IE83682B1 - Automated performance of polymerase chain reaction - Google Patents
Automated performance of polymerase chain reactionInfo
- Publication number
- IE83682B1 IE83682B1 IE1999/0379A IE990379A IE83682B1 IE 83682 B1 IE83682 B1 IE 83682B1 IE 1999/0379 A IE1999/0379 A IE 1999/0379A IE 990379 A IE990379 A IE 990379A IE 83682 B1 IE83682 B1 IE 83682B1
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Description
PATENTS ACT, 1992
990379
AUTOMATED PERFORMANCE OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
PERKIN-ELMER CETUS INSTRUMENTS
AUTOMATEDPERFORMANCEOFTHEPOLYMERASECHAHJREACWON
gagkqround of the Invgngjgg
invention pertains to the field of
The computer
directed instruments for performing the polymerase chain
reaction (hereafter PCR). More particularly, the invention
pertains to automated instruments that can perform the
polymerase chain reaction simultaneously on many samples
with a very high degree of precision as to results obtained
for each sample. This high precision provides the
among other things, of performing so-called
"quantitative PCR".
To amplify DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid) using th
process,
capability,
e PCR
it is necessary to cycle a specially constituted
liquid reaction mixture through a PCR
several different temperature
protocol including
The
various components such as
incubation periods.
reaction mixture is comprised of
the DNA to be amplified and at least two primers selected in
a predetermined way so as to be sufficiently complementary
to the sample DNA as to be able to create ext
of the DNA to be amplified.
various enzymes and/or other reagents,
deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates such
and dTTP. Generally,
are capable of
ension products
The reaction mixture includes
as well as several
as dATP, dCTP, dGTP
the primers are oligonucleotides which
acting as a point of initiation of synthesis
when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primer
extension product which is complimentary to a nucleic acid
in the presence of nucleotides and
thermostable DNA polymerase at a
suitable temperature and pH.
The Polymerase
strand is induced, i.e.,
inducing agents such as
Chain Reaction (PCR) has proven a
phenomenally successful technology for genetic analysis,
largely because it is so simple and requires relatively low
A key to PCR is the concept of
alternating steps of melting DNA, annealing
short primers to the resulting single strands, and extending
those primers to make new copies of double stranded DNA. In
thermocycling,
cost instrumentation.
thermocycling:
the PCR reaction mixture is repeatedly cycled
(>9o° C) for melting the DNA, to
lower temperatures (40°C to 70°C) for primer annealing and
extension.
from high temperatures
The first commercial system for performing the
thermal cycling required in the polymerase chain reaction,
the Perkin-Elmer Cetus DNA Thermal Cycler,
1987.
was introduced in
Applications of PCR technology are now moving from basic
research to applications in which large numbers of similar
amplifications are routinely run. These areas include
diagnostic research, biopharmaceutical development, genetic
analysis, and environmental testing. Users in these areas
would benefit from a high performance PCR system that would
provide the user with high throughput,
time, and reproducible results.
rapid turn-around
Users in these areas must
be assured of reproducibility from sample-to-sample, run-to-
run, lab-to-lab, and instrument-to-instrument.
For example, the physical mapping process in the Human
Genome Project may become greatly simplified by utilizing
sequence tagged sites. An STS is a short, unique sequence
easily amplified by PCR and which identifies a location on
the chromosome. Checking for such sites to make genome maps
requires amplifying large numbers of samples in a short time
with protocols which can be reproducibly run throughout the
world.
As the number of PCR samples increases, it becomes more
important to integrate amplification with sample preparation
and post—amplification analysis. The sample
not only allow rapid thermal cycling but also
automated handling
vessels must
permit more
for operations such as solvent
extractions and centrifugation. The vessels should work
consistently at low volumes, to reduce reagent costs.
Generally PCR temperature cycling involves at least two
of these
incubations is for’ primer hybridization and a catalyzed
incubations at different temperatures. one
The other incubation is for
of the double
extension products into single strand templates for use in
primer extension reaction.
denaturation, i.e., separation stranded
the next hybridization and extension incubation interval.
The details of the the
temperature cycling and reaction conditions necessary for
polymerase chain reaction,
PCR as well as the various reagents and enzymes necessary to
perform the reaction described in U.S. patents
4,683,202, 4,683,195, EPO Publication 258,017 and 4,889,818
(Taq polymerase enzyme patent) and all other PCR patents
which are assigned to Cetus Corporation, which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
The purpose of a polymerase chain reaction is to
manufacture a large volume of DNA which is identical to an
initially supplied small volume of "seed" DNA. The reaction
involves copying the strands of the DNA and then using the
copies to generate other copies in subsequent cycles. Under
ideal conditions, each cycle will double the amount of DNA
present thereby resulting in a geometric progression in the
volume of copies of the "target" or "seed" DNA strands
present in the reaction mixture.
A typical PCR temperature cycle requires that the
reaction mixture be held accurately at each incubation
temperature for a prescribed time and that the identical
cycle or a similar cycle be repeated many times. A typical
PCR program starts at a sample temperature of 94°C held for
Then, the
temperature of the reaction mixture is lowered to 37°C and
Next,
of the reaction mixture is raised to a
seconds to denature the reaction mixture.
held for one minute to permit primer hybridization.
the
temperture in the range from 50°C to 72°C where it is held
temperature
for two minutes to promote the synthesis of extension
The next PCR cycle
then starts by raising the temperature of the reaction
products. This completes one cycle.
mixture to 94°C again for strand separation of the extension
products lformed in the previous cycle (denaturation).
Typically, the cycle is repeated 25 to 30 times.
the
temperature to the next temperature in the cycle as rapidly
Generally, it is desirable to change sample
as possible for several reasons. First, the chemical
reaction has an optimum temperature for each of its stages.
Thus,
better chemical result is achieved.
less time spent at nonoptimum temperatures means a
Another reason is that
a minimum time for holding the reaction mixture at each
incubation temperature is required after each said
incubation temperature is reached. These minimum incubation
times establish the "floor" or minimum time it takes to
complete a cycle. Any time transitioning between sample
incubation temperatures is time which is added to this
minimum cycle time. Since the number of cycles is fairly
large, this additional time unnecessarily lengthens the
total time needed to complete the amplification.
In some prior automated PCR instruments, the reaction
mixture was stored in a disposable plastic tube which is
closed with a cap. A typical sample volume for such tubes
100 microliters. Typically,
instruments used many such tubes filled with sample DNA and
was approximately such
reaction mixture inserted into holes called sample wells in
a metal block.
of the metal block was controlled according to prescribed
To perform the PCR process, the temperature
temperatures and times specified by the user in a PCR
protocol file. A computer and associated electronics then
controlled the temperature of the metal block in accordance
with the user supplied data in the PCR protocol file
defining the times, temperatures and number of cycles, etc.
As the metal block changed temperature, the samples in the
various tubes followed with similar changes in temperature.
However, in these prior art instruments not all samples
experienced exactly the same temperature cycle. In these
prior art PCR instruments, errors in sample temperature were
generated by nonuniformity of temperature from place to
place within the metal sample block, temperature
gradients existed within the metal of the block thereby
i.e.,
causing some samples to have different temperatures than
Further,
there were delays in transferring heat from the sample block
other samples at particular times in the cycle.
to the sample, but the delays were not the same for all
samples. To perform the PCR process successfully and
PCR,
these time delays and temperature errors must be minimized
efficiently, and to enable, so called "quantitative"
to a great extent.
The
transfer to and from the
problems of minimizing time delays for heat
sample liquid and minimizing
to
nonuniformity in temperature at various points on the metal
temperature errors due temperature gradients or
block become particularly acute when the size of the region
containing samples becomes large. It is a highly desirable
attribute for a PCR instrument to have a metal block which
is large enough to accommodate 96 sample tubes arranged in
the format of an industry standard microtiter plate.
The microtiter plate is a widely used means for
processing and analyzing large numbers of small
in the biochemistry and biotechnology fields.
handling,
samples
Typically, a microtiter plate is a tray which is 3 5/8
inches wide and 5 inches long and contains 96 identical
sample wells in an 8 well by 12 well rectangular array on 9
Although
available in a wide variety of materials, shapes and volumes
millimeter centers. microtiter plates are
of the sample wells, which are optimized for many different
uses, all microtiter plates have the same overall outside
dimensions and the same 8 X 12 array of wells on 9
millimeter centers. A wide variety of equipment is
available for automating the handling, processing and
analyzing of samples in this standard microtiter plate
format.
Generally microtiter plates are made of injection
molded or vacuum formed plastic and are inexpensive and
considered disposable. Disposability is a highly desirable
characteristic because of the legal liability arising out of
cross contamination and the difficulty of washing and drying
microtiter plates after use.
It is therefore a highly desirable characteristic for
a PCR instrument to be able to perform the PCR reaction on
up to 96 samples simultaneously said samples being arranged
in a microtiter plate format.
of course, the size of the metal block which is
necessary to heat and cool 96 samples in an 8 x 12 well
array on 9 millimeter centers is fairly large. This large
area block creates multiple challenging engineering problems
for the design of a PCR instrument, which is capable of
heating and cooling such a block very rapidly in a
temperature range generally from 0 to 100°C with very little
tolerance for temperature variations between samples. These
problems arise from several sources. First, the large
thermal mass of the block makes it difficult to move the
block temperature up and down in the operating range with
second, the need to attach the block to
various external devices such as manifolds for supply and
great rapidity.
withdrawal of cooling liquid, block support attachment
points, and associated other peripheral equipment creates
the potential for temperature gradients to exist across the
block which exceed tolerable limits.
There are also numerous other conflicts between the
requirements in the design of a thermal cycling system for
automated performance of the PCR reaction or other reactions
requiring rapid, accurate temperature cycling of a large
number of samples. For example, to change the temperature
of a metal block rapidly, a large amount of heat must be
added to, or removed from the sample block in a short period
of time. Heat can be added from electrical resistance
heaters or by flowing a heated fluid in contact with the
block. Heat can be removed rapidly by flowing a chilled
fluid in contact with the block.
impossible to add or remove large amounts of heat rapidly in
block by these without
differences in temperature from place to place in the block
However, it is seemingly
a metal means causing large
thereby forming temperature gradients which can result in
nonuniformity of temperature among the samples.
Even after the process of addition or removal of heat
is terminated, temperature gradients can persist for a time
roughly proportional to the square of the distance that the
heat stored in various points in the block must travel to
Thus,
as a metal block is made larger to accommodate more samples,
cooler regions to eliminate the temperature gradient.
the time it takes for temperature gradients existing in the
block to decay after a temperatt change causes temperature
gradients which extend across the largest dimensions of the
This
increasingly difficult to cycle the temperature of the
block can become markedly longer. makes it
sample block rapidly while maintaining accurate temperature"
uniformity among all the samples.
Because of the time required for temperature gradients
to dissipate, an important need has arisen in the design of
a high performance PCR instrument to prevent the creation of
temperature gradients that extend over large distances in
the block.
the requirement for heat to travel
Another need is to avoid, as much as possible,
across mechanical
boundaries between metal parts or other peripheral equipment
attached to the block. It is difficult to join metal parts
in a way that insures uniformly high thermal conductance
everywhere across the joint. Nonuniformities of thermal
conductance will generate unwanted temperature gradients.
The present invention provides a system for
controlling an apparatus for automated performance of
polymerase chain reactions in at least one sample
tube containing a known volume of a liquid sample
mixture, comprising:
(a) a sample block having at least one well for
said at least one sample tube,
(b) a computing apparatus,
(C) heating and cooling means controlled by said
computing apparatus for changing the temperature of
said sample block, and
(d) a block temperature sensor thermally coupled to
said sample block, said sensor providing to said
computing" apparatus the temperature of said sample
block over time,
said computing apparatus including means for
determining the temperature of said liquid sample
mixture as a function of the temperature of said
sample block over time, wherein said computing
apparatus comprises means for storing one or more
values related to a first thermal time constant,
optionally between approximately" 5 and 14 seconds,
corresponding to said sample tubes and said volume of
said sample mixture, and storage for a second thermal
time constant corresponding to said block temperature
sensor.
Preferably, said means for determining the
sample temperature as a function of the temperature
of said sample block over time includes means for
determining the sample temperature as a function of
said first and second thermal time constants.
Optionally, wherein said computing apparatus
determines said sample temperature in a current
sample interval at a current time n as:
T T T t t
sampn = sampmg + ( Bn - sampm¢) * interval/ au
where Tsampn is equal to the sample temperature at
time n, T5m@nfi is equal to the sample temperature at
an immediately preceding sample interval having
occurred at time n—l, TB“ is equal to the block
temperature at time n, tjmenwl is a time in seconds
between sample intervals, and tau is said first
thermal time constant minus said second thermal time
constant.
Preferably, said system further includes an
input device for receiving user defined setpoints,
optionally target sample temperatures, defining a
hold time/temperature profile, wherein said computing
apparatus includes means for controlling said heating
and cooling means as a function of said user defined
setpoints and said sample temperature.
References to sample tubes herein include, for
example, thin walled sample tubes for decreasing the
delay between changes in sample temperature of the
sample block and corresponding changes in temperature
of the reaction mixture. The tubes may have a thin
walled conical section that fits into a matching
conical recess in a sample block. Typically, cones
with 17° angles relative to the longitudinal axis
maybe used to prevent jamming of the tubes into the
sample block, but to allow snug fit. Other shapes
and angles would also suffice.
A sample block of the system is preferably
comprised of a central region containing in an upper
surface an array of sample wells for holding said
sample tubes, an end edge region comprising two end
edges at opposite ends of said block which are in
thermal contact with ambient, and a manifold region
comprising two manifold edges at opposite sides of
said block, wherein each said manifold edge is
thermally coupled to a manifold.
Preferably the heating means provided by the
invention is a heater having a central heating zone
thermally coupled to said central region, an end edge
heating zone thermally coupled to said edge region,
and a manifold heating zone thermally coupled to said
manifold region.
Preferably computing apparatus is provided which
determines a first power to lbe applied to said
heating zones in said current sample interval by:
(a) determining a theoretical second power
representing the total power to apply to said block
in said current sample interval without accounting
for power losses,
(b) dividing said theoretical second power into
theoretical powers to be applied to each said
individual zone in said current sample interval,
(C) determining power losses by said regions in
said current sample interval, and
(d) determining an actual third power to be applied
to each said individual zone in said current sample
interval, said third power accounting for power
losses by said regions.
Other than sample blocks, the apparatus may employ
other* heat exchangers such as liquid baths, ovens,
etc. However, the wall thickness of the section of
the sample tube which is in contact with whatever
heat exchanger is being used should be as thin as
possible so long as it is sufficiently strong to
withstand the thermal stresses of PCR cycling and the
stresses of normal use. Typically, the sample tubes
are made of autoclavable polypropylene such as Himont
PD70l with a wall thickness of the conical section in
the range from 0.009 to 0.012 inches plus or minus
0.001 inches. Most preferably, the wall thickness is
0.012 inches.
The sample tube also may have a thicker walled
cylindrical section which joins with the conical
section. This conical section provides containment
for the original reaction mixture or reagents which
may be added after PCR processing
The sample tube shown in Figure 50 has industry
standard configuration except for the thin walls for
compatibility in other PCR systems. The sample tube
of Figure 15 is a shorter tube which can be used with
the system disclosed herein.
References to apparatus for achieving very
accurate temperature control for a very large number
of samples arranged in the microtiter plate format
during the performance of very rapid temperature
cycling PCR protocols herein include a sample block,
sample tubes and supporting mounting, heating and
cooling apparatus, control electronics and software,
a novel user interface and a novel method of using
said apparatus to perform the PCR protocol.
The instrument described herein is designed to
do PCR gene amplification on up to 96 samples with
very tight tolerances of temperature control across
the universe of samples. This means that all samples
go up and down in temperature simultaneously with
very little difference in temperature between
different wells containing different samples, this
being true throughout the polymerase chain reaction
cycle. The instrument described herein is also
capable of very tight control of the reaction mixture
concentration through control of the evaporation and
condensation processes in each sample well. Further,
the instrument described herein is capable of
processing up to 96 samples of 100 microliters each
from different donor sources with substantially no
cross-contamination between sample wells.
Advantageously, the systems and methods of the
invention permit heating and cooling of an aluminum
sample block to thermally cycle samples in the
standard 96-well microtiter plate format with the
result that excellent sample-to-sample uniformity
exists despite rapid thermal cycling rates,
noncontrolled varying ambient temperatures and
variations in other operating conditions such as
power line voltage and coolant temperatures.
One of the user defined setpoints of the
invention is optionally the target sample temperature
after ramping said sample temperature at said
preselected ramp rate, and wherein said computing
apparatus includes means for determining said
theoretical second power to be applied to all said
zones, including:
(a) means for determining a total fourth power to
all heating zones to achieve said preselected ramp
rate,
(b) means for determining said temperature of the
sample block in said current sample interval as a
function of said fourth power,
(c) means for determining said sample temperature
in said current sample interval,
(d) means for determining a fraction of the
difference between the target sample temperature
after ramping and the sample temperature in said
immediately preceding sample interval to be made up
in said current sample interval, and
(e) means for determining said theoretical second
power to make up said fraction in said current sample
interval.
Optionally said system additionally comprises
bias cooling constantly applied to said sample block,
wherein said computing apparatus includes means for
determining a total fourth power to all heating zones
to achieve a desired ramp rate according to:
Power = CP/ramp_rate + bias
where Power is said total power to all heating zones
to achieve a desired ramp rate, CP equals the thermal
mass of said block, bias is the cooling power of said
bias cooling and ramp*rate is the difference between
the target sample temperature after ramping and the
sample temperature at the commencement of ramping
divided by a preselected ramp rate.
Preferably,
(I) the computing apparatus determines said
temperature of said sample block in said current
sample interval according to:
TBn : TBn-1 + Power * (tinterval/CP)
where TB”; is equal to the temperature of the block at
time n—l, tumflvfl is the time in seconds between
sample intervals, preferably approximately 0.2, CP is
equal to a thermal mass of said block, and Power is
said fourth power, and/or
(II) the computing apparatus determines said
theoretical second power to make up said fraction in
said current sample interval as a function of
’ ((SP-T * F* tau/t-
Cwtinterval sampnq’ interval
+ Tsamp,,-1 ‘ TBn’
where Pwr equals said theoretical second power to be
applied to make up said fraction in said current
sample interval, CP is equal to a thermal mass of
said block, SP equals said target sample temperature
after ramping, and F is said fraction of the
difference between said target temperature after
ramping and said sample temperature to be made up in
said current sample interval.
The preferred known volume of liquid sample
mixture is in the range of approximately 20-100
microliters.
The computing apparatus preferably adjusts said
theoretical second power
(a) to make up said fraction in said current sample
interval when said sample temperature in said
immediately preceding sample interval is within an
integral band, preferably approximately +/- 0.5°C, of
said target sample temperature after ramping, in
order to close out remaining error, or
(b) to make up said fraction in said current sample
interval by adding thereto a power adjustment term,
to account for power which, because of physical
limitations, was not delivered in previous sample
intervals, given by:
int_sum = int_sum + (S? —
n n—1 Tsampn4’
pwr__adj = ki * int_sum
n
where pwr_adj equals said power adjustment term,
int_sumn is a value of an accumulating integral term
at time n, int_summ1 is a value of said accumulating
integral term at time n-1, SP equals said target
sample temperature after ramping, Tsampwi equals the
temperature of the sample at timem4, and ki equals an
integral gain constant, preferably approximately 512.
Alternatively, the computing apparatus may
divide said theoretical second power into the
theoretical power to be applied to each said
individual zone in proportion to the relative areas
of said zones.
Preferably, the computing apparatus determines
power losses by:
(a) determining power lost to a foam backing on
said sample block in said current sample interval,
preferably
(I) (i) determining temperature of said foam
backing in said current sample interval, Tfwm,
preferably according to:
Tfoamn ‘Tfoamnq +‘Tbn‘Tfoamm1’*‘interval /‘a”
where Tfoamn is equal to the temperature of the foam
at time n, Tfoanufl is equal to the foam temperature at
time n-1, and tau2 is said thermal time constant of
said foam. backing, preferably approximately 30
seconds and preferably tfimayfi is approximately 0.2.
(ii) determining the block temperature in said
current sample interval, and
(iii) determining said power lost to said foam
backing as a function of said temperature of said
foam backing in said current sample interval, said
temperature of said block in said current sample
interval, and a thermal time constant of said foam
backing; optionally wherein said computing apparatus
determines said temperature of said sample block in
said current sample interval according to:
TB“ = TBn‘1 + Power * (tinterval/CP)
where TBW1 is equal to the temperature of the block at
time n-l, timewal is the time in seconds between
sample intervals, CP is equal to the thermal mass of
said block, and Power is a total fourth power to all
heating zones to achieve said preselected ramp rate,
(b) determining power lost to said manifolds in
said current sample interval, and
(c) determining power lost in said end edge region
to ambient in said current sample interval.
The computing apparatus preferably determines the
power lost to said foam backing as a function of said
temperature of said foam backing according to:
foam-pwr = C * (TBH - Tfoamnl
where foam-pwr is said power lost to said foam
backing at time n, Tfoamn is equal to the temperature
of the foam at time n and C is equal to the thermal
mass of the foam backing.
The system of the invention may additionally
comprise means for delivering a bias coolant
constantly applied to said sample block, wherein said
computing apparatus determines the power lost to said
manifolds in said current sample interval according
'f ldl =KA T T ' "C T T TM dT/dt
manio_oss (Bn_ An)+:\(Bn_ CnJ+ ( i
where manifold_loss equals said power lost to
said manifolds in said current sample interval, KA
equals an end edge region—to-ambient conductance
constant, TA“ equals the ambient temperature at the
time n, Tc“ equals a temperature of said bias coolant
at time n, KC equals a sample block—to-coolant
conductance constant, TM equals the thermal mass of
said manifolds and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp
rate.
The systems and methods of the invention permit
control of the PCR instrument which includes the
ability to continuously calculate and display the
temperature of the samples being processed without
directly measuring these temperatures. These
calculated temperatures are used to control the time
that the samples are held within the given
temperature tolerance band for each target
temperature of incubation. In preferred embodiments,
systeni also controls a three—zone heater thermally
coupled to the sample block and gates fluid flow
through directionally interlaced ramp cooling
channels in the sample block which, when combined
with a constant bias cooling flow of coolant through
the sample block provides a facility to achieve rapid
temperature changes to and precise temperature
control at target temperatures specified by the user.
The method and apparatus for controlling the three»
zone heater includes an apparatus for taking into
account, among other things, the line voltage, block
temperature, coolant temperature and ambient
temperature in calculating the amount of electrical
energy to be supplied to the various zones of the
threeezone heater. This heater has zones which are
separately controllable under the edges or “guard
bands” of the sample block so that excess heat losses
to the ambient through peripheral equipment attached
to the edges of the sample block can be compensated.
This helps prevent thermal gradients from forming.
The apparatus for performing automated polymerase
chain reactions may include an enclosure for said
sample block defining an enclosed ambient atmosphere
and said computing apparatus determines the power
lost to ambient in said current sample interval
according to:
mbi 1 = KZA T - KZC — T
a ent_ oss ( Bn An] + (TBn Cn] +
TM2(dT/dt)
where ambient_loss is said power lost to said ambient
in said current sample interval, KZA equals an end
edge region-to-ambient conductance constant, ?An
equals ambient temperature at time n, K2C equals an
end edge region-to—coolant constant, TC” equals the
coolant temperature at time n, TM2 equals the thermal
mass of said enclosed ambient atmosphere, and dT/dt
equals said preselected ramp rate.
The computing apparatus of the invention
preferably determines said actual power to be applied
to each said individual zone in said current sample
interval according to:
central_pwr = pwr * cper
manifold_pwr = pwr * mper + manifold_loss
edge_pwr = pwr * eper + ambient_loss
where pwr equals said theoretical power,
manifold_loss equals a power lost to said manifolds
in said current sample interval, ambient_loss equals
a power lost in said edge region to said ambient in
said current sample interval, central_pwr equals a
power to be applied to said central heating zone in
said current sample interval, manifold_pwr equals a
power to be applied to said manifold heating zone in
said current sample interval, edge_pwr equals a power
to be applied to said end edge heating zone in said
current sample interval, cper equals fraction of
sample block area in said central region, mper equals
fraction of sample block area in said manifold
region, and eper equals fraction of sample block area
in said edge region, optionally wherein cper equals
approximately .66, mper equals approximately .20 and
eper equals approximately .14. '
The sample block may contain multiple transverse
bias cooling channels alternating with multiple
transverse ramp cooling channels, said bias and ramp
cooling channels being parallel to said upper
surface, said apparatus further comprising means for
constantly pumping chilled coolant through said bias
cooling channels and valve means controlled by said
computing apparatus for selectively pumping chilled
coolant through said ramp cooling channels.
Preferably the computing apparatus determines a
theoretical cooling power to be applied to said
block, more preferably said computing apparatus
includes means for determining said. cooling power,
including
(a) means for determining" a total fifth power to
said block to achieve a desired downward ramp rate,
PO
9-
(b) means for determining said temperature of the
sample block in said current sample interval as a
function of said fifth power,
(c) means for determining said sample temperature
in said current sample interval,
(d) means for determining a fraction of the
difference between the target sample temperature
after ramping downward and the sample temperature in
said immediately preceding sample interval to be made
up in said current sample interval, and
(e) means for determining said theoretical cooling
power to make up said fraction in said current sample
interval.
Optionally, the system
(A) additionally comprises bias cooling constantly
applied to said sample block, wherein said computing
apparatus includes means for determining a total
fourth power to all heating zones to achieve a
desired ramp rate according to:
Power = CP/ramp_rate + bias
where Power is said total power to said block to
achieve a desired ramp rate, CP equals the thermal
mass of said block, bias is the cooling power of said
bias cooling and rampwrate is the difference between
the target sample temperature after ramping and the
sample temperature at the commencement of ramping
divided by a preselected ramp rate.
Preferably the computing apparatus determines
said theoretical cooling power to make up said
fraction in said current sample interval as a
function of
F * tau/t -
*‘”P”sampm1’* interval
Cwtinterval
T -T )
+ sampnq Bn
where Pwr equals said theoretical cooling power to be
applied to make up said fraction in said current
sample interval, CP is equal to a thermal mass of
said block, SP equals said target sample temperature
after ramping, and F is said fraction of the
difference between said target temperature after
ramping and said sample temperature to be made up in
said current sample interval,
more preferably said computing apparatus determines a
power lost to said manifolds in said current sample
interval according to:
manifold_loss = KA |TBn - TA”) + KC {'l'Bn - Tcn) 4- TM (dT/dt)
where manifold_loss equals said power lost to said
manifolds in said current sample interval, KA equals
an end edge region-to—ambient conductance constant,
TA“ equals the ambient temperature at the time n, TC“
equals a temperature of said bias coolant at time n,
KC equals a sample block—to-coolant conductance
constant, TM equals the thermal mass of said
manifolds and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp
rate, and/or
(B) includes an enclosure for said sample block
defining an enclosed ambient atmosphere and said
computing apparatus determines a power lost to
ambient in said current sample interval according to:
mb‘ t 1 = KZA T - . -
a ien _ ass ( En An) + KZC (“En Tcn) +
TM2 (dT/dt)
where ambient_loss is said power lost to said ambient
in said current sample interval, KZA equals an end
edge region-to-ambient conductance constant, TAn
equals ambient temperature at time n, K2C equals an
end edge region—to—coolant constant, Tc“ equals the
coolant temperature at time n, TM2 equals the thermal
mass of said enclosed ambient atmosphere, and dT/dt
equals said preselected ramp rate.
Preferably, the computing apparatus includes
valve means for opening said channels for Cooling
said block at said current sample interval,
comprising means for:
(a) means for determining that ramp direction is
downward,
(b) means for determining an intermediate power
value by subtracting values for power lost to said
manifolds and said ambient from said theoretical
cooling power,
(C) means for determining a cooling breakpoint as a
function of said block temperature and a temperature
of said coolant, and
(‘O
&
(d) means for determining if said ramp cooling
channels shall be opened as a function of said
intermediate power and said cooling breakpoint,
The cooling breakpoint maybe a function of the
difference between said block temperature at said
current sample interval and said temperature of said
coolant fluid at said current sample interval, and
preferably said ramp cooling channels will be open if
said intermediate power is less than said cooling
breakpoint.
The controlling of the heating and cooling means
as a function of said. user defined set points may
constitute running said profile as a profile run,
preferably
(A) said computing apparatus further comprises
(a) means for allowing users to invoke said profile
runs and/or
(b) means for linking multiple profiles in any
order to form a protocol, said protocol defining a
sequence of said profiles to be run, wherein invoking
said sequence of profiles to be run constitutes
running said protocol as a protocol run, and/or
(C) means for linking a single profile a plurality
of times in a single protocol, and/or
(d) means for storing a plurality of protocols,
and/or
(e) means for including any said profile in a
plurality of said protocols, and/or
(f) means for protecting a profile included in any
protocol from being deleted or overwritten, and/or
(B) said input device further comprises means for
receiving a user defined cycle count for each said
profile, said cycle count constituting the number of
times said profile will be run when it is invoked,
and/or
(C) said system further comprising a means to
determine that electrical power to operate said
apparatus went off during a said run of a said
profile, preferably further comprising a means to
report the length of said electrical power outage
when said electrical power is restored, even more
preferably further comprising means for automatically
starting a soak upon restoration of said electrical
power, said soak being at a temperature selected to
maximize the chance of saving said samples,
optionally said temperature being 4°C, and/or
(D) said system further includes means for
automatically increasing and/or decreasing the hold
time of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle in
said cycle count, preferably wherein activation of
said means for automatically increasing the hold time
of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle is
selectable as a user level option via said input
device, more preferably wherein said automatic
increases in the hold time of any or all setpoints
from cycle to cycle are by first and/or second user
defined values input via said input device and may
geometrically or linearly based on said first and/or
second user defined values, and/or
(B) said system further includes means for
automatically increasing and/or decreasing the
setpoint temperature of any or all setpoints from
cycle to cycle in said cycle count, preferably
wherein activation of said. means for automatically
increasing and/or decreasing the setpoint temperature
of any or all setpoints from cycle’ to rcyele is
selectable as a user level option via said input
device, more preferably said automatic increases
and/or decreases in the setpoint temperature of any
or all setpoints from cycle to cycle are by third
and/or fourth user defined values input via said
input device and may be geometrically or linearly
based on said third and/or fourth user defined
values, and/or
(F) said system further comprises a programmed
pause option means to automatically halt a run for a
user defined period of time, preferably wherein said
pause option means comprises means to halt said run
after any or all setpoints are complete, during any
or all cycles and after any or all of the profiles in
a protocol are run, and/or
(G) said system further includes means for
adjusting temperature sensor readings to account for
drift in analog circuitry, preferably said means for
adjusting temperature sensor readings to account for
drift in the analog circuitry determines said drift
(a) measuring one or more test voltages under
controlled conditions,
(b) reading said voltages at the start of each run
to measure electronic drift.
The present invention may further comprise
(a) a means to allow a user to define, via said
input device, a temperature range such that‘ said
setpoint hold time will begin when said sample
temperature is within said temperature range of said
setpoint temperature, or
(b) an input device for receiving a tube type and a
reaction volume, and wherein said computing apparatus
determines said thermal time constant for said
reaction tube as a function of said tube type and
said reaction volume.
The present invention may further comprise
(a) a means for performing diagnostic checks of
said heating means, preferably wherein said checks
comprise one or more heater ping tests, block thermal
capacity tests, ramp cooling conductance tests,
sensor lag tests, and/or
(b) a means for performing diagnostic checks of
said cooling means, preferably wherein said checks
comprise one or more control cooling conductance
tests, block thermal capacity tests, chiller tests,
(‘O
(D
ramp cooling conductance tests, sensor lag tests,
coolant capacity tests, and/or
(C) a means for performing hardware diagnostics on
user demand and/or automatically upon system start-
up, preferably wherein said hardware diagnostics
include tests of one or more of a Programmable
Peripheral Interface device, Battery RAM device,
Battery RAM checksum, EPROM devices, Programmable
Interface Timer devices, Clock/Calendar device,
programmable Interrupt Controller device, Analog to
Digital Section, RS—232 Section, Display Section,
Keyboard Beeper, Ramp Cooling Values, EPROM mismatch,
Firmware version level, Battery RAM Checksum and
Initialization, Autostart Program Flag, Clear
Calibration Flag, Heated Cover heater and control
circuitry, Edge heater and control circuitry,
Manifold heater and control circuitry, Central heater
and control circuitry, Sample block thermal cutoff,
Heated cover thermal cutoff.
The computing apparatus of the system preferably,
comprises a means to display, during a run,
(a) the approximate amount of time left in the run
of a profile and/or all of the profiles left to be
run in a running protocol, or
(b) the sample temperature at any given time in the
run .
The present invention may further comprise
(A) a means for determining, for a given setpoint,
a first difference between said sample temperature at
the end of said setpoint hold time and said setpoint
sample temperature of said setpoint, optionally
wherein
(a) said input device further comprises a means for
receiving a user defined temperature differential,
and/or
(b) said computing apparatus comprises »means to
report an error if said user defined temperature
differential is greater than said first difference,
and/or
(B) means to configure the temperature the
apparatus will return to during any idle state,
and/or
(C) means to check that said setpoint sample
temperature is reached within a predetermined amount
of time.
The computing apparatus may maintain a history file
of an immediately previous run containing details of
said previous run intended for integrity checks and
error analysis, and/or further comprises
(a) means to check that the said automatically
modified setpoint sample temperature has not exceeded
°C and/or has not gone below 0°C, and/or
(b) a means to check that said automatically
modified setpoint hold time is not negative, and/or
(c) means for printing information stored in said
system, preferably wherein said information includes
at least one of: contents of a profile, contents of a
protocol, listing of created profiles, listing of
created protocols, configuration parameters, system
calibration parameters.
