Thermal Cycler Self-Calibration via Integrated Temperature Probe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying and calibrating thermal cyclers are costly, inconvenient, and lack satisfactory solutions for ensuring consistent thermal performance, often requiring external services, proprietary equipment, or third-party companies, which can be expensive and inefficient, and do not allow for frequent or self-calibration.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a temperature analysis and verification unit within the thermal cycler, featuring a temperature probe plate with probes for measuring sample well temperatures, enabling self-calibration and frequent performance checks without additional costs, and allowing for automatic data storage and retrieval for monitoring thermal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturer service contracts are used for thermal performance verification, then thermal performance can be analyzed and calibrated, but the cost is high and the frequency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal cycler performs self-verification of its thermal performance using an integrated temperature analysis unit with multiple temperature probes. The system automatically measures temperatures at different locations in the thermal block, analyzes thermal uniformity, and generates verification reports without requiring external manufacturer service engineers, enabling frequent verification without downtime.
2Ease of operation
If external test equipment is purchased for thermal performance verification, then verification can be performed independently, but the cost is significant and the equipment is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature analysis and verification unit is integrated directly into the thermal cycler system. The verification equipment shares the same housing, power supply, and control interface as the thermal cycler, eliminating the need for separate external test equipment while providing independent verification capability.
3Measurement precision
If third-party companies are used for thermal performance verification, then verification can be performed, but the cost is high and warranty may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal cycler performs self-verification using manufacturer-approved methods and algorithms through the integrated temperature analysis unit. This eliminates the need for third-party companies while maintaining measurement precision and preserving warranty validity, as the verification is performed by the manufacturer's own system.
4Reliability
If frequent thermal performance verification is performed, then thermal consistency is ensured, but downtime increases with external services
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated temperature analysis unit enables frequent thermal performance verification without requiring external service engineers to visit the site. The system can perform verification autonomously during scheduled maintenance windows or even during non-critical operational periods, ensuring thermal consistency while minimizing impact on productivity.
5Measurement precision
If manual data comparison and calibration is performed, then thermal performance can be assessed, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual data comparison and calibration processes with automated electronic data processing. The temperature analysis unit electronically compares measured temperatures against target values and automatically generates calibration adjustments, eliminating manual intervention and reducing errors while speeding up the process.
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 solution provides accurate, repeatable, and frequent thermal performance verification and calibration, reducing downtime, eliminating the need for external services, and maintaining warranty validity, while ensuring thermal performance meets manufacturer standards.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature analysis and/or verification unit comprises a temperature probe plate having a plurality of temperature probes for measuring the temperature within selected sample wells of a thermal block
Implementation Method 2
the temperature of the thermal block is raised and lowered in discrete, pre-programmed steps for alternately heating and cooling the test samples during the cycles of the PCR
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of the thermal block is raised and lowered in discrete, pre-programmed steps for alternately heating and cooling the test samples during the cycles of the PCR
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a thermal cycler (10) comprising a housing (12), the housing (12) accommodating a thermal block (14) having a plurality of sample wells (32), each for receiving a test sample in a sample vessel, electric heater means (18) for heating the thermal block (14), a power supply (24) and an electronic control (22) for controlling the electric heater means (18), and further comprising a temperature analysis and/or verification unit (28) for analyzing and/or verifying a thermal performance of the thermal block (14). The invention further relates to a method for analyzing or verifying a thermal performance of a thermal cycler (10) and for calibrating the thermal cycler (10). The thermal cycler (10) is characterized in that the temperature analysis and/or verification unit (28) is integrated into the housing (12) and is connected to the power supply (24) and to the electronic control (22) by means of an internal interface (26), whereas the method is characterized by the following steps: providing the thermal cycler (10) with an integrated temperature analysis and/or verification unit (28) and using the integrated temperature analysis and/or verification unit (28) for self-calibration of the thermal cycler (10).