CA2267708C - Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable lid - Google Patents
Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable lid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2267708C CA2267708C CA002267708A CA2267708A CA2267708C CA 2267708 C CA2267708 C CA 2267708C CA 002267708 A CA002267708 A CA 002267708A CA 2267708 A CA2267708 A CA 2267708A CA 2267708 C CA2267708 C CA 2267708C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- chambers
- thermal
- thermal block
- reaction vessels
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/508—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above
- B01L3/5085—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
- B01L3/50851—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes rigid containers not provided for above for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates specially adapted for heating or cooling samples
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L7/00—Heating or cooling apparatus; Heat insulating devices
- B01L7/52—Heating or cooling apparatus; Heat insulating devices with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/026—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N2035/00346—Heating or cooling arrangements
- G01N2035/00356—Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
- G01N2035/00376—Conductive heating, e.g. heated plates
Abstract
A thermal cycler for performing amplification of nucleic acids. In order to provide fully automatic motion and positioning of a lid (14) suitable for heating a plurality of a reaction vessels (13) and for shielding them from environment light, the thermal cycler comprises (a) a thermal block (71) having a plurality of chambers (72) each of which is apt to receive the lower part of a reaction vessel (13); (b) a movable lid (14) having heating means (15) positioned within it, said lid (14) having a surface apt to cover said thermal block (71) and reaction vessels (13) positioned in said chambers (72) thereof, said lid (14) being positionable at a first position, at which it covers said thermal block (71) and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and at a second position, at which said lid (14) does not cover said thermal block (71) and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and (c) transport means for moving said lid (14) from said first position to said second position and viceversa, the path followed by the lid (14) as it is moved from said second position to said first position comprises: a first path segment which lies above and at a predetermined distance from said thermal block (71) and along which said lid (14) is moved towards a stopper (16) until it abuts against said stopper, and a second path segment along which said lid (14) is moved away from said stopper (16) and downwards until it is vertically aligned with said thermal block (71) and exerts a predetermined pressure on reaction vessels (13) positioned in said chambers (72) of said thermal block.
Description
(26134E.DOC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable lid The invention concerns a thermal cycler for performing amplification of nucleic acids, e.g. by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Known thermal cyclers of the above mentioned type have a heated lid which is positioned manually to cover a plurality of reaction vessels positioned in chambers of a thermal block of the thermal cycler during thermal cycling of sample-reaction-mixtures contained in said reaction vessels.
The lid is also manually removed in order to have access to the reaction vessel after the end of their thermal cycling.
Known lids of the latter type have two main disadvantages.
They are not suitable for automatic change of their position with respect to the thermal block.
A main aim of the invention is therefore to provide a thermal cycler comprising a heated lid which is automatically positionable to cover and uncover a plurality of reaction vessels positioned in chambers of a thermal block of the thermal cycler, said heated lid being in addition suitable to ensure that when said reaction vessels are covered by said heated lid no external light can reach the interior of the reaction vessels.
According to the invention such an aim is attained with a thermal cycler having the features defined by claim 1.
With a thermal cycler according to the invention the main aim indicated above is attained. In addition the construction of the lid and of the mechanism for moving it makes it suitable for obtaining optimum results with regard to both suitable heating effect on the reaction vessels and with regard to automatic processing thereof.
(26134E1.DOC Prt: 06.04.1999 VE) Preferred embodiments of the thermal cycler according to the invention are defined by the dependent claims of the instant application.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a perspective, cross-sectional view of a thermal cycler according to the invention, wherein a movable lid 14 is at a first position, at which the lid covers a thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective exploded view showing parts of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows a first schematic perspective view of the movable lid 14 represented in Fig. 1 and of parts of the transport means for moving said lid.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid is at a second position, at which it does not cover said thermal block.
Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid 14 is at an intermediate position (26134E.DOC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) between a first position, at which the lid covers thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 thereof, and a second position, at which lid 14 does not cover thermal block 71.
Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid is a position where ejector means begin to remove the reaction vessels from their position in the chambers of the thermal block of the thermal cycler.
Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 9.
As shown by Fig. 1 an embodiment of a thermal cycler according to the invention comprises a metallic thermal block 71 mounted on a base 48, a movable lid 14, and transport means for moving lid 14. Such a thermal cycler is suitable for performing amplification of nucleic acids. For this purpose reaction vessels 13 containing suitable sample-reagent mixtures and closed by caps are positioned on thermal block 71. The reaction vessels 13 and their caps are preferably of suitable plastic materials.
The main features of the structure of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1 are now described in particular with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
Movable lid 14 has heating means 15 which are positioned within an inner space of lid 14, which inner space is limited by top and side walls of lid 14. Heating means 1S
Known thermal cyclers of the above mentioned type have a heated lid which is positioned manually to cover a plurality of reaction vessels positioned in chambers of a thermal block of the thermal cycler during thermal cycling of sample-reaction-mixtures contained in said reaction vessels.
The lid is also manually removed in order to have access to the reaction vessel after the end of their thermal cycling.
Known lids of the latter type have two main disadvantages.
They are not suitable for automatic change of their position with respect to the thermal block.
A main aim of the invention is therefore to provide a thermal cycler comprising a heated lid which is automatically positionable to cover and uncover a plurality of reaction vessels positioned in chambers of a thermal block of the thermal cycler, said heated lid being in addition suitable to ensure that when said reaction vessels are covered by said heated lid no external light can reach the interior of the reaction vessels.
According to the invention such an aim is attained with a thermal cycler having the features defined by claim 1.
