JP2011067149A - Temperature controlling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature controlling device capable of locally and quickly applying or absorbing heat to a temperature-controlling region of a temperature-controlled object. <P>SOLUTION: The temperature controlling device includes a plurality of Peltier elements 12-13, a heat-diffusion plate 10, a temperature detector 11, and a heat sink 16. The plurality of Peltier elements 12-13 are arranged interposing a definite space. The heat-diffusion plate 10 is brought into contact with the Peltier elements 12-13 on one face and with a biochip A on the other face. The temperature detector 11 is placed on the heat-diffusion plate 10. The side faces of the multiple Peltier elements 12-13 have a space between the faces. The heat-diffusion plate 10 has a protrusion 10a protruding into the space between the Peltier elements 12-13. The temperature detector 11 is placed in the protrusion 10a. That is, the temperature detector 11 of the temperature controlling device is inserted into a hole in the protrusion 10a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature control device that heats or absorbs a temperature control object via a heat diffusion plate.

  A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method is known as a technique for amplifying DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). This PCR method is a technique capable of amplifying DNA in a short time by periodically raising and lowering the temperature of an aqueous solution containing DNA. Then, in amplifying an arbitrary fragment of DNA by using this PCR method, a PCR container in which an aqueous solution containing DNA is stored is heated or endothermic.

  As a PCR container, a biochip in which a plurality of reaction tanks, a storage tank, and a flow path are formed in a thin plate is known. Compared with a simple test tube, the biochip is excellent in that a series of operations can be performed continuously because functions such as pretreatment are integrated. However, when heating or absorbing heat, there is a problem that the entire biochip is heated or absorbed, including the storage tank and the flow path where the progress of the chemical reaction should be suppressed. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a temperature control device that can locally heat or absorb the reaction vessel region. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a device that is intended for a measurement port of an electronic measuring device instead of a biochip, but maintains a desired temperature.

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is for maintaining the temperature of the measurement port of the electronic measuring instrument at a desired temperature, and is provided with a hole provided in a heat spreader (“heat block”) connected so as to surround the measurement port. In addition, a temperature detector is inserted.

  Next, the apparatus described in Patent Document 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the apparatus described in Patent Document 2 performs heating or heat absorption on the temperature control object A <b> 1, and includes a Peltier element 32 and a Peltier element 32 on one surface. And a temperature detector 31 installed on the heat diffusion plate 30 and the heat diffusion plate 30 in contact with the temperature control object A1 on the other surface.

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 2 further includes a heat sink 33 and a cradle 20. The heat sink 33 is disposed so as to contact one surface of the heat diffusion plate 30. The cradle 20 is disposed so as to contact one surface of the temperature control object A1. The temperature detector 31 is disposed substantially at the center of the thermal diffusion plate 30. That is, the temperature detector 31 is inserted in the hole at the substantially central portion of the thermal diffusion plate 30.

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 only describes that a temperature detector is provided in the heat spreader (“heat transfer part”) that contacts the microchip. It is impossible to absorb and heat the region of the region locally and at high speed.

  The device described in Patent Document 2 is an invention for maintaining the temperature of the measurement port of the electronic measuring instrument at a desired temperature, and is provided in a heat spreader (“heat block”) connected so as to surround the measurement port. Since the temperature detector is inserted into the hole, the temperature of the temperature detection region cannot be measured at high speed.

  On the other hand, in a device that repeats heating and heat absorption at high speed, such as PCR, it is necessary to reduce the heat capacity of the microchip and heat spreader. However, the heat spreader for biochips is flat compared to the conventional heat spreader for tubes. Because of its size and small size, the temperature detector hinders the size reduction of the heat spreader.

JP 2008-185389 A JP 2000-2730 A

  The objective of this invention is providing the temperature control apparatus which can absorb and heat the area | region part of the temperature control object of a temperature control object locally and at high speed.

  A temperature control device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a temperature control device that heats or absorbs heat with respect to a temperature control object, and a plurality of Peltier elements arranged at a predetermined interval, and the surface on one side A heat diffusion plate in contact with the temperature control object on the other surface in contact with the Peltier element, and a temperature detector installed on the heat diffusion plate, and the side surfaces of the plurality of Peltier elements have a space between them. The thermal diffusion plate has a protrusion protruding into the space between the Peltier elements, and the temperature detector is disposed inside the protrusion.