The present invention may further comprise
(a) means to continually monitor said block sensor
and to invoke an abort procedure if said sensor
readings are above a maximuni desirable temperature
for said block by a predetermined number of degrees a
predetermined number of times, preferably wherein
said abort procedure includes one or more of aborting
the running profile, flagging the error in a history
file, displaying message alerts to a user, disabling
said heaters,
(b) the ability to perform all available user
interface functions remotely, or
(c) means to display a menu driven user interface
to reduce user reliance on written manuals.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a
method for computer control of the automated
performance of polymerase chain reactions in at least
one sample tube containing a known volume of liquid
sample mixture by means of a computer—controlled
thermocycler including a computing apparatus, a
sample block having at least one well for said at
least one sample tube, a block temperature sensor
thermally coupled to said sample block, and heating
and cooling means controlled by said computing
apparatus for changing the temperature of said sample
block, comprising the steps by said computing
apparatus of:
(a) reading the block temperature at predetermined
times,
(b) determining the temperature of said liquid
sample mixture as a function of the temperature of
said sample block over time, wherein said step of
determining comprises the steps of:
(i) determining a first thermal time constant for
said at least one sample tube and said volume of
liquid sample mixture,
(ii) determining a second thermal time constant for
said block temperature sensor, and
(iii) determining the sample temperature in a current
sample interval at a current time n according to the
formula
Tsampn = Tsampnq + (TBn — Tsampnq) * ‘interval/t“
where Tsampn is equal to the sample temperature at
time n, Tsampmi is equal to the sample temperature at
an immediately preceding sample interval having
occurred at time n—l, TBn is equal to the block
temperature at time n, timewal is a time in seconds
between sample intervals, and tau is said first
thermal time constant minus said second thermal time
constant, optionally wherein said sample block
comprises a central region containing said at least
one well, an end edge region in thermal Contact with
ambient and a manifold region thermally coupled to at
least one manifold, wherein said heating means
includes a zone for each of said regions, and wherein
the step of controlling said heating means comprises
the steps of:
(iv) determining a theoretical second power
representing the total power to apply to saidiblock
in a current sample interval at a current time n
without accounting for power losses,
(v) dividing said theoretical second power into
theoretical powers, one to be applied to each of said
heating zones,
(vi) determining power losses by said regions in
said current sample interval, and
(vii) determining an actual third power for each of
said zones in said current sample interval to account
for power loss by each said zone, and optionally
wherein said thermocycler additionally includes bias
cooling constantly applied to said sample block,
wherein said computer—controlled cooling means
comprises selectively operable ramp cooling means for
selectively delivering a cooling fluid to said sample
block, and wherein the step of controlling said
selectively operable ramp cooling means includes the
steps of:
(viii)determining that sample temperature ramp
direction is downward,
(ix) determining the temperature of said cooling
fluid,
(x) determining as a function of said sample
temperature a total cooling power to apply to said
block in said current sample interval without
accounting for power losses,
(xi) determining an intermediate cooling power by
subtracting power loss to said at least one manifold
and to ambient from said total cooling power,
(xii) determining a cooling breakpoint as a function
of the difference between the block temperature and
the temperature of said cooling fluid in the current
sample interval, and
(xiii)selectively operating said ramp cooling means
as a function of the difference between said
intermediate cooling power and said cooling
breakpoint, and
(c) controlling said heating and cooling means as a
function of said sample temperature.
The PCR instrument in accordance with the
invention advantageously reduces cycle times by a
factor of 2 or more and lowers reagent cost by
accommodating PCR volumes down to 20 ul but remains
compatible with the industry standard 0.5 ml
microcentrifuge tube.
Brief Description of the Drawings V
Figure l is a block diagram of the thermal cycler
according to the teachings of the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a sample block according to
the teachings of the invention.
Figure 3 is a side, elevation view of the sample block
showing the bias and ramp cooling channels.
Figures 4 and 5 are end, elevation views of the sample
block.
Figure 6 of
2.
of
2.
of
2.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional, elevation View of the
sample block structure after assembly with the three-zone
film heater and block support.
sectional view
6-6' in Figure
sectional view
7-7'
is a the sample block taken
along section line
Figure 7 is a the sample block taken
along section line in Figure
sectional view
Figure 8 is a the sample block taken
along section line in Figure
Figure 10 is a graph of power line voltage illustrating
the form of power control to the three-zone film heater.
Figure 11 is a temperature graph showing a typical
three incubation temperature PCR protocol.
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the sample block
illustrating the local zone concept.
Figure 13 is a plan view of the three-zone heater.
Figure 14 is a graph of sample temperature versus time
illustrating the effect of an 7 of a sample tube seating
force F which is too low.
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a sample tube
and cap seated in the sample block.
Figure 16A is a graph of the impulse response of an RC
circuit.
Figure 16B is a graph of an impulse excitation pulse.
Figure 16C is a graph illustrating how the convolution
of the thermal impulse response and the temperature history
of the block give the calculated sample temperature.
Figure 16D illustrates the electrical analog of the
thermal response of the sample block/sample tube system.
Figure 17 illustrates how the calculated temperatures
of different all on a
temperature to within about 0.5°C of each other when the
six samples converge target
constants of proportionality for the equations used to
control the three zone heater are properly set.
Figure 18 is a graph illustrating how the denaturation
target temperature affects the amount of DNA generated.
Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding
cover and heated platen.
Figure 20 is perspective view of the sliding cover,
sample block and the knob used to lower the heated platen.
Figure 21A is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of
one embodiment of the frame, retainer, sample tube and cap
when seated on a sample block.
Figure 218 is a cross-sectional View of the assembly of
the preferred embodiment of the frame, retainer, sample tube
and cap when seated on the sample block.
Figure 22
disposable frame for the microtiter plate.
is a top, plan view of the plastic,
Figure 23 is a bottom, plan view of the frame.
Figure 24 is an end, elevation view of the frame.
Figure 25 is another end, elevation View of the frame.
Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view of the frame taken
along section line 26-26' in Figure 22.
Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view of the frame taken
along section line 27-27' in Figure 22.
Figure 28 is an edge elevation view and partial section
of the frame.
Figure
tube.
is a sectional view of the preferred sample
Figure 30 is a sectional view of the upper part of the
sample tube.
Figure 31 is an elevation view of a portion of the cap
strip.
Figure 32 is a top view of a portion of the cap strip.
Figure 33 is a top, plan view of the plastic,
disposable retainer portion of the 96 well microtiter tray.
Figure 34 is a side, elevation view with a partial
section of the retainer.
Figure 35 is an end, elevation view of the retainer.
Figure 36 is a sectional view of the retainer taken
along section line 36-36' in Figure 33.
Figure 37 is a sectional view of the retainer taken
along section line 37-37' in Figure 33.
Figure 38 is a plan view of the plastic disposable
support base of the 96 well microtiter tray.
Figure 39 is a bottom plan view of the base.
Figure 40 is a side elevation view of the base.
Figure 41 is an end elevation view of the base.
Figure 42 is a sectional view of the support base taken
along section line 42-42' in Figure 38.
Figure 43 is a sectional view of the support base taken
along section line 43-43' in Figure 38.
Figure 44 is a section View of the base taken along
section line 44-44' in Figure 38.
Figure 45 is a perspective exploded view of the plastic
disposable items that comprise the microtiter tray with some
sample tubes and caps in place.
Figure 46 is a diagram of the coolant control system 24
in Figure 1.
Figures 47A and 47B are a block diagram of the control
electronics according to the teachings of the invention.
Figure 48 is a schematic of a typical zener temperature
SEDSOI .
riqure 49 is e time line diegren or e typical sample
period.
Figure 50 is elevation sectionel view or e tell thin
walled sample tube marketed under the tredenrex HAXIAHP.
figure 51 is e graph showing the difference in response
time between the thin walled selple tubes and the thick
walled prior art tubes.
Figure 52 is e plan view of e senple tube end cap.
Figures 53 end 54 ere flow cherte ot the power up test
sequence.
n1:ntiszn
Referring to figure 1 there is shown e block diagram or
the major systen components of one enbodinent or e computer
directed instrument tor periorlinq pcn according to the
teaching: of the invention. sesple eixtures including the
DNA or Run to be emplitied ere pieced in the temperature-
progrenned sample block 12 en are covered by heated cover
14.
A user supplies dete defining tine end temperature
porenetsrs of the desired PCR protocol vie e terminal 16
including e keyboard and display. the xeybcerd end display
are coupled vie bus ll to e control conputer 30 (hereafter
sometixee referred to es a central processing unit or CPU).
This central processing unit 20 includes senory which stores
the control proqren described below, the date dstininq the
desired Pcn protocol end certain calibration constants
described below. The control proqres causes the CPU 20 to
control tespereture cycling or the senple block 12 end
‘implements e user intertece which provides certain displeys
to the user and vnich receives date entered by the user via
the keyboard or the tersinel 16.
In the preferred enbodinent. the central processing
unit 20 is custom designed.
A block
diagram of the electronics will be discussed in more detail
below. In alternative embodiments, the central processing
unit 20 and associated peripheral electronics to control the
various heaters and other electro-mechanical systems of the
instrument and read various sensors could be any general
purpose computer such as a suitably programmed personal
computer or microcomputer.
The samples 10 are stored in capped disposable tubes
which are seated in the sample block 12 and are thermally
isolated from the ambient air by a heated cover 14 which
contacts a plastic disposable tray to be described below to
form a heated, enclosed box in which the sample tubes
reside. The heated cover serves, among other things, to
reduce undesired. heat transfers to and from the sample
mixture by evaporation, condensation and refluxing inside
the sample tubes. It also reduces the chance of cross
contamination by keeping the insides of the caps dry thereby
preventing aerosol formation when the tubes are uncapped.
The heated cover is in contact with the sample tube caps and
keeps them heated to a temperature of approximately 104°C or
above the condensation points of the various components of
the reaction mixture.
The central processing unit 20 includes appropriate
electronics to sense the temperature of the heated cover 14
and control electric resistance heaters therein to maintain
the cover 14 at a predetermined temperature. Sensing of the
temperature of the heated cover 14 and control of the
resistance heaters therein is accomplished via a temperature
sensor (not shown) and bus 22.
A coolant control system 24 continuously circulates a
chilled liquid coolant such as a mixture of automobile
antifreeze and water through bias cooling channels (not
shown) in the sample block 12 via input tubes 26 and output
tube 28. The coolant control system 24 also controls fluid
flow through higher volume ramp cooling fluid flow paths
(not shown)
in the sample block 12. The ramp cooling
channels are used to rapidly change the temperature of the
sample block 12 by pumping large volumes of chilled liquid
coolant through the block at a relatively high flow rate.
Ramp cooling liquid coolant enters the sample block 12
through tube 30 and exits the sample block through tube 32.
The details of the coolant control system. are shown in
Figure 46. The coolant control system will be discussed
more fully below in the description of the electronics and
software of the control system.
Typically, the liquid coolant used to chill the sample
block 12 consists mainly of a mixture of water and ethylene
glycol. The liquid coolant is chilled by a heat exchanger
34 which receives liquid coolant which has extracted heat
from the sample block 12 via input tube 36. The heat
exchanger 34 receives compressed liquid freon refrigerant
This
refrigeration unit 40 includes a compressor (not shown), a
fan 42 and a fin tube heat radiator 44.
unit 40
exchanger 34 via tube 46.
via input tube 38 from a refrigeration unit 40.
The refrigeration
compresses freon gas received from the heat
The gaseous freon is cooled and
The
pressure of the liquid freon is maintained above its vapor
condensed to a liquid in the fin tube condenser 44.
pressure in the fin tube condenser by a flow restrictor
capillary tube 47. The output of this capillary tube is
coupled to the input of the heat exchanger 34 via tube 38.
In the heat exchanger, the pressure of the freon is allowed
to drop below the freon vapor pressure, and the freon
heat is absorbed
from the warmed liquid coolant circulating in the heat
expands. In this process of expansion,
exchanger and this heat is transferred to the freon thereby
The warmed freon is then
extracted from the heat exchanger via tube 46 and is
again circulated through the fin tube
The fan 42 blows air through the fin tube
condensor 44 to cause heat in the freon from tube 46 to be
As symbolized by arrows 48.
causing the freon to boil.
compressed and
condensor 44.
exchanged with the ambient air.
The refrigeration unit 40 should be capable of extracting
400 watts of heat at 30°C and 100 watts of heat at 10°C from
the liquid coolant to support the rapid temperature cycling
according to the teachings of the invention.
In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus of Figure 1
The heat 48
expelled to the ambient air is kept within the housing to
is enclosed within a housing (not shown).
aid in evaporation of any condensation which occurs on the
various tubes carrying chilled liquid coolant or treon from
one place to another. This condensation can cause corrosion
of metals used in the construction of the unit or the
electronic circuitry and should be removed. Expelling the
heat 48 inside the enclosure helps evaporate any
condensation to prevent corrosion.
After exchanging its heat with the freon, the liquid
coolant exits the heat exchanger 34 via tube 50 and reenters
the coolant control system where it is gated as needed to
the sample block during rapid cooling portions of the PCR
cycle defined by data entered by the user via terminal 16.
As noted above, the PCR protocol involves incubations
at at least two different temperatures and often three
different temperatures. A typical PCR cycle is shown in
Figure 11 with avdenaturation incubation 170 done at a
temperature near 94°C, a hybridization incubation 122 done
at a temperature near room temperature (2S°C-37°C) and an
extension incubation 174 done at a temperature near 50°C.
substantially different,
therefore means must be provided to move the temperature of
These temperatures are and,
the reaction mixture of all the samples rapidly from one
temperature to another. The ramp cooling system is the
means by which the temperature of the sample block 12 is
brought down rapidly from the high temperature denaturation
incubation to the lower temperature hybridization and
Typically the coolant
when the coolant
is at 20°C it can pump out about 400 watts of heat from the
extension incubation temperatures.
temperature is in the range from 1o—20°C.
block.
dimensions,
sample Typically the channel
coolant temperature and coolant flow rate are
ramp cooling
set such that peak cooling of 5°-6°C per second can be
achieved near the high end of the operating range (100°C)
and an average cooling rate of 2.5°C per second is achieved
in bringing the sample block temperature down from 94°C to
37°C.
The ramp cooling system, in some embodiments, may also
be used to maintain the sample block temperature at or near
in the
small temperature changes of the
the target incubation temperature also. However,
preferred embodiment,
sample block 12 in the downward direction to maintain target
incubation temperature are implemented by the bias cooling
system.
As seen in Figure 46, a pump 41 constantly pumps
coolant from a filter/reservoir 39 (130 milliliter capacity)
via 1/2" pipe and pumps it via a 1/2" pipe to a branching
intersection 47. The pump 41 supplies coolant to pipe 45 at
At the
a portion of the flow in tube 45 is
diverted as the constant flow through the bias cooling
channels 49. Another portion of the flow in tube 45 is
diverted through a flow restrictor 51 to output tube 38.
Flow restrictor 51 maintains sufficient pressure in the
a constant flow rate of 1-1.3 gallons per minute.
intersection 47,
system such that a positive pressure exists at the input 53
of a two state solenoid operated valve 55 under the control
of the CPU 20 via bus 54.
implement a rapid downward temperature change, the CPU 20
when ramp cooling is desired to
causes the solenoid operated valve 55 to open to allow flow
of coolant through the ramp cooling channels 57. There are
8 ramp cooling channels so the flow rate through each ramp
cooling channel is about 1/8 gallon per minute. The flow
rate through the bias cooling channels is much less because
of the greatly restricted cross-sectional area thereof.
The bias cooling system provides a small constant flow
of chilled coolant through bias cooling channels 49 in the
sample block 12. This causes a constant, small heat loss
from the sample block 12 which is compensated by a multi-
zone heater 156 which is thermally coupled to the sample
block 12 for incubation segments where the temperature of
The
constant small heat loss caused by the bias cooling flow
the sample block is to maintained at a steady value.
allows the control system to implement proportional control
both temperature for
temperatures. This means both heating and cooling at
controlled, predictable, small rates is available to the
temperature servo system to correct for block temperature
upward and downward in small
errors to cause the block temperature to faithfully track a
The
alternative would be to cut off power to the film heater and
allow the sample block to cool by giving up heat to the
PCR temperature profile entered by the user.
ambient by radiation and convection when the block
temperature got too high. This would be too slow and too
unpredictable to meet tight temperature control
specifications for quantitative PCR cycling.
This multi-zone heater 156 is controlled by the CPU 20
via bus 52 in Figure 1 and is the means by which the
temperature of the sample block 12 is raised rapidly to
higher incubation temperatures from lower incubation
- temperatures and is the means by which bias cooling is
compensated and temperature errors are corrected in the
upward direction during temperature tracking and control
during incubations.
In alternative embodiments, bias cooling may be
eliminated or may be supplied by other means such as by the
use of a cooling fan and cooling fins formed in the metal of
the block, peltier
circulating tap water.
sample junctions or constantly
Care must be taken however in these
alternative embodiments to insure that temperature gradients
are not created in the sample block which would cause the
temperature of some samples to diverge from the temperature
of other samples thereby possibly causing different PCR
amplification results in some sample tubes than in others.
In the the
proportional to the difference between the block temperature
preferred embodiment, bias cooling is
and the coolant temperature.
The CPU 20 controls the temperature of the sample block
12 by sensing the temperature of the metal of the sample
block via temperature sensor 21 and bus 52 in Figure 1 and
by sensing the temperature of the circulating coolant liquid
via bus 54 and a temperature sensor in the coolant control
system. The temperature sensor for the coolant is shown at
The CPU also senses the internal ambient
air temperature within the housing of the system via an
Further, the
CPU 20 senses the line voltage for the input power on line
All these items of data
together with items of data entered by the user to define
in Figure 46.
ambient air temperature sensor 56 in Figure 1.
via a sensor symbolized at 63.
the desired PCR protocol such as target temperatures and
times for incubations are used by a control program to be
described
calculates the amount of power to apply to the various zones
of the multi-zone sample block film heater 156 via the bus
in more detail below. This control program
and generates a coolant control signal to open or close
the solenoid operated valve 55 in the coolant control system
24 via bus 54 so as to cause the temperature of the sample
block to follow the PCR protocol defined by data entered by
the user.
Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a top view of the
sample block 12. The purpose of the sample block 12 is to
provide a mechanical support and heat exchange element for
an array of thin walled sample tubes where heat may be
exchanged between the sample liquid in each sample tube and
liquid coolant flowing in the bias cooling and ramp cooling
channels formed in the sample block 12. Further, it is the
function of the sample block 12 to provide this heat
without
gradients between various ones of the sample wells such that
exchange function creating large temperature
all sample mixtures in the array experience the same PCR
cycle even though they are spatially separated. It is an
overall objective of the PCR instrument described herein to
provide very tight temperature control over the temperature
of the sample liquid for a plurality of samples such that
the of sample liquid does vary
appreciably (approximately plus or minus 0.5°C) from the
temperature of any other sample liquid in another well at
any point in the PCR cycle.
temperature any not
There is an emerging branch of PCR technology called
"quantitative" PCR. In this technology, the objective is to
perform PCR amplification as by
causing the amount of target DNA to exactly double on every
cycle.
precisely as possible
Exact doubling on every cycle is difficult or
impossible to achieve but tight temperature control helps.
There are many sources of errors which can cause a
failure of’ a PCR cycle to exactly double the amount of
target DNA (hereafter DNA should be understood as also
referring to RNA) during a cycle. For example, in some PCR
amplifications, the process starts with a single cell of
target DNA. An error that can easily occur results when
this single cell sticks to the wall of the sample tube and
does not amplify in the first several cycles.
Another type of error is the entry of a foreign
the reaction mixture which attacks the
target DNA. All cells have some nonspecific
nuclease that attacks foreign DNA that is loose in the cell.
When this happens, it interferes the
replication process. Thus, if a drop of saliva or a
dandruff particle or material from another sample mixture
nuclease into
"foreign"
with or stops
were inadvertently to enter a sample mixture, the nuclease
materials in these cells could attack the target DNA and
It is highly
cause an error in the amplification process.
desirable to eliminate all
contamination.
such sources cross-
Another source of error is nonprecise control over
sample mixture temperature as between various ones of a
if all the
samples are not precisely controlled to have the proper
multiplicity of different samples. For example,
annealing temperature (a user selected temperature usually
in the range from 50 to 60°C) for the extension incubation
certain forms of DNA will not extend properly. This happens
because the primers used in the extension process anneal to
If the
the primers will not
the wrong DNA if the temperature is too low.
annealing temperature is too high,
anneal to the target DNA at all. _
one can easily imagine the consequences of performing
the PCR PCR
amplification is part of diagnostic testing such as for the
amplification process inaccurately when
presence HIV antibodies, hepatitis, or the presence of
A false
positive or false negative result in such diagnostic testing
genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia, etc.
can have disastrous personal and legal consequences.
Accordingly, it is an object for the design of the PCR
instrument described herein to eliminate as many of these
sources of possible errors as possible such as cross-
contamination or poor temperature control while providing an
instrument which is compatible with the industry standard
96-well microtiter plate format. The instrument must
rapidly perform PCR in a flexible manner with a simple user
interface.
In the preferred embodiment, the sample block 12 is
machined out of a solid block of relatively pure but
corrosion resistant aluminum such as the 6061 aluminum
alloy. Machining the block structure out of a solid block
of
structure.
aluminum results in a more thermally homogenous
Cast aluminum structures tend not to be as
thermally homogenous as is necessary to meet the very tight
desired temperature control specifications.
block 12 is
temperature because the thermal mass of the block is kept
Sample capable of rapid changes in
low. This is done by the formation in the block of many
cooling passageways, sample and
threaded and unthreaded holes.
to attach the block to supports and to attach external
wells, grooves other
some of these holes are used
devices such as manifolds and spillage trays thereto.
To best appreciate the "honeycomb" nature of the sample
block structure, the reader should refer simultaneously to
Figure 2 which shows the block in plan view as well as
through 8 which
strategically located sectional views of the sample block.
Figures 3 show elevation views and
For example, Figure 3 is a side elevation view showing the
cooling channel positions taken from the vantage point of
the view line 3-3' in Figure 2. The elevation view of the
sample block 12, looking at the opposite edge, is identical.
Figure 4 is an elevation view of the edge of the sample
block 12 from the perspective of view line 4-4' in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an elevation view of the end of the sample block
12 taken from the perspective of view line 5-5‘ in Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of -ae sample block 12 taken
along the section line 6-6‘ Figure 7 is a
sectional view of the sample block 12 taken along section
line 7-7‘ in Figure 2.
in Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the
sample block 12 taken along section line 8-8' in Figure 2.
The top surface of the sample block 12 is drilled with
an 8 x 12 array of conical sample wells of which wells 66
and 68 are typical. The conical configuration of each
The walls of each
sample well are drilled at an angle of 17° to match the
angle of the conical section of each sample tube.
done by drilling a pilot hole having the diameter D_ in
Then a 17° countersink is used to form the
conical walls 67.
The bottom of each sample well includes a sump 70 which
has a depth which exceeds the depth of penetration of the
tip of the sample tube. The sump 70 is created by the pilot
hole and provides a small open space beneath the sample tube
sample well is best seen if Figure 8.
This is
Figure 8.
when the sample tube is seated in the corresponding sample
well. This sump provides a space for liquid such as
condensation that forms on the well walls to reside without
interfering with the tight fit of each sample tube to the
walls of the sample well. This tight fit is necessary to
insure that the thermal conductance from the well wall to
the sample liquid is uniform and high for each sample tube.
Any contamination in a well which causes a loose fit for one
tube will destroy this uniformity of thermal conductance
across the array. That is, because liquid is substantially
uncompressible at the pressures involved in seating the
sample tubes in the sample wells, if there were no sump 70,
the presence of liquid in the bottom of the sample well
could prevent a sample tube from fully seating in its sample
well.
gaseous phase of any liquid residing in the sump 70 can
expand during high temperature incubations such that large
Furthermore, the sump 70 provides a space in which a
forces of such expansion which would be present if there
were no sump 70 are not applied to the sample tube to push
the tube out of flush contact with the sample well.
It has been found experimentally that it is important
for each sample tube to be in flush contact with its
and that a
threshold force be applied to each sample tube to keep the
corresponding sample well certain minimum
thermal conductivity between the walls of the sample well
This
minimum threshold seating force is shown as the force vector
and the reaction mixture uniform throughout the array.
F in Figure 15 and is a key factor in preventing the thermal
conductivity through the walls of one sample tube from being
different than the thermal conductivity through the walls of
The
minimum threshold seating force F is 30 grams and the
preferred force level is between 50 and 100 grams.
another sample tube located elsewhere in the block.
The array of sample wells is substantially completely
surrounded by a groove 78, best seen in Figures 2, 6 and 8,
which has two functions. The main function is to reduce the
thermal conductivity from the central area of the sample
block to the edge of the block. The groove 78 extends about
2/3 through the thickness of the sample block. This groove
minimizes the effects of unavoidable thermal gradients
caused by the necessary mechanical connections to the block
of the support pins, manifolds, etc. A secondary function
is to remove thermal mass from the sample block 12 so as to
allow the temperature of the sample block 12 to be altered
more rapidly and to simulate a row of wells in the edge
region called the "guard band". The amount of metal removed
by the portion of the groove 78 between points 80 and 82 in
Figure 2 is designed to be substantially equal to the amount
of metal removed by the adjacent column of eight sample
wells 83 through 90. The purpose of this is to match the
thermal mass of the guard band to the thermal mass of the
adjacent "local zone", a term which will be explained more
fully below.
Referring specifically to Figures 3, 6 and 8, there is
shown the number and relative positions of the various bias
cooling and ramp cooling channels which are formed in the
metal of the sample block 12.
channels marked with reference numerals 91 through 99.
There are nine bias cooling
Likewise, there are eight ramp cooling channels marked with
reference numerals 100 through 107.
Each of these bias cooling and ramp cooling channels is
gun drilled through the aluminum of the sample block. The
gun drilling process is well known and provides the ability
to drill a long, very straight hole which is as close as
possible to the bottom surface 110 of the sample block 12.
Since the gun drilling process drills a straight hole, this
process is preferred so as to prevent any of the bias
cooling or ramp cooling channels from straying during the
drilling process and penetrating the bottom surface 110 of
the sample block or otherwise altering its position relative
to the other cooling channels. such mispositioning could
cause undesirable temperature gradients by upsetting the
"local balance"
and "local symmetry" of the local zones.
These concepts are explained below, but for now the reader
should understand that these notions and the structures
which implement them are key to achieving rapid temperature
cycling of up to 96 samples without creating excessive
temperature errors as between different sample wells.
The bias cooling channels 91 through 99 are lined with
silicone rubber in the preferred embodiment to reduce the
thermal conductivity across the wall of the bias cooling
channel. Lowering of the thermal conductivity across the
channel wall in the bias cooling channels is preferred so as
to prevent too rapid of a change in temperature of the
sample block 12 when the multi-zone heater 156 is turned off
and heat loss from the sample block 12 is primarily through
the bias cooling channels. This is the situation during the
out the sample block
temperature has strayed slightly above the desired target
incubation temperature and the control system is attempting
to bring the sample block temperature back down to the
user's specified incubation temperature.
control process carried when
Too fast a cooling
rate in this situation could cause overshoot of the desired
incubation temperature before the control system's servo
feedback loop can respond although a "controlled overshoot"
since the
block temperature servo feedback loop has a time constant
algorithm is used as will be described below.
for reacting to stimuli, it is desirable to control the
amount of heating and cooling and the resulting rate of
temperature change of the sample block such that overshoot
is minimized by not changing the sample block temperature at
a rate faster than the control system can respond to
temperature errors.
In the preferred embodiment, the bias cooling channels
are 4 millimeters in diameter, and the silicone rubber tube
has a one millimeter inside diameter and a 1.5 millimeter
wall thickness. This provides a bias cooling rate of
approximately o.2°c per second when the block is at the high
near 100°C, and a bias
end of the operating range, i.e.,
cooling rate of approximately o.1°C per second when the
sample block 12 is at a temperature in the lower end of the
operating range. The coolant control system 24 in Figure 1
causes a flow rate for coolant in the bias cooling channels
of approximately 1/20th to 1/30th of the flow rate for
100
The bias cooling and ramp cooling channels are
liquid coolant through the ramp cooling channels,
through 107.
the same size, i.e., 4 millimeters in diameter, and extend
completely through the sample block 12.
The bias cooling channels are lined by inserting a
stiff wire with a hook at the end thereof through the bias
cooling channel and hooking it through a hole in the end of
a silicone rubber tube which has an outside diameter which
The hook
wire is then placed through the hole in the silicone rubber
tube, and the silicone tube is pulled through the bias
cooling channel and cut off flush with the end surfaces of
the sample block 12.
Threaded holes 108 through 114 are used to bolt a
coolant manifold to each side of the sample block 12.
is slightly greater than 4 millimeters. in the
There is a coolant manifold bolted to each end of the block.
These two coolant manifolds are coupled to the coolant
28,
the sample block 12 with a gasket material
channels 26, 30 and 32 in Figure 1, and are affixed to
(not shown)
interposed between the manifold and the sample block metal.
This gasket prevents leaks of coolant and limits the thermal
conductivity between the sample block 12 and the manifold
which represents a heat sink.
Any gasket.material
which serves the above stated purposes will suffice for
practicing the invention.
The positions of the bias cooling and ramp cooling
channels relative to the position of the groove 78 are best
The
the bias cooling and ramp cooling channels relative to the
seen in the sectional view of Figure 6. positions of
positions of the sample wells is best seen in Figure 8.
bias
The
channels are generally
interposed between the positions of the tips of the sample
wells. Further, Figure 8 reveals that the bias cooling and
ramp cooling channels such as channels 106 and 97 cannot be
cooling and ramp cooling
moved in the positive 2 direction very far without risking
penetration of the walls of one or more sample wells.
Likewise, the
the
the cooling channels cannot be moved in
negative 2 very without
possibility of penetrating the bottom surface 116 of the
sample block 12. For clarity, the positions of the bias and
ramp cooling channels are not shown in hidden lines in
Figure 2 relative to the positions of the sample wells and
direction far creating
other structures. However, there is either a bias cooling
channel or a ramp cooling channel between every column of
sample wells.
Referring to Figure 2, the holes 118, 119, 120 and 121
are threaded and are used to attach the sample block 12 to
machinery used to machine the various holes and grooves
In Figures 2, 4 and 5, the holes 124, 125,
126 and 127 are used to attach the sample block 12 to a
support bracket shown in Figure 9 to be described in more
detail below. Steel bolts extend through this support
bracket into the threaded holes 124 through 127 to provide
mechanical support of the sample block 12.
formed therein.
These steel
bolts also represent heat sinks or heat sources which tend
to add thermal mass to the sample block 12 and provide
additional pathways for transfer of thermal energy between
the sample block 12 and the surrounding environment. These
support pins and the manifolds are two important factors in
creating the need for the guard bands to prevent the thermal
energy transferred back and forth to these peripheral
structures from affecting these sample temperatures.
Referring to Figure 5, the holes 128, 130 and 132 are
mounting holes for an integrated circuit temperature sensor
(not shown) which is inserted into the sample block through
hole 128 and secured thereto by bolts which fasten to
threaded holes 130 and 132. The extent of penetration of
the hole 128 and the relative position of the temperature
sensor to the groove 78 and the adjacent column of sample
wells is best seen in Figure 2.
holes
Referring to Figure 2, 134 through 143
mounting holes which are used to mount a spill collar 147
are
(not shown). This spill collar 147 is shown in Figure 19
detailing the structure of the heated platen 14,
cover 316 and lead screw assembly 312.
sliding
The purpose of the
spill collar is to prevent any liquid spilled from the
sample tubes from getting inside the instrument casing where
it could cause corrosion.
Referring to Figure 9, there is shown in cross-section
a view of the support system and multi-zone heater 156
The sample block 12
is supported by four bolts of which bolt 146 is typical.
These four bolts pass through upright members of a steel
..0 and 152 are
compressed between a horizontal portion of the support
bracket 148 and a steel pressure plate 154.
configuration ‘or the sample block 12.
support bracket 148. Two large coil springs
The springs 150
and 152 are compressed sufficiently to supply approximately
300 lbs. per square inch of force
direction acting to compress a film heater 156 to the bottom
surface 116 of the sample block 12. This three layer film
heater structure is comprised of a multi-zone film heater
in the positive 2
, a silicone rubber pad 158 and a layer of epoxy resin
foam 160. In the preferred embodiment the film heater 156
has three separately controllable zones. The purpose of the
film heater 156 is to supply heat to the sample block 12
under the control of the CPU 20 in Figure 1. The purpose of
is to lower the thermal
film heater 156 to the
These lower structures serve as heat
the silicone rubber pad 158
conductivity from the layer
structures below.
sinks and heat sources between which undesired heat energy
may be transferred to and from the sample block 12. The
silicone rubber pad 158 has the additional function of
compensating for surface irregularities in the film heater
156 since some film heaters embody nichrome wires and may
not be not perfectly flat.
The purpose of the steel plate 154 and the epoxy resin
foam 160 is to transfer the force from the springs 150 and
152 to the silicone rubber pad 158 and the multi-zone film
heater 156 so as to compress the film heater to the bottom
surface 116 of the sample block with as flush a fit as
possible. The epoxy resin foam should be stiff so as to not
be crushed under the force of the springs but it should also
be a good insulator and should have low thermal mass, i.e.,
it should be a nondense structure. In
the 160
embodiment, foam is manufactured
under the
trademark ECKO foam.
structures may be substituted for the silicone rubber layer
In alternative embodiments, other
and/or the epoxy resin foam layer 160. For example, a
stiff honeycomb structure such as is used in airplane
construction could be placed between the pressure plate 154
and the film heater 156 with insulating layers therebetween.
Whatever structure is used for layers 158 and 160 should not
absorb substantial amounts of heat from the sample block 12
while the block is being heated and should not transfer
substantial amounts of heat to the sample block 12 when the
block is being cooled. Perfect isolation of the block from
its surrounding structures however, is virtually impossible.
Every effort should be made
structures that will be in contact with the sample block 12
in designing alternative
so as to thermally isolate the sample block from its
environment as much as possible to minimize the thermal mass
of the block and enable rapid temperature changes of the
sample block and the sample mixtures stored therein.
of the block
temperature is achieved by the CPU 20 in Figure 1 by
Precise temperature control sample
controlling the amount of heat applied to the sample block
The film
is driven using a modified form of pulse width
by the multi-zone film heater 156 in Figure 9.
heater
modulation. First, the 120 volt waveform from the power
line is rectified to preserve only half cycles of the same
polarity. Then portions of each half cycle are gated to the
appropriate zones of the foil heater, with the percentage of
each half cycle which is applied to the various zones of the
foil heater being controlled by the CPU 20.
Figure 10 illustrates one embodiment of a power control
concept for the film heater 156. Figure 10 is a diagram of
the of the supply 6
Rectification to eliminate the negative half cycle 162
voltage waveform line voltage.
occurs. only positive half cycles remain of which half
The CPU 20 and its associated
peripheral electronic circuitry then controls the portion of
cycle 164 is typical.
each half cycle which is applied to the various zones of the
film heater 156 by selecting a portion of each half cycle to
apply according to a power level computed for each zone
That is,
the dividing line 166 is moved forward or backward along the
based upon equations given below for each zone.
time axis to control the amount of power to the film heater
based upon a number of factors which are related in a
special equation for each zone. The cross-hatched area
under the positive half cycle 164 represents the amount of
power applied to the film heater 156 for the illustrated
As the dividing line 166
is moved to the right, more power is applied to the film
and the sample block 12 gets hotter. As the
dividing line is moved to the left along the time axis, the
position of the dividing line 166.
heater,
cross-hatched area becomes smaller and less power is applied
to the film heater. How the CPU 20 and its associated
software and peripheral circuitry control the temperature of
block 12 will be described in more detail below.
The amount of power supplied to the film heater is
continuously variable from O to 600 watts. In alternative
embodiments, the amount of power supplied to the film heater
can be controlled using other schemes such as computer
control over the current flow through or voltage applied to
a DC film heater or by the zero crossing switching scheme
described below.
In other embodiments, heating control of the sample
block 12 may be performed by control over the flow rate
and/or temperature of hot gases or hot liquid which is gated
through heating control channels which are formed through
the metal of the sample block 12. of course in such
alternative embodiments, the number of sample wells in the
block would have to be reduced since there is no room for
additional heating channels in the sample block 12 shown in
Figures 2 through 8. such alternative embodiments could
still be compatible with the 96-well microtiter plate format
if,
for a heating channel in the sample block.
for example, every other well were removed to make room
This would
provide compatibility only as to the dimensions of such
microtiter plates and not as to the simultaneous processing
of 96 different samples. Care must be taken to preserve
local balance and local symmetry in these alternative
embodiments.
In the embodiment described herein, the maximum power
that can be delivered to the block via the film heater is
1100 watts. This
conductivity of the block/heater interface. It has been
the supply of more than
to the film heater 156 will
frequently cause self-destruction of the device.
limitation arises from the thermal
found experimentally that
approximately 1100 watts
Typical power for heating or cooling when controlling
block temperatures at or near target incubation temperatures
is in the range of plus or minus 50 watts.