With a thermal cycler according to the invention the main aim indicated above is attained. In addition the construction of the lid and of the mechanism for moving it makes it suitable for obtaining optimum results with regard to both suitable heating effect on the reaction vessels and with regard to automatic processing thereof.
(26134E1.DOC Prt: 06.04.1999 VE) Preferred embodiments of the thermal cycler according to the invention are defined by the dependent claims of the instant application.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a perspective, cross-sectional view of a thermal cycler according to the invention, wherein a movable lid 14 is at a first position, at which the lid covers a thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective exploded view showing parts of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows a first schematic perspective view of the movable lid 14 represented in Fig. 1 and of parts of the transport means for moving said lid.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid is at a second position, at which it does not cover said thermal block.
Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid 14 is at an intermediate position (26134E.DOC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) between a first position, at which the lid covers thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 thereof, and a second position, at which lid 14 does not cover thermal block 71.
Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1, wherein the movable lid is a position where ejector means begin to remove the reaction vessels from their position in the chambers of the thermal block of the thermal cycler.
Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 9.
As shown by Fig. 1 an embodiment of a thermal cycler according to the invention comprises a metallic thermal block 71 mounted on a base 48, a movable lid 14, and transport means for moving lid 14. Such a thermal cycler is suitable for performing amplification of nucleic acids. For this purpose reaction vessels 13 containing suitable sample-reagent mixtures and closed by caps are positioned on thermal block 71. The reaction vessels 13 and their caps are preferably of suitable plastic materials.
The main features of the structure of the thermal cycler represented in Fig. 1 are now described in particular with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
Movable lid 14 has heating means 15 which are positioned within an inner space of lid 14, which inner space is limited by top and side walls of lid 14. Heating means 1S
are mechanically connected with lid 14, this mechanical .connection comprises pusher springs 36, 37, 38, 39.
Thermal block 71 has a plurality of chambers 72 each of which is apt to receive the lower part of a reaction vessel 13.
Lid 14 is positionable at a first position (lid closed), at which it covers thermal block 71 and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers 72 thereof, and at a second position (lid open), at which lid 14 does not cover said thermal block 71 and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers 72 thereof.
Lid 14 has a surface which is apt to cover said thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 thereof when lid 14 is in the above mentioned first position (lid closed). When lid 14 is in this position it fully shields reaction vessels 13 from light in the environment of the thermal cycler, which light should not interfere with measurement of fluorescence light emitted by sample-reagent-mixtures contained in reaction vessels 13.
A thermal cycler according to the invention comprises transport means for moving lid 14 from the first position (lid closed) to the second position (lid open) and vice versa. The path followed by lid 14 as it is moved by the transport means from the second position (lid open) to the first position (lid closed) comprises the following path segments:
a first path segment which lies above and at a predetermined distance from thermal block 71 and along which said lid 14 is moved towards a stopper 16 until it abuts against stopper 16, and a second path segment along which said lid 14 is moved away from said stopper 16 and downwards until it is vertically aligned with said thermal block 71 and exerts a predetermined pressure on reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
The transport means for moving lid 14 comprise in particular the following components:
- stopper 16 positioned in the above mentioned first path segment of the movement of the lid 14, - a motor driven lid carrier 17, and - plates 25, 26 mounted on the inner surface of side walls 23 of lid carrier 17.
Stopper 16 is mounted on base 48 and has a plane surface 18 which is perpendicular to the above mentioned first path segment.
Lid carrier 17 has a front end wall 21 which is in face of plane surface 18 of stopper 16, a rear end wall 22, and side walls 23, 24 extending between the front end wall 21 and the rear end wall 22. Lid carrier 17 has means for holding the lid 14 within it when the lid 14 is in said first position.
The transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise a motor driven spindle 28 for moving rear wall 22 of lid carrier 17 and thereby lid carrier 17 along the longitudinal axis of spindle 28 in both senses, that is towards and away from stopper 16, a spindle bearing 29 mounted on base 48, and means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the motor (not shown) which drives spindle 28.
Plate 25 is fixed on the inner surface of the side wall 23 of lid carrier 17 and plate 26 is fixed on the inner surface of the other side wall 24 of lid carrier 17. Each of plates 25, 26 has a pair of guiding slots 31, 32 respectively 33, 34 for guiding the movement of lid 14 along the above mentioned second path segment.
As shown in particular by Figures 2, 3 and 4, lid 14 has an inner and an outer top surface, a front end wall 41 which is in face of plane surface 18 of said stopper 16, a rear end wall 42, and side walls 43, 44 extending between the front end wall 21 and the rear end wall 22 and parallel to the side walls 23, 24 of said lid carrier 17. The side walls of lid 14 include outwards projecting pins 51, 52, 53, 54 which are apt to fit into and to slide in guiding slots 31, 32 of plate 25, and guiding slots 33, 34 of plate 26, respectively.
In a preferred embodiment the transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise a tension spring 61 one end of which is attached to the front end of the inner top surface of lid carrier 17, whereas the other end of spring 61 is attached to the rear part of the top surface of the lid 14.
The operation of the above described transport means for moving lid 14 is as follows:
Figures 5 and 6 show the position of lid carrier 17 when lid 14 is in the above mentioned second position (lid open).
When lid 14 and lid carrier 17 are positioned as shown by figures 5 and 6 a reaction tube holder 11 having a plurality of apertures 12 and carrying a plurality of reaction vessels 13 inserted through those apertures can be positioned on thermal block 71 so that the lower part of each reaction vessel 13 fits into a chamber 72 of thermal block 71.
