube 200, heating or cooling the tube 200 as desired. The conductive insert 104 is designed with minimal mass to prevent degradation of the stirring performance of the apparatus 20 and, if desired, to provide proper preparation of the sample contained in the tube 200.

[0023] In some embodiments, a rectangular piece of insulation 126 may be applied to the flat bottom surface 120 of the conductive insert 104 around its periphery so as to cover the outer edge on the bottom surface 120 of the conductive insert 104. The insulation piece 126 may be formed of plastic or other suitable thermally insulating material, and the insulation piece 126 functions to prevent condensation from accumulating on the exposed metal surface of the conductive insert 104 that would otherwise extend beyond the dimensions of the thermal coupling plate and flat-top adapter arrangement 36 of the device 20.

[0024] The tube rack 100 configured as described above optimizes temperature control of samples within the tubes 200. The location and configuration of the conductive inserts 104—including the flat bottom surface 120 and the wells 124 supporting the bulbous lower ends of the tubes 200—provides direct conduction / transfer of thermal energy from the apparatus 20 (i.e., from the thermal coupling plate and flat-top adapter arrangement 36) to the conductive inserts 104 and to the tubes 200 held by the tube rack 100. The structure of the frame 102—including the sidewalls 110 of the upper and lower frame sections 106, 108 that enclose the interior volume of the tube rack 100 and provide receptacles 118 for the conductive inserts 104—provides insulation for the tubes 200 from ambient room temperature, thereby enabling more uniform temperature control of all tube locations and samples therein within the tube rack 100, and by enclosing the localized temperature control area and covering the surface of the conductive inserts 104, provides greater efficiency for the system 10.

[0025] Below follow several methods for manufacturing the tube rack 100 described above.

[0026] In one embodiment, the conductive insert 104 is insert molded into the lower frame portion 108 and insulator piece 126, and then the upper frame portion 106 is ultrasonically welded to the lower insert molded subassembly.

[0027] In another embodiment, the conductive insert 104 is glued to the lower frame portion 108 and the insulator strip 126, and then the upper frame portion 106 is glued to the lower glued subassembly.

[0028] In another embodiment, the conductive insert 104 is glued to the lower frame portion 108 and the insulator piece 126, and then the upper frame portion 106 is ultrasonically welded to the lower glued subassembly.

[0029] In another embodiment, the conductive insert 104 is ultrasonically or heat welded to the lower frame portion 108 and insulator piece 126, and then the upper frame portion 106 is ultrasonically welded to the lower welded subassembly.

[0030] While the present disclosure has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, based on what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments or aspects, it should be understood that such detail is for that purpose only, and the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or aspects, but on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 100 tube rack 102 frames 104 Insert 106 Upper frame part 108 Lower frame part 114 Opening 124 wells

Claims

1. 1. A tube rack for use with a thermally controllable stirring device, said tube rack comprising: a frame including an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion in a stacked arrangement, each of the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion including a plurality of side walls defining an interior volume, each of the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion including one or more members having an array of openings formed therein, the array of openings configured to receive and hold sample tubes; an insert held within the frame at a lower end of the frame, the insert having a flat bottom surface and an upper surface including a plurality of wells formed therein and configured to receive rounded lower ends of sample tubes; The tube rack is characterized in that the frame is made of a heat insulating material and the insert is made of a heat conductive material.

2. 2. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the lower frame portion includes a receptacle formed therein at a bottom end thereof, the receptacle being defined by a plurality of side walls and configured to retain the insert therein.

3. 3. The tube rack of claim 2, wherein the one or more members of the lower frame section are: another upper member disposed on upper edges of the plurality of side walls; a lower member, said lower member defining a rear surface of said receptacle.

4. 2. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the one or more members of the upper frame portion comprise an upper member disposed on an upper edge of the plurality of side walls.

5. 10. The tube rack of claim 1, further comprising an insulating piece applied to the flat bottom surface of the insert around a periphery of the flat bottom surface to cover an outer edge of the flat bottom surface, the insulating piece being formed from a thermal insulating material.

6. 6. The tube rack of claim 5, wherein the conductive insert is insert molded, glued, ultrasonically welded, or heat welded to the lower frame portion and the insulator piece.

7. 2. The tube rack according to claim 1, wherein the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion are joined by ultrasonic welding or adhesive.

8. 10. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises a hemispherical well.

9. 10. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the insulating material comprises plastic.

10. 2. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises aluminum.

11. 2. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the flat bottom surface of the insert is in direct contact with a thermal coupling plate or a flat top adapter of the thermally controllable stirring device when the tube rack is secured to the thermally controllable stirring device.

12. 2. The tube rack of claim 1, wherein the sample tubes are disposed within the interior volume of the frame, and the plurality of side walls insulate the sample tubes from the surrounding environment.

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