Referring to Figure 11, there is shown a time versus
temperature plot of a typical PCR protocol. Large downward
changes in block temperature are accomplished by gating
chilled liquid coolant through the ramp cooling channels
while monitoring the by the
sample block temperature
temperature sensor 21 in Figure 1. Typically these rapid
downward temperature changes are carried out during the ramp
following the denaturation incubation 170 to the temperature
of hybridization incubation 172. Typically, the user must
specify the protocol by defining the temperatures and times
in one fashion or another so as to describe to the CPU 20
the the temperature/time plane of the
checkpoints symbolized by the circled intersections between
the ramp legs and the incubation legs. Generally, the
incubation legs are marked with reference numerals 170, 172
positions on
and 174 and the ramps are marked with reference numerals
176, 178 and 180.
conducted at a
Generally the incubation intervals are
but
embodiments, they may be stepped or continuously ramped to
single temperature, in alternative
different temperatures within a range of temperatures which
is acceptable for performing the particular portion of the
That is,
170 need not be carried out at one temperature as shown in
PCR cycle involved. the denaturation incubation
Figure 11, but may be carried out at any of a plurality of
different temperatures within the range of temperatures
In some embodiments, the user
178 and
In other embodiments, the user may only specify the
acceptable for denaturation.
may specify the length of the ramp segments 176,
180.
temperature or temperatures and duration of each incubation
interval, and the instrument will then move the temperature
of the block
incubation temperatures
between
of
In the preferred
sample as rapidly as possible
the completion
incubation and the start of another.
upon one
embodiment, the user can also have temperatures and/or
incubation times which are different for each cycle or which
automatically increment on every cycle.
The average power of ramp cooling during a transition
from a 95°C denaturation incubation to a 35°C hybridization
This
results in a temperature change for the sample block of
incubation is more than one kilowatt typically.
approximately 4-6°C per second when the block temperature is
at the high end of the operating range, and approximately
2°C per second when the block temperature is at the low end
of the operating range. Generally it is desirable to have
as high a cooling rate as possible for ramp cooling.
Because so much heat is being removed from the sample
block during ramp cooling, temperature gradients across the
sample block from one end of a ramp cooling channel to the
other could occur. To prevent this and minimize these types
of temperature gradients, the ramp cooling channels are
That 3, the
direction of coolant flow through ramp cooling channels 100,
102, 104, and 106 is into the page as symbolized by the x's
inside these ramp cooling channel holes.
directionally interlaced. is, in Figure
Ramp cooling
103,
105, and 107 is out of the page as symbolized by the single
points in the center of these ramp cooling channel holes.
This interlacing plus the high flow rate through the ramp
liquid flow in interlaced ramp cooling channels 101,
cooling channels minimizes any temperature gradients which
might otherwise occur using noninterlaced flow patterns or
lower flow rates because the distances between the hot and
cold ends of the channels is made smaller. A slower flow
rate results in most or all of the heat being taken from the
block in the first inch or so of travel which means that the
input side of the block will be at a lower temperature than
the output side of the block.
the temperature gradient along the channel.
A high flow rate minimizes
Interlacing
means the hot end of the channels running in one direction
between the cold ends of channels wherein
are "sandwiched"
flow is in the opposite direction. This is a smaller
distance than the length of the channel.
gradients are reduced because the distances heat must travel
This
that form because of
Thus, temperature
to eliminate the temperature gradient are reduced.
causes any temperature gradients
cooling in the ramp channels to be quickly eliminated before
they have time to differentially heat some samples and not
others. Without interlacing, one side of the sample block
would be approximately 1°C hotter than the other side.
of
gradients that result in less than approximately 15 seconds.
Interlacing results in dissipation any temperature
In order to accurately estimate the amount heat added
to or removed from the block, the CPU 20 measures the block
temperature using temperature sensor 21 in Figure 1 and
measures the coolant temperature by way of temperature
The
of
and the power line
sensor 61 in Figure 46 coupled to bus 54 in Figure 1.
ambient
temperature sensor 56 in Figure 1,
air temperature is also measured by way
voltage, which controls the power applied to the film
52, The
conductance from the sample block to ambient and from the
heaters on bus is also measured. thermal
sample block to the coolant are known to the CPU 20 as a
result of measurements made during an initialization process
to set control parameters of the system.
of the
population, the block, at constant temperature, can have no
For good temperature uniformity sample
net heat flow in or out. However, temperature gradients can
occur within the sample block arising from local flows of
heat from hot spots to cold spots which have zero net heat
transfer relative to the block borders. For instance, a
slab of material which is heated at one end and cooled at
the other is at a constant average temperature it the net
heat flow into the‘ block is
situation a significant temperature nonuniformity, i.e., a
zero. However, in this
temperature gradient, can be established within the slab due
to the flow of heat from the hot edge to the cold edge.
When heating and cooling of the edges of the block are
stopped, the flow of heat from the hot edge to the cold edge
eventually dissipates this temperature gradient and the
block reaches a uniform temperature throughout which is the
average between the hot temperature and cool temperature at
the beginning of heat flow.
If a slab of cross sectional area A in length L has a
uniform thermal conductivity K, and the slab is held at
constant average temperature because heat influx from a heat
source Qm is matched by heat outflow to a heat sink Qwh the
steady state temperature profile which results from the heat
flow is:
Delta T
Where,
Delta T =
L = the
A = the
K = the
In general,
the temperature gradient
thermal path length
area of the thermal path
thermal conductance through the path
within any material of uniform thermal
conductance, the temperature gradient will be established in
proportion to the heat flow per unit area. Heat flow and
intimately linked.
Practically speaking, it is not possible to control the
temperature of a sample block without some heat flow in and
out.
temperature nonuniformity are thus
The cold bias control cooling requires some heat flow
in from the strip heaters to balance the heat removed by the
coolant flowing through the cooling channels to
maintain the block temperature at a stable value. The key
to a uniform sample block temperature under these conditions
is a geometry which has "local balance" and "local symmetry"
of heat and heat sinks both statically
dynamically, and which is arranged such that any heat flow
from hot spots to cold spots occurs only over a short
distance.
bias
sources and
Stated briefly, the concept of “static local balance"
means that in a block at constant temperature where the
total heat input equals the total heat output, the heat
sources and heat sinks are arranged such that within a
distinct local region, all heat sources are completely
balanced by heat sinks in terms of heat flows in and heat
flows out of the block. if
isolated, would be maintained at a constant temperature.
Therefore, each local region,
The concept of "static local symmetry" means that,
the
center of mass of heat sources is coincident with the center
If this were not the case,
within a local region and for a constant temperature,
of mass of heat sinks. within
each local region, a temperature gradient across each local
region can exist which can add to a temperature gradient in
an adjacent local region thereby causing a gradient across
the sample block which is twice as large as the size of a
single local region because of lack of local symmetry even
The
concepts of local balance and local symmetry are important
though local balance within each local region exists.
to the achievement of a static temperature balance where the
temperature of the sample block is being maintained at a
constant level during, for example, an incubation interval.
For the dynamic case where rapid temperature changes in
or heat
the sample block are occurring, the thermal mass,
capacity of each local region becomes important. This is
because the amount of heat that must flow into each local
region to change its temperature is proportional to the
thermal mass of that region.
Therefore, the concept of static local balance can be
expanded to the dynamic case by requiring that if a local
region includes x percent of the total dynamic heat source
and heat sink, it must also include x percent of the thermal
mass for "dynamic local balance" to exist. Likewise,
"dynamic local symmetry" requires that the center of mass of
heat capacity be coincident with the center of mass of
dynamic heat sources and sinks. What this means in simple
terms is that the thermal mass of the sample block is the
metal thereof, and the machining of the sample block must be
symmetrical and balanced such that the total mass of metal
Further, the center of
mass of the metal in each local zone should be coincident
within each local zone is the same.
with the center of mass of the dynamic heat sources and
sinks. Thus,
156, i.e., its geometric center, and the geometric center of
the center of mass of the multi-zone heater
the bias and ramp cooling channels must coincide. From a
study of Figures 2-9, it will be seen from the detailed
discussion below that both static and dynamic local balance
and local symmetry exist in sample block 12.
Figure 12 illustrates two local regions side by side
for the design of the sample block 12 according to the
teachings of the invention.
200 and 202,
Figure 12 shows that each local region
In Figure 12, the boundaries of
two local regions,
204, 206 and 208.
which is not in the guard band is comprised of:
a portion of the foil heater 156 which
turns out to be 1/8th of the total area of the heater; one
ramp cooling channel such as ramp cooling channels 210 and
212;
are marked by dashed lines
two columns
of sample wells;
and, one bias cooling channel. To preserve local
symmetry, each local region is centered on its ramp cooling
channel and has one-half on a bias cooling channel at each
boundary. Fo; example, local region 200 has a center over
the ramp cooling channel 210 and bias cooling channels 214
and 216 are dissected by the local region boundaries 204 and
206,
cooling
respectively. Thus the center of mass of the ramp
(the middle thereof),
(horizontally) with the center of mass of the bias cooling
(the center of the local region) and with the
center of mass of the film heater portion coupled to each
channel coincides
channels
static local balance will exist in each local
region when the CPU 20 is driving the film heater 156 to
local region.
input an amount of heat energy that is equal to the amount
of heat energy that is being removed by the ramp cooling and
bias cooling channels. Dynamic local balance for each local
region exists because each local region in the center
portion of the block where the 96 sample mixtures reside
contains approximately 1/8th the total thermal mass of the
entire sample block, contains 1/8th of the total number of
ramp cooling channels and contains 1/8th of the total number
of bias cooling channels. Dynamic local symmetry exists for
each local region, because the center of mass of the metal
of each local region is horizontally coincident with: the
center of film heater portion underlying the local region;
the center of the ramp cooling channel; and, the center of
mass of the two half bias cooling channels.
By virtue of these physical properties characterized as
the
sample block heats and cools all samples in the population
static and dynamic local balance and local symmetry,
much more uniformly than prior art thermal cyclers.
Referring to Figure 2, the plan view of the boundaries
of the local regions are illustrated by dashed lines 217
through 225.
central region of the 96 sample wells are divided into six
Inspection of Figure 2 reveals that the
adjacent local regions bounded by boundaries 218 through
224.
at each edge.
In addition, two guard band local regions are added
The edge local region (local regions are
sometimes herein also called local zones) having the most
negative x coordinate is bounded by boundary lines 217 and
218.
coordinate is bounded by boundary lines 224 and 225.
The edge local region having the most positive x
Note
that the edge local regions contain no sample well columns
but do contain the groove 78 simulating a column of wells.
The depth and width of the groove 78 is designed to remove
the same metal mass as a column of wells thereby somewhat
preserving dynamic local symmetry.
different
thermal
The edge local zones are
thermal mass (they
by of the
connections such as manifolds and support pins) than the six
This
difference is accounted for by heating the edge local zones
therefore in also have
additional mass virtue external
local zones in the central part of the sample block.
or guard bands with separately controllable zones of said
multizone heater so that more energy may be put into the
guard band than the central zone of the block.
The at edge of the block
approximate, but do not exactly match the thermal properties
of the six centrally located local regions.
called
local regions each
The edge local
regions are "guard band" regions because they
complete a guard band which runs around the periphery of the
sample block 12. The purpose of this guard band is to
provide some thermal isolation of the central portion of the
block the 96
uncontrolled heat sinks and sources inherently embodied in
sample containing sample wells from
mechanical connections to the block by such things as
support pins, manifolds, drip collars and other devices
which must be mechanically affixed to the sample block 12.
For example in Figure 2, the edge surfaces 228 and 230 of
the sample block have plastic manifolds attached thereto
which carry coolant to and from the ramp and bias cooling
passages. The guard band along edges 228 and 230 consists
of portions of the slot 78 which are parallel to and closest
to the edges 228 and 230.
such that the bottom of the groove is as close to the
The depth of the groove 78 is
perimeters of the bias and ramp cooling channels as is
possible without actually intersecting them. The width of
the groove 78 coupled with this depth is such that the
volume of metal removed by the slot 78 between points 82 and
232 in Figure 2 approximately equals the volume of metal
removed by the adjacent row of sample wells starting with
sample well 234 and ending with sample well 83. Also, the
slot 78 all around the perimeter of the block is located
approximately where such an additional row of wells would be
if the periodic pattern of sample wells were extended by one
row or column of wells in each direction.
Along the 250 252 the
connections are made to the sample block, the guard band
local regions contain, in addition to a portion of the slot
78, the full length of several cooling channels.
to Figure 3, these include:
edges and where support
Referring
1/2 of a bias cooling channel
(e.g., 92) which merges with the adjacent 1/2 bias cooling
channel of the adjacent local region to form a whole bias
cooling channel; a ramp cooling channel (e.g., 100); and a
whole bias cooling channel (e.g., 91).
region at edge 250, these cooling channels are 107, 198 and
For the edge local‘
The whole bias cooling channels in the guard bands are
slightly displaced inward from the edge of the block. The
reason that these whole bias cooling channels are used is
because a "half" cooling channel is impractical to build.
Since the bias cooling channels require such a thick walled
rubber lining, it would be difficult to keep a hole through
a lining of a "half" bias cooling channel reliably open.
This asymmetry in the edge local regions causes a small
excess loss of heat to the coolant from the edge guard band
but it
central region of the sample block containing the sample
wells that to
nonuniformities is small. since the temperature
local regions, is sufficiently remote from the
contribution
Also,
affects of this small asymmetry are predictable, the effect
he
controllable zone of the multi-zone heater system under each
guard band.
its sample temperature
can further minimized by the use of a separately
Referring to Figure 13, there shown three
separately controlled zones within the film heater layer 156
in Figure 9.
These separately controlled zones include edge
heater zones which are situated under the guard bands at the
exposed edges of the sample block 12 which are coupled to
the support bracket. 148.
controlled manifold heater zones situated under the guard
bands for the edges 228 and 230 which are attached to the
coolant manifolds.
There are also separately
Finally, there is a central heater zone
that underlies the sample wells. The power applied to each
of these zones is separately controlled by the CPU 20 and
the control software.
The film heater 156 is composed of a pattern of
electrical conductors formed by etching a thin sheet of
metal alloy such as Inconel'. The metal alloy selected
should have high electrical resistance and good resistance
to heat. The pattern of conductors so etched is bonded
between thin sheets of an electrically insulating polymeric
Whatever material is used to
the
material must be resistant to high temperatures, have a high
material such as Kapton'.
insulate the electrical resistance heating element,
dielectric strength and good mechanical stability.
The 254 of the film
approximately the same dimensions as the central portion of
central zone heater has
the sample block inside the guard bands. Central region 254
delivers a uniform power density to the sample well area.
Edge heater regions 256 and 258 are about as wide as
the edge guard bands but are not quite as long.
Manifold heater regions 260 and 262 underlie the guard
bands for edges 228 and 230 in Figure 2.
The manifold heater zones 260 and 262 are electrically
connected together to form one separately controllable
heater zone. Also, the edge heater sections 256 and 258 are
electrically coupled together to form a second separately
controllable heater zone. The third separately controllable
Each of these three
separately controllable heater zones has separate electrical
heater zone is the central section 254.
leads, and each zone is controlled by a separate control
algorithm which may be run on separate microprocessors or a
shared CPU as is done in the preferred embodiment.
The edge heater zones 256 and 258 are driven to
This heat
loss is proportional to the temperature difference between
The
edge heater zones 256 and 258 also compensate for the excess
loss of heat from the sample block to the full bias cooling
channels at each edge of the block.
compensate for heat lost to the support brackets.
the sample block 12 and the ambient air surrounding it.
This heat loss is
proportional to the temperature difference between the
sample block 12 and the coolant flowing through these bias
cooling channels.
The manifold heater sections 260 and 262 are also
driven so as to compensate for heat lost to the plastic
coolant manifolds 266 and 268 in Figure 13 which are
attached to the edges of the sample block 12. The power for
the manifold heater sections 260 and 262 compensates for
heat loss which is proportional mainly to the temperature
difference between the sample block and the coolant, and to
a lesser degree, between the sample block and the ambient
air.
For practical reasons, it is not possible to match the
thermal mass of the guard band local regions with the
thermal masses of the local regions which include the sample
wells overlying central heater section 254. For example,
the plastic coolant manifolds 266 and 268 not only conduct
heat away from the guard band, but they also add a certain
amount of thermal mass to the guard band local regions to
which they are attached. The result of this is that during
rapid block temperature changes, the rates of rise and fall
of guard band temperature do not exactly match that of the
sample well local regions. This generates a dynamic
temperature gradient between the guard bands and sample
wells, which if allowed to become large, could persist for
a time which is longer than is tolerable. This temperature
gradient effect is roughly proportional to the rate of
change of block temperature and is minimized by adding or
deleting heat from each guard band local zone at a rate
which is proportional to the rate of change of block
temperature.
The coefficients of proportionality for the guard band
zone heaters are relatively stable properties of the design
of the system, and are determined by engineering
measurements on prototypes. The values for these
coefficients of proportionality are given below in
connection with the definitions of the terms of Equations
(3) through (5). These equations define the amounts of
power to be applied to the manifold heater zone, the edge
heater zone and the central zone, respectively in an
The equations used in the preferred
embodiment are given below
alternative embodiment.
in the description of the
software (Equations (46)-(48), power distributed by area).
(3) P. "’ Ann P ‘* K1 (Tau:
+ 3&2 (Tu: '
where,
dtm/dt
where,
P: = Asp + KE1(TILK "
- Tu“)
Tm) ‘’ Kn: (dtuu/dt)
power supplied to the manifold heater zones
260 and 262.
area of the manifold heater zone.
power needed to cause the block temperature
to stay at or move to the desired temperature
at any particular time in a PCR thermal cycle
protocol.
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality to compensate for excess heat
loss to ambient through the manifolds, equal
to 0 vatts/ degree Kelvin.
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality to compensate for excess heat
the
watts/degree Kelvin.
loss to coolant, equal to 0.4
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality to provide extra power to
compensate for additional thermal mass of the
manifold edge guard bands caused by the
attachment of the plastic manifolds etc.,
equal to 66.6 watt-seconds/degree Kelvin.
the temperature of the sample block 12.
the temperature of the ambient air.
the temperature of the coolant.
unit time.
change in sample block temperature per
Tm) + K22 (Tux "
* K23 (dtm:/dt)
power to be applied to the edge heater zones
the area of the edge heater zones
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality to compensate for excess heat
loss to ambient through the manifolds, equal
to 0.5 watts/degree Kelvin.
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality to compensate for excess heat
to the equal to 0.15
watts/degree Kelvin.
loss coolant,
an experimentally determined constant of
proportionality ‘to provide extra power to
compensate for additional thermal mass of the
guard bands caused by the
attachment of the sample block 12 to the
support pins and bracket,
exposed edge
the temperature
sensor etc., equal to 15.4 watt-sec/degree
Kelvin.
the power to be applied to the central zone
254 of the multi-zone heater.
the area of the central zone 254.
In each of Equations (3) through (5), the power term,
P is a variable which is calculated by the portion of the
control algorithm run by the CPU 20 in Figure 1 which reads
the user defined setpoints and determines what to do next to
cause the sample block temperature to stay at or become the
proper temperature to implement the PCR temperature protocol
defined by the time and temperature setpoints stored in
The manner in which the are
read and the power density is calculated will be described
in more detail below.
The control algorithm run by CPU 20 of Figure 1 senses
the temperature of the sample block via temperature sensor
21 in Figure 1 and Figure 9 and bus 52 in Figure 1. This
temperature is differentiated to derive the rate of change
memory by the user. setpoints
The CPU then
measures the temperature of the ambient air via temperature
of temperature of the sample block 12.
sensor 56 in Figure 1 and measures the temperature of the
coolant via the temperature sensor 61 in the coolant control
The CPU 20 then computes the
power factor corresponding to the particular segment of the
system 24 shown in Figure 46.
PCR protocol being implemented and makes three calculations
in accordance with Equations (3), (4) and (5) by plugging in
all the the constants of
proportionality (which are stored in nonvolatile memory),
measured temperatures,
the power factor P for that particular iteration of the
control program and the areas of the various heater zones
(which are stored in nonvolatile memory). The power factor
is the total power needed to move the block temperature from
its current level to the temperature level specified by the
user via a setpoint. More details on the calculations
performed by the CPU to control heating and cooling are
given below in the description of the control software "PID
task".
After the required power to be applied to each of the
three zones of the heater 156 is calculated,
calculation is made regarding the proportion of each half
another
cycle of input power which is to be applied to each zone in
some embodiments. In the preferred embodiment described
below, the calculation mode is how many half cycles of the
total number of half cycles which occur during a 200
millisecond sample period are to be applied to each zone.
This process is described below in connection with the
discussion of Figures 47A and 47B (hereafter referred to as
Figure 47) and the "PID Task" of the control software. In
the alternative embodiment symbolized by Figure 10, the
computer calculates for each zone, the position of the
dividing line 166 in Figure 10. After this calculation is
performed, appropriate control signals are generated to
cause the power supplies for the multi-zone heater 156 to do
the appropriate switching to cause the calculated amount of
power for each zone to be applied thereto.
In alternative embodiments, the multi-zone heater can
be implemented using a single film heater which delivers
uniform power density to the entire sample block, plus one
or two additional film heaters with only one zone apiece for
the guard bands. These additional heaters are superimposed
over the single film heater that covers the entire sample
block.
make up the guard band losses is delivered to the additional
In such an embodiment, only the power necessary to
heater zones.
The power factor P ix: Equations (3) through (5) is
calculated by the CPU 20 for various points on the PCR
temperature protocol based upon the set points and ramp
times specified by the user. However, a limitation is
imposed based upon the maximum power delivery capability of
the zone heater mentioned above.
The constants of proportionality in Equations (3)
through (5) must be properly set to adequately compensate
for excess heat losses in the guard band for good
temperature uniformity.
Referring to Figure 17, there is shown a graph of the
differences between calculated sample temperatures for a
plurality of different sample in response to a step change
in block temperature to raise the temperature of the sample
block toward a denaturation incubation target temperature of
approximately 94°C from a substantially lower temperature.
17 the
temperatures when the multi-zone heater 156 is properly
Figure illustrates calculated sample liquid
managed using the constants of proportionality given above
in the definitions of the terms for Equations (3) through
(5)-
of Figure 17 are indicated thereon by a single letter and
The various wells which were used to derive the graph
number combination. The 8 x 12 well array showing Figure 2
is coded by lettered columns and numbered rows. Thus,
example, sample well 90 is also designated sample well A12,
while sample well 89 is also designated sample well B12.
Likewise, sample well 68 is also designated sample well D6,
and so on. Note that the well temperatures settle in
at
approximately 0.5°C of each other because of the overall
asymptotically temperatures which are within
thermal design described herein to eliminate temperature
gradients.
The foregoing description illustrates how the sample
block temperature may be controlled to be uniform and to be
quickly changeable. However, in the PCR process, it is the
temperature of the sample reaction mixture and not the block
In the preferred
embodiment according to the teachings of the invention, the
user specifies a sequence of target temperatures 1g;_;ng
and specifies the mm
for
each stage in the PCR process. The CPU 20 then manages the
sample block temperature so as to get the sample reaction
mixtures to the specified target incuration temperatures and
temperature that is to be programmed.
to hold the sample mixtures at these target temperatures for
The user interface code run
by the CPU 20 displays, at all stages of this process, the
current calculated sample liquid temperature on the display
the specified incubation times.
of terminal 16.
The difficulty with displaying an actual measured
sample temperature is that to measure the actual temperature
of the reaction mixture requires insertion of a temperature
measuring probe therein. The thermal mass of the probe can
significantly alter the temperature of any well in which it
in
particular well is often only 100 microliters in volume.
Thus,
reaction mixture can cause a temperature gradient to exist
between that reaction mixture and neighboring mixtures.
is placed since the sample reaction mixture any
the mere insertion of a temperature probe into a
since the extra thermal mass of the temperature sensor would
cause the reaction mixture in which it is immersed to lag
behind in temperature from the temperatures of the reaction
mixtures in other wells that have less thermal mass, errors
can result in the amplification simply by attempting to
measure the temperature.
Accordingly, the instrument described herein calculates
the sample temperature from known factors such as the block
temperature history and the thermal time constant of the
system and displays this sample temperature on the display.
It has been found experimentally for the system described
herein that if the sample tubes are pressed down into the
sample wells with at least a minimum threshold force F, then
for the size and shape of the sample tubes used in the
preferred embodiment and the sample volumes of approximately
100 microliters, thermally driven convection occurs within
the sample reaction mixture and the system acts thermally
like a single time constant, linear system.
have shown that each sample tube must be pushed down with
approximately 50 grams of force for good well-wall-to-liquid
thermal conductivity from well to well. The heated platen
design described below is designed to push down on each
sample tube with about 100 grams of force.
force,
Experiments
This minimum
symbolized by force vector P in Figure is,
necessary to insure that regardless of slight differences in
external dimensions as between various sample tubes and
various sample wells in the sample block, they all will be
pushed down with sufficient force to guarantee the snug and
flush fit for each tube to guarantee uniform thermal
conductivity. Any design which has some sample tubes with
loose fits in their corresponding sample wells and some
tubes with tight fits will not be able to achieve tight
temperature control for all tubes because of non-uniform
thermal conductivity. An insufficient level of force F
results in a temperature response of the sample liquid to a
step change in block temperature as shown at 286 in Figure
14. An adequate level of force F results in the temperature
response shown at 282.
The result
achieved by the apparatus constructed
‘
according to tho touching: of tho invention is that tho
tomporaturo of oach saaplo nixtuzo bohavos as it tho sample
is boing voll sixod physically during transitions to now
temperatures. In fact, bocouss of tho convoction curronts
caused in oach sample sixturo, tho sanplo roaction mixture
in each sanplo tube 1; boing voll nixed.
Tho suxprising result is that the thoraal bohavior of
tho ontiro syntax is liko an oloctrioal to circuit with a
singlo tina constant of 9 sooonds which is about 1.44 tines
tho halt-lira at tho dooay ot tho dittoronco hotvoon the
blank toapozatura and the sanplo tonporturo. A canola‘
sample tubo tillod with 50 lillilotors of sanplo has a tine
constant of about 23 soconds. In othor words, during an
upward chango in tonporatnro of tho sanplo block, the
tonporaturo of the reaction nixturo acts lixo tho rise in
voltago on tho capacitor C in a oorios RC oloctrical circuit
iiko that shown in Fiquro 16b in rosponso to a stop change
in tho voltago output of tho voltogo sourco V.
To illustrato thoso concopts. rotor to riguro 14 which
shows dittoront tonporaturo rosponsos ot tho sosplo liquid
to a stop chango in block toaporaturo and to riguro 15 which
shows a cross soction through a sanplo wall/sample tuba
combination. It has boon found oxporisantally that whon tho
voluo or saaplo liquid 276 is approxiaatoly zoo sicrolitors
and tho dinonsions at tho tuba are such that tho soniscos
273 is located bolou tho top surfaco 280 or tho sanplo block
12, and tho torso I pushing tho saaplo tubo into tho saaplo
wall is at losst 30 grass, tho thorsal tins constant r (tau)
oz tho oystos shown in riguro 15 is approxisotoly nine
‘seconds for a sanplo tuba V311 thioknoss in tho conical
soction of 0.009 inchos (dinonsion A). It has also boon
sound oxporiaontally that tor thoso conditions, tho thorsal
tiso constant 7 vorios by about 1 oooond tor ovary 0.001
inch change in wall thicknoss to: tho saxplo tuho trustun
(cons). The thin~val1ed sample tubes described herein
have been found to have thermal time constants of from
about 5 to about 14 seconds when containing from 20 to
100 microliters of sample. Thicker tube walls result
. in longer time constants and more lag between a change
in sample block temperature
and the resulting change in sample liquid temperature.
Mathematically, the expression for the thermal response
of the sample liquid temperature to a change in temperature
of the sample block is:
(6) Tmpu= A'l‘(l-e“"’
where
Tgunu = the temperature of the sample liquid
AT - the temperature difference between the
temperature of the sample block 12 and the
temperature of the sample liquid
t = elapsed time
= thermal time constant of the system, or the
heat capacity of sample divided by the
thermal conductance from sample well wall to
the sample liquid
In Figure 14, the curve 282 represents this exponential
temperature response to a theoretical step change in sample
block temperature when the force F pushing down on the
sample tube is sufficiently high. The step change in
temperature of the sample block is shown as function 284,
with rapid rise in temperature starting at time T1. Note how
the temperature of the sample liquid exponentially increases
in response to the step change and asymptotically approaches
the final sample block temperature.
above,
As mentioned briefly
the curve 286 represents the thermal response when
the downward seating force F in Figure 15 is insufficient to
cause a snug, flush fit between the cone of the sample tube
and the wall 290 of the sample well. Generally, the thermal
response of curve 286 will result if the force F is less
Note that although Figure 15 shows a small
layer of air between the cone of the sample tube and the
sample well wall for clarity, this is exactly the opposite
of the desired situation since air is a good insulator and
would substantially increase the thermal time constant of
than 30 grams.
the system.
The thermal time constant 1 is analogous to the RC time
constant in a series RC circuit where R corresponds to the
thermal resistance between the wall of the sample well and
the sample liquid and C is the heat capacity of the sample
liquid. Thermal resistance is equal to the inverse of
thermal conductance which is expressed in units watts-
seconds per degree Kelvin.
Because of the convection currents 292 shown in the
sample liquid in Figure 15, everywhere in the reaction
mixture the sample liquid is at very nearly the same
and the flow of heat between the block and the
sample is very nearly proportional to the difference in
temperature,
temperature between the sample block and the sample reaction
mixture. The constant of proportionality is the thermal
conductance between the wall of the sample well in the
For different
different wall
thicknesses or materials, the thermal time constant will be
different.
sample block 12 and the reaction mixture.
sample volumes or different tubes, i.e.,
In such a case, the user can as part of his
specification of the PCR protocol enter the sample volume or
tube type and the machine will automatically look up the
correct thermal time constant for use in calculating the
sample temperature. In some embodiments, the user may enter
and the machine will use it for
sample temperature temperature calculation.
the actual time constant,
To keep the thermal time constant as small as possible,
the conical walls of the sample tubes should be as thin as
possible. In the preferred embodiment, these conical walls
are 0.009 inches thick whereas the walls of the cylindrical
portion of the sample tube are 0.030 inches thick. The
conical shape of the sample tube provides a relatively large
surface area of contact with the metal of the sample well
wall in relation to the volume of the sample mixture.
Molding of the sample tubes is done using a "cold
runner" system and a four cavity mold such that four sample
tubes are molded at each injection. The molten plastic is
injected at the tip of the sample tube cone so that any
remnant of plastic will project into the cavity 291 between
the tip of the sample tube and the tip of the sample well.
This prevents any remnant from interfering with the flush
fit between the tube and the well.
inches is placed on the size of any remnant plastic.
In different of
polypropylene each with different advantages can be used.
A maximum limit of 0.030
various embodiments, 3 grades
The preferred polypropylene is PD70l from Himont because it
is autoclavable. However this plastic is difficult to mold
because it has a low melt index. This plastic has a melt
PD70l tends to
leave flash and creates somewhat spotty quality parts but
would work better if it was injected into the thick walled
part of the mold instead of at the tip of the conical
section as is currently done.
index of 35 and a molecular density of 9.
Generally, it is desirable to
have a high melt index for ease of molding but also a high
molecular density to maintain good strength and to prevent
the of the
autoclaving process at 260°F. Another plastic, PPW 1780
from American Hoescht has a melt index of 75 and a molecular
crazing or cracks under thermal stress
density of 9 and is autoclavable. Another plastic which may
be used in some embodiments is Himont 444. This plastic is
not autoclavable and needs to be sterilized in another
manner.
In alternative embodiments, the tubes may be molded
using a "hot runner" or "hot nozzle" system where the
temperature of the molten plastic is controlled right up to
the gate of the mold. Also, in some embodiments, multiple
gates may be used. However, neither of these techniques has
been experimentally proven at the time of filing to be
better than the currently used "cold runner" system.
The fact that the system acts thermally like a single
time constant RC circuit is an important result, because it
means that if the thermal conductance from the sample block
to the sample reaction mixture is known and uniform, the
thermal response of the sample mixtures will be known and
uniform. since the heat capacity of the sample reaction
mixture is known and constant, the temperature of the sample
reaction mixture can be computed accurately using only the
This
sample temperature
measured history of the block temperature over time.
eliminates the need to measure the
thereby eliminating the errors and mechanical difficulty of
putting a probe with nonnegligible thermal mass into a
sample well to measure the sample temperature directly
thereby changing the thermal mass of the sample in the
probed well.
n The algorithm which makes this calculation models the
thermal behavior of the system after a single time constant
series R-C electrical circuit. This model uses the ratio of
the heat capacity of the liquid sample divided by the
thermal conductance from the sa-ple block to the sample
reaction mixture. The heat capacity of the sample reaction
mixture is equal to the specific heat of the liquid times
the mass of the liquid. The thermal resistance is equal to
one over the thermal conductance from the sample block to
the liquid‘reaction mixture through the sample tube walls.
when this ratio
conductance is expressed in consistent units,
of heat capacity divided by thermal
it has the
dimension of time. For a fixed sample volume and a fixed
sample composition. both of which are the same in every
the ratio is
and is called the
It is the time
required for the sample temperature to come within 36.8% of
sample well and a fixed thermal conductance,
also a constant for every sample well,
thermal time constant of the system.
the block temperature after a sudden step change in the
block temperature.
There is a mathematical theorem used in the analysis of
electronic circuits that holds that it is possible to
calculate the output response of a filter or other linear
system if one knows the impulse response of the system.
This impulse is also known as the
response transfer
function. In the case of a series RC circuit, the impulse
response is an exponential function as shown in Figure 16A.
The impulse stimulus resulting in the response of Figure 16A
is as shown in Figure 16B. The mathematical theorem
referred to above holds that the output response of such a
be
convolution of the input signal and a weighting function
linear system can determined by calculating the
where the weighting function is the impulse response of the
system reversed in time. The convolution is otherwise known
as a running weighted average although a convolution is a
concept in calculus with infinitely small step sizes whereas
a running weighted average has discreet step sizes, i.e.,
multiple samples. The impulse response of the series RC
circuit shown in Figure 16D as such that when the voltage of
the voltage generator V suddenly rises and falls with a
spike of voltage as shown in Figure 168, the voltage on the
capacitor C suddenly rises to a peak at 294 in Figure 16A
which is equal to the peak voltage of the impulse shown in
Figure 163 and then exponentially decays back to the steady
state voltage V1. The resulting weighting function is the
impulse response of Figure 16A turned around in time as
shown in Figure 16c at 385.
Superimposed upon Figure l6C is a hypothetical curve
387 illustrating a typical temperature history for the
temperature of the sample block 12 for an approximate step
change in temperature. Also shown superimposed upon Figure
16C are the times of five temperature sample periods
labelled T, through T5. According to the teachings of the
the temperature is by
multiplying the temperature at each one of these times T,
through T5 by the value of the weighting function at that
invention, sample calculated
particular time and then summing all these products and
dividing by 5. The fact that the thermal system acts like
a single time constant linear circuit is a surprising result
based upon the
complexities of thermal heat transfer
considerations for this complicated thermal system.
one the calculation of the
In embodiment,
sample temperature is adjusted by a short delay to account
for transport lag caused by different thermal path lengths
The
calculated sample temperature is displayed for the user's
to the block temperature sensor and the sample liquid.
information on the terminal 16 shown in Figure 1.