After positioning of the reaction vessels 13 on thermal block 71, motion of lid 14 from its second position (lid open) to its first position (lid closed) is initiated by horizontal displacement of lid carrier 17 towards stopper 16 (26134E.D(DC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) by rotation of spindle 28 in a first sense. In this way lid 14 is moved horizontally towards stopper 16 until front end wall 41 of lid 14 abuts against plane surface 18 of stopper 16. After this point of the movement of lid 14, and since lid 14 cannot move further in horizontal direction further displacement of lid carrier 17 in the sense towards stopper 16 causes a downwards and backwards displacement of lid 14 away from the top wall of lid carrier 17. During this displacement of lid 14 tension spring 61 is stretched and the movement of lid 14 is guided by sliding of pins 51, 52 and 53, 54 along guiding slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 respectively. Lid 14 is displaced in this sense until heating means 15 carried by lid 14 abut on the caps of reaction vessels 13 and exert on these caps a predetermined pressure. At this point lid 14 has reached its first position (lid closed) represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The predetermined pressure exerted by heating means 15 on the caps of reaction vessels 13 when lid 14 is at its first position (lid closed) is determined by the last part of the downwards displacement of lid 14 guided by the lower part of slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 and also by the mechanical characteristics of pusher springs 36 to 39.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the position of lid carrier 17 and other related parts of the transport system for moving lid 14, at the point of time where front end wall 41 of lid 14 abuts against plane surface 18 of stopper 16, that it at the point where the direction of the motion of lid 14 changes from an horizontal motion towards stopper 16 to a downward motion away from stopper 16.
To bring lid 14 from its first position (lid closed) to its second position (lid open) lid carrier 17 is moved away from stopper 16 by rotation of spindle 28 in a second sense (26134E.DOC Pzt: 02.03.1999 VE) opposite to the first. This causes motion of lid 14 along the same path described above, but in the reverse sense.
Pulled by tension spring 61 and guided by slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 lid 14 moves initially upwards towards the top wall of lid carrier 17 and towards stopper 16 until lid 14 is again within lid carrier 17 and close to the top wall thereof. After that lid 14 moves with lid carrier 17 further away from stopper 16 until lid 14 and lid carrier 17 reach their positions shown by figures 5 and 6.
In a further preferred embodiment the transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise ejector means 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 for separating or removing the lower part of reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71 when the transport means move the lid 14 from said second position to said first position. The need for such ejector means arises from the fact that at the end of a thermal cycling process the lower parts of reaction vessels 13 tend to remain stuck in the chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
The above mentioned ejector means comprise an ejector frame 66 which is apt to receive reaction vessel holder 11 and which is arranged between the latter holder and thermal block 71. Ejector frame 66 has on the outer surface of its side walls ramp guides 67, 68 which enter into contact with inwards projecting pins 62, 63 and 65, 66 of plates 25, 26 when lid carrier 17 is moved to bring lid 14 from its first position (lid closed) to its second position (lid open).
The operation of the above described ejection means for separating reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71 is as follows:
During the vertical upwards movement of lid 14 as it is moved from its first position (lid closed) to its second (26134E.DOC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) position (lid open), relative movement of plates 25, 26 and of pins 62 to 65 which belong to them brings this pins into contact with ramp guides 67, 68 of ejector frame 66. As represented in particular in figures 9 and 10, the shape of ramp guides 67, 68 is such that the relative movement mentioned causes pins 62 to 65 to push ejector frame 66 and reaction vessel holder 11 which is positioned on frame 66 upwards, and this causes removal of the lower parts of reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
Within the scope of the instant invention thermal block 71 is used for heating and cooling reaction vessels 13. For heating and cooling purposes the lower part of thermal block 71 is mechanically and thermally coupled with a Peltier element.
Thermal block 71 has a plurality of chambers 72 each of which is apt to receive the lower part of a reaction vessel 13.
Lid 14 is positionable at a first position (lid closed), at which it covers thermal block 71 and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers 72 thereof, and at a second position (lid open), at which lid 14 does not cover said thermal block 71 and reaction vessels positioned in said chambers 72 thereof.
Lid 14 has a surface which is apt to cover said thermal block 71 and reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 thereof when lid 14 is in the above mentioned first position (lid closed). When lid 14 is in this position it fully shields reaction vessels 13 from light in the environment of the thermal cycler, which light should not interfere with measurement of fluorescence light emitted by sample-reagent-mixtures contained in reaction vessels 13.
A thermal cycler according to the invention comprises transport means for moving lid 14 from the first position (lid closed) to the second position (lid open) and vice versa. The path followed by lid 14 as it is moved by the transport means from the second position (lid open) to the first position (lid closed) comprises the following path segments:
a first path segment which lies above and at a predetermined distance from thermal block 71 and along which said lid 14 is moved towards a stopper 16 until it abuts against stopper 16, and a second path segment along which said lid 14 is moved away from said stopper 16 and downwards until it is vertically aligned with said thermal block 71 and exerts a predetermined pressure on reaction vessels 13 positioned in chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
The transport means for moving lid 14 comprise in particular the following components:
- stopper 16 positioned in the above mentioned first path segment of the movement of the lid 14, - a motor driven lid carrier 17, and - plates 25, 26 mounted on the inner surface of side walls 23 of lid carrier 17.
Stopper 16 is mounted on base 48 and has a plane surface 18 which is perpendicular to the above mentioned first path segment.
