Rapid Thermocycler With Segmented Heating And Cold Sink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermocyclers require significant time to complete each PCR cycle due to the large thermal mass of the heating block, leading to prolonged temperature changes and inefficiencies in the PCR process.
Innovation Solution
A rapid thermocycler design featuring a sample assembly with a small thermal mass and a separate cooling assembly with a large thermal mass, allowing for rapid temperature changes by using a heating element to quickly raise and maintain temperatures, and a cold sink to rapidly lower temperatures through physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a large thermal mass heating block is used, then temperature stability is improved, but the time required for temperature changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating block is divided into multiple independent heating zones, each capable of independent temperature control. This segmentation allows different parts of the block to be at different temperatures simultaneously, enabling faster overall temperature changes while maintaining stability in each zone during its designated phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the thermal mass characteristics by using phases with different heat capacities during different cycle phases. The controller actively modulates heating power and timing to optimize the effective thermal mass, making the system respond faster to temperature change requirements while maintaining stability when needed.
2Measurement precision
If a large thermal mass heating block is used, then temperature control precision is improved, but the productivity of PCR cycles decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating block is segmented into multiple independently controlled zones, allowing parallel temperature management for different reaction vials. This enables precise temperature control for each zone while reducing the overall cycle time through coordinated heating and cooling sequences across zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters dynamically during the PCR cycle, adjusting heating power, cooling intensity, and timing based on the current phase. This allows optimization of both precision and speed by using aggressive heating/cooling when needed and maintaining stable temperatures during critical phases.
3Loss of time
If rapid temperature changes are implemented, then the time per PCR cycle is reduced, but temperature control precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts heating and cooling rates based on real-time temperature feedback and the specific phase of the PCR cycle. During rapid transition phases, high power is applied to achieve fast changes, while during target temperature maintenance phases, power is precisely modulated to maintain stability, thus achieving both speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous temperature monitoring and feedback control to adjust heating and cooling operations in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that rapid temperature changes are executed with sufficient precision by modulating the heating power based on actual temperature deviations from target values.
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 design reduces the time required for each PCR cycle and minimizes the duration at each target temperature, significantly accelerating the PCR process while maintaining precise temperature control for all reaction vials.
Implementation Method 1
a sample assembly having a relatively small thermal mass and an associated heating element that is capable of rapidly heating the sample assembly to a desired temperature
Implementation Method 2
a separate cooling assembly including a cold sink having a relatively large thermal mass is used to rapidly lower the temperature of the sample assembly as required by bringing the cold sink into physical contact with the sample assembly
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for effecting rapid thermocycling in connection with the polymerase chain reaction are disclosed. A sample assembly having a relatively small thermal mass is heated to desired PCR operating temperatures, and a separate cooling assembly is used to rapidly lower the temperature as required. In one embodiment, a sample assembly with an integrated heating element is isolated from a relatively large thermal mass cold sink when the temperature of a sample is to be raised or maintained, and brought in contact with the cold sink when the temperature is desired to be lowered.