Figure 17 shows the temperature response results for
six different wells spread throughout the 96 well sample
block for a step change in sample block temperature from a
relatively lower temperature in the hybridization/extension
temperature range to the relatively higher temperature of
approximately" 94°C used for’ denaturation.
17
exponential rise in sample temperature if the system were
The graph of
Figure shows good agreement between the predicted
perfectly analogous to the series RC circuit shown in Figure
16D,
response in that the temperatures of the six sample wells
and also shows excellent uniformity of temperature
used for this study asymptotically settle in at temperatures
very close to each other and in a denaturation temperature
"tolerance" band which is approximately 0.5'C wide.
In one embodiment, the ten most recent block
temperature samples are used for the running weighted
average, but in other embodiments a ‘different number of
tempersature history samples may be used. The good
agreement with theoretically predicted results stems from
the fact that the thermal convection currents make the
sample liquids well mixed thereby causing the system to act
in a linear fashion.
The uniformity between sample temperatures in various
sample wells spread throughout the 96 well array results
from dynamic and static local balance and local symmetry in
the sample block structure as well as all the other thermal
design factors detailed herein. Note however that during
rapid temperature changes all the sample wells will have
temperatures within 0.S°C of each other only if the user has
carefully loaded each sample well with the same mass of
sample liquid. Inequality of mass in different wells does
not cause unequal temperatures in steady state, unchanging
The mass of the
conditions, only during rapid changes.
sample liquid in each well is the dominant factor in
determining the heat capacity of each sample and, therefore,
is the dominant factor in the thermal time constant for that
particular sample well.
Note that the ability to cause the sample liquid in all
the sample wells to cycle up and down in temperature in
unison and to stabilize at target temperatures very near
each other, i.e., in tolerance bands that are only o.s°c
wide, also depends upon the force F in Figure 15. This
force must. exceed a minimum threshold force before the
thermal time constants of all sample wells loaded with
similar masses of sample liquid will have the same time
constant. This minimum threshold force has been
experimentally determined to be 30 grams for the sample tube
and sample well configuration described herein. For higher
levels of accuracy, the minimum threshold force F in Figure
should be established at at least 50 grams and preferably
100 grams for an additional margin of safety as noted above.
The importance of thermal uniformity in sample well
temperature can be appreciated by reference to Figure 18.
This figure shows the relationship between the amount of DNA
generated in a PCR cycle and the actual sample temperature
of
The slope of
during the denaturationv interval for one instance
amplification of a certain segment of DNA.
298 between 93
centigrade is approximately 8% per degree centigrade for
this particular segment of DNA and primers.
function temperatures and 95 degrees
Figure 18 shows
the general shape of the curve which relates the amount of
DNA generated by amplification, but the details of the shape
of the curve vary with every different case of primers and
DNA target.
centigrade are generally too hot and result in decreasing
amplification for
Temperatures for denaturation above 97 degrees
increasing denaturation temperature.
Temperatures between 95 and 97 degrees centigrade are
generally just right.
Figure 18 illustrates that any sample well containing
this particular DNA target and primer combination which
stabilizes at a denaturation temperature of approximately
93°C is likely to have 8% less DNA generated over the course
of a typical PCR protocol than wells denatured at 94°C.
Likewise, sample liquids of this mixture that stabilize at
denaturation temperatures of 95°C are likely to have 8% more
DNA generated therein than is generated in sample wells
which stabilize at denaturation temperatures of 94°C.
Because all curves of this nature have the same general
shape, it is important to have uniformity in sample
temperature.
The sample temperatures calculated as described above
are used by the control algorithm for controlling the
heaters and flow through the ramp cooling channels and to
determine how long the samples have been held at various
target temperatures. The control algorithm uses these times
for comparison with the desired times for each incubation
period as entered by the user. When the times match, the
control algorithm takes the appropriate steps to heat or
cool the sample block toward the target temperature defined
by the user for the next incubation.
when the calculated sample temperature is within one
degree centigrade of the setpoint,
i.e., the incubation
temperature programmed by the user, the control program
causes a timer to start. This timer may be preset to count
down from a number set so as to time out the interval
specified by the user for the incubation being performed.
The timer starts to count down from the preset count when
the calculated sample temperature is within one degree
centigrade. when the timer reaches a zero count, a signal
is activated which causes the CPU to take actions to
implement the next segment of the PCR protocol. Any way to
time the specified interval will suffice for purposes of
practicing the invention.
Typically,
target temperature is plus or minus 0.5°C.
the tolerance band around any particular
once the target
temperature is reached, the computer holds the sample block
at the target temperature using the bias cooling channels
and the film heater such that all the samples remain close
to the target temperature for the specified interval.
For the thermal system described herein to work well,
the thermal conductance from the sample block to each sample
must be known and uniform to within a very close tolerance.
Otherwise, not all samples will be held within the specified
tolerance band of the target temperature when the timer
starts and, not all the samples will experience the same
incubation intervals at the target temperature. _
Also, for this thermal system to work well, all sample
tubes must be isolated from variables in the ambient
That is, it is undesirable for some sample
tubes to be cooled by drafts while other sample tubes in
different physical positions do not experience the same
For good uniformity it is highly desirable
that the temperatures of all the samples be determined by
environment.
cooling effects.
the temperature of the sample block and by nothing else.
of the tubes the ambient,
application of the minimum threshold force F pushing down on
Isolation from and
the sample tubes is achieved by a heated cover over the
sample tubes and sample block.
Even though the sample liquid is in a sample tube
pressed tightly into a temperature-controlled metal block,
tightly capped, with a meniscus well below the surface of
the temperature-controlled metal block, the samples still
lose their heat upward by convection. Significantly, when
the sample is very hot (the denaturation temperature is
typically near the boiling point of the sample liquid), the
sample liquid can lose a very significant amount of heat by
refluxing of water vapor. In this process, water evaporates
from the surface of the hot sample liquid and condenses on
the inner walls of the cap and the cooler upper parts of the
If
there is a relatively large volume of sample, condensation
sample tube above the top surface of the sample block.
continues, and condensate builds up and runs back down the
This
"refluxing" process carries about 2300 joules of heat per
gram of water refluxed.
walls of the sample tube into the reaction mixture.
This process can cause a drop of
several degrees in the surface temperature of a 100
microliter reaction mixture thereby causing a large
reduction of efficiency of the reaction.
If the reaction mixture is small, say 20 microliters,
and the sample tube has a relatively large surface area
above the top surface of the sample block, a significant
fraction of the water in the reaction mixture may evaporate.
This water may then condense inside the upper part of the
sample tube and remain there by surface tension during the
This
can so concentrate the remaining reaction mixture that the
remainder of the high temperature part of the cycle.
reaction is impaired or fails completely.
In the prior art PCR thermal cyclers, this refluxing
problem was dealt with by overlaying the reaction mixture
with a layer of oil or melted wax. This immiscible layer of
oil or wax floated on the aqueous reaction mixture and
prevented rapid evaporation. However, labor was required to
Further, the
presence of oil interfered with later steps of processing
add the oil which raised processing costs.
and analysis and created a possibility of contamination of
In fact, it is known that industrial grade
mineral oils have in the past contaminated samples by the
unknown presence of contaminating factors in the oil which
the sample.
were unknown to the users.
The need for an oil overlay is eliminated, and the
problems of heat loss and concentration of the reaction
mixture by evaporation and unpredictable thermal effects
caused by refluxing are avoided according to the teachings
of the invention by enclosing the volume above the sample
block into which the upper parts of the sample tubes project
and by heating this volume from above by a heated cover
sometimes hereafter also called the platen.
,
sectional view of the structure which is used to enclose the
Referring to Figure there is shown a cross
sample tubes and apply’ downward force thereto so as to
A heated
platen 14 is coupled to a lead screw 312 so as to move up
supply the minimum threshold force F in Figure 15.
and down along the axis symbolized by arrow 314 with
The lead screw is threaded
through an opening in a sliding cover 316 and is turned by
a knob 318.
the boiling point of water by resistance heaters (not shown)
controlled by computer 20.
The sliding cover 316 slides back and forth along the
Y axis on rails 320 and 322. The cover 316 includes
vertical sides 317 and 319 and also includes vertical sides
parallel to the X-Z plane (not shown) which enclose the
block 12 tubes. This
substantially prevent drafts from acting on the sample tubes
of which tubes 324 and 326 are typical.
rotation of the lead screw 312.
The platen 314 is heated to a temperature above
sample and sample structure
Figure 20 is a perspective view of the sliding cover
316 and sample block 12 with the sliding cover in retracted
position to allow access to the sample block. The sliding
cover 316 resembles the lid of a rectangular box with
vertical wall 328 having a portion 330 removed to allow the
sliding cover 316 to slide over the sample block 12. The
sliding cover is moved along the Y axis in Figure 20 until
the cover is centered over the sample block 12. The user
then turns the knob 318 in a direction to lower the heated
platen 14 until a mark 332 on the knob 318 lines up with a
mark 334 on an escutcheon plate 336. In some embodiments,
the escutcheon plate 336 may be permanently affixed to the
top surface of the sliding cover 316. In other embodiments,
the escutcheon 336 may be rotatable such that the index mark
may be placed in different positions when different size
sample tubes are used. In other words, if taller sample
tubes are used, the heated platen 14 need not be lowered as
much to apply the minimum threshold force F in Figure 15.
In use, the user screws the screw 318 to lower the platen 14
The user then knows that the
minimum threshold force F will have been applied to each
until the index marks line up.
sample tube.
Referring jointly to Figures 15 and 19, prior to
lowering the heated platen 14 in Figure 19, the plastic cap
338 for each sample tube sticks up about 0.5 millimeters
above the level of the top of the walls of a plastic tray
340 (Figure 19) which holds all the sample tubes in a loose
8x12 array on 9 millimeter centers. The array of sample
PCR tubes of 100 uL
capacity or 48 larger GeneAmp' tubes of 0.5 ml capacity.
wells can hold up to 96 MicroAmp"
The details of this tray will be discussed in greater detail
below. The tray 340 has a planar surface having an 8x12
array of holes for sample tubes. This planar surface is
shown in Figures 15 and 19 as a horizontal line which
intersects the sample tubes 324 and 326 in Figure 19. Tray
340 also has four vertical walls two of which are shown at
342 and 344 in Figure 19. The top level of these vertical
walls, shown at 346 in Figure 15, establishes a rectangular
box which defines a reference plane.
the caps 338 for all the
sample tubes project above this reference plane 346 by some
As best seen in Figure 15,
small amount which is designed to allow the caps 338 to be
softened and deformed by the heated platen 14 and "squashed"
down to the level of the reference plane 346. In the
preferred embodiment, the heated platen 14 is kept at a
temperature of 105°C by the CPU 20 in Figure 1 and the bus
22 coupled to resistance heaters (not shown) in the platen
14. In the preferred embodiment, the knob 318 in Figure 19
and the lead screw 312 are turned until the heated platen 14
descends to and makes contact with the tops of the caps 338.
In the preferred embodiment, the caps 338 for the sample
tubes are made of polypropylene . These caps soften shortly
after they come into contact with the heated platen 14. As
the caps soften, they deform, but they do not lose all of
their elasticity. the heated
platen is lowered further until it rests upon the reference
After contacting the caps,
plane 346. This further lowering deforms the caps 338 and
causes a minimum threshold force F of at least 50 grams to
push down on each sample tube to keep each tube well seated
firmly in its sample well. The amount by which the caps 338
project above the reference plane 346, and the amount of
deformation and residual elasticity when the heated platen
14 rests upon the reference plane 346 is designed such that
a minimum threshold force F of at least 50 grams and
preferably 100 grams will have been achieved for all sample
tubes then present after the heated platen 14 has descended
to the level of the reference plane 346.
The heated platen 14 and the four vertical walls and
planar surface of the tray 340 form a heated, sealed
compartment when the platen 14 is in contact with the top
edge 346 of the tray. The plastic of the tray 340 has a
relatively poor thermal conductivity property. It has been
found experimentally that contacting the heated platen 14
with the caps 338 and the isolation of the portion of the
sample tubes 288 which project above the top level 280 of
the sample block 12 by a wall of material which has
relatively poor thermal conductivity has a beneficial
result. with this structure, the entire upper part of the
tube and cap are brought to a temperature which is high
enough that little or no condensation forms on the inside
surfaces of the tube and cap since the heated platen is kept
This is
true even when the sample liquid 276 in Figure 15 is heated
at a temperature above the boiling point of water.
to a temperature near its boiling point. This eliminates
the need for a layer of immiscible material such as oil or
wax floating on top of the sample mixture 276 thereby
reducing the amount of labor involved in a PCR reaction and
eliminating one source of possible contamination of the
sample.
It has been found experimentally that in spite of the
very high temperature of the heated cover and its close
proximity to the sample block 12, there is little affect on
the ability of the sample block 12 to cycle accurately and
rapidly between high and low temperatures.
The heated platen 14 prevents cooling of the samples by
the refluxing process noted earlier because it keeps the
temperature of the caps above the condensation point of
This
also prevents the formation of aerosols when the caps are
water thereby keeping the insides of the caps dry.
removed from the tubes.
The heated platen prevents loss of solvent from the
reaction mixtures when the samples are being incubated
at temperatures near their boiling point. In more
detail a heated platen covers the tops of the sample
tubes and is in contact with an individual cap which
provides a gas-tight seal for each sample tube. The
heat from. the platen heats the upper parts of each
sample tube and the cap temperature above the
condensation point such that no condensation and
refluxing occurs within any sample tube. Condensation
represents a relatively large heat transfer since an
amount of heat equal to the heat of vaporization is
given up when water vapor condenses. This could cause
large temperature variations from sample to sample if
the condensation does not occur uniformly. The heated
platen prevents any condensation from occurring in any
sample tube thereby minimizing this source of potential
temperature errors. The use of the heated platen also
reduces reagent consumption.
Furthermore, the heated platen provides a downward
force for each sample tube which exceeds an experimentally
determined minimum downward force necessary to keep all
sample tubes pressed firmly into the temperature controlled
sample block so as to establish and maintain uniform block-
to-tube thermal conductance for each tube. This uniformity
Of established of
variations from tube to tube in length, diameter, angle or
thermal conductance is regardless
other dimensional errors which otherwise could cause some
sample tubes to fit more snugly in their corresponding
sample wells than other sample tubes.
The heated platen softens the plastic of each cap but
does not totally destroy the caps elasticity. Thus, a
minimum threshold downward forced is successfully applied to
each tube despite differences in tube height from tube to
tube.
In alternative embodiments, any means by which the
minimum acceptable downward force F in Figure 15 can be
applied to each individual sample tube regardless of the
number of sample tubes present and which will prevent
condensation and refluxing and convection cooling will
suffice for purposes of practicing the invention. The
application of this downward force F and the use of heat to
prevent refluxing and undesired sample liquid concentration
need not be both implemented by the same system as is done
in the preferred embodiment.
The sample tubes may vary by a few thousandths of an
inch in their overall height. Further, the caps for the
sample tubes may also vary in height by a few thousandths of
an inch. Also, each conical sample well in the sample block
12 may not be drilled to exactly the same depth, and each
conical sample well in the sample block may be drilled to a
slightly different diameter and angle. Thus,
population of capped tubes is placed in the sample block so
as to be seated in the corresponding sample well, the tops
of the caps will not all necessarily be at the same height.
when a
The worst case discrepancy for this height could be as much
as 0.5 millimeters from the highest to the lowest tubes.
If a perfectly flat unheated platen 14 mounted so that
it is free to find its own position were to be pressed down
on such an array of caps, it would first touch the three
tallest tubes. As further pressure was applied and the
tallest tubes were compressed somewhat, the platen would
begin to touch some caps of lower tubes. There is a
distinct possibility that unless the tube and cap assemblies
were compliant, the tallest tubes would be damaged before
the shortest tubes were contacted at all. Alternatively,
the force necessary to compress all the tall tubes
sufficiently so as to contact the shortest tube could be too
large for the device to apply. In either case, one or more
short tubes might not be pressed down at all or might be
pressed down with an insufficient amount of force to
guarantee that the thermal time constant for that tube was
equal to the thermal time constants for all the other tubes.
This would result in the failure to achieve the same PCR
cycle for all tubes in the sample block since some tubes
with different thermal time constants woulc not be in step
with the other tubes. Beating the platen and softening the
caps eliminates these risks by eliminating the manufacturing
tolerance errors which lead to differing tube heights as a
factor.
In an alternative embodiment, the entire heated platen
14 is covered with a compliant rubber layer. A compliant
rubber layer on the heated platen would solve the height
tolerance problem, but would also act as a thermal
insulation layer which would delay the flow of heat from the
heated platen to the tube caps. Further, with long use at
high temperatures, most rubber materials deteriorate or
become hard. It is therefore desirable that the heated
platen surface be a metal and a good conductor of heat.
In another alternative embodiment, 96 individual
springs could be mounted on the platen so that each spring
individually presses down on a single sample tube. This is
a complex and costly solution, however, and it requires that
the platen be aligned over the tube array with a mechanical
precision which would be difficult or bothersome to achieve.
The necessary individual compliance for each sample
tube in the preferred embodiment is supplied by the use of
plastic caps which collapse in a predictable way under the
force from the platen but which, even when collapsed, still
exert a downward force F on the sample tubes which is
adequate to keep each sample tube seated firmly in its well.
the
flash and cuts so that
it can provide a hermetic seal with the inner walls 352 of
the sample tube 288. the
material for the cap is polypropylene. A suitable material
In the sample tube cap 338 shown in Figure 15,
surface 350 should be free of nicks,
In the preferred embodiment,
might be Valtec Hm-444 or PD701 polypropylene manufactured
by Himont as described above or PPW 1780 by American
In the preferred embodiment, the wall thickness
for the domed portion of the cap is 0.130 + .000 - 0.005
The thickness of the shoulder portion 356 is 0.025
inches and the width of the domed shaped portion of the cap
Hoescht.
inches.
is 0.203 inches in the preferred embodiment.
Any material and configuration for the caps which will
cause the minimum threshold force F in Figure 15 to be
applied to all the sample tubes and which will allow the cap
and upper portions of the sample tubes to be heated to a
high enough to
refluxing will suffice for purposes of practicing the
The dome shaped cap 338 has a thin wall to aid
in deformation of the cap.
temperature prevent condensation and
invention.
Because the heated platen is
kept at a high temperature, the wall thickness of the domed
shaped cap can be thick enough to be easily manufactured by
injection molding since the necessary compliance to account
for differences in tube height is not necessary at room
temperature.
The platen can be kept at a temperature anywhere from
94°C to 110°C according to the teachings of the invention
although the range from 100°C to 110°C is preferred to
prevent refluxing since the boiling point of water is 100°C.
In this temperature range, it has been experimentally found
that the caps soften just enough to collapse easily by as
much as 1 millimeter. Studies have shown that the elastic
properties of the polypropylene used are such that even at
these temperatures, the collapse is not entirely inelastic.
That is,
deformation of the caps,
even though the heated platen causes permanent
the material of the caps still
of their
temperature elastic modulus that the minimum threshold force
F is applied to each sample tube. Further, the heated
that it contacts without
excessive force regardless of how many tubes are present in
retain a significant enough fraction room
platen levels all the caps
the sample block because of the softening of the cap.
Because the cap temperature is above the boiling point
of water during the entire PCR cycle, the inside surfaces of
Thus, at the end of a PCR
if the samples are cooled to room temperature
before being removed from the sample block, if the caps on
each cap remain completely dry.
process,
each sample tube are opened, there is no possibility of
creating an aerosol spray of the sample tube contents which
could result in cross contamination. This is because there
is no liquid at the cap to tube seal when the seal is
broken.
This is extremely advantageous, because tiny particles
of aerosol containing amplified product DNA can contaminate
a laboratory and get into sample tubes containing samples
from other sources, e.g., other patients, thereby possibly
causing false positive or negative diagnostic results which
can be very troublesome. Users of the PCR amplification
process are extremely concerned that no aerosols that can
contaminate other samples be created.
A system of disposable plastic items is used to convert
the individual sample tubes to an 8x12 array which is
compatible with microtiter plate format lab equipment but
which maintains sufficient individual freedom of movement to
compensate for differences in the various rates of thermal
expansion of the system components. The relationship of the
thermally compliant cap to the rest of this system is best
seen in Figure 21A which is a cross sectional View of the
sample block, and two sample tubes with caps in place with
the sample tubes being held in place by the combination of
one embodiment of a plastic 96 well microtiter tray and a
Figure 218
embodiment showing the structure and interaction of most of
The
rectangular plastic 96 well microtiter plate tray 342 rests
The top edge 346 of
the frame 342 has a height which is approximately 0.5
retainer. is an alternative, preferred
the various plastic disposable items of the system.
on the surface of the sample block 12.
millimeters shorter than the height of the caps of which cap
364 is exemplary. All of the capped tubes will project
higher than the edge 346 of the frame 342. The frame 342 is
configured such that a downward extending ridge 366 extends
The
which
corresponds to the gap in the groove 78 for the temperature
into the guardband groove 78 through its entire length.
frame 342 does however have a gap (not shown)
sensor shown in Figure 2 in plan view and in Figure 7 in
cross-sectional view.
The reference plane 346 mentioned above is established
by the top of the frame 342.
interacts with the heated platen is as follows.
How this reference plane
Prior to
screwing down the knob 318 in Figure 20 to line up the index
332 334 to
calibration process will have been performed to locate the
marks and start an amplification run, a
position of the index mark on the escutcheon platen 336 in
Figure 20. This calibration is started by placing the frame
342 in Figure 21 in position on the sample block. The frame
342 will be empty however or any sample tubes therein will
Then, the knob 318 is screwed
down until the heated platen 14 is firmly in contact with
not have any caps in place.
the top edge 346 of the frame 342 around its’ entire
parameter. when the
sufficiently to allow the heated platen to reast on the
knob 318 has been screwed down
reference plane 346 and to press the frame 342 firmly
the
rotatable escutcheon 336 of the preferred embodiment will be
rotated until the index mark 334 on the escutcheon lines up
with the index mark 332 on the knob 318. Then, the knob 318
is rotated counterclockwise to raise the platen 14 and the
against the top surface 280 of the sample block,
cover 316 in Figure 19 is slid in the negative Y direction
to uncover the frame 342 and the sample block 12. Sample
tubes with caps loaded with a sample mixture may then be
placed in position in the frame 342. The heated cover 316
is then placed back over the sample block, and the knob 318
is turned clockwise to lower the heated platen 14 until the
index mark 332 on the knob lines up with the index mark 334
as previously positioned. This guarantees that all tubes
have been firmly seated with the minimum force F applied.
The use of the
verifiable task to perform,
index marks gives the user a simple,
If there are only a few sample tubes in place, it will
take only a small amount of torque to line up the index
marks 332 and 334. it
will take more torque on the knob 318 to line up the index
marks.
If there are many tubes, however,
This is because each tube is resisting the downward
movement of the heated platen 14 as the caps deform.
However, the user is assured that when the index marks 332
and 334 are aligned, the heated platen will once again be
tightly placed against the top edge 346 of the frame 342 and
all tubes will have the minimum threshold force F applied
thereto. This virtually guarantees that the thermal time
constant for all the tubes will be substantially the same.
In alternative embodiments, the index marks 332 and 334
may be dispensed with, and the knob 318 may simply be turned
clockwise until it will not turn any more. This condition
will occur when the heated platen 314 has reached the top
edge or reference plane 346 and the plastic frame 342 has
stopped further downward movement of the heated platen 14.
obviously in this alternative embodiment, and preferably in
the index mark embodiment described above, the plastic of
the frame 342 will have a melting temperature which is
sufficiently high to prevent deformation of the plastic of
the frame 342 when it is in contact with the heated platen
14.
is celanese nylon 1503 with a wall thickness of 0.05
In the preferred embodiment, the plastic of the frame
inches.
An advantage of the above described system is that
sample tubes of different heights may be used simply by
The frame 342
should have a height which is approximately 0.5 millimeters
using frames 342 having different heights.
shorter than the plane of the tips of the capped tubes when
both are seated in the sample block. In the preferred
embodiment, two different tube heights are used. The range
of motion of the lead screw 312 which drives the heated
platen 14 in Figure 19 must be sufficient for all the
different sizes of sample tubes to be used. of course,
during any particular PCR processing cycle, all tubes must
be the same height.
temperatures
described above uniform
the block,
conductance from block to sample,
system provides
in sample uniform thermal
and isolation of the
sample tubes from the vagaries of the ambient environment.
Any number of sample tubes up to 96 may be arrayed in the
The
temperature control for a very large number of samples and
microtiter plate format. system allows accurate
a visual indication of the sample temperatures for all
samples without actually measuring the temperature of any
sample.
As the container for PCR reactions, it has been common
in the prior art to use polypropylene tubes which were
originally designed for microcentrifuges. This prior art
tube had a cylindrical cross-section closed at the top by a
snap-on cap which makes a gas-tight seal. This prior art
tube had a bottom section which comprised the frustrum of a
cone with an included angle of approximately 17 degrees.
when such a conical sample tube is pressed down into a
sample well of a sample block with a conical cavity with the
same included angle, and when the sample mixture in the tube
lies entirely within the conical volume and below the top
surface of the sample block, the thermal conductance between
the block and the liquid can be made adequately predictable
for good uniformity of sample temperature throughout the
To of the
conductance between the sample block and the sample mixture,
array. achieve adequate control thermal
the included angles of the conical tube and the sample well
must match closely, and the conical surfaces of the tube and
well must be smooth and held together in flush relation.
Further, the minimum threshold force F must be applied to
each sample tube to press each tube tightly into the sample
well so that it does not rise up or loosen in the well for
any reason during thermal cycling, such as steam formation
from trapped liquid in space 291 in Figure 15. Finally,
each tube must be loaded with the same amount of sample
liquid. If the above listed conditions are met, the thermal
conductance between the sample block and the sample liquid
in each tube will be predominantly determined by the
conductance of the conical plastic wall 368 in Figure 15 and
a boundary layer, (not shown) of the sample liquid at the
inside surface 370 of the conical sample tube wall.
The thermal conductance of the plastic tube walls is
thickness, which can be
controlled by the injection molding method of manufacture of
the tubes.
virtually identical thermal properties.
determined by their closely
The sample liquid in all the sample tubes has
It has been found by experiment and by calculation that
a molded, one-piece, 96-well microtiter plate is only
marginally feasible for PCR because the differences in the
thermal expansion coefficients between aluminum and plastic
lead to dimensional changes which can destroy the uniformity
of thermal conductance to the sample liquid across the
array. That is, since each well in such a one-piece plate
is connected to each other well through the surface of the
plate, the distances between the wells are determined at the
time of initial manufacture of the plate but change with
changing temperature since the plastic of the plate has a
significant coefficient of thermal expansion. Also,
distances between the sample wells in the metal sample block
12 are dependent upon the temperature of the sample block
since aluminum also has a significant coefficient of thermal
expansion which is different than that of plastic. To have
good thermal conductance, each sample well in a one-piece
96-well microtiter plate would have to fit almost perfectly
in the corresponding well in the sample block at all
temperatures. Since the temperature of the sample block
changes over a very wide range of temperatures, the
distances between the sample wells in the sample block vary
cyclically during the PCR cycle. Because the coefficients
expansion for plastic and aluminum are
substantially different, the distances of the well
separation in the sample block would vary differently over
changing temperatures than would the distances between the
96-well microtiter
of thermal
sample wells of a plastic, one-piece,
plate.
Thus,
between a sample tube and the corresponding sample well over
the PCR temperature range, it is necessary that each sample
tube in the 96-well array be individually tree to move
laterally and each tube must be individually free to be
pressed down vertically by whatever amount is necessary to
make flush contact with the walls of the sample well.
One preferred design for a disposable plastic 96-well
microtiter plate for accommodation of up to 96 individual
as an important criteria for a perfect fit
sample tubes containing DNA for thermal cycling each sample
tube having individual freedom of movement sufficient to find
the best fit with the sample block under downward pressure
from a heated cover. The microtiter plate design, by
allowing each tube to find the best fit, provides high and
uniform thermal conductance from the sample block to each
sample tube even if differing rates of thermal expansion and
contraction between the metal of the block and the plastic
Of the sample tube and microtiter plate structure. cause
the relative center-to- center dimensions of the wells in the
sample block to change relative to the center-to-center
distance Of the SflmP1e tubes in the disposable microtiter
plate structure._
The sample tubes used in the invention are different
from the prior art microcentrifuge tubes in that the wall
thickness of the conical trustrum position of the sample
tube is much thinner to allow taster heat transfer to and
from the sample liquid. The upper part of these tunes has
]5a thicker wall thickness than the conical part. In Figure
, the wall thickness in the cylindrical part 288 in Figure
is generally 0.030 inches while the wall thickness for
the conical wall 368 is 0.009 inches. Because thin parts
cool faster than thick parts in the injection molding
process, it is important to get the mold full before the
thin parts cool off.
The material of the sample tubes must be compatible
Glass is not a PCR
compatible material, because DNA sticks to glass and will
chemically with the PCR reaction.
not come off which would interfere with PCR amplification.
Three
types of suitable polypropylene were identified earlier
Preferably an autoclavable polypropylene is used.
herein. some plastics are not compatible with the PCR
process because of outgassing of materials from the plastic
Polypropylene
is the best known class of plastics at this time.
or because DNA sticks to the plastic walls.
Conventional injection molding techniques and mold
manufacture techniques for the injection mold will suffice
for purposes of practicing the invention.
The of tubes
substantially all manufacturing tolerance errors to height
use cone shaped sample translates
errors, i.e., a variance from tube to tube in the height of
the tip of the cap to the top of the sample block when the
sample tube is seated in the sample well.
For example, an
angle error for the angle of the sample tube walls is
converted to a height error when the tube is placed in the
sample block because of the mismatch between the tube wall
angle and the sample well wall angle. Likewise, a diameter
error in the dimensions of the cone would also translate
into a height error since the conical part of the tube would
either -penetrate deeper or not as much as a properly
dimensional tube.
For good uniformity of thermal conductance across the
array, a good fit between the sample tubes and the sample
well must exist for all 96-wells over the full temperature
range of 0 to 100°C regardless of differences in thermal
Also,
expansion rates. each of the 96 sample tubes must
have walls with dimensions and wall thicknesses which are
Each sample tube in which
sample mixture is to be held should be fitted with a
uniform to a very high degree.
removable gas-tight cap that makes a gas-tight seal to
prevent loss of water vapor from the reaction mixture when
this mixture is at or near its boiling point such that the
All these
factors combine to make a one-piece microtiter plate with 96
volume of the sample mixture does not decrease.
individual sample wells extremely difficult to manufacture
in a manner so as to achieve uniform thermal conductance for
all 96 wells.
Any structure which provides the necessary individual
lateral and vertical degrees of freedom for each sample tube
will suffice for purposes of practicing the invention.
According to the teachings of the preferred embodiment
of the invention, all the above noted requirements have been
This
system gives each sample tube sufficient freedom of motion
met by using a 4 piece disposable plastic system.
in all necessary directions to compensate for differing
rates of thermal expansion and yet retains up to 96 sample
tubes in a 96 well microtiter plate format for user
with
equipment which is sized to work with the industry standard
The
plastic system is very tolerant of manufacturing tolerance
convenience and compatibility other laboratory
—wel1 microtiter plate. multi-piece disposable
errors and the differing thermal expansion rates over the
wide temperature range encountered during PCR thermal
cycling.
Figures 21A and 213 show alternative embodiments of
most of the four piece plastic system components in cross-
section as assembled to hold a plurality of sample tubes in
their sample wells with sufficient freedom of motion to
account for differing rates of thermal expansion. Figure 45
shows all the parts of the disposable plastic microtiter
plate emulation system in an exploded view. This figure
illustrates how the parts fit together to form a microtiter
plate with all the sample tubes loosely retained in an 8x12
microtiter plate format 96 well array. Figure 22 shows a
plan view of a microtiter plate frame 342 according to the
teachings of the invention which is partially shown in
cross-section in Figures 21A and 218. Figure 23 shows a
bottom view plan view of the frame 342. Figure 24 is an end
view of the frame 342 taken from view line 24-24' in Figure
22.
view line 25-25' in Figure 22.
Figure 25 is an end view of the frame 342 taken from
Figure 26 is a cross section
through the frame 342 at section line 26-26' in Figure 22.
Figure 27 is a cross sectional view through the frame 342
taken along section line 27-27' in Figure 22. Figure 28 is
a side view of the frame 342 taken along view line 28-28' in
Figure 22 with a partial cut away to show in more detail the
location where a retainer to be described below clips to the
frame 342.
Referring jointly to Figures 21A, 21B and 22 through
28, the frame 342 is comprised of a horizontal plastic plate
372 in which there are formed 96 holes spaced on 9
millimeter centers in the standard microtiter plate format.
There are 8 rows labeled A through E and 12 columns labeled
1 through 12. Hole 374 at row D, column 7 is typical of
these holes. In each hole in the frame 342 there is placed
a conical sample tube such as the sample tube 376 shown in
Figure 15.
hole in which it is placed by about 0.7 millimeters, so that
Each sample tube is smaller in diameter than the
there is a loose fit in the hole. This is best seen in
Figures 21A and 213 by observing the distance between the
inside edge 378 of a typical hole and the side wall 380 of
Reference numeral 382 in
Figures 21A and 218 shows the opposite edge of the hole
which is also spaced away from the outside wall of the
cylindrical portion of the sample tube 376.
Each sample tube has a shoulder shown at 384 in Figures
, 21A and 21B.
circumference of the cylindrical portion 288 of each sample
the sample tube placed therein.
This shoulder is molded around the entire
tube. The diameter of this shoulder 384 is large enough
that it will not pass through the holes in the frame 342,
yet not so large as to touch the shoulders of the adjacent
tubes in neighboring holes.
the
21A
the
the
tubes in place such that they cannot fall out or be knocked
once all the tubes are placed in their holes in
frame 342, a plastic retainer 386 (best seen in Figures
and 21B and Figure 45)
frame 342.
is snapped into apertures in
The purpose of this retainer is to keep all
out of the frame 342 while not interfering with their
The retainer 386 is
sized and fitted to the frame 342 such that each sample tube
looseness of fit in the frame 342.
has freedom to move vertically up and down to some extent
before the shoulder 384 of the tube encounters either the
Thus,
retainer, when coupled, provide a microtiter plate format
retainer 386 or the frame 342. the frame and
for up to 96 sample tubes but provide sufficient horizontal
and vertical freedom such that each tube is free to find its
best fit at all temperatures under the influence of the
minimum threshold force F in Figure 15.
A more clear view of the sample tube and shoulder may
Figures 29 and 30
are an elevation sectional View and a partial upper section
be had by reference to Figures 29 and 30.
of the shoulder portion, respectively, of a typical sample
tube.
in more detail below is inserted into the sample tube shown
A plastic dome-shaped cap such as will be described
in Figure 29 and forms a hermetic seal with the inside wall
390 of the top at the sample tube.
the inside wall of the sample tube acts as a stop for the
A ridge 392 formed in
dome-shaped cap to prevent further penetration. Normally,
the dome-shaped caps come in strips connected by web.