Lid carrier 17 has a front end wall 21 which is in face of plane surface 18 of stopper 16, a rear end wall 22, and side walls 23, 24 extending between the front end wall 21 and the rear end wall 22. Lid carrier 17 has means for holding the lid 14 within it when the lid 14 is in said first position.
The transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise a motor driven spindle 28 for moving rear wall 22 of lid carrier 17 and thereby lid carrier 17 along the longitudinal axis of spindle 28 in both senses, that is towards and away from stopper 16, a spindle bearing 29 mounted on base 48, and means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the motor (not shown) which drives spindle 28.
Plate 25 is fixed on the inner surface of the side wall 23 of lid carrier 17 and plate 26 is fixed on the inner surface of the other side wall 24 of lid carrier 17. Each of plates 25, 26 has a pair of guiding slots 31, 32 respectively 33, 34 for guiding the movement of lid 14 along the above mentioned second path segment.
As shown in particular by Figures 2, 3 and 4, lid 14 has an inner and an outer top surface, a front end wall 41 which is in face of plane surface 18 of said stopper 16, a rear end wall 42, and side walls 43, 44 extending between the front end wall 21 and the rear end wall 22 and parallel to the side walls 23, 24 of said lid carrier 17. The side walls of lid 14 include outwards projecting pins 51, 52, 53, 54 which are apt to fit into and to slide in guiding slots 31, 32 of plate 25, and guiding slots 33, 34 of plate 26, respectively.
In a preferred embodiment the transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise a tension spring 61 one end of which is attached to the front end of the inner top surface of lid carrier 17, whereas the other end of spring 61 is attached to the rear part of the top surface of the lid 14.
The operation of the above described transport means for moving lid 14 is as follows:
Figures 5 and 6 show the position of lid carrier 17 when lid 14 is in the above mentioned second position (lid open).
When lid 14 and lid carrier 17 are positioned as shown by figures 5 and 6 a reaction tube holder 11 having a plurality of apertures 12 and carrying a plurality of reaction vessels 13 inserted through those apertures can be positioned on thermal block 71 so that the lower part of each reaction vessel 13 fits into a chamber 72 of thermal block 71.
After positioning of the reaction vessels 13 on thermal block 71, motion of lid 14 from its second position (lid open) to its first position (lid closed) is initiated by horizontal displacement of lid carrier 17 towards stopper 16 (26134E.D(DC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) by rotation of spindle 28 in a first sense. In this way lid 14 is moved horizontally towards stopper 16 until front end wall 41 of lid 14 abuts against plane surface 18 of stopper 16. After this point of the movement of lid 14, and since lid 14 cannot move further in horizontal direction further displacement of lid carrier 17 in the sense towards stopper 16 causes a downwards and backwards displacement of lid 14 away from the top wall of lid carrier 17. During this displacement of lid 14 tension spring 61 is stretched and the movement of lid 14 is guided by sliding of pins 51, 52 and 53, 54 along guiding slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 respectively. Lid 14 is displaced in this sense until heating means 15 carried by lid 14 abut on the caps of reaction vessels 13 and exert on these caps a predetermined pressure. At this point lid 14 has reached its first position (lid closed) represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The predetermined pressure exerted by heating means 15 on the caps of reaction vessels 13 when lid 14 is at its first position (lid closed) is determined by the last part of the downwards displacement of lid 14 guided by the lower part of slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 and also by the mechanical characteristics of pusher springs 36 to 39.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the position of lid carrier 17 and other related parts of the transport system for moving lid 14, at the point of time where front end wall 41 of lid 14 abuts against plane surface 18 of stopper 16, that it at the point where the direction of the motion of lid 14 changes from an horizontal motion towards stopper 16 to a downward motion away from stopper 16.
To bring lid 14 from its first position (lid closed) to its second position (lid open) lid carrier 17 is moved away from stopper 16 by rotation of spindle 28 in a second sense (26134E.DOC Pzt: 02.03.1999 VE) opposite to the first. This causes motion of lid 14 along the same path described above, but in the reverse sense.
Pulled by tension spring 61 and guided by slots 31, 32 and 33, 34 lid 14 moves initially upwards towards the top wall of lid carrier 17 and towards stopper 16 until lid 14 is again within lid carrier 17 and close to the top wall thereof. After that lid 14 moves with lid carrier 17 further away from stopper 16 until lid 14 and lid carrier 17 reach their positions shown by figures 5 and 6.
In a further preferred embodiment the transport means for moving lid 14 further comprise ejector means 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 for separating or removing the lower part of reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71 when the transport means move the lid 14 from said second position to said first position. The need for such ejector means arises from the fact that at the end of a thermal cycling process the lower parts of reaction vessels 13 tend to remain stuck in the chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
The above mentioned ejector means comprise an ejector frame 66 which is apt to receive reaction vessel holder 11 and which is arranged between the latter holder and thermal block 71. Ejector frame 66 has on the outer surface of its side walls ramp guides 67, 68 which enter into contact with inwards projecting pins 62, 63 and 65, 66 of plates 25, 26 when lid carrier 17 is moved to bring lid 14 from its first position (lid closed) to its second position (lid open).
The operation of the above described ejection means for separating reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71 is as follows:
During the vertical upwards movement of lid 14 as it is moved from its first position (lid closed) to its second (26134E.DOC Prt: 02.03.1999 VE) position (lid open), relative movement of plates 25, 26 and of pins 62 to 65 which belong to them brings this pins into contact with ramp guides 67, 68 of ejector frame 66. As represented in particular in figures 9 and 10, the shape of ramp guides 67, 68 is such that the relative movement mentioned causes pins 62 to 65 to push ejector frame 66 and reaction vessel holder 11 which is positioned on frame 66 upwards, and this causes removal of the lower parts of reaction vessels 13 from the chambers 72 of thermal block 71.