  A temperature control device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the temperature control device according to the first aspect, wherein the temperature detector is formed of a platinum resistor.

  A temperature control device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the biochip according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the temperature control object is a biochip having a reaction tank formed on a substantially circumference. It is comprised, The said heat-diffusion plate has a substantially annular projection part which is contacting the temperature control area | region part of the said reaction tank, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, since the heat diffusion plate has a protrusion protruding into the space between the Peltier elements, and the temperature detector is disposed inside the protrusion, the heat diffusion plate can be formed thin. Therefore, the heat capacity of the heat diffusion plate can be reduced, and the temperature of the temperature control object can be detected at high speed, so that the temperature control area of the temperature control object can be absorbed and heated locally and at high speed. it can.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the temperature control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 cut along line BB. It is a schematic sectional drawing which cuts and shows the temperature control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention shown in FIG. 1 along CC line. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 cut along a line DD. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the temperature control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the conventional temperature control apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which cuts and shows the conventional temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 6 along the EE line. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the conventional temperature control device shown in FIG. 6 cut along the line FF.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a temperature control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 cut along the line BB. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 cut along the line CC. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 cut along the line DD.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a temperature control device that heats or absorbs heat from the biochip A as a temperature control object. The temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first temperature control module 100 disposed under the biochip A and a cradle 20 disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the biochip A. And.

  The biochip A has a plurality of flows that communicate a plurality of reaction tanks 1 formed on a substantially circumference, a substantially central storage layer 2, a plurality of reaction tanks 1 and a substantially central storage layer 2. And a road 3. The wall portions of the plurality of reaction vessels 1 are temperature control region portions that require temperature control.

  The first temperature control module 100 includes a plurality of Peltier elements 12, 13, 14, 15, a heat diffusion plate 10, a temperature detector 11, and a heat sink 16. The plurality of Peltier elements 12 to 15 are arranged at a predetermined interval. The thermal diffusion plate 10 is in contact with the Peltier elements 12 to 15 on one side and in contact with the biochip A on the other side. The temperature detector 11 is installed on the thermal diffusion plate 10.

  The side surfaces of the plurality of Peltier elements 12 to 15 define a space between them. The heat diffusing plate 10 has a protrusion 10a that protrudes into the space between the Peltier elements 12-15. The temperature detector 11 is disposed inside the protrusion 10a. That is, the temperature detector 11 is inserted in the hole inside the protrusion 10a. The detected temperature value detected by the temperature detector 11 is given to a temperature control unit (not shown), and this temperature control unit controls the current supplied to the Peltier elements 12 to 15 to heat or endotherm the biochip A. Control.

  The heat diffusing plate 10 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as an alloy of aluminum, copper and silver. The heat diffusing plate 10 has a substantially annular protrusion 10b that protrudes in a substantially annular shape on the surface of the biochip A. The substantially annular projection 10 b is in contact with the temperature control region of the plurality of reaction vessels 1. That is, the thermal diffusion plate 10 is not in full contact with the lower surface of the biochip A, but is in contact only with the temperature control region of the reaction tank 1 of the biochip A.

  The base material of the biochip A is formed of a resin such as polypropylene. For example, polypropylene is a material that does not inhibit the PCR reaction. Since the thermal conductivity of the resin is generally low, the biochip A needs to be thinned in the thickness direction. In the biochip A, a reaction tank 1, a storage tank 2, and a flow path 3 are formed. The shape of the biochip A is a substantially disk, and the reaction tank 1 is arranged on a substantially concentric circle. The reaction tank 1 is a place that should be absorbed and heated, and the storage tank 2 and the flow path 3 are places that should not be absorbed and heated. In order to absorb and heat the reaction tank 1 of the biochip A at a high speed with the limited amount of heat absorption of the Peltier elements 12 to 15, without diffusing heat into the region where the storage tank 2 and the flow path 3 exist, It is necessary to concentrate heat on the temperature control region, which is the region where the reaction tank 1 exists.

  The thickness of the heat diffusing plate 10 is generally 1 mm in terms of diffusibility, mechanical strength, and workability. Since the number of biochips A handled by the temperature control device is limited to one unlike the conventional tube, it is not necessary to allow a heat capacity of the heat spreader to stabilize the behavior, and to increase the speed. For heat spreaders, the heat capacity and size of the heat spreader should be small.