Figure 31 shows three caps in elevation View connected
by a web 394 and terminated in a tab 396. The tab aids the
user in removing an entire row of caps by a single pull.
the web 394 rests on the top surface 398 of the
sample tube and prevents further penetration of the cap into
Normally,
{)3
the sample tube. Each cap includes a ridge 400 which forms
the hermetic seal between the cap and the inside wall of the
sample tube. Figure 32 shows a top view of three caps in a
typical strip of 12 connected caps.
For a more detailed understanding of the retainer,
refer to Figures 33 through 37. Figure 33 is a top view of
the plastic retainer. Figure 34 is an elevation view of the
retainer taken along view line 34-34' in Figure 33. Figure
is an end elevation view of the retainer taken along View
line 35-35' in Figure 33. Figure 36 is a sectional view
taken along section line 36-36’ in Figure 33. Figure 37 is
a sectional view through the retainer taken along section
line 37-37' in Figure 33.
Referring jointly to Figures 33-37, the retainer 386 is
comprised of a single horizontal plastic plane 402
surrounded by a vertical wall 404. The plane 402 has an 8
x 12 array of 96 holes formed therein divided into 24 groups
of four holes per group. These groups are set off by ridges
formed in the plane 402 such as ridges 406 and 408. Each
hole, of which hole 410 is typical, has a diameter D which
is larger than the diameter D, in Fig. 29 and smaller than
the diameter D? This allows the retainer to be slipped over
the sample tubes after they have been placed in the frame
342 but prevents the sample tubes from falling out of the
frame since the shoulder 384 is too large to pass through
the hole 410.
The retainer snaps into the frame 342 by means of
plastic tabs 414 shown in Figures 34 and 36. These plastic
tabs are pushed through the slots 416 and 418 in the frame
as shown in Figure 23. There are two plastic tabs 414, one
on each long edge of the retainer. These two plastic tabs
are shown as 414A and 4143 in Figure 33.
The frame 342 of Figures 22-28, with up to 96 sample
tubes placed therein and with the retainer 386 snapped into
place, forms a single unit such as is shown in Figures 21A
and 213 which can be placed in the sample block 12 for PCR
processing.
After all the
simultaneously by lifting the frame 342 out of the sample
block. the frame 342 with
sample tubes and retainer in place can be inserted into
The base has the
outside dimensions and footprint of a standard 96-well
processing, tubes may be removed
For convenience and storage,
another plastic component called the base.
microtiter plate and is shown in Figures 38 through 44.
Figure 38 is a top plan view of the base 420, while Figure
39 is a bottom plan view of the base. Figure 40 is an
elevation view of the base taken from view line 40-40'
Figure 38.
in
Figure 41 is an end elevation view taken from
view line 41-41' in Figure 38. Figure 42 is a sectional
view taken through the base along section line 42-42' in
Figure 38. Figure 43 is a sectional View through the base
taken along section line 43-43' in Figure 38. Figure 44 is
a sectional view taken along section line 44«44’
in Figure
The base 420 includes a flat plane 422 of plastic in
which an 8 x 12 array of holes with sloped edges is formed.
These holes have dimensions and spacing such that when the
frame 342 is seated in the base, the bottoms of the sample
tubes fit into the conical holes in the base such that the
sample tubes are held in the same relationship to the frame
342 as the sample tubes are held when the frame 342 is
Hole 424 is typical of the 96
holes formed in the base and is shown in Figures 38, 44 and
43. The individual sample tubes,
between the tray and retainer,
mounted on the sample block.
though loosely captured
become firmly seated and
immobile when the frame is inserted in the base. The manner
in which a typical sample tube 424 fits in the base is shown
in Figure 44.
In other words, when the frame,
retainer are seated in the base 420 the entire assembly
sample tubes and
becomes the exact functional equivalent of an industry
standard 96-well microtiter plate, and can be placed in
()4
virtually any automated pipetting or sampling system for 96-
well industry standard microtiter plates for further
processing.
After the sample tubes have been filled with the
the
In an alternative embodiment of
necessary reagents and DNA sample to be amplified,
sample tubes can be capped.
the cap strip shwon in Figures 31 and 32, an entire mat of
96 caps with a compliant web connecting them in an 8 x 12
array may be used. This web, shown at 394 in Figure 31 must
be sufficiently compliant so that the caps do not restrain
the sample tubes from making the small motions these sample
tubes must make to fit perfectly in the conical wells of the
sample block at all temperatures.
The assembly of tubes,
is brought after filling the tubes to the thermal cycler.
caps frames, retainer and base
There, the frame, capped tubes and retainer plate are
removed from the base as a unit. This unit is then placed
in the sample block 12 to make the assembly shown in Figure
21A or 213 with the tubes loosely held in the conical wells
in the sample block. As shown in Figure 21, the frame 342
is seated on the top surface 280 of the guardband. In the
preferred embodiment, the ridge 366 extends down into the
groove 78 of the guardband, but this is not essential.
Next, the heated cover is slid over the samples, and
the heated platen is screwed down as previously described
until it contacts the top edge 346 of the frame 342.
within seconds after the heated platen 14 in Figure 19
touches the caps, the caps begin to soften and yield under
the downward pressure from the lead screw 312 in Figure 19.
The user then continues to turn to knob 318 until the index
marks 332 and 334 in Figure 20 line up which indicates that
every sample tube has been tightly pressed into the sample
block with at least the minimum threshold force F and all
air gaps between the heated platen 14, the sample block and
the top edge 346 of the frame 342 have been tightly closed.
The are now and
sample tubes in a completely closed
()5
controlled environment, and precision cycling of temperature
can begin.
At the end of the PCR protocol, the heated platen 14 is
moved upward and away from the sample tubes, and the heated
cover 316 is slid out of the way to expose the frame 342 and
sample tubes. The frame, sample tubes and retainer are then
removed and replaced into an empty base, and the caps can be
removed. As each cap or string of caps is pulled off, the
retainer keeps the tube from coming out of the tray. Ribs
formed in the base (not shown in Figures 38-44) contact the
retainer tabs 414A and 4143 shown in Figure 33 to keep the
retainer snapped in place such that the force exerted on the
tubes by removing the caps does not dislodge the retainer
385.
Obviously, the frame 342 may be used with fewer than 96
Also,
desired by unsnapping it.
tubes if desired. the retainer 386 can be removed if
A user who wishes to run only a few tubes at a time and
handle these tubes individually can place an empty frame 342
without retainer on the sample block. The user may then use
the base as a "test tube rack" and set up a small number of
tubes therein. These tubes can then be-filled manually and
capped with individual caps. The user may then transfer the
tubes individually into wells in the sample block, close the
heated cover and screw down the heated platen 14 until the
PCR cycling may then commence. When the
cycling is complete, the cover 316 is removed and the sample
marks line up.
tubes are individually placed in an available base.
retainer is not necessary in this type of usage.
Referring to Figures 47A and 47B (hereafter Figure 47),
there is shown a block diagram for the electronics of a
preferred embodiment of a control system in a class of
control systems represented by CPU block 10 in Figure 1.
The purpose of the control electronics of Figure 47 is,
inter alia, to receive and store user input data defining
the desired PCR protocol, read the various temperature
()S
sensors, calculate the sample temperature, compare the
calculated sample temperature to the desired temperature as
defined by the user defined PCR protocol, monitor the power
line voltage and control the film heater zones and the ramp
cooling valves to carry out the desired temperature profile
of the user defined PCR protocol.
(hereafter CPU) the
control program described below and given in Appendix C in
source code form. In the preferred embodiment, the CPU 450
is an OKI CMOS 8085. The CPU drives an address bus 452 by
which various ones of the other circuit elements in Figure
The CPU also drives a data bus 454 by
which data is transmitted to various of the other circuit
A microprocessor 450 executes
are addressed.
elements in Figure 47.
The control program of Appendix C and some system
constants are stored in EPROM 456. User entered data and
other system constants and characteristics measured during
the install process (install program execution described
below) are stored in battery backed up RAM 458. A system
clock/calendar 460 supplies the CPU 450 with date and time
information for purposes of recording a history of events
during PCR runs and the duration of power failures as
described below in the description of the control software.
An address decoder 462 receives and decodes addresses
from the address bus 452 and activates the appropriate chip
select lines on a chip select bus 464.
The user enters PCR protocol data via a keyboard 466 in
response to information displayed by CPU on display 468.
The two way communication between the user and the CPU 450
is described in more detail below in the user interface
section of the description of the control software. A
keyboard interface circuit 470 converts user keystrokes to
data which is read by the CPU via the data bus 454.
Two programmable interval timers 472 and 474 each
contain counters which are loaded with counts calculated by
the CPU 450 to control the intervals during which power is
applied to the various film heater zones.
An interrupt controller 476 sends interrupt requests to
the CPU 450 every 200 milliseconds causing the CPU 450 to
run the PID task described below in the description of the
control software. This task reads the temperature sensors
and calculates the heating or cooling power necessary to
move the sample temperature from its current level to the
level desired by the user for that point in time in the PCR
protocol being executed. V
A UART 478 services an RS232 interface circuit 480 such
that data stored in the RAM 480 may be output to a printer.
The control software maintains a record of each PCR run
which is performed with respect to the actual temperatures
which existed at various times during the run for purposes
of user validation that the PCR protocol actually executed
corresponded to the PCR protocol desired by the user. In
addition, user entered data defining the specific times and
temperatures desired during a particular PCR protocol is
All this data and other data as well may be
read by the CPU 450 and output to a printer coupled to the
RS232 port via the UART 478. The RS232 interface also
allows an external computer to take control of the address
also stored.
and data buses for purposes of testing.
A peripheral interface chip (hereafter PIC) 482 serves
as a programmable set of 4 input/output registers. At
power-up, the CPU 450 selects the PIC 482 via the address
decoder 462 and the chip select bus 464. The CPU then
writes a data word to the PIC via data bus 454 to program
the PIC 482 regarding which registers are to be output ports
and which are to be input ports. Subsequently, the CPU 450
uses the output registers to store data words written
therein by the CPU via the data bus 454 to control the
internal logic state of a programmable array logic chip
(PAL) 484.
The PAL 484 is a state machine which has a plurality of
input signals and a plurality of output signals. PAL's in
general contain an array of logic which has a number of
Each state is defined by the array or
vector of logic states at the inputs and each state results
different states.
in a different array or vector of logic states on the
The CPU 450, PIC 482, PAL 484 and several other
circuits to be defined below cooperate to generate different
outputs.
states of the various output signals from the PAL 484.
These different states and associated output signals are
what control the operation of the electronics shown in
Figure 47 as will be described below.
A 12 bit analog—to-digital converter (A/D) 486 converts
analog voltages on lines 488 and 490 to digital signals on
data bus 454. These are read by the CPU by generating an
address for the A/D converter such that a chip select signal
on bus 464 coupled to the chip select input of the A/D
The
analog signals on lines 488 and 490 are the output lines of
two multiplexers 492 and 494.
converter goes active and activates the converter.
Multiplexer 492 has four
Each of these
ports is coupled to one of the four temperature sensors in
inputs ports, each having two signal lines.
the system. The first port is coupled to the sample block
temperature sensor. The second and third ports are coupled
to the coolant and ambient temperature sensors, respectively
and the fourth port is coupled to the
temperature sensor. A typical circuit for each one of these
temperature sensors is shown in Figure 48. A 20,000 ohm
resistor 496 receives at a node 497 a regulated +15 volt
heated cover
regulated power supply 498 in Figure 47 via a bus connection
line which is not shown. This +15 volts D.C. signal reverse
biases a zener diode 500. The reverse bias current and the
voltage drop across the zener diode are functions of the
temperature. The voltage drop across the diode is input to
the multiplexer 292 via lines 502 and 504.
sensor has a similar connection to the multiplexer 292.
Each temperature
Multiplexer 494 also has 4 input ports but only three
are connected. The first input port is coupled to a
()9
calibration voltage generator 506. This voltage generator
outputs two precisely controlled voltage levels to the
That is,
the reference voltage output by voltage source 506 drifts
multiplexer inputs and is very thermally stable.
very little if at all with temperature. This voltage is
read from time to time by the CPU 450 and compared to a
stored constant which represents the level this reference
voltage had at a known temperature as measured during
execution of the install process described below. If the
reference voltage has drifted from the level measured and
the CPU 450 knows that
the other electronic circuitry used for sensing the various
stored during the install process,
temperatures and line voltages has also drifted and adjusts
their outputs accordingly to maintain very accurate control
over the temperature measuring process.
The other input to the multiplexer 494 is coupled via
This
circuit has an input 514 coupled to a step-down transformer
line 510 to an RMS-to-DC converter circuit 512.
516 and receives an A.C. voltage at input 514 which is
proportional to the then existing line voltage at A.C. power
The RMS—to-DC converter 512 rectifies the A.C.
voltage and averages it to develop a D.C. voltage on line
input 518.
which also is proportional to the A.C. input voltage on
line 518.
Four optically coupled triac drivers 530, 532, 534 and
536 receive input control signals via control bus 538 from
PAL logic 484. Each of the triac drivers 530, 532 and 534
controls power to one of the three film heater zones. These
heater zones are represented by blocks 254, 260/262 and
256/258 (the same reference numerals used in Figure 13).
The triac driver 536 controls power to the heated cover,
represented by block 544 via a thermal cut-out switch 546.
The heater zones of the film heater are protected by a block
thermal cutout switch 548. The purpose of the thermal
to film
heater/sample block on the heated cover in case of a failure
cutout switches. is prevent meltdown of the
leading to the trier: drivers being left on for an unsure
interval. I: such an event happens. the thersal cut~out
switches detect an overly hot condition, and shut down the
triacs via signals on lines 552 or 554.
The aaih heater zone of the tile heater is rated at 360
watts while the manitold and edge heetsr zones are rated at
180 watts and 170 watts respectively. The triac drivers are
Motorola MAC lshlo 15 anp triacs. Each heater sons is split
into 2 electrically isolated sections each dissipating 1/2
the power. The 2 halves are connected in parallel for line
voltages at 513 less than 150 volts ans. ror lino voltages
greater than this, the two halves are connected in series.
These alternate connections are aocosplished through a
‘personality’ plug 550.
The Ac power supply for the till heater zones is line
559, and the ac supply tor the heated cover is via line 560.
A zero crossing detector 566 provides basic system
tiuing by emitting a pulse on line 568 at each zero crossing
of the ac power on line 518.
a National LN 311R referenced to analog ground and has 25 av
or hysteresis. The zero crossing detector takes its input
tron transtorner 516 which outputs a.c. signal from 0 to
.52 volts for an a.c. input signal or fro 0 to 240 volts
A.c.
A power transformer 570 supplies a.c. power to the pump
41 that pumps coolant through the ranp and bias cooling
channels. The refrigeration unit so also receives its 1.c.
power tron the transrorser 570 via another portion or the
personality plug 550. The transformer 550 also supplies
power to three regulated power supplies 572, 498 and 574 and
one unregulated power supply 576.
For accuracy purposes in ssasuring the tssperstures,
the ¢I11brat1nn voltage generator :06 uses a series of very
precise, thin-fill, ultralow temperature drift 30K chm
resistors (not shown in Figure 47 ).
These same ultrelov dritt
The zero crossing detector is’
resistors are used to set the gain of an analog amplifier
578 which amplifies the output voltage from the selected
temperature sensor prior to conversion to a digital value.
These resistors drift only 5 ppm/C°.
All the temperature sensors are calibrated by placing
them (separated from the structures whose temperatures they
stable,
controlled bath at 40°C and measuring the actual output
at the The
temperature a
measure) first in a stirred-oil, temperature
voltages inputs to the multiplexer 492.
in a bath at
temperature of 95°C and their output voltages are again
sensors are then placed
measured at the same points. The output voltage of the
calibration voltage generator 506 is also measured at the
input of the multiplexer 494. For each temperature, the
digital output difference from the A/D converter 486 between
each of the temperature sensor outputs and the digital
output that results from the voltage generated by the
calibration voltage 506 The
each temperature to
in temperature may then be
generator is measured.
calibration constants for sensor
calibrate each for changes
calculated.
The sample block temperature sensor is then subjected
to a further calibration procedure. This procedure involves
driving the sample block to two different temperatures. At
each temperature level, the actual temperature of the block
in 16 different sample wells is measured using 16 RTD
thermocouple probes accurate to within 0.02°C. An average
profile for the temperature of the block is then generated
and the output of the A/D converter 464 is measured with the
block temperature sensor in its place in the sample block.
This is done at both temperature levels. From the actual
block temperature as measured by the RTD probes and the A/D
output for the
calibration factor can be calculated.
block temperature sensor, a further
The temperature
calibration factors so generated are stored in battery
backed up RAM 458. .Once these calibration factors are
determined for the eyeten, it is important that the system
not drift appreciably tron the electrical characteristics
that existed at the time of calibration. It is important
tho:-etore that low dritt circuits be selected and that
ultralow drift resistors be used.
The tanner in which the CPU 450 controls the sample
block temperature can he best understood by rererence to the
section below describing the control program. However, to
illustrate how the electronic circuitry or Figure 47
cooperates with the control software to carry out a PCR
protocol consider the tollowing.
The zero crossing detector 566 has two outputs in
output bus see. one or these outputs enite a negative going
pulse for every positive going transition of the A.C. signal
acroee the zero voltage reference. The other elite a
negative pulee upon every negativrgoing transition at “the
a.c. signal across the zero reference voltage level. These
two puleeo, ehown typically at 580 define one complete cycle
or two half cycles. It is the pulse trains on bus 568 which
define the 200 millisecond sample periods. For 60 cycle/sec
A.C. as found in the U.s., 200 milliseconds contains 24 half
cycles.
A typical eanple period is shown in Figure 49. Each
"tick" ear): in Figure 49 represents one half cycle. During
each zoo neec sample period, the CPU 450 is calculating the
amount or heating or cooling power needed to saintain the
sample block teeperature at a user defined eetpoint or
incubation tenperature or to nova the block temperature to
a new temperature depending upon where in the pee protocol
time line the particular sample period lies. The amount of
power needed in each file heater zone is converted into a
number at half cyclee each heater zone is to remain or:
during the next 200 meet: sample period. Just before the and
of the current sample period in which these calculations are
.3
the CPU 450 addresses each of the 4 timers in the
the
CPU writes data constituting a "present" count representing
made,
programmable interval timer (PIT) 472. To each timer,
the number of half cycles the heater zone associated with
In
this data is written to the timers during
that timer is to remain off in the next sample period.
Figure 49,
interval 590 just preceding the starting time 592 of the
next sample period. Assume that a rapid ramp up to the
denaturation temperature of 94°C is called for by the user
setpoint data for an interval which includes the sample
interval between times 592 and 594. Accordingly, the film
Assume that the
zone heater is to be on for all but three of the
In this case, the CPU
450 writes a three into the counter in PIT 472 associated
This
write operation automatically causes the timer to issue a
heaters will be on for most of the period.
central
half cycles during the sample period.
with the central zone heater during interval 590.
"shut off" signal on the particular control line of bus 592
This “shut off"
signal causes the PAL 484 to issue a "shut off" signal on
which controls the central zone heater.
the particular one of the signal lines in bus 538 associated
The triac driver 530 then shuts off
at time 592. The PIT
receives a pulse train of positive-going pulses on line 594
from the PAL 484.
zero-crossing pulses on 2-line bus 568 by PAL 484 into
with the central zone.
at the next zero crossing, i.e.,
These pulses are translations of the
positive going pulses at all zero crossing pulses on 2-line
bus 568 by PAL 484 into positive going pulses at all zero
i.e., line 594.
PIT 472 associated with the central film heater zone starts
crossings on a single line, The timer in
counting down from its present count of 3 using the half
cycle marking pulses on line 594 as its clock. At the end
of the third half cycle, this timer reaches 0 and causes its
output signal line on bus 592 to change states. This
transition from the off to on state is shown at 596 in
Figure 49. This transition is communicated to PAL 484 and
causes it to change the state of the appropriate output
signal on bus 538 to switch the triac driver 530 on at the
third zero-crossing. Note that by switching the triacs on
at the the
embodiment, switching off of a high current flowing through
This
minimizes the generation of radio frequency interference or
Note that the technique of switching a portion
of each half cycle to the film heater in accordance with the
zero crossings as is done in preferred
an inductor (the film heater conductor) is avoided.
other noise.
calculated amount of power needed will also work as an
alternative embodiment, but is not preferred because of the
noise generated by this technique.
The other timers of PIT
manner to manage the power applied to the other heater zones
and 474 work in a similar
and to the heated cover in accordance with power calculated
by the cpu.
Ramp cooling is controlled by CPU 450 directly through
the peripheral interface 482. when the heating/cooling
power calculations performed during each sample period
the CPU 450
addresses the peripheral interface controller (PIC) 482. A
data word is then written into the appropriate register to
indicate that ramp cooling power is needed,
drive output line 600 high. This output line triggers a
pair of monostable multivibrators 602 and 604 and causes
606 and 608,
These pulses each have peak currents just
each to emit a single pulse, on lines
respectively.
under 1 ampere and a pulse duration of approximately 100
milliseconds. The purpose of these pulses is to drive the
solenoid valve coils that control flow through the ramp
cooling channels very hard to turn on ramp cooling flow
quickly. The pulse on line 606 causes a driver 610 to
ground a line 612 coupled to one side of the solenoid coil
The other
terminal of the coil 614 is coupled to a power supply "rail"
The one shot 602
controls the ramp cooling solenoid operted valve for flow in
of one of the solenoid operated valves.
at +24 volts DC from power supply 576.
one direction, and the one shot 604 controls the solenoid
operated valve for flow in the opposite direction.
siuultaneously, the activation of the RCOOL signal on
line 600 causes a driver 618 to be activated. This driver
grounds the line 612 through a current limiting resistor
620. The value at this current liaiting resistor is such
that the current flowing through line 622 is at least equal
to the hold current necessary to keep the solenoid valve 614
open. solenoid coil: have transient characteristics that
require large currents to turn on a solenoid operated valve
but substantially less current to keep the valve open. when
the 100 nsec pulse on line 606 subsides, the driver 612
ceases directly grounding the line 61: leaving only the
ground commotion through the resistor 620 and driver 61!
for holding current.
The solenoid valve 614 controls the flow of ramp
cooling coolant through the suple block in only 1/2 the
ramp cooling tubes. i.e., the tubes carrying the coolant in
one direction through the nniile block. Another solenoid
operated valve 62¢ controls the coolant now or coolant
through the eanple block in the opposite direction. This
valve 624 is driven in exactly the same way as solenoid
operated valve 614 by drivers 626 and 623, one shot 604 and
line 608.
The need for rurp cooling is evaluated once every
sample period. when the no task of the control software
determines tron Insuring the block temperature and
comparing it to the desired block tenperature that reap
cooling is no longer needed, the ncooz. signal on line 600 is
‘deactivated. This is done by the CPU 450 by addressing the
no 432 and writing data to it which reverses the state of
the appropriate hit in the register in PIC 482 which is
coupled to line 600.
The PI’! 474 also has two other there therein vhich
time a 20 an interrupt and a heating LED which gives a
visible indication -when the sample block is hot and unsafe
to touch.
The oyster: also includes a beeper one shot 630 and a
beeper 632 to warn the user when an incorrect keystroke has
been nade.
The programmable interrupt controller 476 is used to
detect 7 interrupts; Level 1- test; Level 2-20 11:; Level 3 -
Transmit Ready; Level 4 - Receive ready; Level 5 - Keyboard
interrupt; Level 6 - Main heater turn on; and, Level 7 -
A.c. line zero cross.
The peripheral interface controller 482 has four
outputs (not shown) tor controlling the lultiplexers 492 and
494. These signals HUX1 ER and KUX2 KN enable one or the
other of the two multiplexer: 492 and 494 while the signals
H0’! 0 and KO! 1 control which channel is selected for input
to the anplitier 578. These signals are managed so that
only one channel from the two Iultiplexers can be selected
at any one tine.
An RLTRIGVI signal reset: 1: tinaout one shot 632 for the
heaters which disables the heaters via activation of the
signal ‘in-ILEOUT 311* to the PAL 484 it the CPU crashes. That
is, the one shot on has a predetenined interval which it
will wait otter each trigger before it activates the signal
TIMEOUT mt which disables all the heater zones. The cm
450 executes a routineperiodically which addresses the PIC
482 and writes data to the appropriate register to cause
activation of a signal on line 634 totriggez the one shot
632. It the CPU 450 ‘crashes’ for any reason and does not
execute this routine, the timeout one-shot 632 disables all
the heater zones.
The PIC 482 also has outputs COVHTR am ‘and ELK!-I'I'R£N*
(not shown) for enabling the heated cover and the sample
block heater. Both of these signals are active low and are
controlled by the CPU 450.
via bus 636.
The PIC 482 also outputs the signals BEEP and BEEPCLR*
on bus 640 to control the beeper one shot 630.
The PIC 482 also outputs a signal MEM1
which is used to switch pages between the high address
They are output to the PAL 484
(not shown)
section of EPROM 456 and the low address section of battery
RAM 458. Two other signals PAGE SEL 0 and PAGE SEL 1 (not
shown) are output to select between four 16K pages in EPROM
456.
The four temperature sensors are National LM 135 zener
diode type
dependence of 10 mV/°K. The zener diodes are driven from
the regulated power supply 498 through the 20K resistor 496.
The current through the zeners varies from approximately 560
uA to 615 uA over the 0°C to 100°C operating range. The
zener self heating varies from 1.68 mw to 2.10 mw over the
same range.
sensors with a zener voltage/temperature
The multiplexers 492 and 494 are DG4o9 analog switches.
The voltages on lines 488 and 490 are amplified by an
AD625KN instrumentation amplifier with a transfer function
of Vanz 3*V" - 7.5. The A/D converter 486 is an AD7672 with
an input range from 0-5 volts. with the zener temperature
sensor output from 2.73 to 3.73 volts over the 0°C to 100°C
range, the output of the amplifier 578 will be 0.69 volts to
3.69 volts, which is comfortably within the A/D input range.
The key to highly accurate system performance are good
accuracy and low drift with changes in ambient temperature.
Both of these goals are achieved by using a precision
voltage reference source, calibration
i.e., voltage
generator 506, and continuously monitoring its output
through the same chain of electronics as are used to monitor
the outputs of the temperature sensors and the AC line
voltage on line 510.
The calibration voltage generator 506 outputs two
precision voltages on lines 650 and 652. one voltage is
.8
.75 volts and the other is 3.125 volts. These voltages are
obtained by dividing down a regulated supply voltage using
a string of ultralov drift, integrated, thin film resistors
with a 0.05% match between resistors and a s ppm/degree c
temperature drift coefficient between resistors. The
calibration voltage generator also generates -5 volts tor
the a/D converter reference voltage and -7.5 volts for the
instrumentation amplifier ottset. These two voltages are
communicated to the A/D 486 and the amplirier 578 by lines
which are not shown. These two negative voltages are
generated using the same thin film resistor network and OP
2? oz op~amps (not shown). The gain setting resistors for
the operational amplifier 578 are also the ultralov drift.
thin-film, integrated, satohed resistors.
The control firmware, control electronics and the block
design are designed such that vell-to-Hell and instrunent-
to-instrunent transportability or PCR protocols is possible.
High throughput laboratories benefit from instruments
which are easy to use tor a wide spectrum of lab personnel
and which require a minimal amount or training. The
software for the invention was developed to handle complex
PCR thermocycling protocols while remaining easy to program.
In addition, it is provided with safeguards to assure the
integrity of samples during power interruptions. and can
document the detailed events of each run in sate seory.
atter completing power-up eel:-checks shown in Figures
53 and 54, to assure
the operator that the system is operating properly, the user
interface of the invention offers a simple, top-level menu,
inviting the user to run, create or edit a tile, or to
access a utility tunction. no programing skills are
required. since pre-existing default tiles can be quickly
edited with customized times and temperatures, then stored
in memory for later use. A file protection scheme prevent:
unauthorized changes to any user‘: prograns. 3 £113
normally consists of a set or instructions to hold a desired
.1 9
temperature or to thermocycle. Complex programs are created
by linking files together to form a method. A commonly used
file, such as a 4°C incubation following a thermocycle, can
be stored and then incorporated into methods created by
the AUTO file is a PCR
cycling program which allows the user to specify which of
other users. A new type of file,
several types of changes to control parameters will occur
each cycle: time incrementing (auto segment extension, for
yield enhancement), time decrementing, or temperature
incrementing or decrementing. For the highest degree of
control precision and most reliable methods transferability,
temperatures are setable to 0.1°C, and times are programmed
to the nearest second. The invention has the ability to
program a scheduled PAUSE at one or more setpoints during a
run for reagent additions or for removal of tubes at
specific cycles.
The system of the invention has the ability to store a
500 record history file for each run. This feature allows
the user to review the individual steps in each cycle and to
flag any special status or error messages relating to irre-
the
gularities. With the optional printer, invention
of file method
parameters, run-time time/temperature data with a time/date
file
provides hardcopy documentation
stamp, configuration parameters, and sorted
directories.
the
computed sample temperature is displayed during the ramp and
In order to assure reproducible thermocycling,
hold segments of each cycle. A temperature one degree lower
than the set temperature is normally used to trigger the
ramp-time and hold-time clocks, but this can be altered by
the user. Provided the proper time constant for the type of
tube and volume is used, the sample will always approach the
desired with the
regardless of whether long or short sample incubation times
sample temperature same accuracy,
have been programmed. Users can program slow ramps for the
specialized annealing requirements of degenerate primer
'
pools, or very short (1-5 sec) high-temperature denaturation
periods for very GC rich targets. Intelligent default: are
proprogranned for 2- and 3-temperaturo PCR cycles.
Diagnostic teats can be accessed by any users to check
the heating and cooling system status, since tho software
gives Puss/Fail reports. In addition, a eystan performance
program performs a couprehonsiva eubsycten evaluation and
generates a cumnary status report.
The control firmware is comprised of several ooctions
which are lictod below:
- Diagnostics
- calibration
- Install
- Real time operating nysten
- Nine prioritized tasks that manage the system
- Start-up eoquence
- User intertace
The various sections or the tirnwere will be described
with either textual description, paeudocode or both.
Features of the firmware are:
1. A Control cyoten that manages the averago sample
block temperature to within +/- 0.1-c as well as
maintaining the temperature non-uniformity as
between well: in the sample block to within +/-
cl
taflberature control eynttn that measures and
compensates for line voltage fluctuations and
electronic temperature drift.
Extensive power up diagnostics that determine if
system components are working.
comprehensive diagnostics in the install program
which qualify the heating and cooling systems to
insure they are working properly.
A logical and organized user interface, employing
a menu driven system that allows instrument
operation with minimal dependency on the operators
manual.
The ability to link up to 17 PCR protocols and
store them as a method.
The ability to store up to 150 PCR protocols and
methods in the user interface.
A history file that records up to 500 events of
the previous run as part of the sequence task.
The ability to define the reaction volume and tube
size type pat the startl of a run _for maximum
temperature accuracy and control as part of the
user interface and which modifies tau (the tube
time constant) in the PID task.
Upon recovery from a power failure, the system
drives the sample block to 4°C to save any samples
that may be loaded in the sample compartment. The
analyzer also reports the duration of the power
failure as part of the sequence task.
The ability to print history file contents, "run
time" stored PCR protocol
parameters as part of the print task.
parameters and
The ability to configure to which the apparatus will
return during any idle state.
The ability to check that the set point temperature
is reached with a reasonable amount of time.
The ability to control the instrument remotely via
an RS232 port.
There are several levels of diagnostics which are
described below:
A series of power-up tests are automatically performed
each time the instrument is turned on. They evaluate
critical areas of the hardware without user intervention.
Any test that detects a component failure will be run again.
If the test fails twice,
the keyboard is electronically locked to prevent the user
an error message is displayed and
from continuing.
The following areas are tested:
Programmable Peripheral Interface device
Battery RAM device
Battery RAM checksum
EPROM devices
Programmable Interface Timer devices
Clock / Calendar device
Programmable Interrupt Controller device
Analog to Digital section
Temperature sensors
Verify proper configuration plug
A Series of service only diagnostics are available to
final testers at the manufacturer's location or to field
"hidden"
Many of the tests are the
service engineers through a keystroke sequence
(i.e. unknown to the customer).
same as the ones in the start up diagnostics with the
exception that they can be continually executed up to 99
times.
The following areas are tested:
Programmable Peripheral Interface device
Battery RAM device
Battery RAM checksum
EPROM devices
Programmable Interface Timer devices
Clock / Calendar device
Programmable Interrupt Controller device
Analog to Digital section
RS-232 section
Display section
Keyboard
Deeper
Ramp Cooling Valves
Check for EPROM mismatch
Firmware version level
Battery RAM Checksum and Initialization
Autostart Program Flag
Clear Calibration Flag
Heated Cover heater and control circuitry
Edge heater and control circuitry
Manifold heater and control circuitry
Central heater and control circuitry
Sample block thermal cutoff test
Heated cover thermal cutoff test
User diagnostics are also available to allow the user
to perform a quick cool and heat ramp verification test and
an extensive confirmation of the heating and cooling system.
These diagnostics also allow the user to view the history
file, which is a sequential record of events that occurred
in the previous run. The records contain time, temperature,
setpoint number, cycle number, program number and status
messages.
Remote Diagnostics are available to allow control of
the system from an external computer via the RS-232 port.
Control is limited to the service diagnostics and instrument
calibration only.
Calibration to determine various parameters such as
heater resistance,
etc. is performed. Access to the
calibration screen is limited by a "hidden" key sequence
(i.e. unknown to the customer). The following parameters
are calibrated:
The configuration plug is a module that rewires the
chiller unit, sample block heaters,
supplies for the proper voltage and frequency (100V/50Hz,
100/60Hz, 120/60Hz, 220/50Hz or 230/SOHZ).
the type of configuration plug installed.
coolant pump and power
The user enters
The firmware uses
this information to compute the equivalent resistance of the
sample block heaters. Upon power-up, the system verifies
that the configuration plug selected is consistent with the
current line voltage and frequency.
calibration process so that precise calculations of heater
heater resistance must be determined in the
power delivered can be made. The user enters the actual
resistances of the six sample block heaters (two main
The
configuration plug physically wires the heater in series for
220-230 VAC and in parallel for 100-120 VAC operation. The
firmware computes the equivalent resistance of each of the
three heaters by the following formula:
heaters, two manifold heaters and two edge heaters).
(7) For 100-120 VAC: R
N (R.*R2)/R14-R2
For 220-230 VAC: RN
(8) = R1 + R2
The equivalent resistance is used to deliver a precise
amount of heating power to the sample block (Power = Voltagez
x Resistance).
The calibration of the A/D circuit is necessary so that
temperatures can be precisely measured. This is performed
by measuring two test point voltages (TP6 and TP7 on the CPU
The output of
the A/D at each voltage forms the basis of a two point
board) and entering the measured voltages.
calibration curve. These voltages are derived from a 5 volt
precision source and are accurate and temperature
independent. At the start of each run, these voltages are
read by the system to measure electronic drift due to
temperature because any changes in A/D output is due to
temperature dependencies in the analog chain (multiplexer,
analog amplifier and A/D converter).
Calibration of the four temperature sensors (sample
block, ambient, coolant and heated cover) is performed for
accurate temperature measurements. Prior to installation
into an instrument, the ambient, coolant, and heated cover
temperature sensors are placed in a water bath where their
output is recorded (XX.X°C at YYYY mV).
then entered into the system.
These values are
Since temperature accuracy in
these areas is not critical, a one point calibration curve
is used.