Within the scope of the instant invention thermal block 71 is used for heating and cooling reaction vessels 13. For heating and cooling purposes the lower part of thermal block 71 is mechanically and thermally coupled with a Peltier element.
Claims (8)
1. A thermal cycler for performing amplification of nucleic acids, said thermal cycler comprising:
(a) a thermal block having a plurality of chambers each of which can receive the lower part of a reaction vessel;
(b) a movable lid having heating means positioned within it, said lid having a surface that can cover said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof so that said lid fully shields said vessels from light in the environment of said thermal cycler, said lid being positionable at a first position at which it covers said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and at a second position at which said lid does not cover said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and (c) transport means for moving said lid from said first position to said second position and vice versa, the path followed by said lid as it is moved from said second position to said first position comprising a first path segment which lies above and at a predetermined distance from said thermal block and along which said lid is moved towards a stopper until it abuts against said stopper, and a second path segment along which said lid is moved downwards until it is vertically aligned with said thermal block and exerts a predetermined pressure on said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers of said thermal block.
(a) a thermal block having a plurality of chambers each of which can receive the lower part of a reaction vessel;
(b) a movable lid having heating means positioned within it, said lid having a surface that can cover said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof so that said lid fully shields said vessels from light in the environment of said thermal cycler, said lid being positionable at a first position at which it covers said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and at a second position at which said lid does not cover said thermal block and said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers thereof, and (c) transport means for moving said lid from said first position to said second position and vice versa, the path followed by said lid as it is moved from said second position to said first position comprising a first path segment which lies above and at a predetermined distance from said thermal block and along which said lid is moved towards a stopper until it abuts against said stopper, and a second path segment along which said lid is moved downwards until it is vertically aligned with said thermal block and exerts a predetermined pressure on said reaction vessels positioned in said chambers of said thermal block.
2. A thermal cycler according to claim 1, wherein said transport means comprises:
said stopper positioned in said first path segment of movement of said lid, said stopper having a plane surface which is perpendicular to said first path;
a motor driven lid carrier having a front end wall which is in the face of said plane surface of said stopper, a rear end wall, and side walls extending between said front end wall and said rear end wall, said lid carrier having means for holding the lid within it when said lid is in said first position; and a first plate fixed on the inner surface of said side wall of said lid carrier and a second plate fixed on the inner surface of said other side wall of said lid carrier, each of said first and second plates having a pair of guiding slots for guiding the movement of said lid along said second path segment.
said stopper positioned in said first path segment of movement of said lid, said stopper having a plane surface which is perpendicular to said first path;
a motor driven lid carrier having a front end wall which is in the face of said plane surface of said stopper, a rear end wall, and side walls extending between said front end wall and said rear end wall, said lid carrier having means for holding the lid within it when said lid is in said first position; and a first plate fixed on the inner surface of said side wall of said lid carrier and a second plate fixed on the inner surface of said other side wall of said lid carrier, each of said first and second plates having a pair of guiding slots for guiding the movement of said lid along said second path segment.
3. A thermal cycler according to claim 2, wherein said lid has an inner and an outer top surface, a front end wall which is in face of said plane surface of said stopper, a rear end wall, and side walls extending between said front end wall and said rear end wall and parallel to the side walls of said lid carrier, said side walls of the lid including outwards projecting pins which can fit into and to slide in said guiding slots.
4. A thermal cycler according to claim 3, wherein said transport means further comprises a tension spring one end of which is attached to the front end of the inner top surface of said lid carrier, whereas the other end of said spring is attached to the rear part of said top surface of the lid.
5. A thermal cycler according to claim 1, wherein said transport means further includes ejector means for removing the lower part of said reaction vessels from said chambers of said thermal block when the transport means move the lid from said second position to said first position.
6. A thermal cycler according to claim 2, wherein said transport means further includes ejector means for removing the lower part of said reaction vessels from said chambers of said thermal block when the transport means move the lid from said second position to said first position.
7. A thermal cycler according to claim 3, wherein said transport means further includes ejector means for removing the lower part of said reaction vessels from said chambers of said thermal block when the transport means move the lid from said second position to said first position.
