Annular Thermal Cycler Pressing Blocks for Heat Transfer Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal cycler devices face issues with heat transfer uniformity and thermal history consistency due to inefficient heating and cooling of heating blocks, leading to inconsistent experimental results.
Innovation Solution
A thermal cycler device featuring an annular conveying element with pressing blocks for uniform heat transfer and a water cooling device that rapidly cools heating blocks from 95°C to 60°C in 18 seconds, eliminating the need for thermal media like oil and enhancing operational convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating blocks are used to heat and cool slide plate devices through thermal conduction, then thermal cycling reactions can be performed, but heat transfer uniformity is poor and thermal history consistency is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressing element as an intermediary between the heating block and the slide plate device. This pressing element applies controlled pressure to ensure uniform contact and improve heat transfer consistency, resolving the issue of poor heat transfer uniformity while maintaining thermal history consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the pressing element from static to dynamic by controlling its pressing force. By adjusting the pressing force parameter, the system optimizes heat transfer efficiency and uniformity, thereby improving thermal history consistency without compromising reliability
2Reliability
If conventional thermal media such as oil are used for heat transfer, then heating and cooling can be achieved, but operational convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the thermal medium (oil) from the system. Instead of using conventional thermal media for heat transfer, the invention employs direct thermal conduction through the pressing element, thereby improving operational convenience while maintaining heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of thermal media (oil) with a direct mechanical contact system. The pressing element creates direct thermal contact between the heating block and slide plate device, eliminating the need for thermal media and improving ease of operation
3Reliability
If heating blocks are cooled quickly to maintain thermal history consistency, then experimental results become more stable, but cooling time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing element serves as a thermal intermediary that facilitates rapid heat transfer during cooling. By maintaining consistent contact pressure, the system enables quick cooling of the heating block, reducing cooling time while ensuring thermal history consistency for stable experimental results
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves consistent heat transfer and stable experimental results by ensuring uniform heat exchange and rapid temperature regulation, addressing the inefficiencies of conventional devices in maintaining thermal history consistency.
Implementation Method 1
each pressing block performs a pressing process such that each slide plate device comes into contact with the corresponding heating block for heat transfer
Implementation Method 2
The cooling device cools the plurality of heating blocks... the water cooling device uses a waterway to enter the heating block to perform cooling
Data Source
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AI summary
A thermal cycler device for PCR is provided, including an annular conveying element (60) having a circular conveying path, a plurality of slide plate device holding elements (30), a plurality of heating blocks (50), a pressing element (10) comprising a plurality of pressing blocks (20) and a cooling device. The annular conveying element (60) is configured to operate in stages, such that the slide plate device holding elements (30) move along the circular conveying path while carrying a plurality of slide plate devices. When each slide plate device holding element (30) moves to the corresponding heating block (50), the annular conveying element (60) stops operating and the pressing element (10) performs a pressing process, such that each slide plate device contacts the corresponding heating block (50) for heat transfer. This may improve heat transfer uniformity and thermal history consistency.