The sample block sensor is calibrated in the
instrument. An array of 15 accurate temperature probes is
strategically placed in the sample block in the preferred
embodiment. The output of the temperature probes is
collected and averaged by a computer.
the block to go to 40°C.
the user enters the average block temperature as read by the
probes.
The firmware commands
After a brief stabilizing period
This procedure is repeated at 95°C, forming a
two point calibration curve.
Calibration of the AC to DC line voltage sampling
circuit is performed by entering into the system the output
of the AC to DC circuit for two given AC input voltages,
The output of the
circuit is not linear over the required range (90 - 260 VAC)
and therefore requires two points at each end (100 and 120,
220 and 240 VAC), but only uses one set based on the current
input voltage.
forming a two point calibration curve.
An accurate measure of AC voltage is necessary to
deliver a precise amount of power to the sample block (Power
= Voltage? x Resistance).
The Install program is a diagnostic tool that performs
an extensive test of the cooling and heating systems.
Install measures or calculates control cooling conductance,
ramp cooling conductance at 10°C and 18°C, cooling power at
°C and 20°C, sample block thermal and coolant capacity and
sample block sensor lag. The purpose of install is three
fold:
. To uncover marginal or faulty components.
. To use some of the measured values as system
constants stored in battery backed up RAM to
optimize the control system for a given
instrument.
. To measure heating and cooling system degradation
over time
Install is executed once before the system is shipped
and should also be run before use or whenever a major
component is replaced. The Install program may also be run
by the user under the user diagnostics.
The heater ping test verifies that the heaters are
properly configured for the current line voltage (i.e. in
parallel for 90-132 VAC and in series for 208-264 VAC). The
firmware supplies a burst of power to the sample block and
then monitors the rise in temperature over a 10 second time
period. If the temperature rise is outside a specified ramp
rate window, then the heaters are incorrectly wired for the
current line voltage and the install process is terminated.
The control cooling conductance tests measures the
thermal conductance K“ across the sample block to the
control cooling passages. This test is performed by first
driving the sample block temperature to 60°C (ramp valves
are closed), then integrating the heater power required to
maintain the block at 60°C over a 30 second time period.
The integrated power is divided by the sum of the difference
between the block and coolant temperature over the interval.
.28
(9) 2 Heater Power ww / 2 Block - Coolant
Temp
Typical values are 1.40 to 1.55 Watts/°C.
indicate a clogged liner(s).
A low K“ may
A high Kn may be due to a ramp
valve that is not completely closed, leakage of the coolant
to the outside diameter of the liner,
shifted.
The block thermal capacity (Blk Cp) test measures the
thermal capacity of the sample block by first controlling
the block at 35°C then applying the maximum power to the
heaters for 20 seconds.
or-a liner that has
The block thermal capacity is equal
to the integrated power divided by the difference in block
temperature. the effect of bias
cooling power is subtracted from the integrated power.
To increase accuracy,
(10) Elk Cp = ramp time * (heater - control cool pwr)
/ delta temp.
where:
ramp time = 20 seconds
heater power = 500 watts
control cool = (2 block - coolant temp) *
K
delta temp TB1ockum - Tfilockuo
The typical value of Block Cp is 540 watt-seconds/°C i
. Assuming a normal K“ value, an increase in block thermal
capacity is due to an increase in thermal loads, such as
moisture in the foam backing, loss of insulation around the
sample block, or a decrease in heater power such as a
failure of one of the six heater zones or a failure of the
electronic circuitry that drives the heater zones, or an
incorrect or an incorrectly wired voltage configuration
module.
A chiller test measures the system cooling output in
watts at 10°C and 18°C.
chiller output,
The system cooling power, or
at a given temperature is equal to the
summation of thermal loads at that temperature.
components are: 1.
The main
heating power required to maintain the
block at a given temperature, 2. power dissipated by the
pump used to circulate the coolant around the system, and 3.
losses in the coolant lines to the ambient. The chiller
power parameter is measured by controlling the coolant
temperature at either 10°C or 18°C and integrating the power
applied to the sample block to maintain a constant coolant
temperature, over’ a 32 -second. interval. The difference
between the block and coolant temperature is also integrated
to compute losses to ambient temperature.
(11) Chiller power = 2 Heating power + Pump power
+ (Kamb * Z (blk-cool temp))
where:
heating power = Sum of heating power required
to maintain coolant at 10°C
or 18°C over time 32 seconds.
12 watts
ambient,
Pump Power =
Kamb =
Circulating pump,
Conductance to 20
watts/°C
blk-cool temp = sum of difference in block
and coolant temp over time 32
seconds
Low chiller power may
The typical value for chiller power is 230 watts 1
at 10°C and 370 watts t 30 at 18°C.
be due to an obstruction in the fan path, a defective fan,
or a marginal or faulty chiller unit. It may also be due to
a miswired voltage configuration plug.
(Kc) the
thermal conductance at 10°C and 18°C across the sample block
A ramp cooling conductance test measures
()
This test is
performed by first controlling the coolant temperature at
°C or 18°C,
to the ramp and control cooling passages.
then integrating, over a 30 second time
interval, the heating power applied to maintain the coolant
at the given temperature divided by the difference of block
and coolant temperature over the time interval.
(12) K =
C coolant
Heating power / 2 (block -
temperature)
Typical values for K: are 28 watts/°C t 3 at 10°C and 31
watts/°C
t 3 at 18°C.
ramp valve,
A low Kc may be due to a closed or obstructed
kinked coolant tubing, weak pump or a hard
water/Prestone' mixture.
A sensor lag test measures the block sensor lag by
first controlling the block temperature to 35°C and then
applying 500 watts of heater power for 2 seconds and
1°C.
where each unit is equal
measuring the time required for the block to rise
Typical values are 13 to 16 units,
to 200 ms.
interface between the sensor and the block, such as lack of
A slow or long sensor lag can be due to a poor
thermal grease, a poorly machined sensor cavity or a faulty
sensor.
The remaining install tests are currently executed by
the install program but have limited diagnostic purposes due
to the fact that they are calculated values or are a
function of so many variables that their results do not
determine the source of a problem accurately.
The install program calculates the slope of the ramp
between 18°C and 10°C.
measure of the linearity of the conductance curve.
It is a
It is
also used to approximate the ramp cooling conductance at
0°C. Typical values are 0.40 1 0.2.
attest to the fact that it is just an approximation.
cooling conductance (SJ
The spread in values
.31
(13) s =
(Kc_l8° - KC_10°) / (18°C - 10°C)
conductance Kw.
the
Kw is an approximation of the cooling
install program also calculates cooling
conductance at 0°C. The value is extrapolated from the
actual conductance at 10°C. Typical values are 23 watts/°C
i 5. The formula used is:
(14) K =
w KC_lO - (SC * 10°C)
The install program also calculates coolant capacity
(Cool Cp) which is an approximation of thermal capacity of
plumbing lines, heat
The cooling capacity is equal to
that pump heat the
The mechanics
the entire coolant stream (coolant,
exchanger, and valves).
components into the coolant minus
components that remove heat from the coolant.
used to measure and calculate these components are complex
and are described in detail in the source code description
In this measurement, the coolant is allowed to
stabilize at 10°C.
sample block for a period of 128 seconds.
section.
Maximum heater power is applied to the
(15) Cool Cp = Heat Sources - Coolant sources
(16) Cool Cp =
2Tcool)
Heater Power + Pump Power + Kamb * (2Tamb -
- Block Cp * (Tblockuo - Tblockuua)
- Average Chiller Power between Tcooluo and
Tcooluna
Characters enclosed in { } indicate the variable names
used in the source code.
Heater-Ping Test Eseudocode:
The heater ping test verifies that the heaters are
properly wired for the current line voltage.
Get the sample block and coolant to a known and stable
point.
Turn ON the ramp cooling valves
Wait for the block and coolant to go below 5°C
Turn OFF ramp cooling valves
effect of
measuring the block temperature drop over a 10 second
Measure the cooling control cooling by
time interval. Wait 10 seconds for stabilization before
taking any measurements.
wait 10 seconds
templ = block temperature
Wait 10 seconds
tempz = block temperature
{tempa} = tempz - templ
Examine the variable {linevolts} which contains the
actual measured line voltage. Pulse the heater with 75
watts for a line voltage greater then 190V or with 300
watts if it less than 140V.
if ({linevolts} > 190 Volts) then
deliver 75 watts to heater
else
deliver 300 watts to heater
Measure the temperature rise over a 10 second time
period. The result is the average heat rate in 0.01
°/second.
templ = block temperature
Wait 10 seconds
tempz = block temperature
{tempb} = tempz - templ
subtract the average heat rate {tempb} from the control
cooling effect to calculate true heating rate
(17) heat_rate = (tempb} - (tempa}
Evaluate the heat_rate. For 220V-230V, the heat rate
should be less than 0.30 °/second. For 100V-120V the
heat rate should be greater than 0.30 °/second.
if (linevoltage = 220V and heat_rate > 0.30 °/second)
then
Error -> Heaters wired for 120
Look up keyboard
if (linevoltage = 120V and heat_rate < 0.30 °/second)
then
Error —> Heaters wired for 220
Lock up keyboard
KCC est eudocode:
This test measures the control cooling conductance also
known as K“.
K” is measured at a block temperature of 60°C.
Drive block to 60°C
Maintain block temperature at 60°C for 300 seconds
Integrate the power being applied to the sample block
heaters over a 30 second time period. Measure and
integrate the power required to maintain the block
temperature with control cooling bias.
{dt_sum} = 0 (delta temperature sum)
{main_pwr_sum} = 0 (main heater power sum)
{aux_pwr_sum} = 0 (auxiliary heater power sum)
for (count = 1 to 30)
{dt_sum} I {dt_sum} + (block temperature - coolant
temperature)
wait 1 sec
Accumulate the power applied to the main and
auxiliary heaters. The actual code resides in the
PID control task and is therefore summed every
200ms.
{main_pvr_sum} - {main_pwr_cum} + {actual_power}
{aux_pwr_sum) = {aux_pwr_sum} + {aux1_actual} +
(aux2_actual}
compute the conductance by dividing the power sum by the
temperature eum. Note that the units are 10 mW/°C.
(18) K“ - ({main_pwr_eum} + {aux_pwr_eum}) / {dt_eum)
L0 V P st do :
This test measures the sample block thermal capacity.
Drive the block to 35'C
control block temperature at 35°C for 5 seconds and
record initial temperature.
initial_temp - block temperature
Deliver maximum power to heater: for 20 seconds while
summing the difference in block to coolant temperature as
well as heater power.
Deliver 500 watts
{dt_eum) - 0
for (count = 1 to 20 seconds)
{
(dt_Sum} = {dt_sum} + (block temperature - coolant
temperature)
wait 1 second
}
(19) delta_temp = block temperature - initial_temp
Compute the joules in cooling power due to control
cooling which occurs during ramp.
(20) cool_joule = Control cooling conductance (Kw)
{dt_sum}
compute the total joules applied to the block from the
main heater and control cooling. Divide by temp change
over the interval to compute thermal capacity.
(21) Block CP = ramptime * (heater power - cool_joule)
/ delta_temp
where: ramptime = 20 seconds
heater power = 500 Watts
COOL_PWR_10:
This test measures the chiller power at 10°C.
Control the coolant temperature at 10°C and stabilize for
120 secs.
count = 120
do while (count != 0)
{
if (coolant temperature = 10 : 0.5°C) then
.36
count count - 1
else
count = 120
wait 1 second
At this point, the coolant has been at 10°C for 120
seconds and has stabilized. Integrate, over 32 seconds,
the power being applied to maintain a coolant temperature
of 10°C.
{cool_init} = coolant temperature
{main_pwr_sum} = 0
{aux_pwr_sum) = 0
{delta_temp_sum} = 0
for (count = 1 to 32)
{
Accumulate the power applied to the main and
auxiliary heaters. The actual code resides in the
control task.
{main_pwr_sum} = {main_pwr_sum} + actual_power
{aux_pwr_sum} {aux_pwr_sum} + aux1_actual +
aux2_actual
delta_temp_sum de1ta_temp_sum + (ambient temp —
coolant temp)
wait 1 second
}
Compute the number of joules of energy added to the
coolant mass during the integration interval. "(coolant
temp - cool_init)" is the change in coolant temp during
550 is the Cp of the coolant
in joules, thus the product is in joules.
the extra heat added to the coolant which made it drift
the integration interval.
It represents
I37
from setpoint during the integration interval. This
error is subtracted below from the total heat applied
before calculating the cooling power.
(22) cool_init = (coolant temp — cool_init) * 550J
Add the main power sum to the aux heater sum to get
joules dissipated in 32 seconds. Divide by 32 to get the
average joules/sec.
(23) {main_pwr_sum} = ({main_pwr_sum}+{aux_pwr_sum} -
cool_init) / 32
Compute the chiller power at 10°C by summing all the
chiller power components.
(24) Powermw = main_power_sum + PUMP PWR + (K_AMB *
delta_temp_sum)
where:
{main_pwr_sum} = summation of heater power over
interval
PUMP PWR = 12 watts, pump that circulates
coolant
de1ta_temp_sum = summation of amb - coolant over
interval
K_AMB = 20 Watts/K, thermal conductance
from cooling to ambient.
KC 10 iegg Eseudocode:
This test measures the ramp cooling conductance at 10°C.
Control the coolant temperature at 10°C : 0.5 and allow
it to stabilize for 10 seconds.
At this point, the coolant is at setpoint and is being
controlled. Integrate, over a 30 second time interval,
the power being applied to the heaters to maintain the
coolant at 10°C. Sum the difference between the block
and coolant temperatures.
{main_pwr_sum} = 0
{aux_pwr_sum} = 0
{dt_sum} = 0
for (count = 1 to 30)
{
Accumulate the power applied to the main and
auxiliary heaters. The actual code resides in the
PID control task.
(main_pwr_sum} = {main_pwr_sum} + actual_power
{aux_pwr_sum} = {aux_pwr_sum} + aux1_actual +
aux2_actual
{dt_sum} = {dt_sum} + (block temperature - coolant
temp)
wait 1 second
}
Compute the energy in joules delivered to the block over
the summation period. Units are in 0.1 watts.
(25) {main_pwr_sum} = {main_pwr__sum} + {aux_pwr_sum}
Divide the power sum by block - coolant temperature sum
to get ramp cooling conductance in 100 mw/K.
(26) Kc_10 = (main_pwr_sum} / {dt_sum}
COOL PWR 18 Test Pseudocode:
i38
This test measures the chiller power at 18°C .
Get the sample block and coolant to a known and stable
point. Control the coolant temperature at 18°C and
stabilize for 128 secs.
count = 128
do while (count != 0)
{
if (coolant temperature = 18°C 1 0.5) then
count = count - 1
else
count = 120
wait 1 second
At this point the coolant has been at 18°C for 120
seconds and has stabilized. Integrate, over 32 seconds,
the power being applied to maintain a coolant temperature
of 18°C.
coolant temperature
0
{aux_pwr_sum} = 0
{cool_init}
{main_pwr_sum}
{delta_temp_sum} = O
for (count = 1 to
{
Accumulate the power applied to the main and
auxiliary heaters. The actual code resides in the
control task.
{main_pwr___sum} = {main_pwr_sum} + actual _power
{aux_pwr_sum} = {aux_pwr_sum} + aux1_actual +
aux2_actual
()
delta_temp_sum = delta_temp_sum + (ambient temp -
coolant temp)
wait 1 second
}
Compute the number of joules of energy added to the
coolant mass during the integration interval. "(coolant
temp - cool_init)" is the change in coolant temp during
550 is the Cp of the coolant
in joules, thus the product is in joules. It represents
the extra heat added to the coolant which made it drift
setpoint during the integration interval.
the integration interval.
This error is
subtracted below from the total heat applied before
calculating the cooling power.
(27) cool_init = (coolant temp - cool_init) * 550
Add. main power sum to aux heater sum to get joules
dissipated in 32 seconds. Divide by 32 to get the
average joules/sec.
(28) {main_pwr_sum} = ({main_pwr_sum}+{aux;pwr_sum} -
cool_init) / 32
compute the chiller power at 18°C by summing all the
chiller power components.
(29)
delta_temp_sum)
Power,” =-= main_power_sum + PUMP PWR + (K__AMB *
where:
{main_pwr_sum} = summation of heater power over
interval
PUMP PWR = 12 Watts, pump that circulates
coolant
delta_temp_sum = summation of amb - coolant over
1
interval
K_AMB = 20 Watts/K, Thermal
conductance from cooling to
ambient.
C 8 st eudo
This test measures the ramp cooling conductance at 18°C.
Control the coolant temperature at 18°C t 0.5 and allow
it to stabilize for 10 seconds.
At this point, the coolant is at setpoint and being
controlled. Integrate, over a 30 second time interval,
the power being applied to the heaters to maintain the
coolant at 18°C. Sum the difference between the block
and coolant temperature.
{main_pwr_sum} = 0
{aux_pwr_sum} = 0
{dt_sum} = 0
for (count = 1 to 30)
{
Accumulate the power applied to the main and
auxiliary heaters. The actual code resides in the
control task.
{main_pwr_sum} = (main_pwr_sum} + actual_power
{aux_pwr_sum} = (aux_pwr_sum} + aux1_actual +
aux2_actual
{dt_sum} = {dt_sum) + (block temperature - coolant
temp)
wait 1 second
}
Compute the energy in joules delivered to the block over
the summation period. Units are in 0.1 watts.
(30) {main_pwr_sum} = {main_pwr_sum} + {aux_pwr_sum}
Divide power sum by block - coolant temperature sum to
get ramp cooling conductance in 100 mw/K.
(31) Kc_l8 - {main_pwr_sum} / {dt_sum}
SEN;AG zest Eseudogodez
This test measures the sample block sensor lag.
Drive the block to 35°C. Hold within i 0.2°C for 20
seconds then record temperature of block.
{tempa} = block temperature
Deliver 500 watts of power to sample block.
Apply 500 watts of power for the next 2 seconds and count
the amount of iterations through the loop for the block
is temperature to increase 1°C. Each loop iteration
executes every 200 ms, therefore actual sensor lag is
equal to count * 200 ms.
secs - 0
count 8 0
do while (TRUE)
{
if (secs >= 2 seconds) then
shut heaters off
if (block temperature - tempa > 1.0°C) then
exit while loop
count = count + 1
}
end do while
sensor lag = count
Coo an C st s udo d :
This test computes the coolant capacity of the entire
system.
Stabilize the coolant temperature at 10°C i 0.5.
send message to the PID control task to ramp the coolant
temperature from its current value (about 10°C) to 18°C.
wait for the coolant to cross 12°C so that the coolant CP
ramp always starts at the same temperature and has
clearly started ramping. Note the initial ambient and
block temperatures.
do while (coolant temperature < 12°C)
(
wait 1 second
}
{blk_delta} - block temperature
{h2o_delta} - coolant temperature
For the next two minutes, while the coolant temperature
is ramping to 18°C, sum the coolant temperature and the
difference between the ambient and coolant temperatures.
{temp_sum} = 0
{coo1_sum} = O
.44
for (count 1 to 128 seconds)
{
(32) {coo1_sum} = cool_temp_sum + coolant
temperature.
(33) {temp_sum} = ambient - coolant temperature
wait 1 second
count = count + 1
Calculate the change in temperatures over the two minute
period.
(34) {blk_delta) = block temperature - {blk_delta)
(35) {h2o_delta} = coolant temperature - {h2o_delta}
Compute Kchill, i.e., the rate of change of chiller power
with coolant temperature over the coolant range of 10°C
to 20°C. Note that units are in watts/10°C.
(36) Kchill = (Chiller Pwr 6 18°C - Chiller Pwr 6 10°C)
Compute Sc which is the slope of the ramp cooling
conductivity versus the temperature range of 18°C to
°C. The units are in watts/10°C/10°C.
o (37) Sc = (Kc_18 — Kc_10) / 3
Compute Kc_0, the ramp cooling conductance extrapolated
to 0°C.
(38) Kc_0 = Kc_1o - (Sc * 10)
Compute Cp_Cool, the Cp of the coolant by:
(39) cp_coo1 = ( HEATPOWER * 128 + PUMP_PWR t 123
h2o_delta
- Power 9 0°C * 128
- B1ock_Cp * b1k_de1ta
+ K_AMB * temp_sum
- Kchill * cool_temp_sum ) /
where:
HEATPOWER = 500 W, the heater power applied to warm
the block, thus heating the coolant.
It is multiplied by 128, as the heating
interval was 128 secs.
PUMP_PWR = 12 W, the power of the pump that
circulates the coolant multiplied by
128 seconds.
Pwr_0°C = The chiller power at 0°C multiplied by
128 seconds.
Block_Cp = Thermal capacity of sample block.
blk_de1ta - Change in block temp over the heating
interval.
K_AMB = 20 Watts/K, thermal conductance from
cooling to ambient.
temp_sum =
h2o_delta =
Kchill
The sum once per second of ambient -
coolant temperature over the interval.
Change in coolant temperature over
interval
6°C).
of heating (approximately
slope of chiller power versus coolant
<48
temp.
coo1_sum = The sum of coolant temp, once per
second, over the heating interval.
REAL ME 0 RATING SYS - CR T N
CRETIN is a stand alone, multitasking kernel that
provides system services to other software modules called
tasks. Tasks are written in the "C" language with some time
critical areas written in Intel 8085 assembler. Bach task
has a priority level and provides an independent function.
CRETIN resides in low memory and runs after the startup
diagnostics have successfully been executed.
CRETIN handles the task scheduling and allows only one
task to run at a time. CRETIN receives all hardware
interrupts thus enabling waiting tasks to run when the
proper interrupt is received. CRETIN provides a real time
clock to allow tasks to wait for timed events or pause for
known CRETIN provides
communication through a system of message nodes.
intervals. also intertask
The firmware is composed of nine tasks which are
briefly described in priority order below. Subsequent
sections will describe each task in greater detail.
. The control task (PID) is responsible for controlling
the sample block temperature.
. The keyboard task is responsible for processing
keyboard input from the keypad.
. The timer task waits for a half second hardware
interrupt, then sends a wake up message to both the
sequence and the display task.
. The sequence task executes the user programs.
. The pause task handles programmed and keypad pauses
.48
when a program is running.
The display task updates the display in real time.
The printer task handles the RS-232 port communication
and printing.
The LED task is responsible for driving the heating
LED. It is used to control the coolant
temperature while executing Install.
also
The link task starts files that are linked together in
a method by simulating a keystroke.
lock em eratu e Con o o am D a k
The Proportional Integral Differential (PID) task is
responsible for controlling the absolute sample block
temperature to O.l°C, as well as controlling the sample
block temperature non-uniformity (TNU, defined as the
temperature of the hottest well minus the temperature of the
coldest well) to less than 1 0.5°C by applying more heating
power to the perimeter of the block to compensate for losses
through the guard band edges. The PID task is
responsible for controlling the temperature of the heated
also
cover to a less accurate degree. This task runs 5 times per
second and has the highest priority.
The amount of heating or cooling power delivered to the
sample block is derived from the difference or
between the user specified sample temperature stored in
called the setpoint,
"error"
memory, and the current calculated
sample temperature. This scheme follows the standard loop
control practice. In addition to a power contribution to
the film heaters directly proportional to the current error,
i.e., the proportional component, (setpoint temperature
minus sample block temperature), the calculated power also
incorporates an integral term that serves to close out any
static error (setpoint temperature - Block temperature less
than O,5°C). This called the
component. To avoid integral term accumulation or "wind-
component is integral
up", contributions to the integral are restricted to a small
band around the setpoint temperature. The proportional and
integral component gains have been carefully selected and
tested,
sensor and sample tube severely restrict the system's phase
as the time constants associated with the block
margin, thus creating a potential for loop instabilities.
The proportional term gain is P in Equation (46) below and
the integral term gain is Ki in Equation (48) below.
The PID task uses a "controlled overshoot algorithm"
where the block temperature often overshoots its final
steady state value in order for the sample temperature to
arrive at its desired temperature as rapidly as possible.
The use of the algorithm causes the block
temperature to overshoot in a controlled manner but does not
cause the sample temperature to overshoot.
overshoot
This saves power
and is believed to be new in PCR instrumentation.
The total power delivered to all heater of the sample
block to achieve a desired ramp rate is given by:
(40) Power = (CP / ramp_rate) + bias
where:
CP
bias
Thermal mass of block
bias or control cooling power
ramp_rate = Tfin“ - Thfifiu / desired ramp rate
This power is clamped to a maximum of 500 watts of
heating power for safety.
with every iteration of the task (every zooms) the
system applies heating or ramp cooling power (if necessary)
based on the following algorithms.
The control system is driven by the calculated sample
temperature. The sample temperature is defined as the
average temperature of the liquid in a thin walled plastic
sample tube placed in one of the wells of the sample block
(herafter the "block"). The time constant of the system
(sample tube and its contents) is a function of the tube
type and volume. At the start of a run, the user enters the
tube type and the amount of reaction volume. The system
computes a resultant time constant (7 or tau). For the
MicroAmp' tube and 100 microliters of reaction volume, tau
is approximately 9 seconds.
(41) T
b”_MN = Tmk + Power * (zooms / CP)
(42) Tnmm = Tm, + (Tmbm - Tm’) * zooms / tau
where:
Tmbmw = Current block temperature
Tmk = Block temperature Zooms ago
Power = Power applied to block
CP = Thermal mass of block
Tumm = Current sample temperature
I;mp = Sample temperature zooms ago
tau = Thermal Time Constant of sample
tube, adjusted for sensor lag (approximately 1.5)
The error signal or temperature is simply:
(43) error - Setpoint - T,
up-new
As in any closed loop system, a corrective action
(heating or cooling power) is applied to close out part of
the current error. In Equation (45) below,F is the fraction
of the error signal to be closed out in one sample period
(200mS).
(44) 'r,__p_m MD + F at (sp — Twp)
where SP =
the user setpoint temperature
Due to the large lag in the system (long tube time
constant), the fraction F is set low.
combining formulas (42) and (44) yields:
(45) T,___m == Twp +
(s1=—'rmp)
(T T * .2 / tau = T + F *
mbmn- amp) amp
Combining formulas (41) and (45) and adding a term P
(the proportional term gain) to limit block temperature
oscillations and improve system stability yields:
(45) Pwr = cp 1» P/'I‘ * ((s1= - Tm) * F * tau/T + T.“ - Tm)
where
P = the proportional term gain and
T = the sample period of 0.2 seconds (200 msec).
and
P/T = 1 in the preferred embodiment
Equation (46) is a theoretical equation which gives the
(PVT)
desired value without accounting for losses to the ambient
power needed to move the block temperature to some
through the guardbands, etc.
Once the power needed to drive the block is determined
via Equation (46), this power is divided up into the power
to be delivered to each of the three heater zones by the
areas of these zones. Then the losses to the manifolds are
determined and a power term having a magnitude sufficient to
compensate for these losses is added to the amount of power
to be delivered to the manifold heater zone. Likewise,
another power term sufficient to compensate for power lost
to the block support pins, the block temperature sensor and
the ambient is added to the power to be delivered to the
eddge heater zones. These additional terms and the division
of power by the area of the zones convert Equation (46) to
Equations (3), (4) and (5) given above.
Equation (46) is the formula used by the preferred
embodiment of the control system to determine the required
heating or cooling power to the sample block.
When the computed sample temperature is within the
"integral band", i.e., : 0.5°C around the target temperature
(SP), the gain of the propr:tional term is too small to
close out the remaining error. Therefore an integral term
is added to the proportional term to close out small errors.
The integral term is disabled outside the integral band to
prevent a large error signal from accumulating. The
algorithm inside the "integral band" is as follows:
(47) Int_sum (new)
(48) pwr_adj
Int_sum (old) + (SP - T;mp)
Ki * Int;sum (new)
where,
Int_sum = the sum of the sample period of
the difference between the SP and
Tgmp temperature, and
Ki = the integral gain (512) in the
preferred embodiment).
Once a heating power has been calculated, the control
software distributes the power to the three film heater
zones 254, 262 and 256 in Figure 13 based on area in the
preferred embodiment.
based
temperature
The edge heaters receive additional
the the block
ambient temperature. Similarly, the
manifold heaters receive additional power based upon the
power upon difference between
difference between the block temperature and the coolant
temperature.
£ID._1=_zend299.d2
Upon system Power up or Reset
Turn off ramp cooling
Turn of! all heaters
Calculate heater resistances
Do Forever - executes every 20015
If (block temperature > 105) then
Turn off heaters
Turn on ramp valves
Display error message
Read the line voltage {1inevo1te)
Read the coolant sensor and convert to temperature
{h2otenp)
Read the ambient sensor and convert to temperature
{anbtenp)
Read the heated cover sensor and convert to temperature
{cvrtenp}
Read the eample block eeneor and convert to temperature
(h1ktenp}. This portion of the code also reads the
temperature stable voltage reterence and compares the
voltage to a reference voltage that van deterained during
calibration of the instrunent. It there is any discrepancy,
the electronics have drifted and the voltage readings from
the temperature sensors are adjusted accordingly to obtain
accurate temperature readings.
compute the sample temperature {tubetenths} or the
temperature that gets displayed by using a low-pass digital
filter.
(49) tubetenths = TTW1 + (TBn - TTW1) * T/tau
where TTW, = last sample temp {tubetenths}
TB“ = current block sensor temp {blktenths}
T = sample interval in seconds - Zooms
tau = tau tube {cf_tau} - tau sensor
{cf_lag}
Equation (49) represents the first terms of a Taylor
series expansion of the exponential that defines the
calculated sample temperature given as Equation (6) above.
Compute the temperature of the foam backing underneath the
sample block, {phantenths} known as the phantom mass. The
temperature of the phantom mass is used to adjust the
power delivered to the block to account for heat flow in
and out of the phantom mass. The temperature is computed
by using a low pass digital filter implemented in
software.
(50) phantenths = TTW1 + (TBn - TTW1) * T/tau
where TTW1 = Last phantom mass temp
{phantenths}
TB“ = Current block sensor temp {blktenths}
T = Sample interval in seconds - zooms
tauhm = Tau of foam block = 30 secs.
Compute the sample temperature error (the difference
between the sample temperature and the setpoint
temperature) {abs_tube_err}.
Determine ramp direction {fast_ramp} = UP_RAMP or DN_RAMP
If (sample temperature is within ERR of setpoint (SP))
then
PID not in fast transition mode. {fast_ramp} = OFF
where ERR = the temperature width of the "integral
band", i.e., the error band
surrounding the target or setpoint
temperature.
Calculate current control cooling power {cool_ctrl} to
determine how much heat is being lost to the bias cooling
channels.
Calculate current ramp cooling power {cool_ramp}
Calculate {cool_brkpt}. {coo1_brkpt} is a cooling
power that is "used to
determine when to make a
transition from ramp to
control cooling on downward
ramps. It is a function of
block and coolant
temperature.
The control cooling power {cool_ctrl} and the ramp cooling
power {cool_ramp} are all factors which the CPU must know to
control downward temperature ramps, i.e., to calculate how
long to keep the ramp cooling solenoid operated valves open.
The control cooling power is equal to a constant plus the
temperature of the coolant times the thermal conductance from
the block to the bias cooling channels. Likewise, the ramp
cooling power is equal to the difference between the block
temperature and the coolant temperature times the thermal
conductance from the block to the ramp cooling channels.
The cooling breakpoint is equal to a constant
times the difference in temperature between the
block and the coolant.
Calculate a heating or cooling power {int_pwr} needed
to move the block temperature from its current temperature
to the desired setpont (SP) temperature.
(51) {int_pvr) - KP 0 CP * ((8? - Tfip) * {ct_kd} +
T2 - Tu‘)
where:
KP n ?roportional gain - P/T in Equation
(46) - approximately one in the
preferred embodiment
CP - Thermal maze of block
SP 8 Temperature setpoint
Ta” = Sample temperature
Tu‘ - Block temperature
o£_kd - Tau 1 K‘ / De1ta_t where tau is the cane
tau as used in Equation (49) and X, is a constant
and Delta_t is the 200 used sample period.
If (sample temperature is within {c£_iband} of
eetpoint) then
integrate sample error {i_eun}
else
(52) clear {i_sun - 0}.
calculate the integral term power.
(53) integral term - (i_eun} * constant {o£_tern}.
Add the integral term to the power.
(54) {int_pwr} - {int_pwr} + integral term
Adjust power to compensate for heating load due to the
effects or the phantom mass (roam backing) by first
finding the phantom mass power then adding it to power
{int_pwr}.
Calculate phantom mass power (phant_pwr} by:
(55) phant_pwr = C * (blktenths - phantenths) / 10
where: C = thermal mass of foam backing (1.0 W/K)
Adjust heater power
{int_pwr} = {int_pwr} + {phant_pwr}
Compute power needed in manifold heaters {aux1_power}
which will compensate for loss from the sample block into
the manifold edges that have coolant flowing through it.
Note that if the system is in a downward ramp,
{aux1_power} = 0. The manifold zone power required is
described below:
(57) {aux1_power} 8 K1*(TmK - Tn“) + K2*(TuK - T}mL) +
K5*(dT/dt)
where:
X1 = Coefficient (cf_1coeff}
K2 . - Coefficient {cf_2coeff}
K5 = Coefficient {cf_5coeff}
dT/dt = Ramp rate
Tn‘ = Block temperature
Tn“ = Ambient temperature
TumL = Coolant temperature
Compute power needed in edge heaters {aux2_power} which
will compensate for losses from the edges of the sample
block to ambient. Note that if we are in a downward ramp
(aux2_power} = O. The edge zone power required is
described below:
(58) {aux2_power} = K3*(Tu‘ TNm + K4*(TuK - Tang +
K6*(dT/dt)
where:
R3 = Coefficient {cf_3coeff}
K4 = Coefficient {cf_4coeff}
K6 = Coefficient {cf_6coeff}
dT/dt = Ramp rate
Tm‘ = Block temperature
T“? = Ambient temperature
TanL = Coolant temperature
Delete contribution of manifold {aux1_power} and edge
heater power {aux2_power} to obtain total power that must
be supplied by main heaters and coolers.
(59) {int_pwr} - {int_power} - {aux1_power} -
{aux2_power}
Decide if the ramp cooling should be applied. Note that
{cool_brkpt} is used as a breakpoint from ramp cooling to
control cooling.
If (int_pwr < cool_brkpt and performing downward ramp)
to decide whether block temperature is so much higher than
the setpoint temperature that ramp cooling is needed then
Turn ON ramp valves
else
Turn OFF ramp valves and depend upon bias cooling
At this point, {int_pwr} contains the total heater power and
{aux1_power} and {aux2_power} contain the loss from the
block out to the edges. The power supplied to the auxiliary
heaters is composed of two components: aux_power and
int_power. The power is distributed {int_pwr} to the main
and auxiliary heaters based on area.
tota1_pwr = int_pwr
(30
int_pwr total_pvr * 66%
total_pwr * 20%+ auxl_power
total_pwr * l4%+—auX2_power
auxl_power
aux2_power
Compute the number of half cycles for the triac to conduct
for each end zone and each iteration of the control loop to
This
loop executes once every 1/5 second, therefore there are
120/5 = 24 half cycles at 60Hz or 100/5 - 20 at 5OHz. The
number of half cycles is a function of requested power
send the appropriate amount of power to the heaters.
{int_pwr}, the current line voltage {linevolts} and the
heater resistance. since the exact power needed may not be
delivered each loop, a remainder is calculated {delta_power}
to keep track of what to include from the last loop.
(60) int_pwr = int_pwr + delta_power
Calculate the number of 1/2 cycles to keep the triac on.