  The temperature detector 11 is formed of a general platinum resistor, and has a rod shape with a diameter of about 2 mm. Since the thickness of the Peltier elements 12 to 15 is generally about several mm and is thicker than the platinum resistor, the thermal diffusion plate 10 projects into the space between the Peltier elements 12 to 15 as shown in FIG. It has a protrusion 10a. The temperature detector 11 is disposed inside the protrusion 10a. That is, the temperature detector 11 is inserted in the hole inside the protrusion 10a. For this reason, since the temperature detector 11 is arrange | positioned in the position close | similar to the Peltier elements 12-15, the temperature detector 11 can detect the temperature of the Peltier elements 12-15 at high speed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a temperature control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the same components as those in the first embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. A module 200 is provided. That is, the temperature control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a first temperature control module 100 disposed under the biochip A and a second temperature control module disposed over the biochip A. 200.

  The second temperature control module 200 includes Peltier elements 12 to 15, the heat diffusing plate 10, and the heat sink 16. The plurality of Peltier elements 12 to 15 are arranged at a predetermined interval. The thermal diffusion plate 10 is in contact with the Peltier elements 12 to 15 on one side and in contact with the biochip A on the other side. The heat diffusing plate 10 has a substantially annular protrusion 10b that protrudes in a substantially annular shape on the surface of the biochip A. The substantially annular projection 10 b is in contact with the temperature control region of the plurality of reaction vessels 1. That is, the thermal diffusion plate 10 is not in full contact with the lower surface of the biochip A, but is in contact only with the temperature control region of the reaction tank 1 of the biochip A.

Example 1
Next, Example 1 will be described. In the first embodiment, the temperature control device shown in FIG. 1 absorbs and heats the biochip A that is a temperature control object.

  In Example 1, the region of the reaction vessel 1 of the biochip A is heated to 95 ° C. and endothermed to 68 ° C. Such heating and endotherm are repeated 30 cycles at a high speed (120 seconds / cycle). The biochip A has a diameter of 50 mm and a plate thickness of 2 mm, and the thermal conductivity of the base polypropylene is as low as 0.2 W / (m · K). Therefore, the biochip A is not in contact with the thermal diffusion plate 10. The temperature in the central region does not follow a fast temperature cycle.

  When the heat capacity of the heat spreader is reduced by 25% compared to the conventional one, the time constant of heat absorption in the heat spreader is 3 seconds, and the time constant of heat absorption in the reaction tank 1 of Biochip A is both 8 seconds. It was found to be 50-67% faster.

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 will be described. In Example 2, the temperature control device shown in FIG. 5 absorbs and heats the biochip A that is a temperature control object.

  In Example 2, in the biochip A, the region of the reaction tank 1 of the biochip A that is a temperature control object is heated to 95 ° C. and endothermed to 68 ° C. Such heating and heat absorption are repeated 30 cycles at a high speed. The biochip A has a diameter of 50 mm and a plate thickness of 2 mm, and the thermal conductivity of the base polypropylene is as low as 0.2 W / (m · K). The region temperature does not follow a fast temperature cycle. As a result of extensive research, the present inventor has found that the temperature of the central region of the biochip A does not reach 92 ° C. even when the 95 ° C. holding time is set to 30 seconds.

A Biochip (temperature control object)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reaction tank 2 Storage tank 3 Flow path 10 Thermal diffusion plate 11 Temperature detector 12-15 Peltier element 16 Heat sink 20 Receptacle 100 1st temperature control module 200 21st temperature control module

Claims (3)

A temperature control device that heats or absorbs heat of a temperature control object,
A plurality of Peltier elements arranged at a predetermined interval, a thermal diffusion plate in contact with the Peltier element on one side and in contact with the temperature control object on the other side, and a temperature installed on the thermal diffusion plate A detector,
Side surfaces of the plurality of Peltier elements define a space between each other, the heat diffusion plate has a protrusion protruding into the space between the Peltier elements, and the temperature detector is disposed inside the protrusion. A temperature control device that is arranged.   The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detector is made of a platinum resistor.   The temperature control object is composed of a biochip having a reaction vessel formed on a substantially circumference, and the heat diffusion plate has a substantially annular projection that is in contact with the temperature control region of the reaction vessel. The temperature control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2.

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