8. A thermal cycler according to claim 4, wherein said transport means further includes ejector means for removing the lower part of said reaction vessels from said chambers of said thermal block when the transport means move the lid from said second position to said first position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP98810400.6 | 1998-05-04 | ||
EP98810400A EP0955097B1 (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1998-05-04 | Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable cover |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2267708A1 CA2267708A1 (en) | 1999-11-04 |
CA2267708C true CA2267708C (en) | 2008-08-05 |
Family
ID=8236072
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002267708A Expired - Fee Related CA2267708C (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1999-03-29 | Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable lid |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6197572B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP0955097B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4390905B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE278471T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2267708C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69826834T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0955097T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2229465T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (95)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7799521B2 (en) | 1998-06-24 | 2010-09-21 | Chen & Chen, Llc | Thermal cycling |
AU4957699A (en) | 1998-06-24 | 2000-01-10 | Chen & Chen, Llc | Fluid sample testing system |
US6780617B2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2004-08-24 | Chen & Chen, Llc | Sample processing device and method |
CA2255850C (en) * | 1998-12-07 | 2000-10-17 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of Agriculture And Agri-Food | Rotary thermocycling apparatus |
DE19859586C1 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2000-07-13 | Mwg Biotech Ag | Thermal cycler device |
DE50001774D1 (en) | 1999-09-29 | 2003-05-22 | Tecan Trading Ag Maennedorf | Thermal cycler and lifting element for microtiter plate |
US6272939B1 (en) | 1999-10-15 | 2001-08-14 | Applera Corporation | System and method for filling a substrate with a liquid sample |
US6365367B1 (en) | 1999-12-06 | 2002-04-02 | Cellomics, Inc. | Environmental chamber for the analysis of live cells |
EP1456642A1 (en) * | 1999-12-22 | 2004-09-15 | Applera Corporation | A lid mechanism |
US7169355B1 (en) * | 2000-02-02 | 2007-01-30 | Applera Corporation | Apparatus and method for ejecting sample well trays |
US6719949B1 (en) | 2000-06-29 | 2004-04-13 | Applera Corporation | Apparatus and method for transporting sample well trays |
US6939516B2 (en) | 2000-09-29 | 2005-09-06 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Multi-well plate cover and assembly adapted for mechanical manipulation |
DE10115848A1 (en) * | 2001-03-30 | 2002-10-10 | Biometra Biomedizinische Analy | Device for thermally influencing, preferably liquid, sample material contained in a container |
US6514750B2 (en) | 2001-07-03 | 2003-02-04 | Pe Corporation (Ny) | PCR sample handling device |
EP1427531B1 (en) | 2001-09-11 | 2016-10-19 | Iquum, Inc. | Sample vessels |
US20030072685A1 (en) * | 2001-10-11 | 2003-04-17 | Goldman Jeffrey A. | Heat conducting sample block |
US6942836B2 (en) | 2001-10-16 | 2005-09-13 | Applera Corporation | System for filling substrate chambers with liquid |
DE20117661U1 (en) * | 2001-10-29 | 2003-03-13 | Mwg Biotech Ag | Apparatus for heating reaction vessel wells in micro-titration plate has base body to hold them, containing temperature control block which is moved up and down through movements of swing lid |
US6677151B2 (en) | 2002-01-30 | 2004-01-13 | Applera Corporation | Device and method for thermal cycling |
US7452712B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2008-11-18 | Applied Biosystems Inc. | Sample block apparatus and method of maintaining a microcard on a sample block |
US6730883B2 (en) * | 2002-10-02 | 2004-05-04 | Stratagene | Flexible heating cover assembly for thermal cycling of samples of biological material |
AU2004220626B2 (en) | 2003-02-05 | 2010-07-29 | Iquum Inc. | Sample processing tubule |
US6970240B2 (en) * | 2003-03-10 | 2005-11-29 | Applera Corporation | Combination reader |
US20040258563A1 (en) | 2003-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | Applera Corporation | Caps for sample wells and microcards for biological materials |
US20050225751A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-10-13 | Donald Sandell | Two-piece high density plate |
US20050226779A1 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2005-10-13 | Oldham Mark F | Vacuum assist for a microplate |
US20050221358A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-10-06 | Carrillo Albert L | Pressure chamber clamp mechanism |
US7570443B2 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2009-08-04 | Applied Biosystems, Llc | Optical camera alignment |
US7460223B2 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2008-12-02 | Applied Biosystems Inc. | Inverted orientation for a microplate |
US20050237528A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-10-27 | Oldham Mark F | Transparent heater for thermocycling |
US7788039B2 (en) | 2003-09-25 | 2010-08-31 | Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. | Quantitation of nucleic acids using growth curves |
US20080118955A1 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2008-05-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method for precise temperature cycling in chemical / biochemical processes |
US20050244933A1 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2005-11-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and apparatus for precise temperature cycling in chemical/biochemical processes |