Index is equal to the number of cycles to keep the triac on.
(51)
linevolts squared where Equation (61) is performed once for
index = power * main heater ohms * [20 or 24] /
each heater zone and where "power" - int_pwr for the main
heater zone, aux1_pwr for the manifold heater zone and
aux2_pwr for the edge heater zone.
Calculate the amount of actual power delivered.
(62) actual_power - linevolts squared * index / main
heater resistance
Calculate the remainder to be added next time.
(53)
delta_power = int_pwr - actual_power
]
Calculate the number of 1/2 cycles for the edge and manifold
heaters using the same technique described for the main
heaters
by substituting {aux1_pwr} into
Equation (60).
and {aux2_pwr}
Load the calculated counts into the counters that control
the main, manifold and edge triacs.
Look at heated cover sensor. If heated cover is less than
100°C, then load heated cover counter to supply 50 watts of
power.
Look at sample temperature. If it is greater than 50°C,
turn on HOT LED to warn user not to touch block.
END OF FOREVER LOOP
(32
Keyboard Iask
The purpose of the keyboard task is to wait for the user
to press a key on the keypad, compare the key to a list of
valid keystrokes for the current state, execute the command
function associated with the valid key and change to a new
state. Invalid keystrokes are indicated with a beep and
then ignored. This task is the heart of the state driven
It is because the action
taken depends on the current state of the user interface.
user interface. "state driven"
Keyboard Iask Pseudocoge:
Initialize keyboard task variables.
Turn off the cursor.
If (install flag not set) then
Run the install program.
send a message to pid task to turn on the heated cover.
If (the power failed while the user was running a program)
then
Compute and display the number of minutes the power was
off for.
write a power failure status record to the history file.
send a message to the sequence task to start a 4°C soak.
Give the user the option of reviewing the history file.
If (the user request to review the history file) then
Go to the history file display.
Display the top level screen.
Do Forever
Send a message to the system that this task is waiting for
a hardware interrupt from the keypad.
Go to sleep until this interrupt is received.
when awakened, read and decode the key from the keypad.
Get a list of the valid keys for the current state.
Compare the key to the list of valid keys.
If (the key is valid for this state) then
Get the "action" and next state information for this
I3
key.
Execute the "action" (a command function)
state.
Go to the next state.
Else
Beep the beeper for an invalid key.
End of Forever Loop
for this
Timer Task Overview
The purpose of the timer task is to wake up the sequence
and the real time display task every half a second. The
timer task asks the system (CRETIN) to wake it up whenever
the half second hardware interrupt that is generated by the
clock/calendar device is received. The timer task then in
turn sends 2 wake up messages to the sequence task and the
real time display task respectively. This intermediate task
is necessary since CRETIN will only service one task per
interrupt and thus only the higher priority task (the
sequence task) would execute.
Timer Iask Eseudocgde:
Do Forever
Send a message to the system that this task is waiting for
a hardware interrupt from the clock/calendar device.
Go to sleep until this interrupt is received.
when awakened, send a message to the sequence and to the
real time display task.
End Forever Loop
Seguence Iask Overview
The purpose of the sequence task
contents of a user defined program.
is to execute the
It sequentially steps
through each setpoint in a cycle, consisting of a ramp and
a hold segment, and sends out setpoint temperature messages
to the pid task which in turn controls the temperature of
the sample block. At the end of each segment, it sends a
message to the real time display task to switch the display
and a message to the printer task to print the segment's
runtime information. The user can pause a running program
by pressing the PAUSE key on the keypad then resume the
program by pressing the START key. The user can prematurely
abort a program by pressing the STOP key. This task
executes every half a second when it is awakened by the
timer task.
Sequence Task Eseudocodez
Do Forever
Initialize sequence task variables.
Wait for a message from the keyboard task that the user has
pressed the START key or selected START from the menu or a
message from link task that the next program in a method is
ready to run.
Go to sleep until this message is received.
Whenawakened,update the ADC calibration readings to account
for any drift in the analog circuitry.
If (not starting the 4°C power failure soak sequence) then
Send a message to the printer task to print the PE title
line, system and date, program
parameters, the program type and its number.
time configuration
If (starting a HOLD program) then
Get the temperature to hold at {hold_tp}.
Get the number of seconds to hold for {hold_time}.
If (ramping down more than 3°C and {hold_tp} > 45°C) then
.68
Post an intermediate setpoint.
Else
Post the final setpoint {hold_tp}.
While (counting down the hold time {hold_time})
Wait for half second wake up message from timer task.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key) then
Post a setpoint of current sample temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the pause task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
If (an intermediate setpoint was posted) then
Post the final setpoint.
If (the setpoint temp is below ambient temp and will
be
there for more than 4 min.) then
Set a flag to tell pid task to turn off the heated
cover.
Increment the half second hold time counter
{store_time}.
Post the final setpoint again in case the hold time
expired before the intermediate setpoint was reached
- this insures the correct setpoint will be written
the history file.
Write a data record to the history file.
Send a message to the printer task to print the HOLD
info.
End of HOLD program
Else if (starting a CYCLE program) then
Add up the total number of seconds in a cycle
{secs_in_run}, taking into account the instrument ramp
time and the user programmed ramp and hold times.
Get the total number of seconds in the program by
multiplying the number of seconds in a cycle by the number
of cycles in a program {num_cyc}.
Total {secs_in_run} = {secs_in_run} per cycle * {num_cyc}.
While (counting down the number of cycles {num_cyc})
ramp)
While (counting down the
{num_5€9})
number of setpoints
Get the ramp time {ramp_time}.
Get the final setpoint temp {t_final}.
Get the hold time {1ocal_time}.
Send a message to the real time display task to
display the ramp segment information.
If (the user programmed a ramp time) then
Compute the error {ramp_err} between the
programmed ramp time and the actual ramp time as
follows. This equation is based on empirical
data.
{ramp_err} = prog ramp_rate * 15 + 0.5 (up ramp)
{ramp_err} = prog ramp_rate * 6 + 1.0 (down
where:
prog ramp_rate = (abs(T,- Tg - 1) / {ramp_time}
T, =_setpoint temp {t_final}
T = current block temp {blktemp}
abs = absolute value of the
expression
Note: the '- 1' is there because the clock
starts
within 1‘C of setpoint.
new ramp_time - old {ramp_time) - {ramp_err}
If (new ramp_time > old {ramp_time}) then
new ramp_time = old {ramp_time}.
Else
While
(38
new ramp_time = 0.
(sample temp is not within a user
configured
temp {cf_clk_dev} of setpoint)
Wait for half second wake up message from
timer task.
Post a new ramp setpoint every second.
Else if (ramping down more than 3°C and {t_final}
°C) then
Post an intermediate setpoint.
While (sample temp is not within a user
configured
temp {cf_clk_dev} of setpoint)
Wait for half second wake up message from
timer task.
Increment the half second ramp time
counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key)
then
Post a setpoint of current sample
temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause
task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the
pause task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
Post the final setpoint.
while (sample temp is not within a user configured
temp
{cf_clk_dev} of setpoint)
Wait for half second wake up message from timer
task.
Increment the half second ramp time counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key) then
Post a setpoint of current sample temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the pause
task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
send a message to the printer task to print the
ramp information.
Beep beeper to signal end of ramp segment.
send a message to the real time display task to
display the ramp segment information.
While (counting down the hold time)
Wait for half second wake up message from timer
task.
Increment the half second hold time counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key) then
Post a setpoint of current sample temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the pause
task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
Write a data record to the history file.
send a message to the printer task to print the
hold information.
If (the final setpoint temp has drifted more than
the
user configurable amount {cf_temp_dev}) then
Write an error record to the history file.
Check for a programmed pause.
Go to next segment.
Send a message to the printer task to print an end of
cycle message.
Go to next cycle.
End of CYCLE program.
'70
Else if (starting an AUTO-CYCLE program) then
Add up the total number of seconds
{secs_in_run} taking into account the instrument ramp time
and the
automatically incremented or decremented by a programmed
in each program
user programmed hold times which can be
amount each cycle.
While (counting down the number of cycles {num_cyc})
While number of
{num_seg>>
(counting down the setpoints
Get the final setpoint temp {t_final}.
Get the hold time {time_hold}.
Check if the user programmed an auto increment or
decrement of the setpoint temp and/or the hold
time and adjust them accordingly.
If (the auto increment or decrement of the temp
causes the setpoint to go below 0°C or above
99.9°C) then
An error record is written to the history file.
The setpoint is capped at either 0°C or 99.9°C.
Send a message to real time display task to
display the
ramp segment information.
If (ramping down more than 3°C and {t_final} >
°C)
then
Post an intermediate setpoint.
While (sample temp is not within a user
configured
temp (cf_clk_dev} of setpoint)
Wait for half second wake up message from
timer task.
Increment the half second ramp time
counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key)
then
.71
Post a setpoint of current sample
temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause
task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the
pause task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
Post the final setpoint.
While (sample temp is not within a user configured
temp
{cf_clk_dev) of setpoint)
Wait for half second wake up message from timer
task.
Increment the half second ramp time counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key) then
Post a setpoint of current sample temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the pause
task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
send a message to the printer task to print the
ramp segment information.
Beep beeper to signal end of ramp portion of
segment.
send a message to the real time display task to
display the hold segment information.
While (counting down the hold time)
Wait for half second wake up message from timer
task.
Increment the half second hold time counter.
Check block sensor for open or short.
If (keyboard task detected a PAUSE key) then
Post a setpoint of current sample temp.
Send a message to wake up the pause task.
Go to sleep until awakened by the pause
'72
task.
Post pre-pause setpoint.
Write a data record to the history file.
Send a message to the printer task to print the
hold information.
If (the final setpoint temp has drifted more than
the
user configurable amount {cf_temp_dev}) then
write an error record to the history file.
Go to next segment.
Send a message to the printer task to print an end of
cycle message.
Go to next cycle.
End of AUTO-CYCLE program.
Else if (starting a POWER FAILURE sequence) then
Post a setpoint of 4°C.
Set a flag {subamb_hold} so that the pid task will shut
off the heated cover.
DO FOREVER
Wait for a half second wake up message from the timer
task.
Increment the half second hold time counter.
END FOREVER LOOP
End of power failure sequence
Write a run end status record to the history file.
If (running a method)
Set a flag {weird_flag} so the link task will know to send
a message to the sequence task to start the next program
running.
Else
Return user interface to idle state display.
End of Forever Loop
'73
Eause Task Overview
The purpose of the pause task is to handle either a pause
that the user programs in a CYCLE program or a pause when
the user presses the PAUSE key on the keypad.
When the sequence task encounters a programmed pause while
executing a CYCLE program, it goes to sleep and awakens the
pause task. The pause task in turn sends a message to the
real time display task to continually display and decrement
the time the user asked to pause for. When the pause timer
times out, the pause task sends a message to awaken the
sequence task and then goes to sleep. The user can
prematurely resume the program by pressing the START key on
the keypad or can prematurely abort the program by pressing
the STOP key.
When the keyboard task detects a PAUSE key while a program
is running, it sets a flag {pause_flag} then waits for the
sequence task to acknowledge it. when the sequence task
sees this flag set, it sends an acknowledgment message back
to the keyboard task then puts itself to sleep. When the
keyboard task receives this message, it awakens the pause
task.
display task to continually display and increment the amount
The pause task sends a message to the real time
of time the program is paused for. The timer will time out
when it reaches the pause time limit set by the user in the
configuration section. The user can resume the program by
pressing the START key on the keypad or abort the program by
pressing the STOP key.
Pause Task Eseudocode:
Do Forever
Wait for a message from the keyboard task indicating a
keypad pause, or a message form the sequence task
indicating a user programmed pause.
Go to sleep until a message is received.
When awakened, check a
flag for the type of pause
initiated.
If (it is a programmed pause) then
send a umssage to the real time display task to
display the pause timer counting up.
Else
send a message to the real time display task to
display the pause timer counting down.
While (counting down the time out counter)
Send a message to the system to suspend this task for
half a second.
send a message to the printer task to print the pause
information.
If (it is a programmed pause) then
The pause has timed out so send a message to the wake
up the sequence task.
Send a message to the real time display task to halt
the pause display.
Send a message to the real time display task to
resume the running program display.
Else (it is a keypad pause)
The pause has timed out and the program must be
aborted so send a message to the system to halt the
sequence task and send it back to the top of its
FOREVER loop.
If (the program running was a HOLD program)
send a message to the printer task to print the
hold information.
Write a status record to the history file.
Return the user interface to its idle state.
Display an abort message.
End of Forever Loop
Display Task Overview
The purpose of the real time display task is to display
temperatures, timers, sensor readings, ADC channel readings,
and other parameters that need to be continually updated
every half second.
'5 a
as eudoc de:
Initialize display task variables.
Do Forever
await for a message every half second from the timer task.
Go to sleep until the message is received.
when awakened, check if another task has sent a list of
parameters to display or a flag to halt the current
update.
Toggle the half second flag {half_sec}.
If (there's a list of parameters to display) then
Set a semaphore so no one else will update the
display.
Turn off the cursor.
While (stepping through the list of parameters)
If (it is a time parameter) then
Display the time.
If (half second flag {half_sec} is set) then
Increment or decrement the time variable.
Else if (it is a decimal number) then
Display a decimal number.
Else if (it is an integer number) then
Display the integer.
Else if (it is an ADC channel readout) then
Read the counts from the ADC channel.
If (need it displayed as mv) then
Convert counts to mv.
Display the value.
Else if (it is a power display) then
Display the power in terms of watts.
'78
Else if (it is the hours left parameter) then
convert seconds to tenths of hours.
Display the hours left in tenths of hours.
If (half second flag {half_sec} is set) then
Decrement the seconds variable.
If (the cursor was on) then
Turn it back on.
Store the current system time in battery RAM.
Clear the semaphore to release the display.
End of Forever Loop
'nte
as Overv'ew
The purpose of the printer task is to handle the runtime
printing.
It is a low priority task and should not
interfere with other time critical tasks.
Erigter Iasg Esgudgggdez
Do Forever
Wait
for a message from another task that wishes to print.
Go to sleep until a message is received.
"When awaken, make local copies of the global variables to
be printed.
Post a printer acknowledgement message.
If (need to print a status or error message) then
Print the information contained in the current
history record.
Else if (need to print the page header) then
Print the company name, instrument ID, firmware
version number and the current system time and date.
Else if (need to print the program header) then
Print the type of program and its number.
Else if (need to print the program configuration
parameters) then
Else
Else
Else
End of
Print the tube type, reaction volume and the sample
temperature deviation from setpoint that starts the
clock.
if (need to print end of cycle information) then
Print the ending time and temperature.
if (need to print segment information) then
Print either the ramp or hold segment information.
if (need to print a pause status message) then
Print the amount of time paused for and at what temp.
Forever Loop
LED Igsk Overview
The purpose of the LED task is to make the illumination of
'78
the "Heating" LED reflect the power applied to the main
heater. This is a low priority task that runs once a
second.
D as :
Initialize LED task variables.
Do Forever
send a message to the system to wake this task every
second.
Go to sleep.
when awaken, load counter 2 of PIC timer A with a value
that reflects the power applied to the main heater as
follows:
load counter with value = {K_htled} * {ht_led}
Where:
{K_htled} holds a constant to compute the time to
pulse the heating LED and is equal to 15200 / 500.
15200 is a little greater than the PIC's clock of
14.4KHz and this is the value loaded into the timer
to keep the LED constantly on. 500 is the main
heater power.
{ht_led} will be a value between 0 and 500 and will
be equal to the watts applied to the main heater.
End of Forever Loop
Link Iask Qvggvigw
The purpose of the link task is to simulate the user
START key on the keypad. This task is
necessary so that programs can be executed one right after
The
link task wakes up the sequence task and it begins running
pressing the
the other (as in a method) without user intervention.
the next program as if the START key were pressed.
Link Iask Eggggocgdez
Initialize link task variables.
Do Forever
If (the flag {weird_f1ag} is set and it is not the first
file in
the method) then
Send a message to the sequence task to wake up.
End of Forever Loop
E%0
Start Up Sequence
POWER-UP SEQUENCE
when the power to the instrument is turned on or the
software does a RESET, the following sequence takes place.
Note: the numbers below correspond to numbers on the flow
chart.
Transmit a Ctrl-G (decimal 7) character out the Rs-
Poll the RS-232 port for at least
1 second and if a Ctrl-G is received, it is assumed
that an external computer is attached to the port and
printer port.
all communication during the power-up sequence will
be redirected from the keypad to the RS-232 port. If
no Ctrl-G is received, the power-up sequence
continues as normal.
Check if the MORE key is depressed. If so, go
straight to the service-only hardware diagnostics.
The next 3 tests are an audio/visual check and cannot
report an error: 2) the hot,
cooling, and heating LEDS on the keypad are flashed
3) each pixel of the display is highlighted. The
copyright and instrument ID screens are displayed as
) the beeper beeps
the power-up diagnostics execute.
Should
diagnostics, the name of the component that failed is
an error occur in one of the power-up
displayed and the keypad is locked except for the
‘MORE 999'
service-only hardware diagnostics.
Check channel 0 of the PPI-B device to see if the
automated test bit is pulled low.
UART test.
continuously.
code which will gain access to the
If it is, run the
If the test passes, beep the beeper
Start the CRETIN operating system which in turn will
start up each task by priority level.
Check a flag in battery RAM to see if the instrument
If not,
message and lock the keypad except for the code ‘MORE
999'
calibration tests.
has been calibrated. display an error
which will gain access to the service-only
Run a test that measures the voltage and line
frequency and see if both these values match the
configuration plug selected while calibrating the
If not, display an error message and
lock the keypad except for the code ‘MORE 999' which
will gain access to the service-only calibration
instrument.
tests.
Perform the heater ping test as described in the
Install section. If the heaters are wired wrong,
display an error message and lock the keypad except
for the code ‘MORE 999' which will gain access to the
service-only calibration tests.
Check a flag in battery RAM to see if the instrument
has been installed. If not, display an error message
and lock the keypad except for the code ‘MORE 999'
which will gain access to the install routine.
If not in remote mode, check a flag in battery RAM to
see if there was a power failure while the instrument
was running._ If so, start a 4°C soak and display the
amount of time the power was off for. Ask the user
if they wish to view the history file which will tell
them exactly how far along they were in the run when
If they
straight to the user diagnostics.
the power went off. select yes, they go
Beep the beeper and clear the remote mode flag so all
communication now is back through the keypad.
Check a flag in battery RAM to see if manufacturing
wants their test program automatically started. If
so, start the program running and reset the
instrument after its done.
Display the top level user interface screen.
_reaction mixture.
.82
Referring to Figure 50, there is shown a cross-
sectional view of a larger volume, thin walled reaction tube
marketed under the trademark MAXIAMP. This tube is useful
for PCR reactions wherein reagents or other materials need
to be added to the reaction mixture which will bring the
total volume to greater than 200 microliters. The larger
tube shown in Figure 50 made of Himont PD701 polypropylene
or Valtec HH-444 polypropylene and has a thin wall in
contact with the sample block. Whatever material is
should be compatible with the DNA and other
components of the PCR reaction mixture so as to not impair
selected
PCR reaction processing such as by having the target DNA
stick to the walls and not replicate. Glass is generally
not a good choice because DNA has been known to stick to the
walls of glass tubes.
The dimension A in Figure 50 is typically 0.012 1
.001 inches and the wall angle relative to the longitudinal
axis of the tube is typically 17°. The advantage of a 17°
wall angle is that while downward force causes good thermal
contact with the sample block, the tubes do not jam in the
The advantage of the thin walls is that it
minimizes the delay between changes in temperature of the
sample wells.
sample block and corresponding changes in temperature of the
This means that if the user wants the
reaction mixture to remain within 1°C of 94°C for 5 seconds
the these
parameters, he or she gets the 5 second denaturation
in denaturation segment, and programs in
interval with less time lag than with conventional tubes
with thicker walls.
being able to program a short soak interval such as a 5
This performance characteristic of
second denaturation soak and get a soak at the programmed
temperature for the exact programmed time is enabled by use
In
the system described herein, the timer to time an incubation
or soak interval is not started until the calculated sample
temperature reaches the programmed soak temperature.
of a calculated sample temperature to control the timer.
ti3
Further, with the thin walled sample tubes, it only
takes about one-half to two—thirds as long for the sample
mixture to get within 1°C of the target temperature as with
prior art thick-walled microcentrifuge tubes and this is
true both with the tall MAXIAMP' tube shown in Figure 50 and
the smaller thin walled MICROAMP' tube shown in Figure 15.
The wall thickness of both the MAXIAMP' and MICROAMP‘
tubes is controlled tightly in the manufacturing process to
be as thin as possible consistent with adequate structural
Typically, for polypropylene, this will be
anywhere from 0.009 to 0.012 inches. If new,
strength.
more exotic
materials which are stroger than polypropylene are used to
achieve the advantage of speeding up the PCR reaction, the
wall thickness can be less so long as adequate strength is
maintained to withstand the downward force to assure good
with a
of 1.12 inches and a
thermal contact, and other stresses of normal use.
height
dimension C of 0.780 inches and an upper section wall
thickness (dimension of D) 0.395 inches, the HAXIAHP tube's
time constant is approximately 14 seconds although this has
not been precisely measured as of the time of filing. The
MICROAMP tube time constant for the shorter tube shown in
Figure 15 is typically approximately 9.5 seconds with a tube
(dimension B in Figure 50)
wall thickness in the conical section of 0.009 inches plus
or minus 0.001 inches.
Figure 51 shows the results of use of the thinner
walled MICROAMP tube.
target temperatures will result from use of the thin walled
MAXIAMP tube.
Referring to Figure 51, there is shown a graph of the
A similar speeded up attainment of
relative times for the calculated sample temperature in a
MICROAMP tube versus the time for a prior art tube to reach
1°C
temperature of 94°C from a starting temperature of 72°C.
a temperature within of a target denaturation
In
Figure 51, a 100 microliter sample was present in each tube.
The curve with data points marked by open boxes is the
.84
calculated sample temperature response for a HICROAMP tube
with a 9.5 second response time and a 0.009 inch wall
thickness. The curve with data points marked by X's
represents the calculated sample temperature for a 100
art, thick walled
microcentrifuge tube with a 0.030 inch wall thickness. This
graph shows that the thin walled MICROAMP tube sample
1'C of the 94°C
target soak temperature within approximately 36 seconds
This is
important because in instruments which do not start their
microliter sample in a prior
reaches a calculated temperature within
while the prior art tubes take about 73 seconds.
timers until the soak temperature is substantially achieved,
the prior art tubes can substantially increase overall
processing time especially when considered in light of the
fact that each PCR cycle will have at least two ramps and
soaks and there are generally very many cycles performed.
Doubling the ramp time for each ramp by using prior art
tubes can therefore drastically increase processing time.
In their upon
block/bath/oven temperature without regard to actual sample
systems which start times based
temperature, these long delays between changes in
block/bath/oven temperature and corresponding changes in
sample mixture can have serious
temperature negative
consequences. The problem is that the long delay can cut
into the time that the reaction mixture is actually at the
temperature programmed for a soak. For very short soaks as
are popular in the latest PCR processes, the reaction
mixture may never actually reach the programmed soak
before the heating/cooling system starts
attempting to change the reaction mixture temperature.
temperature
Figure 50 shows a polypropylene cap 650 connected to
the MAXIAMP sample tube by a plastic web 652. The outside
diameter E of the cap and the inside diameter F of the tube
upper section are sized for an interference fit of between
0.002 and 0.005 inches.
should be free of flash, nicks and scratches so that a gas-
The inside surface 654 of the tube
tight seal with the cap can be formed.
Figure 52 shows a plan view of the tube 651, the cap
650 and the web 652.
being pushed too
A shoulder 656 prevents the cap from
the tube and
sufficient projection of the cap above the top edge of the
This
also allows sufficient cap deformation such that the minimum
acceptable 15
far down into allows
sample tube for making contact with the heated platen.
force F in Figure can be applied by
deformation of the cap.
In the preferred embodiment, the tube and cap are
made of Himont PD701 polypropylene which is autoclavable at
temperatures up to 126°C for times up to 15 minutes. This
allows the disposable tubes to be sterilized before use.
Since the caps are permanently deformed in use in machines
with heated platens, the tubes are designed for use only
once.
the MICROAMP tubes
connected strips of 8 or 12 caps with each cap numbered or
as individual caps.
Caps for are available in
Single rows of caps may be used and the
rows may be easily shortened to as few as desired or
individual caps may be cut off the strip. Caps for MAXIAMP
tubes are either attached as shown in Figure 50, or are
separate individual caps.
The maximum volume for post-PCR reagent additions to
permit mixing on the MICROAMP tube is 200 microliters and is
up to 500 microliters for the MAXIAMP tube.
limits are -70°C to 126°C.
The response time depends upon the volume of the
Temperature
sample. Response is measured as the time for the sample to
come within 37% of the new temperature when the block
suddenly changes temperature. Typical response time for a
50 microliter fill are 7.0 seconds and for a 20 microliter
fill are 5.0 seconds.
APPENDIX A
User Interface
The objective of the GeneAmp PCR System 9600 user
interface is to provide a simple way to develop and run
programs that perform PCR.
There are 3 types of programs available. The HOLD program
consists of a single setpoint held for a set amount of time
or held for an infinite amount of time and terminated by the
STOP key. The CYCLE program adds the features of timed
ramps and programmable pauses.
setpoints and up to 99 cycles.
This program allows up to 9
The AUTO program allows the
user to increment or decrement the setpoint time and/or
This program also
METHOD
program provides a way to link up to 17 hold, cycle or auto
temperature a fixed amount every cycle.
allows up to 9 setpoints and up to 99 cycles. A
programs together.
A total of 150 programs can be stored with numbers ranging
from 1 to 150. stored, protected,
printed, or deleted.
Programs can be created,
A directory of the stored programs can
be viewed or printed.
THE SYSTEM 9600 KEYPAD
RUN MORE 7 8 9
Heating
BACK STEP 4 5 6
Cooling
PAUSE OPTION 1 2 3
Hot
STOP CE 0 ENTER
RUN starts a program running from the program display
or restarts a programmed or keypad pause.
MORE toggles the runtime displays and also accesses the
service-only functions (if followed by the code
999).
BACK moves to the previous field within the same
screen. If currently positioned on the first
field, it moves to the previous screen.
STEP moves down to the first field in the next screen.
PAUSE starts a paused time-out for manual interruptions.
OPTION either moves the cursor left-to-right through the
menu items (rolling over to the leftmost option)
or toggles the YES/NO response.
STOP aborts a running program or moves the user up one
level in the user interface.
CE clears invalid numeric entries.
ENTER accepts the current numeric entry, accepts a menu
item, accepts a YES/No response, or skips to the
next field of a display. If the numeric entry is
the last of a display, ENTER steps to the next
display.
E%8
COMMON SYSTEM 9600 DISPLAYS
PROGRAH display Example:
Prog iii Msg Temp CYCL I17 Done 74.OC7
Menu RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
————————————————-———I -lh----------
Prog is either HOLD, CYCL, AUTO or HETH ’
f## is the program f (l-150) or ??? if it is not
stored yet
Msg is either Done, Error, Abort or blank
Temp is the current sample temperature
Menu are the available options
RUNTIME display Example:
Action . Temp Ramp to 94.0C 29.5C
Timer Progéczc 10:00 Ezcle 14
Action is either ‘Hold at xx.xC' or ‘Ramp to xx.xC'
Temp is the current sample temperature
Timer counts down the hold or ramp time or counts up a hold
time of FOREVER
Prog/Cyc for a HOLD file is ‘Prog xxx‘
for a CYCL or AUTO file is ‘Cycle xx’ - counts up
non: display Example:
Setpt ~:Tot Cyc Setpt #3 Tot Cyc 25
Timer ‘ ' Prog Hrs left 2.5 Prog 17
Setpt is the current setpoint f (1-9) - counts up
Tot Cyc is the total # of cycles (1-99) in the current
program
Timer is the time left in the program in hrs - counts down
Prog is the current program # (I-150)
xaypan pans: display Examp1e=
Prog ### Temp AUTO :18 ss.oc
PAUSE Timer PAUSE 9:45
------------ -----ll-l-l-ll-
Prog is either HOLD, CYCL, AUTO or METH . _
### is the program f (1-150) or ??? lf it 15 not
stored yet
Temp is the current sample temperature
$)
Timer is the configurable pause time — counts down
()
TOP LEVEL USER INTERFACE
select option 9600
RUN-CREATE-EDIT-UTIL
TOP LEVEL display
Run Create program
Enter ro am fxxx OLD-CYCL-AUTO-METH
CREATE display
RUN display
Edit _
Enter ro ram fxxx
EDIT display
Select function
DIR-CONFIG*DIAG-DEL
UTIL display
Programs are created by selecting a program type in the
CREATE display. The user is brought directly to the first
display of the program to be edited.
Stored programs are retrieved by entering a number 1 to 150
from the RUN, EDIT, or program displays. Entering a valid
program number from the RUN display automatically begins the
run. Entering a valid program number from the EDIT or
program display brings the user to the first display of the
program to be edited.
Programs are edited by pressing STEP (move down a screen),
BACK (move to the previous field) or ENTER (move to the next
field). E
Programs are run by selecting RUN the RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
menu or by pressing the RUN key on the keypad. The user
must first enter 2 parameters required for each run.
The OPTION key toggles the tube
type from MICRO (MicroAmp tube)
to THIN (thin—walled GeneAmp
tube). If the user configured a
special tube, then the option of
OTHER is added. A different
reaction volume may be entered.
These parameters are stored with
Tube type: KICRO
React vol: 1oOuL
this program. ENTER accepts
these values.
If the user ccnfigured the
runtime printer ON and he is
running a cycle, auto or method
program, then the following
Select print mode
OFF-CYCLE-SETPOINT
.91
printer choices are offered. the
program is started. CYCLE prints
a message only upon completion
of a cycle. SETPOINT prints
runtime data for every setpoint
(ramp/hold time and temps).
Select print mode
OFF-ON
Cover temp is xx°C
Run starts at 100°C
.92
If the user configured the
runtime printer ON and he is
running a hold program, then the
following printer choices are
offered.
If the heated cover is below
100°C; the following screen is
displayed. If the user is on
this display when the heated
cover reaches 1009C, the run
automatically begins. If the
user hit STOP to return to the
program display, then the run
must be manually re-started.
l5 Accepting HOME at the RUN-STORE-PRINT-flOME menu without
saving a program displays the screen:
IProg {xxx not stored
Continue? YES
.93
HOLD PROGRAM
HOLD #xxx xx.xc
RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
PROGRAM display
The user can choose between an
gold at xx‘xC infinite soak or a time limited
Hold FOREVER-xxxzxx h°1d-
Beep while Hold? NQ 5e°°“d'
HOLD PROGRAM - Runtimo displays
Hold at xx.xC xx.xC
xxxzxx Pro xx
RUNTIME display
HOLD fxx
PAUSE xx:xx
KEYPAD PAUSE display
XX.XC
None
MORE display
None
PROGRAMMED PAUSE
HOLD PROGRAM - Runtino printout
HOLD program fxxx
HOLD Program: xx.xc xxxzkx
HOLD Program: xx.xC FOREVER
GeneAmp PCR System 9600
Ver xx.x Nov 14, 1990
Actual: xx.xC xxx:xx
Actual: xx.xC xxx:xx
HOLD program {xxx - Run Complete Nov 14, 1990 xx:xx am
CYCLE PROGRAM
~CYCL #xxx. -xx.xC—
RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
PROGRAM display
Temperature PCR T
Setpt #1 Ramp xz:xx-
xx.xC Hold xxzxx
Total cycles =ixx
Pause durin run? NO
Pause after setpt ix
Beep while pause?YES
ilst pause at cycl xx :
Pause eve xx 1
Pause time xxfirx
The default is 3. This
determines the number of
setpoints in this program. 1 to
9 setpoints are allowed.
The number of setpoints entered
above determines how many
setpoint edit displays will be
offered. The user can enter a
ramp and hold time for each
setpoint. The hold timer will
start when the sample temp gets
within a user configurable temp
of setpoint.
If the user does NOT want to
pause, then the next 3 displays
are skipped. 1 to 99 cycles are
allowed.
Entering a O for setpoint number
also means the user does NOT
want to pause therefore the next
2 displays are skipped.
The cycle number is limited to
the total number of cycles
entered above.
The default pause time is set in
the user configuration.
$35
CYCLE PROGRAH - Runtimo displays
Setpt ix pTot cyc xx
Hrs left X.X Pro xx
MORE display
Ramp to xx.xC xx.xC
xxx:xx cle xx
RUNTIME display (ramp)
Hold at xx.xc xx.xc
xxx:xx cle xx
RUNTIME display (hold)
CYCL fxxx
PAUSE xxtxx
KEYPAD PAUSE display
setpt ix xx.xc
PAUSE xx:xx ole xx
PROGRAMED PAUSE
XX.XC
CYCLE PROGRAM - Runtimo printout
PE Cetus
xx:xx am
Tube type:MICRo Reaction vo1:100uL start clock within x.xC
of setpt
GeneAmp PCR System 9600 Ver xx.x Nov 14, 1990
CYCL program {xxx
Cycle fxx
Setpt #x RAMP Program: xx.xC xx:xx Actual: xx.xC
xxzxx
HOLD Program: xx.xc Actual:
XXIXX XX.XC
xxzxx
: (up to 9 setpoints)
. (up to 99 cycles)
CYCL program fxxx - Run Complete Nov 14, 1990 xx:xx am
CYCL program fxxx - User Aborted Nov 14, 1990 xxzxx am (only
if aborted)
AUTO PROGRAM
AUTO {xxx ‘xx.xc
RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
PROGRAM display
Temperature PCR
Setpt fl xx.xC
Hold for xxzxx
Setpt fl xx.xC
Change time‘temE?YE$ I
xx.xC delta x.xc
delta xxzxx
Total cycles -.xx
The default is 3. This
determines the number of
setpoints in this program. 1 to
9 setpoints are allowed.
The number of setpoints entered
above determines how many
setpoint edit displays will be
offered. No ramp time is offered
thus the instrument ramps fas
fast as possible. The hold
timer start when the sample temp
gets within a user configurable
temp of setpoint.
If the user wants to increment
or decrement the time and/or
temperature every cycle, then
the following display is
offered.
The OPTION key toggles the arrow
up (increment every cycle) or
down (decrement every cycle).
The max time allowed to
decrement is limited to the
setpoint hold time.
Up to 99 cycles are allowed.
AUTO PROGRAM - Runtinc displays
Hold at xx.xC xx.xC
xxx:xx cle xx
RUNTIME display
AUTO ixxx xx.xC
PAUSE xxzxx
KEYPAD PAUSE display
Setpt Ix Tot Cyc xx
Hrs left X;X Progxxx
MORE display
"None
PROGRAMMED PAUSE
AUTO PROGRAM - Runtino printout
PE Cetus GeneAmp PCR System 9600
XX2XX am
Ver xx.x Nov 14, 1990
Tube type:MICRO Reaction vol:1oOuL start clock within x.xC
of setpt
AUTO program fxxx
Cycle fxx
setpt fx RAMP Program: xx.xc xxzxx Actual: xx.xC
XX2XX
HOLD Program:
XXSXX
xxzxx Actual: xx.xC
. (up to 9 setpoints)
. -(up to 99 cycles)
AUTO program Ixxx - Run Complete Nov 12, 1990 xx:xx am
AUTO program {xxx - User Aborted Nov 12, 1990 xxzxx am (only
if aborted)
S)8
METHOD PROGRAM
METH {xxx xx.xC
RUN-STORE-PRINT-HOME
PROGRAM display
Up to 17 programs can be linked
in a method. If the user tries
to enter a non-existant program
#, the message "Prog does not
exist" is displayed. If the user
tries to link another method,
the message "Cannot link a
method" is displayed.
