Plastic Thermal Validation Insert for Accurate Sample Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal validation devices for biological samples, such as thermal cyclers, inaccurately measure the temperature of the reaction mixture due to the metal jacket quickly reaching the temperature of the heating cavities, causing the temperature probe to measure the thermal block's temperature rather than the reaction mixture's temperature.
Innovation Solution
A thermal validation device with a plastic microplate and thermal grease simulates the conditions of the reaction mixture, allowing the temperature probe to be closer to the mixture's temperature, with the probe separated from the thermal block only by the plastic jacket and thermal grease, which has a temperature response similar to water within 5% difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a metal jacket is used to surround the temperature probe, then the temperature measurement is stable and the probe quickly reaches thermal equilibrium, but the measured temperature corresponds to the thermal block temperature rather than the reaction mixture temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal grease as an intermediary substance between the temperature probe and the thermal block. This thermal grease has thermal properties similar to the reaction mixture (water-based), allowing the temperature probe to measure temperatures that reflect the reaction mixture conditions rather than the thermal block temperature. The thermal grease acts as a mediator that transfers thermal information from the reaction mixture environment to the probe accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the jacket material from metal to plastic, and introduces thermal grease with specific thermal conductivity properties that match those of water (the main component of reaction mixtures). This parameter change ensures that the temperature probe experiences thermal conditions similar to those of the reaction mixture, thereby measuring accurate reaction temperatures rather than thermal block temperatures.
2Speed
If the temperature probe is placed directly in contact with the thermal block, then the measurement response time is fast, but the measured temperature does not reflect the reaction mixture temperature due to substantial temperature difference between block and mixture
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal grease serves as a mediator that allows the temperature probe to quickly reach thermal equilibrium while still measuring temperatures representative of the reaction mixture. The thermal grease's thermal properties bridge the gap between the fast response needed (direct contact) and the accurate measurement needed (reaction mixture temperature).
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the thermal conductivity parameters of the contact medium from metal (high conductivity) to thermal grease (moderate conductivity similar to water), the system achieves both fast response time and accurate reaction mixture temperature measurement. The thermal grease parameters are specifically selected to match water's thermal properties.
3Measurement precision
If a plastic microplate is used instead of metal jacket, then the temperature measurement better reflects the reaction mixture temperature, but the thermal validation device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic microplate with integrated temperature probe and thermal grease, eliminating the need for complex metal jacket assemblies. The plastic microplate is designed as a single-use component that simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining measurement accuracy. This approach trades device complexity for measurement precision by using a simpler, disposable plastic structure instead of a complex metal assembly.
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
This setup enables accurate temperature measurement of the reaction mixture, ensuring reliable evaluation of the temperature during heat treatment by closely mimicking the conditions of the biological samples, thereby improving the thermal validation process.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature probe is separated from the thermal block only by the plastic jacket and thermal grease, which has a temperature response similar to water within 5% difference
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a thermal validation apparatus (302) including at least one lining (316), each lining defining a sink (314) and intended to be inserted into a respective recess of the thermal processing device for heating or cooling biological samples, as well as a respective temperature probe arranged in each sink (314). Each sleeve is made of a plastic material.