Device for heating sample
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nucleic acid amplification devices face challenges in uniformly controlling temperature across a thermal block, leading to temperature deviations between the central and outer edge portions, which affects the efficiency and accuracy of PCR reactions.
Innovation Solution
A sample heating apparatus with a thermal block unit, a heat transfer module, and a heat sink, featuring a flexible printed circuit board heating plate with varying power densities and a heat insulating design to minimize temperature deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thermal block with multiple sample wells is used to perform nucleic acid amplification on multiple samples simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to the central portion having greater heat capacity than the outer edge portion
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plate is designed with non-uniform heating characteristics where the central region provides stronger heating than the outer edge region. This local quality variation compensates for the greater heat capacity of the central thermal block portion, ensuring that all sample wells reach and maintain the same target temperature during heating phases.
2Productivity
If the thermal block size is increased to accommodate more samples, then productivity is improved, but temperature control accuracy deteriorates due to increased response delay in the central portion
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plate implements spatially varying heating intensity with the central region providing stronger heating compensation. This allows the thermal block to maintain accurate temperature control across all sample wells even as the overall block size increases to accommodate more samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating plate pre-compensates for the anticipated temperature lag in the central portion by providing stronger heating in that region before the temperature difference develops. This preliminary action prevents temperature deviations rather than correcting them after they occur.
3Speed
If the thermal block is heated rapidly to reduce processing time, then speed is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to the central portion rising later than the outer edge portion
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plate provides spatially differentiated heating intensity, with the central region receiving stronger heating than the outer edges. This allows the system to heat rapidly while maintaining temperature uniformity across all sample wells, as the enhanced central heating compensates for the delayed thermal response in that region.
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 apparatus achieves uniform temperature control, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of nucleic acid amplification reactions by minimizing temperature differences between samples.
Implementation Method 1
a heating plate having a plurality of holes into which the plurality of accommodating portions are inserted
Implementation Method 2
a heat transfer module thermally connected to the thermal block unit
Implementation Method 3
a heat sink thermally connected to the heat transfer module
Implementation Method 4
an edge insulator enclosing the periphery of the base portion
Data Source
AI summary
A device for heating a sample according to the present disclosure includes: a thermal block unit accommodating a reaction vessel; a heat transfer module thermally connected to the thermal block unit; and a heat sink thermally connected to the heat transfer module, wherein the thermal block unit includes: a thermal block having a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating the reaction vessel; and a heating plate having a plurality of holes into which the plurality of accommodating portions are inserted.