Link progs: - -
HETHOD PROGRAM - Runtimo displays
The RUNTIME, MORE and PAUSE displays will be those of the
program currently running. Two additional MORE displays are
offered when the program running is linked in a method.
The number of the program
METH ‘xxx aaa_bbb_ currently running will flash.
ccc-ddd-eee-fff- —
ADDITIONAL MORE display
hhh-iii-jjj-kkk-llb
mmm-nnn-ooo- ‘
HETBOD PROGRAK - Runtino printout
GeneAmp PCR System 9600 Ver xx.x Nov 14, 1990
xx:xx am ‘
Tube type:MICRO Reaction vol:100uL start clock within x.xC
of setpt
METHOD program fxxx -
program data
preceeds all linked
E}9
METHOD program #xxx - Meth complete - follows all linked
progra data
()O
METHOD PROGRAM ' Print
Select option
METHOD-PROGRAM DATA
METHOD prints the header of each prooram linked in the
method.
PROGRAM DATA prints the header and contents of each
program linked in the method.
{)I
STORING A PROGRAM
well as a method.
Protecting a program insures the user
that the program will not be overwritten or deleted without
knowledge of the user number.
view, edit, run,
other users will be able to
and link the protected file in their
methods but will not be able to alter the stored version.
Store
Enter program fxxx
Progxxx is protected
Enter user fxxxx
Progxxx is protected
Wrong user number!
Progxxx is linked in
Methxxx Continue?YEs
Can't overwrite prog
Linked in method xxx
Store
Protect program? NO
store
Enter user #xxxx
xxx is the first available
program number from 1 - 150.
The user has entered the # of a
protected program. The correct
user # must be entered in order
to overwrite this program.
The wrong user # was entered.
This display remains for 5
seconds before reverting to the
previous one. The user is given
3 chances to enter the correct
#.
to overwrite a
linked in a
is warned and
of continuing
If the user tries
program that is
method, the user
given the option
or not.
If the user tries to overwrite a
program that is linked in a
method with another method, an
error message is given.
The user is given the chance to
protect a program as well as
unprotect a previously protected
program.
The user wants to protect the
program and therefore must enter
a user #.
Ready to store the program in an available slot. The user
# appears only if the program is protected.
Prog fxxx User fxxxx
OK to store? YES
()2
Prog fxxx User #xxxx
OK to overwrite? YES
Ready
t o
overwr
ite an
existi
" 9
progra
m. The
user #
appear
s only
if the
prcgra
m is
protec
ted.
()3
UTILITY ?UNCTION8
select function
QIR-CONFIG-DIAG-DEL
UTIL display
allow the user to view or print a directory of the
stored programs by either their program number,
user number or program type.
CONPIG allows the user to tailor the use of the instrument
DIAG
l0 DEL
to their specific needs.
offers the user a means of diagnosing runtime
problems and verifying the performance of the
instrument.
allows the user to delete stored programs by
program number, user number or program type.
()4
UTIL - DIRECTORY
Directory
—PROG-TYPE-USER-PRINT
Directory by Pnocram number
Directory
Enter ro ram fxxx
HOLD #124
U
P.
H
O
0
r0‘
0
-3
U
'4
‘U
H
0
0
H
S
*5
55
N
Directory .
HOLD-CYCL—AUTO-METH
CYCL #15
:2
3
;
a
a
E
'1
Directory
Enter user fxxxx.
METH #150 User #1234
Directory PRINT
Programs will be listed in
numerical order starting at the
given number. The STEP and BACK
keys move through the directory
displays. The beeper sounds at
the beginning or end of the
program list.
STOP returns the user to the
above display.
The program numbers will be
listed for the selected type of
program.
All programs stored under the
given user number will be
listed.
Directory Print
PROG-TYPE-USER
X15
The user can get a hardcopy of
the directory listing in the
same manner the directory is
viewed above.
()S
UTIL - USER CONFIGURATION
Configuration
EDIT-PRINT
Time:
Date:
xxzxx
mm dd
Runtime printer OPE
Runtime bee er ON
Pause time-out limit
xxzxx
Allowed setpt error
x.x°C
Idle state setpoint
xx“
start clock within
x.x°C of set oint
The configuration file can be
edited by accepting EDIT from
the menu or by pressing the STEP
key. PRINT prints the contents
of this file.
The user can set the system time
and date.
If the runtime printer is ON,
the user will be prompted with
printer option as the start of
each run. If the runtime beeper
is ON, then a beep will sound at
the end of each segment (after a
ramp or hold portion of a
sequence) while running a
program.
This time represents the maximum
amount of time a program can
pause for before it is aborted.
This pertains only to the keypad
pause.
This time represents the number
of degrees the actual sample
temp may vary from the setpoint
before an error is flagged.
This setpoint is useful for
balancing the control cooling
power which is always present.
The sample temp will be
maintained at the idle state
setpoint whenever the instrument
is idle.
The clock which times the hold
segment of a running program can
be configured to be triggered
when it gets within this
temperature of the sample temp.
The nominal value is 1.o°c.
If the user wishes to_use a different type of tube other
than the MicroAmp or Thin-walled GeneAmp tubes, they must
set this option to YES and enter at least 3 pairs of
""""'-"""-'-""1" reaction volume and tube time
Special tube? NO constant data. This curve will be
‘ used to extrapolate the correct
-——I—---II-I—--I Tau (tube time constant) for each
run using this special tube
depending on the reaction volume entered by the user at
the start of a run.
UTIL ~ USER CONTIGURATION (cont)
3 sets of this screen will be
Rxn v°1._.xxxuL okxxxs offersd if the user sets
Rxn vo1=xxxuL Tsxxxs "speclal tube?" to YES.
UTIL - DELETE
‘Delete
PROGRAM-UsER-
Delete by PROGRAH
Delete
Enter ro ram #xxx
Can't delete progxxx
Linked in methodxxxl
Progxxx is protected
Enter user fxxxx
Progxxx is protected
Wron user number!
Prog Ixxx User #xxxx
Delete r ram? YES
Delete by USER
Delete »
Enter user fxxxx
Delete
No Erogs with ixxxx
All programs (files and methods)
can be deleted by number.
A program cannot be deleted if
it linked in a method.
The user has entered the # of a
protected program. The correct
user # must be entered in order
to delete this program.
The wrong user # was entered.
This display remains for 5
seconds before reverting to the
previous one.-The user is given
3 chances to enter the correct
f.
Ready to delete the program. The‘
user f appears only if the
program was protected.
Programs can be deleted under a
given user number.
If no programs exist with the
given -user I, the following
message is displayed.
Frogs linked in meth
STEP to list Brass
.0
Programs cannot be deleted if
they are linked in a method. The
STEP key will cycle through the
list of linked programs.
UTIL - DELETE (cont)
Can't delete progxxx
Linked in methodxxx!
User fxxxx
Delete all progs?YEs
Delete ALL
Delete every
unprotected prog?YES
The list of the linked programs
will show which method the
program is linked to.
This will delete all the
programs under the given user #
that are not linked.
This will delete every
unprotected program that is not
linked in a protected method.
I_2
UTIL - USER DIAGNOSTICS
While running any diagnostic test, the STOP key always
returns the user to the top level diagnostic screen and
automatically increments the test number and name to the
next test. This facilitates manually cycling through the
available diagnostics.
The user can enter the number of
the diagnostic to run or can use
the STEP or BACK keys to cycle
through the available tests.
Every time the STEP or BACK key
is pressed, the test number is
incremented or decremented and
Enter Diag Test I;
REVIEW HISTORY FILE
the associated test name is
displayed. This feature
eliminates the need for the user
to memorize the number
associated with each test.
REVIEW HISTORY FILE
The history file is a circular
buffer in battery RAM which can
store up to 500 records of the
latest run. when the buffer is
full, the oldest entries will be
overwritten. The buffer will
automatically be cleared before
a program is executed.
Enter Diag Test #;
REVIEW HISTORY FILE
The history file header displays
the current number of records in
the file ('nnn').
ALL views all the records
STAT views only the
records
ERRORS views only the records with
error messages
PRNT prints all or part of the history
file
HISTORY nnn recs
ALL-STAT-ERRORS-PRNT
status
The two types of records are 1) status records which give
information about the program and 2) data records which give
information abount each hold and ramp segment in a program.
A Hold program is treated as one hold segment and the data
record will be stored when the file ends.
since there could be hundreds of entries (50 cycles X 6
setpoints '= 350 entries), fast, bi-directional movement
through the file is required. Note that most PCR programs
will be 3 or 6 setpoints and 40 cycles or less. The entries
.will normally be reviewed in reverse order, thus the first
record seen will be the last record written.
If the user has chosen a type of record to view, STEP or
BACK will move down or up the buffer by one entry of the
chosen type. By preceding STEP or BACK with a number, the
second line is replaced with "Skip fXXX entries". The user
enters a number and presses ENTER to accept the value and
that number of entries is skipped going forward (STEP) or
backward (BACK).
By preceding STEP or BACK with the RUN key, the user can
quickly move to the largest record # (the newest record) or
record #1 (the oldest record) of the chosen type.
STOP terminates the review mode and displays the file
header.
STATUS RECORD
" " -'-—-—_-_ 'ffff' is either HOLD, CYCL or
~ffff fxxx/mmm nnn AUTO ,
messa e ' ‘xxx’ is the program number
'/mmm' is the method number for
_ a linked program, else blank
'nnn' is the record number
‘message’ is one of the following:
Status messages
Tube Type: xxxxx Type of sample tube used in the run
Reaction vol: xxxuL Reaction volume used in the run
Clk starts w/in x.xC The hold clock starts within this temp
of setpoint
Start xx/xx/xx xx:xx Time and date of the start of the run
End xx/xx/xx xx:xx Time and date of the end of the run
Meth Complete All programs linked in the
method are complete
Pause xxzxx at xx.xC The program paused for this time at
this temp
Fatal status messages
Sensor Error A sensor had a bad reading 10
times in a row
Power fail xxx.x hrs The power was off for this amount of
time
User Abort The user pressed the STOP key during
the run
Pause Timeout xxzxx The keypad pause has reached its
configurable time limit.
Fatal Setpoint Error Is the requirement to abort a program
if the setpoint is not reached within
a calculated amount of time. A 10 X
lo lookup table of starting ramp
temperature (0°C - 100°C in 10°C
increments) vs. ending ramp
temperature (same axis labeling) will
hold the average time the TC2 should
take to ramp up or down any given
amount of degrees. The file will be
aborted if the setpoint is not reached
in the amount of time calculated as
follows:
programmed ramp time + (2 * lookup table value) +
minutes
DATA RECORD
'f' is either HOLD, CYCL or AUTO
‘xxx’ is the program number
/mmm| is the method number for
fgxxx/mmm ddd_dc nnn a llnked program else blank
C C set t Z mmmzss 'ddd.d' is the ending setpoint
t emp
S 'nnn'
is the
record
number
'yy' is the cycle number
'2' is the setpoint number
'mmm:ss' is the setpoint time
The cycle and setpoint number fields will be omitted for a
Hold program.
DATA ERROR RECORD
'ddd.d' is the ending setpoint
dd . temp
message d dc nnn 'nnn' is the record number
S t t mmm:
‘y’ is the cycle number
'z' is the setpoint number
'mmm:ss' is the setpoint time
‘message’ indicates a non-fatal error
as follows:
Non-fatal Error message:
setp Error The setpoint was not reached in the calculated
time:
programmed ramp time + (2 * lookup table
value).
Prog Error An Auto program auto increment/decrement of the
setpoint temp or time caused the hold time to go
negative or the temp to go out of
the range 0.l°C to 100°C.
At the end of the segment, the setpoint temp has
drifted +/- a user configurable amount.
Temp Error
For the Hold program, the cycle and setpoint fields will be
omitted.
PRINTING THE HISTORY FILE
Access to the history file print routines is through the
history file header menu. The OPTION key cycles the cursor
through the options:
HISTORY nnn recs
ALL-STAT-ERRORS-ERNT
Pressing the ENTER key when the cursor is positioned under
PRNT displays the print screen:
Print History;
ALL-STAT-ERRORS
ALL prints all the records in the file
STAT prints only the status records
ERRORS prints only the records with error messages
when one of print options is selected, the following screen
is displayed:
Print History T
’-Print from grog #xx
The first (most recent) program number will be the default
program. The user can change the program number from which
to begin printing. While printing, the following screen is
displayed:
rrint’Historyy1
...Erinting “ it
At the end of
displayed.
printing, the Print History menu is again
HEATER TEST
Enter Diag Test [1
HEATER TEST
The heater test calculates the heat rate of the sample block
as its temperature rises from 35°C to 65°C. The following
screen is displayed as it forces the block temperature to
35°C.
Heater Test Blk=XX.X
going to 35c...
when the temperature stabilizes, all heaters are turned on
full power. The display now reads "going to 65C" and the
block temperature is monitored for 20 seconds after it
passes 50°C. After 20 seconds, a pass or fail message is
displayed.
Heater Test PASSES
.9
CHILLER TEST
.Enter Diag Test #1
'CHILLER TEST »
The chiller test calculates the cool rate of the sample
block as its temperature drops from 35°C to 15°C. The
following screen is displayed as it forces the block
temperature to 35°C.
Chillr Test 311:-=dxx.x
going to 35C...
When the temperature stabilizes, the chiller is on. The
display now reads "going to 15C" and the block temperature
is monitored for 20 seconds after it passes 25°C. After 20
seconds, a pass or fail message is displayed.
chiller test PASSES
Claims (22)
1. A system for controlling an apparatus for automated performance of polymerase chain reactions in at least one sample tube containing a known volume of a liquid sample mixture, comprising: (a) a sample block (12) having at least one well for said at least one sample tube (10), (b) a computing apparatus (20), (c) heating (14, 156) and cooling (34, 40) means controlled by said computing apparatus (20) for changing the temperature of said sample block (12), and (d) a block temperature sensor (21) thermally coupled to said sample block (12), said sensor providing to said computing apparatus (20) the temperature of said sample block (12) over time, said computing apparatus (20) including means for determining the temperature of said liquid sample mixture as a function of the temperature of said sample block (12) over time, wherein said computing apparatus (20) comprises means for storing one or more values related to a first thermal time constant, optionally between approximately 5 and 14 seconds, corresponding to said sample tubes (10) and said volume of said sample mixture, and storage for a second thermal time constant corresponding to said block temperature sensor (21), preferably, said means for determining the sample temperature as a function of the temperature of said sample block (12) over time includes means for determining the sample temperature as a function of said first and second thermal time constants, optionally wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines said sample temperature in a current sample interval at a current time n as: sampn = samgvl + ( B“ - samppll * interval/ ag where Tsampn is equal to the sample temperature at time n, Tsmwnq is equal to the sample temperature at an immediately preceding sample interval having occurred at time n—1, Ta] is equal to the block temperature at time n, tuna”; is a time in seconds between sample intervals, and tau is said first thermal time constant minus said second thermal time constant. preferably, said system further includes an input device for receiving user defined setpoints, optionally target sample temperatures, defining a hold time/temperature profile, wherein said computing apparatus (20) includes means for controlling said heating (14, 156) and cooling (34, 40) means as a function of said user defined setpoints and said sample temperature.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sample block (12) is comprised of a central region containing in an upper surface an array of sample wells (66, 68) for holding said sample tubes (10), an end edge region (256, 258) comprising two end edges at opposite ends of said block which are in thermal Contact with ambient, and a manifold region (260, 262) comprising two manifold edges at opposite sides of said block, wherein each said manifold edge is thermally coupled to a manifold.
3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said heating means is a heater (156) having a central heating zone (254) thermally coupled to said central region, an end edge heating zone (256, 258) thermally coupled to said edge region, and a manifold heating zone (260, 262) thermally coupled to said manifold region.
4. A system as claimed in claim wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines a first power to be applied to said heating zones in said current sample interval by: (a) determining a theoretical second power representing the total power to apply to said block in said current sample interval without accounting for power losses, (b) dividing said theoretical second power into theoretical powers to be applied to each said individual zone in said current sample interval, (c) determining power losses by said regions in said current sample interval, and (d) determining an actual third power to be applied to each said individual zone in said current sample interval, said third power accounting for power losses by said regions.
5. A system as claimed in clafln 4, wherein one of said user defined setpoints is the target sample temperature after ramping said sample temperature at a preselected ramp rate, and wherein said computing apparatus (20) includes means for determining said theoretical second power to be applied to all said zones, including: (a) means for determining a total fourth power to all heating zones to achieve said preselected ramp rate, (b) means for determining said temperature of the sample block in said current sample interval as a function of said fourth power, (c) means for determining said sample temperature in said current sample interval, (d) means for determining a fraction of the difference between the target sample temperature after ramping and the sample temperature in said immediately preceding sample interval to be made up in said current sample interval, and (e) means for determining said theoretical second power to make up said fraction in said current sample interval, optionally said system additionally comprises bias cooling constantly applied to said sample block (12), wherein said computing apparatus (20) includes means 2}24 for determining a total fourth power to all heating zones to achieve a desired ramp rate according to: Power = CP/ramp_rate + bias where Power is said total power to all heating zones to achieve a desired ramp rate, CP equals the thermal mass of said block, bias is the cooling power of said bias cooling and ramp_rate is the difference between the target sample temperature after ramping and the sample temperature at the commencement of ramping divided by a preselected ramp rate, preferably (I) said computing apparatus (20) determines said temperature of said sample block (12) in said current sample interval according to: T T 8n = Bn-1 + Power * (tinterval/CP) where TB”; is equal to the temperature of the block at time n-1, timemu is the time in seconds between sample intervals, preferably approximately 0.2, CP is equal to a thermal mass of said block, and Power is said fourth power, and/or (II) said computing apparatus (20) determines said theoretical second power to make up said fraction in said current sample interval as a function of CP/t . ((SP-T ) * F* tau/t interval sampwq interval + T — T ) sampn-1 Bn where Pwr equals said theoretical second power to be applied to make up said fraction in said current sample interval, CP is equal to a thermal mass of said block, SP equals said target sample temperature after ramping, and F is said fraction of the difference between said target temperature after rampinq and said sample temperature to be made up in said current sample interval.
6. A system as claimed in any preceding ,glaim, wherein said known volume of liquid sample mixture is in the range of approximately 20-100 microliters.
7. A. system as claimed in clainu 5 or claim 6, wherein said computing apparatus (20) adjusts said theoretical second power (a) to make up said fraction in said current sample interval when said sample temperature in said immediately preceding sample interval is within an integral band, preferably approximately +/— O.5”C, of said target sample temperature after ramping, in order to close out remaining error, or (b) to make up said fraction in said current sample interval by adding thereto a power adjustment term, to account for power which, because of physical limitations, was not delivered in previous sample intervals, given by: int_sumn = int_sumn_1 + (SP - Tsampwl pwr_adj = ki * int_sum 2226 where pwr_adj equals said power adjustment term, int_sumn is a value of an accumulating integral term at time n, int_sumW4 is a value of said accumulating integral term. at time n—l, SP equals said target sample temperature after ramping, Tsmwwx equals the temperature of the sample at time,4, and ki equals an integral gain constant, preferably approximately 512.
8. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said computing apparatus (20) divides said theoretical second power into the theoretical‘power to be applied to each said individual zone in proportion to the relative areas of said zones.
9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines power losses by: (a) determining power lost to a foam backing on said sample block (12) in said current sample interval, preferably (1) (i) determining temperature of said foam backing in said current sample interval, Tbwm preferably according to: T =T +T-T *t t2 foam“ foamnq ( bn foamw1> interval / an where Tfoam is equal to the temperature of the foam at time n, Tfomm_1 is equal to the foam temperature at time n—1, and tau2 is said thermal time constant of said foam backing, preferably approximately 30 seconds and preferably t,MeWu is approximately 0.2. (ii) determining the block temperature in said current sample interval, and (iii) determining said power lost to said foam backing" as a function of said temperature of said foam backing in said current sample interval, said temperature of said block in said current sample interval, and a thermal time constant of said foam backing; optionally wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines said temperature of said sample block (12) in said current sample interval according to: T = T + Power * (t . CP En Bmq interval/ ) where TBWJ is equal to the temperature of the block at time n—l, tmtuwn is the time in seconds between sample intervals, CP is equal to the thermal mass of said block, and Power is a total fourth power to all heating zones to achieve said preselected ramp rate, (b) determining power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval, and (c) determining power lost in said end edge region to ambient in said current sample interval.
10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines the power lost to said foam backing as a function of said temperature of said foam backing according to: foam-pwr = C * (T - ) T B” foanu 228 where foam-pwr is said power lost to said foam backing at time n, Tfomm is equal to the temperature of the foam at time n and C is equal to the thermal mass of the foam backing.
11. A system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 additionally comprising means for delivering a bias coolant constantly applied to said sample block (12), wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines the power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval according to: manifold loss = KA (T T ) + KC (T _ Br. - An Br. _ TC ) + TM (dT/dt) where manifold_loss equals said power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval, KA equals an end edge region—to:ambient conductance constant, TA” equals the ambient temperature at the time n, Tq equals a temperature of said bias coolant at time n, KC equals a sample block—to—coolant conductance constant, TM equals the thermal mass of said manifolds and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp rate.
12. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said apparatus for performing automated polymerase chain reactions includes an enclosure for said sample block (12) defining an enclosed ambient atmosphere and said computing apparatus (20) determines the power lost to ambient in said Current sample interval according to: ambient loss = KZA (T — T ) + KZC (T — T ) + — BI’: An B11 Cr. TM2 (dT/dt) where ambient_loss is said power lost to said ambient in said current sample interval, KZA equals an end edge region-to—ambient conductance constant, TA“ equals ambient temperature at time n, K2C equals an end edge region—to—coolant constant, Tq, equals the coolant temperature at time n, TM2 equals the thermal mass of said enclosed ambient atmosphere, and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp rate.
13. A system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein said computing apparatus (20) determines said actual power to be applied to each said individual zone in said current sample interval according to: central_pwr = pwr * cper manifold_pwr = pwr * mper + manifold_loss edge_pwr = pwr * eper + ambient_loss where pwr equals said theoretical power, manifold_loss equals a power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval, ambient_loss equals a power lost in said edge region to said ambient in said. current sample interval, central_pwr equals a power to be applied to said central heating zone (254) in said current sample interval, manifold_pwr equals a power to be applied to said manifold heating zone (260, 262) in said current sample interval, edge_pwr equals a power to be applied to said end edge heating zone (256, 258) in said current sample interval, cper equals fraction of sample block area in said central region, mper equals fraction of sample block area in said manifold region, and eper l0 2 3() equals fraction of sample block area in said edge region, optionally wherein cper equals approximately .66, mper equals approximately .20 and eper equals approximately .14.
14. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said sample block (12) contains multiple transverse bias cooling channels (91 — 99) alternating with multiple transverse ramp cooling Channels (100 - 107), said bias and ramp cooling channels (91 — 107) being parallel to said; upper surface, said apparatus further comprising means for constantly pumping chilled coolant through said bias cooling channels (91 — 99) and valve means controlled by said computing apparatus (20) for selectively pumping chilled coolant through said ramp cooling channels (lO0 — 107L preferably said computing apparatus (20) determines a theoretical cooling power to be applied to said block (12), more preferably said computing apparatus (20) includes means for determining said cooling power, including (a) means for determining a total fifth power to said block to achieve a desired downward ramp rate, (b) means for determining said temperature of the sample block (12) in said current sample interval as a function of said fifth power, (c) means for determining said sample temperature in said current sample interval, 35 2131 (d) means for determining a fraction of the difference between the target sample temperature after ramping downward and the sample temperature in said immediately preceding sample interval to be made up in said current sample interval, and (e) means for determining said theoretical cooling power to make up said fraction in said current sample interval, optionally said system (A) additionally comprises bias cooling constantly applied to said sample block (12), wherein said computing apparatus (20) includes means for determining a total fourth power to all heating zones to achieve a desired ramp rate according to: Power = CP/ramp_rate + bias where Poweris said total fourth power to said block to achieve a desired ramp rate, CP equals the thermal mass of said block, bias is the cooling power of said bias cooling and ramp_rate is the difference between the target sample temperature after ramping and the sample temperature at the commencement of ramping divided by a preselected ramp rate, preferably said computing apparatus (20) determines said theoretical cooling power to make up said fraction in said current sample interval as a function of CP/t_ * ((SP—T ) * F * tau/t, interval samphq interval l0 l5 30 232 samp,,_1 B... where Pwr equals said theoretical cooling power to be applied to make up said fraction in said current sample interval, CP is equal to a thermal mass of said block, SP equals said target sample temperature after ramping, and F is said fraction of the difference between said target temperature after ramping and said sample temperature to be made up in said current sample interval, more preferably said computing apparatus (20) determines a power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval according to: manifold loss = KA (T — T ) + KC (T - T ) + TM (dT/dt) _ Bu Aw B1: Cr: where manifold_loss equals said power lost to said manifolds in said current sample interval, KA equals an end edge region-to—ambient conductance constant, T . . T An equals the ambient temperature at the time n, C” equals a temperature of said bias coolant at time n, KC equals a sample block-to-coolant conductance constant, TM equals the thermal mass of said manifolds and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp rate, and/or (B) includes an enclosure for said sample block (12) defining an enclosed ambient atmosphere and said computing apparatus (20) determines a power lost to ambient in said current sample interval according to: ambient_loss = KZA (TBH - TA“) + K2C (TBn — TC") + TM2 (dT/dt) 233 where ambient_loss is said power lost to said ambient in said current sample interval, KZA equals an end edge region—to-ambient conductance constant, TA“ equals ambient temperature at time n, KZC equals an end. edge region—to—coolant constant, Tow equals the coolant temperature at time n, TM2 equals the thermal mass of said enclosed ambient atmosphere, and dT/dt equals said preselected ramp rate, preferably said computing apparatus .(20)' inbludes valve means for opening said channels (91 — 107) for cooling said block (12) at said current sample interval, comprising means for: (a) means for determining that ramp direction is downward, (b) means for determining an intermediate power value by subtracting values for power lost to said manifolds and said ambient from said theoretical cooling power, (c) means for determining a cooling breakpoint as a function of said block temperature and a temperature of said coolant, and (d) means for determining if said ramp cooling channels (100 — 107) shall be opened as a function of said intermediate power and said cooling breakpoint, preferably said cooling breakpoint is a function of the difference between said block temperature at said current sample interval and said temperature of said l0 l5 2O 2134 coolant fluid at said current sample interval, and preferably said ramp cooling channels (100 — 107) will be open if said intermediate power is less than said cooling breakpoint.
15. A system as claimed in claint 1, wherein the controlling of said heating (14, 156) and cooling (34, 40) means as a function of said user defined set points constitutes running said profile as a profile run, preferably (A) said computing apparatus (20) further comprises (a) means for allowing users to invoke said profile runs and/or (b) means for linking multiple profiles in any order to fonn a protocol, said protocol defining a sequence of said profiles to be run, wherein invoking said sequence of profiles to be run constitutes running said protocol as a protocol run, and/or (C) means for linking a single profile a plurality of times in a single protocol, and/or (d) means for storing a plurality of protocols, and/or (e) means for including any said profile in a plurality of said protocols, and/or (f) means for protecting a profile included in any protocol from being deleted or overwritten, and/or 35 2135 (B) said input device further comprises means for receiving a user defined cycle count for each said profile, said cycle count constituting the number of times said profile will be run when it is invoked, and/or (C) said system further comprising a means to determine that electrical power to operate said apparatus went off during a said run of a said profile, preferably further comprising a means to report the length of said electrical power :outage when said electrical power is restored, even more preferably further comprising means for automatically starting a soak upon restoration of said electrical power, said soak being at a temperature selected to maximize the chance of saving said samples,‘ optionally said temperature being 4°C, and/or (D) said system further includes means for automatically increasing and/or decreasing the hold time of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle in said cycle count, preferably wherein activation of said means for automatically increasing the hold time of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle is selectable as a user level option via said input device, more preferably wherein said automatic increases in the hold time of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle are by first and/or second user defined values input via said input device and may geometrically or linearly based on said first and/or second user defined values, and/or (B) said system further includes means for automatically increasing and/or decreasing the setpoint temperature of any or all- setpoints from 2236 cycle to cycle in said cycle count, preferably wherein activation of said means for automatically increasing and/or decreasing the setpoint temperature of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle is selectable as a user level option via said input device, more preferably said automatic increases and/or decreases in the setpoint temperature of any or all setpoints from cycle to cycle are by third and/or fourth user defined values input via said input device and may be geometrically or linearly based on said third and/or fourth user defined values, and/or (F) said system further comprises a programmed pause option means to automatically halt a run for a user defined period of time, preferably wherein said pause option means comprises means to halt said run after any or all setpoints are complete, during any or all cycles and after any or all of the profiles in a protocol are run, and/or (G) said system further includes means for adjusting temperature sensor readings to account for drift in analog circuitry, preferably said means for adjusting temperature sensor readings to account for drift in the analog circuitry determines said drift by: (a) measuring one or more test voltages under controlled conditions, (b) reading said voltages at the start of each run to measure electronic drift. 35 237
16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising (a) a means to allow a user to define, via said input device, a temperature range such that said setpoint hold time will begin when said sample temperature is within said temperature range of said setpoint temperature, or (b) an input device for receiving a tube type and a reaction Volume, and wherein said computing apparatus determines said thermal time constant for said reaction tube as a function of said tube type and said reaction volume.
17. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising (a) a means for performing diagnostic checks of said heating means (14, 156), preferably wherein said checks comprise one or more heater ping tests, block thermal capacity tests, ramp cooling conductance tests, sensor lag tests, and/or (b) a means for performing diagnostic checks of said cooling means (34, 40), preferably wherein said checks comprise one or more control cooling conductance tests, block thermal capacity tests, chiller tests, ramp cooling conductance tests, sensor lag tests, coolant capacity tests, and/or (c) a means for performing hardware diagnostics on user demand and/or automatically upon system start- up, preferably wherein said hardware diagnostics include tests of one or more of a Programmable 2138 Peripheral Interface device, Battery RAM device, Battery RAM checksum, EPROM devices, Programmable Interface Timer devices, Clock/Calendar device, programmable Interrupt Controller device, Analog to Digital Section, RS-232 Section, Display Section, Keyboard Beeper, Ramp Cooling Values, EPROM mismatch, Firmware version level, Battery RAM Checksum and Autostart Calibration Flag, Heated Cover heater and control Initialization, Program Flag, Clear circuitry, Edge heater and control circuitry, Manifold heater and control circuitry, Central fieater and control circuitry, Sample block thermal cutoff, Heated cover thermal cutoff.
18. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said computing apparatus (20) comprises a means to display, during a run, (a) the approximate amount of time left in the run of a profile and/or all of the profiles left to be run in a running protocol, or (b) the sample temperature at any given time in the run.
19. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (A) a means for determining, for a given setpoint, a first difference between said sample temperature at the end of said setpoint hold time and said setpoint sample temperature of said setpoint, optionally wherein l0 2139 (a) said input device further comprises a means for receiving a user defined temperature differential, and/or (b) said computing apparatus (20) comprises means to report an error if said user defined temperature differential is greater than said first difference, and/or (B) means to configure the temperature the apparatus will return to during any idle _state, and/or (C) means to check that said setpoint sample temperature is reached within a predetermined amount of time.
20. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said computing apparatus maintains a history file of an immediately previous run containing details of said previous run intended for integrity checks and error analysis, and/or further comprises (a) means to check that the said automatically modified setpoint sample temperature has not exceeded 100°C and/or has not gone below 0°C, and/or (b) a means to check that said automatically modified setpoint hold time is not negative, and/or (c) means for printing information stored in said system, preferably wherein said information includes at least one of: contents of a profile, contents of a protocol, listing of created profiles, listing of 35 240 created protocols, configuration parameters, system calibration parameters.
21. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising (a) means to continually monitor said block sensor (21) and to invoke an abort procedure if said sensor readings are above a maximum desirable temperature for said block by a predetermined number of degrees a predetermined number of times, preferably wherein said abort procedure includes one or more of aborting the running profile, flagging the error in a history file, displaying message alerts to a user, disabling said heaters, (b) the ability to perform all available user interface functions remotely, or (c) means to display a menu driven user interface to reduce user reliance on written manuals.
22. A method for computer control of the automated performance of polymerase chain reactions in at least one sample tube (10) containing‘ a known volume of liquid sample mixture by means of a computer- controlled thermocycler including a computing apparatus (20), a sample block (12) having at least one well for said at least one sample tube (10), a block temperature sensor (21) thermally coupled to said sample block (12), and heating (14, 156) and cooling (34, 40) means controlled by said computing apparatus (20) for changing the temperature of said sample block, comprising the steps by said computing apparatus (20) of: 241 (a) reading the block temperature at predetermined times, (b) determining the temperature of said liquid sample mixture as a function of the temperature of said sample block (12) over time, wherein said step of determining comprises the steps of: (i) determining a first thermal time constant for said at least one sample tube (10) and said volume of liquid sample mixture, (ii) determining a second thermal time constant for said block temperature sensor (21), and (iii) determining the sample temperature in a current sample interval at a current time n according to the formula T T T t t sampn = samp,,_1 + (Bn - sampn_1) * interval/ au where Tsampn is equal to the sample temperature at time n, Tsampml is equal to the sample temperature at an immediately preceding sample interval having occurred at time n—1, TBn is equal to the block temperature at time n, thmflwl is a time in seconds between sample intervals, and tau is said first thermal time constant minus said second thermal time constant, optionally wherein said sample block (12) comprises a central region (254) containing said at least one well, an end edge region (256, 258) in thermal contact with ambient and a manifold region (260, 266) thermally coupled to at least one 35 2443 manifold, wherein said heating means (14, 156) includes a zone for each of said regions, and wherein the step of controlling said heating means comprises the steps of: (iv) determining a theoretical second power representing the total power to apply to said block in a current sample interval at a current time n without accounting for power losses, (V) dividing said theoretical second powe; into theoretical powers, one to be applied to each of said heating zones, (vi) determining power losses by said regions in said current sample interval, and (vii) determining an actual third power for each of said zones in said current sample interval to account for power loss by each said zone, and optionally wherein said thermocycler additionally includes bias cooling constantly applied to said sample block (12), wherein said computer—controlled cooling means comprises selectively operable ramp cooling means for selectively delivering a cooling fluid to said sample block (12), and wherein the step of controlling said selectively operable ramp cooling means includes the steps of: (viii)determining that sample temperature ramp direction is downward, (ix) determining the temperature of said cooling fluid, 243 (X) determining as a function of said sample temperature a total cooling power to apply to said block in said current sample interval without accounting for power losses, (xi) determining an intermediate cooling power by subtracting power loss to said at least one manifold and to ambient from said total cooling power, (xii) determining a cooling breakpoint as a function of the difference between the block temperature and the temperature of said cooling fluid in the current sample interval, and (xiii)selectively operating said ramp cooling means as a function of the difference between said intermediate cooling power and said cooling breakpoint, and (C) A controlling said heating K14, 156) and cooling (34, 40) means as a function of said sample temperature. F. R. KELLY & CO.,
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