US20060030037A1 (en) * | 2004-05-28 | 2006-02-09 | Victor Joseph | Thermo-controllable high-density chips for multiplex analyses |
US20050282270A1 (en) * | 2004-06-21 | 2005-12-22 | Applera Corporation | System for thermally cycling biological samples with heated lid and pneumatic actuator |
EP1869158B1 (en) * | 2005-03-22 | 2013-05-29 | Life Technologies Corporation | Pressure chamber clamp mechanism |
JP4682008B2 (en) * | 2005-10-04 | 2011-05-11 | キヤノン株式会社 | Biochemical treatment equipment, containers and inspection equipment used therefor |
WO2008002563A2 (en) * | 2006-06-26 | 2008-01-03 | Applera Corporation | Heated cover methods and technology |
JP2010516281A (en) | 2007-01-22 | 2010-05-20 | ウェハージェン,インコーポレイテッド | High-throughput chemical reaction equipment |
EP1964609B1 (en) * | 2007-02-13 | 2018-07-18 | Eppendorf Ag | Process for covering samples with sample-size independent height adjustment |
US20080318280A1 (en) * | 2007-02-13 | 2008-12-25 | Eppendorf Ag | Cover for an array of reaction vessels for one-step operation modus |
EP1961484B1 (en) | 2007-02-13 | 2016-07-20 | Eppendorf Ag | Cover for sample with homogeneous pressure application |
WO2009046227A1 (en) | 2007-10-02 | 2009-04-09 | Theranos, Inc. | Modular point-of-care devices and uses thereof |
US8460621B2 (en) * | 2007-10-15 | 2013-06-11 | Biocision, Llc | Temperature transfer stand |
JP5395098B2 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2014-01-22 | バイオ−ラッド ラボラトリーズ,インコーポレイティド | Thermal cycler with self-adjusting lid |
US20110156090A1 (en) * | 2008-03-25 | 2011-06-30 | Lin Charles W C | Semiconductor chip assembly with post/base/post heat spreader and asymmetric posts |
DE202008009556U1 (en) * | 2008-07-16 | 2009-12-03 | Eppendorf Ag | Device for tempering at least one sample |
GB0909420D0 (en) * | 2009-06-02 | 2009-07-15 | Biochip Devises Pte Ltd | Device for nucleic acid amplification |
GB2512764B (en) * | 2009-08-08 | 2014-12-24 | Bibby Scient Ltd | An apparatus for treating a test sample |
GB2511692A (en) * | 2009-08-08 | 2014-09-10 | Bibby Scient Ltd | An apparatus for treating a test sample |
EP2749887A3 (en) * | 2010-07-23 | 2014-10-01 | Beckman Coulter, Inc. | System Or Method Of Including Analytical Units |
EP2615462B1 (en) * | 2010-11-15 | 2016-12-14 | F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG | Instrument and method for the automated thermal treatment of liquid samples |
US9446410B2 (en) | 2010-12-03 | 2016-09-20 | Biofire Defense, Llc | Thermal cycler apparatus with elastomeric adhesive |
CA3097861A1 (en) | 2011-01-21 | 2012-07-26 | Labrador Diagnostics Llc | Systems and methods for sample use maximization |
DE102011011912B4 (en) | 2011-02-21 | 2020-09-03 | Eppendorf Ag | Laboratory device with lid and press arrangement and method for pressing on |
TW201239088A (en) * | 2011-03-22 | 2012-10-01 | Genereach Biotechnology Corp | Convective polymerase chain reaction device |
EP2525211B1 (en) | 2011-05-16 | 2018-01-03 | F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG | Instrument and method for detecting analytes |
US9664702B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2017-05-30 | Theranos, Inc. | Fluid handling apparatus and configurations |
US9632102B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2017-04-25 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-purpose analysis |
US20140170735A1 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2014-06-19 | Elizabeth A. Holmes | Systems and methods for multi-analysis |
US8475739B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2013-07-02 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for fluid handling |
US10012664B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2018-07-03 | Theranos Ip Company, Llc | Systems and methods for fluid and component handling |
US20140308661A1 (en) * | 2011-09-25 | 2014-10-16 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-analysis |
US9810704B2 (en) | 2013-02-18 | 2017-11-07 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-analysis |
AU2013202793B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2014-09-18 | Gen-Probe Incorporated | System, method and apparatus for automated incubation |
AU2014277774C1 (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2019-09-19 | Gen-Probe Incorporated | System, Method and Apparatus for Automated Incubation |
DE102013200193A1 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2014-07-10 | Hamilton Bonaduz Ag | Sample processing system with dosing device and thermocycler |
AU2013202805B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-07-16 | Gen-Probe Incorporated | System and method for extending the capabilities of a diagnostic analyzer |
US20140273181A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Biofire Diagnostics, Inc. | Compact optical system for substantially simultaneous monitoring of samples in a sample array |
KR102091303B1 (en) | 2013-03-19 | 2020-03-19 | 라이프 테크놀로지스 코포레이션 | Thermal cycler cover |
CN105324698B (en) | 2013-05-01 | 2019-07-02 | 生物辐射实验室股份有限公司 | Adjustable digital microscope is shown |
WO2014179483A2 (en) * | 2013-05-02 | 2014-11-06 | Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. | Drawer handle mechanism |
US10422806B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2019-09-24 | Theranos Ip Company, Llc | Methods for improving assays of biological samples |
GB201319759D0 (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2013-12-25 | Thomsen Lars | Device and method for heating a fluid chamber |
GB2591198B (en) * | 2014-04-04 | 2021-10-27 | It Is Int Ltd | Biochemical reaction system |
CN106459871A (en) * | 2014-05-21 | 2017-02-22 | 卡尤迪生物科技(北京)有限公司 | Thermal cycler lid configuration and use thereof |
EP3169601A4 (en) | 2014-07-16 | 2018-01-17 | Synthetic Genomics, Inc. | Lid mechanism |
EP3253492B1 (en) * | 2015-02-06 | 2024-04-03 | Life Technologies Corporation | Systems for biological analysis |
CN107407685B (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2021-08-03 | 宝生物工程(美国)有限公司 | Method for rapid and accurate dispensing, visualization and analysis of individual cells |
CN106680250B (en) * | 2015-11-10 | 2023-06-30 | 北京万泰生物药业股份有限公司 | Detection mechanism for polymerase chain reaction and polymerase chain reaction device |
SG11201805140VA (en) * | 2015-12-22 | 2018-07-30 | Life Technologies Corp | Systems and methods for a thermal cycler heated cover |
JP7075394B2 (en) | 2016-07-21 | 2022-05-25 | タカラ バイオ ユーエスエー, インコーポレイテッド | Multi-Z imaging and dispensing using a multi-well device |
US10427162B2 (en) | 2016-12-21 | 2019-10-01 | Quandx Inc. | Systems and methods for molecular diagnostics |
CN111372650A (en) * | 2017-09-30 | 2020-07-03 | 因思科瑞普特公司 | Flow-through electroporation apparatus |
US11708551B2 (en) * | 2017-10-06 | 2023-07-25 | Wyatt Technology Corporation | Temperature uniformity and suppressing well plate warping in high throughput measurements |
WO2019200004A1 (en) * | 2018-04-13 | 2019-10-17 | Inscripta, Inc. | Automated cell processing instruments comprising reagent cartridges |
DE102018124408A1 (en) * | 2018-10-02 | 2020-04-02 | Biometra GmbH | Device for the thermal treatment of samples |
DE102018124412A1 (en) * | 2018-10-02 | 2020-04-02 | Biometra GmbH | Temperature control block module and device for the thermal treatment of samples |
DE102018131127A1 (en) | 2018-12-06 | 2020-06-10 | Analytik Jena Ag | Automated temperature control device |
CN113811596A (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2021-12-17 | 生命技术控股私人有限公司 | Biological analysis system and method |
CN112881719B (en) * | 2019-11-30 | 2024-01-16 | 深圳市帝迈生物技术有限公司 | Blood analyzer and detecting device |
EP4146398A1 (en) * | 2020-05-08 | 2023-03-15 | Life Technologies Holdings Pte Limited | Biological analysis systems and methods |
EP4188605A1 (en) * | 2020-07-31 | 2023-06-07 | Seegene, Inc. | Thermal cycler comprising damping module |
JPWO2022091583A1 (en) * | 2020-10-26 | 2022-05-05 | ||
TW202338077A (en) * | 2022-03-22 | 2023-10-01 | 列特博生技股份有限公司 | Multi-function polymerase chain reaction device and controlling method thereof |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0311440B1 (en) * | 1987-10-09 | 1992-06-24 | Seiko Instruments Inc. | Apparatus for carrying out a liquid reaction |
US5556958A (en) * | 1989-10-26 | 1996-09-17 | Steritech, Inc. | Inactivation of pathogens in clinical samples |
CA2031912A1 (en) * | 1989-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | Robert Fred Pfost | Heated cover device |
KR100236506B1 (en) * | 1990-11-29 | 2000-01-15 | 퍼킨-엘머시터스인스트루먼츠 | Apparatus for polymerase chain reaction |
US5282543A (en) * | 1990-11-29 | 1994-02-01 | The Perkin Elmer Corporation | Cover for array of reaction tubes |
EP0542422A1 (en) * | 1991-11-12 | 1993-05-19 | General Atomics | Multi-well microtiter plate |
WO1994012885A1 (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-06-09 | Dainabot Co., Ltd. | Multi-channel automatic immunoassay system |
CA2130013C (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1999-03-30 | Rolf Moser | Apparatus for automatic performance of temperature cycles |
JP3051626B2 (en) * | 1993-12-09 | 2000-06-12 | 富士写真フイルム株式会社 | incubator |
-
1998
- 1998-05-04 AT AT98810400T patent/ATE278471T1/en active
- 1998-05-04 DK DK98810400T patent/DK0955097T3/en active
- 1998-05-04 EP EP98810400A patent/EP0955097B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-05-04 ES ES98810400T patent/ES2229465T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-05-04 DE DE69826834T patent/DE69826834T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1999
- 1999-03-29 CA CA002267708A patent/CA2267708C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-04-27 JP JP12057299A patent/JP4390905B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-04-30 US US09/302,713 patent/US6197572B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2000050867A (en) | 2000-02-22 |
ES2229465T3 (en) | 2005-04-16 |
DE69826834D1 (en) | 2004-11-11 |
EP0955097B1 (en) | 2004-10-06 |
DE69826834T2 (en) | 2005-12-08 |
US6197572B1 (en) | 2001-03-06 |
EP0955097A1 (en) | 1999-11-10 |
DK0955097T3 (en) | 2005-02-14 |
CA2267708A1 (en) | 1999-11-04 |
ATE278471T1 (en) | 2004-10-15 |
JP4390905B2 (en) | 2009-12-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2267708C (en) | Thermal cycler having an automatically positionable lid | |
EP0662345B1 (en) | Apparatus for heating a fluid-carrying compartment of a reaction cuvette | |
CA2366978C (en) | Apparatus and method for ejecting sample well trays | |
US6982063B2 (en) | Automated pipetting system | |
KR910010448A (en) | Mass loader device and method | |
US20090176282A1 (en) | Device and Method for Thermal Cycling | |
EP2760582B1 (en) | Cartridge for medical diagnostics with a sealing device | |
US5270006A (en) | Automatic sample analyzer | |
WO2012036865A2 (en) | Color printer system for histological specimen slides and cassettes | |
US11247211B2 (en) | Apparatus for the thermal treatment of samples | |
US11548007B2 (en) | Thermal cycler systems and methods of use | |
US6480453B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for driving an optical disc with a caddy having a cover | |
KR19980081018A (en) | Ink cartridge loading device of printer and printer having the loading device | |
US20110189051A1 (en) | Reaction Cuvette Supply to an Automatic Analysis Machine | |
US20070071645A1 (en) | Biochemical reaction apparatus with refrigeration part | |
CA2610732A1 (en) | Thermocycler | |
WO2004024330A2 (en) | Thermocycler and sample holder | |
US9505002B2 (en) | Incubator | |
WO2018174818A1 (en) | Apparatus for amplification of nucleic acids | |
WO2001046688A1 (en) | A lid mechanism | |
JP5319261B2 (en) | Cassette changer | |
US4379627A (en) | Tray for storing and classifying slides and a viewer for slides disposed in such trays | |
CN216039599U (en) | PCR instrument | |
US7413707B2 (en) | Microchip assembly | |
JP2006058212A (en) | Dispensing table equipped with heat-retaining function |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20130402 |